Efita Newsletter 1090, dated 13 May 2024

Efita Newsletter 1090, dated 13 May 2024
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Châtenay-Malabry (FR - 92290), May 13, 2024


EFITA newsletter / 1090 - European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


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Before computers / Avant l'informatique : Old good days? Le bon vieux temps

16/05/2024
 


Weekly newsletters about ICT in Agriculture in English and French
Both newsletters have around 5000 subscribers.

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Nominations for the 2024 CropLife Ag Tech Awards of Excellence is now OPEN! Sorry it is too late…

 


5 reasons artificial intelligence makes farmers nervous, by Andy Castillo, April 30, 2024

AI is revolutionizing agriculture, but farmers want barriers such as education gaps and connectivity issues to be addressed.

1. More education needed.
2. Lack of connectivity
3. Change driven by outsiders.
4. Data protection.
5. Investment cost and risk.

See farmprogress.com


2024 Agribusiness Trade Summit

7-8 August 2024 - Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort - Orlando, Florida, USA
As the premier sourcing event for crop protection and plant health products, we are proud to bring together leaders in the upstream value chain from manufacturing companies, exporters, trading companies, importers, distributors, and more.

The Trade Summit is the trusted forum for advancing development in the rapidly emerging crop protection, ag tech, plant health, and biological sectors. With leading companies from around the world exhibiting and sponsoring, you can strengthen relationships with current trading partners and explore new market potential.

Exhibitors will showcase a range of products including technical-grade and formulated crop protection products, biopesticides, biostimulants, micronutrients, plant growth regulators, and more. Manufacturing companies from China, India, Latin America, the United States, the European Union, Southeast Asia, and other supply centers rely on the AgriBusiness Trade Summit to advance their business.

Our belief is that crop production technologies are fundamental to reducing worldwide poverty, increasing national prosperity, and securing regional food production. By attending the Trade Summit, you can gain access to a diverse range of crop input manufacturers and distributors, and progress ideas and relationships to further the sustainability of agriculture businesses.

This event attracts a wide range of attendees including manufacturers, exporters, trading companies, sellers, formulators, market analysts, distributors, retailers, importers, procurement professionals, academia, data consultancies, and government officials.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with industry leaders, showcase your products and services, and explore new market potential.
See tradesummit.com


FutureFarming

> Seven GPS steering systems tested: Valtra leads the way - PART 1
Explore Future Farming's extensive GPS comparison test featuring seven top tractor brands. While all brands offer outstanding GPS steering systems, what distinguishes them? Join us in part 1 of this 2-part series as we introduce the test and unveil initial results.

> Electric tractors: French Seederal electric tractor heads for the showroom
French start-up Seederal has unveiled its first electric tractor prototype during the launch of its testing campaign, just one year after announcing its first round of funding. This technological demonstrator will accelerate the development of the first long-range electric tractor.

> GPS systems: Seven GPS steering systems tested - PART 2
Future Farming presents a comprehensive GPS comparison test on seven tractor brands. In part 2 we present an overview of the seven brands.

> Field robots: SwarmFarm Robotics delivers first commercial unit in the US
Australian company SwarmFarm Robotics made its first commercial delivery of the autonomous SwarmBot in the U.S.

> Precision farming: ‘Farmers increasingly interested in more precise planting’
The precision planting market is ever-evolving. Farmers are increasingly looking for technology that can help them with more precise planting. And they usually opt for a big singular machine, because farms are increasing in size.

> Field robots: AMR Hugo RT Gen. III commercially available
Fox Robotics announces that Hugo RT™ Gen. III is now commercially available.

> Autonomy: Dutch NPPL participants are testing the autonomous Fendt 716
Dutch company GPX Solutions is once again providing a tractor for NPPL participants this year. Based on feedback from 2023, GPX significantly improved its autonomous systems and developed a new autonomous retrofit package.

> Drones: 2023 top 5: Most read articles on drones
The interest in agricultural technology has increased a lot. Field robots, drones and autonomy are getting more and more attention. What does the farming community value most in drone technology? Find out in these top 5 most-read articles about drones.

> Indian startup Niqo Robotics is on a mission to build reliable precision robots for sustainable agriculture.

> Bioinsecticides: Bayer aims to launch first bioinsecticide for arable crops
Bayer has signed an agreement with UK-based company AlphaBio Control to secure an exclusive license for a new biological insecticide.

> Market information: Brazilian fertilizer spreader specialist MP Agro becomes part of Amazone Group
Agricultural machinery manufacturer Amazone announces that, subject to official approval, the Brazilian fertiliser spreader specialist MP Agro will become part of the Amazone Group.

> Fertilizers: Evers Agro supplies injector for Nexat implement carrier
Evers Agro provides a disc injector for the so-called Nexat implement carrier.

> Spraying technology: AI precision spraying Greeneye technology raises $20m to scale US operation
Greeneye Technology announces the completion of a $20m funding round led by Israeli investment company Deep Insight.

> Market information: xFarm Technologies integrates Greenfield and SpaceSense
xFarm Technologies, a tech company in the digitalisation of agriculture, continues its growth path in Europe and announces two operations in Spain and France.

> Crop protection: Simply reducing spraying against botrytis is not possible, even with precision techniques
NPPL participant and bulb grower Henk Verdegaal (51) believes that pesticide use should be reduced to maintain sufficient societal support for the bulb sector.

> Spraying technology: New spot spraying technology for tree crops and vines
Australian company Agtech By Design has developed a technology that targets and sprays weeds in tree crops and vines.

> Crop protection: Drones and AI in the battle against Alternaria in potato crops
By employing ultra-high-resolution drone imagery combined with AI, a new method has been developed for the early detection of Alternaria.

> Laser weeding arrives in Australia, how does it work?
Carbon Robotics is continuing to expand worldwide and arrived in Australia at the end of 2023 with 2 machines already there.

> Fertilizers: Correction of fertilizer spreader leveling (automatic)
Recently, machine manufacturer Valtra introduced a new tool for fertilizer spreading: Smart Top Link. This system automatically corrects the angle of the spreader.

> Drones: Change to FAA Regulation allows 1 operator to fly 3 sprayer drones
FFA regulation exemption for U.S.-based drone maker allows 1 person to operate 3 drones in a swarm.

> Organic agriculture: Organic agriculture can increase pesticide use on nearby fields
Organic agriculture can increase pesticide use on nearby fieldsSurrounding organic agriculture drives a significant increase in pesticide use on conventional fields.

> Market information: AGCO and Trimble close joint venture, form PTx Trimble
AGCO Corporation and Trimble announced the closing of their joint venture (JV) transaction.
Read more

> Autonomous robots: answering three basic questions
Autonomous robots are one of, if not the hottest trends in precision agriculture at this moment.
Read more

> Discover how start-ups revolutionize crop protection, offering greener solutions
For crop growers, it’s accurate to say there hasn’t been too much to be excited about in the area of crop protection products.

> Harvest robot: DFKI Robotics Innovation Center working on strawberry harvester Shivaa
The robot SHIVAA is being developed for the fully autonomous harvesting of strawberries grown in open field.

> This is how your GPS system works accurately
Going through the different checkpoints ensures that a GPS system also does what it's intended for: working accurately. Future Farming provides you with tips and tricks for maximum precision.

> Sustainability: US sustainable farming outlook positive, still key barriers are present
A vast majority (90 percent) of US farmers have an understanding of sustainable farming, the uptake of practices remains low.

> Apple growers: Research funding allows B-Hive to deliver deeper insights for apple growers
Agritech business B-hive Innovations has joined forces with UK premier fresh fruit grower Adrian Scripps Ltd to attract prestigious Innovate UK research funding.
 
> Scarecrows: Laser scarecrows: A potential solution to protect crops
In a recent study published researchers highlight the effectiveness of laser scarecrows in reducing sweet corn damage by starling birds.

> Sowing: Monosem ValoTerra sows variably with QuadRate Pro
Monosem, manufacturer of seeding and hoeing machines, introduces QuadRate Pro to the market.

> Fertilizers: Arevo’s technology: ‘A critical look at its nitrogen efficiency for growers’
Arevo introduces a green organic alternative to fertilizers to the market, promising more efficient nitrogen utilization.

> Spraying technology: Improving spraying applications with new nozzle technology
US company Precision Planting has released a new nozzle technology that allows sprayers to maintain constant pressure even when changing rates or speed.

> Fertilizers: Nexat and Amazone develop a fertilizer spreader with 20,000 liter capacity
Nexat GmbH, in collaboration with the German manufacturer Amazone, has developed a new fertilizer spreader for the Nexat tool carrier.

> Laser scarecrows: A potential solution to protect crops
In a recent study published researchers highlight the effectiveness of laser scarecrows in reducing sweet corn damage by starling birds.

> Harxon GNSS Solution for Precision Agriculture Auto Guidance
Harxon provides high performance GNSS solution for precision agriculture, including GNSS Antenna, Smart Antenna and Base Station, suitable for agriculture OEMs, integrators that develop precision agriculture solutions, and autonomous solution providers.

> Sowing: Monosem ValoTerra sows variably with QuadRate Pro
Monosem, manufacturer of seeding and hoeing machines, introduces QuadRate Pro to the market.

> Fertilizers: Nexat and Amazone develop a fertilizer spreader with 20,000 liter capacity
Nexat GmbH, in collaboration with the German manufacturer Amazone, has developed a new fertilizer spreader for the Nexat tool carrier.

> Weed control: Market seems to embrace the Ecorobotix ARA-spotsprayer
Machine manufacturer Ecorobotix achieves a rapid growth to a multimillion-dollar turnover with its ARA spot sprayer based on AI weed recognition.

> Hoeing with cameras: Camera-guided hoeing is here to stay
Camera-guided hoeing has secured its place in the market, now that fewer and fewer crop protection products are permitted.

> Market information: Agri-tech market contraction drives shift to resilience and tech integration
Venture capital investment experienced a significant contraction in 2023, as business underwent a period of turbulence.
 
> Fertilizers alternative: Arevo’s technology: ‘A critical look at its nitrogen efficiency for growers’
Arevo introduces a green organic alternative to fertilizers to the market, promising more efficient nitrogen utilization.
 
> Soil: Biome Makers’ BeCrop soil intelligence technology proven effective
Biome Makers has unveiled findings from two scientific studies affirming the efficacy of its BeCrop soil intelligence technology.

> Two more AI supported machines for selective weeding
More and more organic and conventional farmers rely on AI to help them combat weeds more effectively and more sustainable.

> GNSS Antennas: How GNSS antennas can increase farming accuracy
GNSS antennas play a crucial role in precision agriculture and are responsible for the reception of highly accurate location data, facilitating a more productive, sustainable, and cost-effective farming approach.

> APPS: Managing machine parks in real-time with CNHi’s FieldOps app
Machine manufacturer CNHi has launched a new app called FieldOps for tractor brands Case IH, Steyr, and New Holland.

> Irrigation: Australian soil water sensor popular among smallholder farmers
The Chameleon water soil water sensor, developed by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, appears to be popular among smallholder farmers in developing countries.

> Field robots: Agrishow: crop protection 100% by robots and multifunctional truck for grains
The Agrishow, the most important fair on agricultural technology in Brazil, took place last week with many novelties on robots, drones, machinery, connectivity, smart systems, and more.

> Robotic dog: A robotic dog that autonomously waters plants
A group of tech enthusiasts in Italy known as B-AROL-O has developed a robotic dog that autonomously tends to plants by activating an onboard sprinkler system.

> Electric tractor: French Seederal electric tractor heads for the showroom
French start-up Seederal has unveiled its first electric tractor prototype during the launch of its testing campaign, just one year after announcing its first round of funding.

> Robotic ARM: American Researchers test robotic arm for sorting fresh onions
Researchers from Georgia USA have tested a robotic arm for sorting fresh Vidalia onions from those suffering blemishes. The system can pick up onions, view them, and sort the good from the bad.

> Gps systems: Seven GPS steering systems tested, part 2
Future Farming presents a comprehensive GPS comparison test on seven tractor brands.

> Transport robots: AMR Hugo RT Gen. III commercially available
Fox Robotics announces that Hugo RT™ Gen. III is now commercially available.

> A look at peptide products to protect against diseases and insects
Peptides are among the most-promising platforms for new biological-based products that protect horticulture and field crops against diseases and insect pests.
 
> How GNSS antennas can increase farming accuracy
GNSS antennas play a crucial role in precision agriculture and are responsible for the reception of highly accurate location data, facilitating a more productive, sustainable, and cost-effective farming approach.

> Drones: Agrishow: Mega-drone reaches autonomy of 1h20min with 200 litres of chemicals
In about four months, a group of aeronautical engineers developed the VTol Agrobee 200 drone.

> Fertilizers: FertigHy selects Northern France for first low-carbon fertilizer plant
FertigHy, a pan-European producer of low-carbon, nitrogen-based fertiliser for the agricultural sector, will build its first factory in the Hauts-de-France region in Northern France.

> Robotic development: NSF and USDA join forces to boost innovation in agricultural robotics
NSF and USDA join forces to boost innovation in agricultural robotics.

> Connectivity: Access to the internet through CNH and Intelsat
Brazilian farmers will be able to have an Intelsat satellite terminal installed and maintained by CNH dealers in their tractor cabins.

> Field robots: How are field and harvest robots powered?
For tractors it is still obvious that they have a diesel tank. How about field and harvest robots? How are they powered?

> Crop Care: Biotalys starts field trials for second biofungicide
Biotalys announced the initiation of field trials for BioFun-6, the company’s second biofungicide program.

> Lynn Sosnoskie: ‘Weed-It valuable for future weed control in perennial crops’

> Weed control: Lynn Sosnoskie: ‘Weed-It valuable for future weed control in perennial crops’
American weed scientist Lynn Sosnoskie at Cornell AgriTech expects Weed-It targeted spraying technology can be very valuable for future weed control in perennial crops.

> Harvest robots: UK based Autopickr introduces Gus, an asparagus harvester
Cambridge-based autopickr is developing ‘Gus’, a robotic precision agriculture and harvesting platform that currently specialises in cutting and collecting asparagus spears.

See futurefarming.com


What Matters Most, by Morgan Weistling

01 - 16/05/2024
 


They Homeward Wend their Weary Way, by Alice Mary (Alice Havers) Morgan (1850-1890)

02 - 16/05/2024
 


Invasive weed could be turned into a viable economic crop

One of the most invasive Australian weeds is being touted as a potential economic crop, with benefits for the construction, mining and forestry industries, and potentially many First Nations communities.
See unisa.edu.au


High Tech Initiative

> Corteva Leverages Data and Technology to Help Farmers Produce More With Less
By harnessing innovative solutions, we're empowering farmers to do more with less - boosting productivity while preserving resources.

> The Reality of Ransomware Attacks in Agriculture
The U.S. food and agriculture sector dealt with at least 167 ransomware attacks last year, according to the leading industry group.

> AI-Driven Climate Insurance: A Provocative Solution to Earth's Uncertain Future
The insurance industry, long shackled by rigid policies and outdated practices, is ripe for disruption -- and ag can reap the benefits.

> How to Avoid the Top 10 Most Common Mistakes in Agricultural Drone Surveying
Whether you're a seasoned agronomist or a novice drone operator, understanding these pitfalls is crucial for maximizing the value of drone technology.

> AGCO's Launch of New Tech Brand: Was It Successful?
As AGCO evolves its communication strategy, it must articulate its differentiated approach effectively to resonate with target customers, says Shane Thomas.

> 2024 Annual CropLife Ag Tech Awards of Excellence -- Nominations Are Now Open
Nominate an outstanding individual for one of four CropLife Ag Tech Awards Of Excellence by May 10.

> Agri-tech Market Contraction Drives Shift to Resilience, Sustainability and Tech Integration
A 40% reduction in the agri-tech market in 2023 signals an influx of robust M&A activity in 2024, says Ali Al Suhail, VP at DAI Magister.

> How Solinftec Is 'Living in the Field' With the Solix Platform
The Solix platform is a promising solution for achieving more cost-effective agronomic outcomes, says analyst Shane Thomas.

> Ground Breaking Podcast Episode #3: How Public and Private Sectors Can Work Together to Reduce the FUD Factor
ICIT's Joyce Hunter discusses how the ag industry can work with government organizations to ease the process of ag tech adoption.

> TELUS Formally Announces Proagrica Acquisition: Strategic Acquisition or Act of Desperation?
The acquisition of Proagrica raises doubts about TELUS's prospects in the ag software market, says one industry insider.

> Integrating Data-Driven Solutions for Fine-Tuned Climate Control in Indoor Farming
Next-generation technologies can radically transform indoor farms and greenhouses into prolific food sanctuaries.

> Sustainable Rice Paddies: How Riso Gallo Uses xFarm Technologies to Digitalize Its Supply Chain
A multi-year project aims to digitalize Riso Gallo’s entire supply chain participating in the ‘Rice that sustains’ project by 2026.

See agtechinitiative.com


Caught scrumping, by Alice Havers (British, 1850–1890)

03 - 16/05/2024
 


The reaper, by Ignacio Diaz Orlano (Spain, 1890)

04 - 16/05/2024
 


A Win for Common Sense and Science, by Guillermo Breton, April 18, 2024
See farmernetwork.org/


Farm progress

> 7 ag stories you can’t miss – May 3, 2024, by Rachel Schutte
Catch up on farm bill proposals, the rising demand for meat goats, the best farm dogs in America and more!

> Emergence scouting: What do ‘corkscrewed’ corn mesocotyls tell you? By Dan Quinn
Corn Success: Misshapen plants are trying to send you a message.

> Ag tech businesses bet big on artificial intelligence
Generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that can create new concepts and learn on its own, stands to fundamentally ...

> Can tech solve labor issues?
Farmers look at the potential of autonomy and other possible new solutions meeting agriculture’s operational needs.

> How will AI impact farming?
Artificial intelligence could further speed farm growth and consolidation, some observers say.

> Do solar panels add value to your farmstead? By Michael Lauher
Land Values: Here’s a look at how to value residential-size solar energy systems on the farm.

> Crummey, but necessary, by Mark Balzarini
Farm & Family: A Crummey notice is sent by the trustees of an irrevocable trust to beneficiaries to let them know a gift has been made to the trust.

See farmprogress.com

Gazette de vitisphere.com,
portail vitivinicole

 


The man who laid the foundation to launch the Green Revolution, by Jack DeWitt, April 18, 2024

“What is that crop growing on Cottonwood Road,” asked a visitor to my place last summer. “It looks like corn, but it’s too short, has straight-up leaves, and no tassels.” I explained to him it was a field of corn grown for seed, with improved genetics to allow for stronger plants and a higher yield.

So, how do these changes do that?
.../...
See agdaily.com


Sticky trick: new glue spray kills plant pests without chemicals, by Damian Carrington, Environment editor, 18 May 2024

Edible oil droplets trap bugs without the harm to people and wildlife that synthetic pesticides can cause

Tiny sticky droplets sprayed on crops to trap pests could be a green alternative to chemical pesticides, research has shown.

The insect glue, produced from edible oils, was inspired by plants such as sundews that use the strategy to capture their prey. A key advantage of physical pesticides over toxic pesticides is that pests are highly unlikely to evolve resistance, as this would require them to develop much larger and stronger bodies, while bigger beneficial insects, like bees, are not trapped by the drops.
…/…
See theguardian.com
See pnas.org

 
 
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Over the river, by Daniel Ridgway Knight

05 - 16/05/2024
 


Study for Returning from the Fields; by Julien Dupré (French, 1851 - 1910)

06 - 16/05/2024
 


Lab Grown Algae Could Play a Pivotal Role in Reducing Emissions, May 3, 2024, by Nathalie Voit
.../...
The first step to emulating and enhancing this natural process is to grow an algal “starter” batch under highly controlled environmental conditions in the lab. In Brilliant Planet’s case, this means growing the monoculture in its seven-acre pilot site in Akhfennir, Morocco, a tranquil coastal desert town.

After its incubation in the lab, the algae is transitioned to a semi-enclosed greenhouse, where it can grow exponentially while adapting to the local environment. The organisms are then transferred to expansive outdoor ponds, where nearly 90% of the total growth takes place. 

With the help of wind power, Brilliant Planet pumps nutrient-rich seawater into these open-air ponds, nurturing the microalgae until they reach harvest readiness.

Back to the lab. Advanced filtration technology enables Brilliant Planet to harvest a concentrated seaweed ‘slurry,’ while the filtered seawater is safely reintegrated into the ocean after undergoing de-acidification. Finally, the algae biomass is solar-dried and permanently buried underground, a process that securely locks away the carbon for millennia. Thanks to its high salt content and other properties that counteract degradation, the carbon-loaded material maintains exceptional stability over time.

The entire process is powered by seawater and sunlight, enabling Brilliant Plant to capitalize on a highly efficient, nature-driven system with minimal input year-round.
.../...
See c3newsmag.com


Technology: Delivery drones are getting bigger — much bigger, by Alex Fitzpatrick, author of Axios What's Next, May 1; 2024

Next-gen aviation startup MightyFly says it's the first company developing a large, autonomous electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drone that's been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for a flight corridor, Axios is first to report.

See axios.com
16/05/2024
 


Á la campagne, 1887, par Julien Dupré (FR, 1851-1910)

07 - 16/05/2024
 


Peek-a-Bo, circa 1900, by Bernard Blommers (1845-1914, NL)

08 - 16/05/2024
 


ICRISAT Breakthrough: World's First Pigeonpea Speed Breeding Protocol to Bolster Food Security in Drylands of Asia and Africa
See pressroom.icrisat.org/


Why is exercise good for us?

Physical activity is a fundamentally stressful process that our body has learnt to benefit from. “With each bout of exercise, you provoke an anti-inflammatory response,” says exercise researcher Bente Klarlund Pedersen. Scientists are starting to untangle the elaborate ‘choreography’ of cellular processes that exercise triggers. This could eventually help clinicians to develop tailored exercise prescriptions for people with chronic diseases — or even develop therapeutics that mimic some of the health-boosting effects. “That’s not to say that we will have exercise in a pill, but there are certain aspects of exercise that could be druggable,” says exercise physiologist Bret Goodpaster.
See nature.com


Scientist grilled at COVID-origins hearing

In the latest of a series of public hearings convened by US politicians to spar over the origins of COVID-19, infectious disease specialist Peter Daszak was interrogated over his ties to China and inconsistencies in testimonies and documents. Daszak has been a lightning rod in the COVID-19 origins debate: he heads a non-profit organisation that studied bat coronaviruses with a virology lab located in Wuhan, China, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported. The hearing’s intense scrutiny could disincentivize other US scientists from proposing collaborations with colleagues in China and other countries, a process that is considered essential for pandemic prevention, says health-law specialist Lawrence Gostin.
See nature.com


En moissonnant les champs, 1886, par Georges Paul François Laurent Laugée (FR, Picardie, 1853-1937)

09 - 16/05/2024
 


La récolte des betteraves, 1879, par Georges Paul François Laurent Laugée (FR, Picardie, 1853-1937)

10 - 16/05/2024
 


He changed the way we think about thinking

The work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman, who has died aged 90, led to the rethinking of decision-making in areas as diverse as political negotiations, medical treatment and the recruitment of baseball players, writes behavioural scientist Eldar Shafir. Kahneman and psychologist Amos Tversky showed that decision-making was more often guided by instinct and emotions, than by logic and reason — an approach that won him the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 and launched the field of behavioural economics. Kahneman enjoyed “adversarial collaborations”, writes Shafir, but remained mild and self-effacing himself. He “was open to the likelihood that he himself was often wrong”.
See nature.com


US ban stifles China’s AI progress

China’s AI sector could be five to ten years behind the United States, partly because it can’t access the most advanced computer chips. In 2022, the United States imposed export controls on the fastest chips and on equipment that could be used to produce such chips. Even foreign suppliers that produce chips for the US market won’t sell to Chinese developers to avoid falling foul of US sanctions. This has “dramatically limited” China’s progress with training AI models, says computer engineer Yiran Chen.
See nature.com


Out of the woods, 1900, by Mykola Pymonenko  (1862–1912, UK), Galerie Tretiakov

11 - 16/05/2024
 

 

Gazette de vitisphere.com,
portail vitivinicole

 


Bald Eagle catches and eats fish midair - Mark Smith Photography
See video


“Bad” joke (See Reader Digest)

 


Friday before Thursday?

 

 
   


In USA, couples meet "online"

01 - 16/05/2024
 


The flowering of Japanese cherry trees is earlier and earlier

02 - 16/05/2024
 


Too low cardon prices

03 - 16/05/2024
 


Alzheimer's Diseases up

04 - 16/05/2024
 


Chinese Love Story with Coffee

05 - 16/05/2024
 


Permissible dose of pesticide residues in foodstuffs: approximately 96% of products tested comply with the European standards

06 - 16/05/2024
 


Drinking water quality / Differences between maximum values for phytochemicals and mineral contaminants WHO-WHO vs EU

07 - 16/05/2024
 


Sony's Smartphone Sales in Japan down

08 - 16/05/2024
 


Scientists and Science-fiction: should scientists have science-fiction advisers?

09 - 16/05/2024
 


European cities not known as places of power

10 - 16/05/2024
 


Eventually, inflation down?

11 - 16/05/2024
 


Migrations

12 - 16/05/2024
 


A century of evolution in the presence of immigrants and foreigners in France
France is the first country where the birth rate began to decline very early in the middle of the 18th century: immigration was essential very early on.

131 - 16/05/2024
 
132 - 16/05/2024
 


In France, taxes and social benefits reduce inequalities in living standards between the richest and the poorest

14- 16/05/2024
 


If we take into account the role of public services, the gap between the incomes of the richest and the poorest is only 1 to 3

15 - 16/05/2024
 


The man who laid the foundation to launch the Green Revolution, by Jack DeWitt, April 18, 2024

“What is that crop growing on Cottonwood Road,” asked a visitor to my place last summer. “It looks like corn, but it’s too short, has straight-up leaves, and no tassels.” I explained to him it was a field of corn grown for seed, with improved genetics to allow for stronger plants and a higher yield.

So, how do these changes do that?
.../...
See agdaily.com


Sticky trick: new glue spray kills plant pests without chemicals, by Damian Carrington, Environment editor, 18 May 2024

Edible oil droplets trap bugs without the harm to people and wildlife that synthetic pesticides can cause

Tiny sticky droplets sprayed on crops to trap pests could be a green alternative to chemical pesticides, research has shown.

The insect glue, produced from edible oils, was inspired by plants such as sundews that use the strategy to capture their prey. A key advantage of physical pesticides over toxic pesticides is that pests are highly unlikely to evolve resistance, as this would require them to develop much larger and stronger bodies, while bigger beneficial insects, like bees, are not trapped by the drops.
…/…
See theguardian.com
See pnas.org


Lab Grown Algae Could Play a Pivotal Role in Reducing Emissions, May 3, 2024, by Nathalie Voit
.../...
The first step to emulating and enhancing this natural process is to grow an algal “starter” batch under highly controlled environmental conditions in the lab. In Brilliant Planet’s case, this means growing the monoculture in its seven-acre pilot site in Akhfennir, Morocco, a tranquil coastal desert town.

After its incubation in the lab, the algae is transitioned to a semi-enclosed greenhouse, where it can grow exponentially while adapting to the local environment. The organisms are then transferred to expansive outdoor ponds, where nearly 90% of the total growth takes place. 

With the help of wind power, Brilliant Planet pumps nutrient-rich seawater into these open-air ponds, nurturing the microalgae until they reach harvest readiness.

Back to the lab. Advanced filtration technology enables Brilliant Planet to harvest a concentrated seaweed ‘slurry,’ while the filtered seawater is safely reintegrated into the ocean after undergoing de-acidification. Finally, the algae biomass is solar-dried and permanently buried underground, a process that securely locks away the carbon for millennia. Thanks to its high salt content and other properties that counteract degradation, the carbon-loaded material maintains exceptional stability over time.

The entire process is powered by seawater and sunlight, enabling Brilliant Plant to capitalize on a highly efficient, nature-driven system with minimal input year-round.
.../...
See c3newsmag.com


Technology: Delivery drones are getting bigger — much bigger, by Alex Fitzpatrick, author of Axios What's Next, May 1; 2024

Next-gen aviation startup MightyFly says it's the first company developing a large, autonomous electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drone that's been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for a flight corridor, Axios is first to report.

See axios.com
16/05/2024
 


ICRISAT Breakthrough: World's First Pigeonpea Speed Breeding Protocol to Bolster Food Security in Drylands of Asia and Africa
See pressroom.icrisat.org/


Why is exercise good for us?

Physical activity is a fundamentally stressful process that our body has learnt to benefit from. “With each bout of exercise, you provoke an anti-inflammatory response,” says exercise researcher Bente Klarlund Pedersen. Scientists are starting to untangle the elaborate ‘choreography’ of cellular processes that exercise triggers. This could eventually help clinicians to develop tailored exercise prescriptions for people with chronic diseases — or even develop therapeutics that mimic some of the health-boosting effects. “That’s not to say that we will have exercise in a pill, but there are certain aspects of exercise that could be druggable,” says exercise physiologist Bret Goodpaster.
See nature.com


Scientist grilled at COVID-origins hearing

In the latest of a series of public hearings convened by US politicians to spar over the origins of COVID-19, infectious disease specialist Peter Daszak was interrogated over his ties to China and inconsistencies in testimonies and documents. Daszak has been a lightning rod in the COVID-19 origins debate: he heads a non-profit organisation that studied bat coronaviruses with a virology lab located in Wuhan, China, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported. The hearing’s intense scrutiny could disincentivize other US scientists from proposing collaborations with colleagues in China and other countries, a process that is considered essential for pandemic prevention, says health-law specialist Lawrence Gostin.
See nature.com


He changed the way we think about thinking

The work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman, who has died aged 90, led to the rethinking of decision-making in areas as diverse as political negotiations, medical treatment and the recruitment of baseball players, writes behavioural scientist Eldar Shafir. Kahneman and psychologist Amos Tversky showed that decision-making was more often guided by instinct and emotions, than by logic and reason — an approach that won him the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 and launched the field of behavioural economics. Kahneman enjoyed “adversarial collaborations”, writes Shafir, but remained mild and self-effacing himself. He “was open to the likelihood that he himself was often wrong”.
See nature.com


US ban stifles China’s AI progress

China’s AI sector could be five to ten years behind the United States, partly because it can’t access the most advanced computer chips. In 2022, the United States imposed export controls on the fastest chips and on equipment that could be used to produce such chips. Even foreign suppliers that produce chips for the US market won’t sell to Chinese developers to avoid falling foul of US sanctions. This has “dramatically limited” China’s progress with training AI models, says computer engineer Yiran Chen.
See nature.com


Vaccines have saved 150 million lives over the last 50 years

Every ten seconds, one child is saved by a vaccine against a fatal disease.

This figure comes from a new study from Andrew Shattock and other researchers from around the world. They estimated the number of lives saved from vaccinations against different diseases over the past 50 years.

The chart above shows the number of lives saved, broken down by disease.

Vaccination against measles has had the biggest impact, saving 94 million lives over the last 50 years — more than 60% of the total.

 


Key lessons from our work on the COVID-19 pandemic are now published in Lancet Public Health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, data was crucial to understanding how the disease spread and which efforts successfully protected people.

Yet national agencies often did not publish their data optimally, making it even more challenging to respond to the pandemic. Learning from what went well and what did not is crucial for the future.

Drawing on our first-hand experience of publishing COVID-19 data, including assembling the datasets on testing and vaccinations, we summarized our lessons in a Viewpoint article for the peer-reviewed journal Lancet Public Health. The article outlines seven best practices for how to publish data.
See thelancet.com


How many children did not die thanks to progress in health?

Vaccines have not been the only driver of reduced child mortality. Other factors like sanitation, clean water, and improved nutrition have saved many children's lives. In these ways, countries across the world have dramatically reduced child mortality.

But it can seem hard to celebrate something that is not happening. In this article, our founder, Max Roser, wanted to turn things around. Rather than focusing on the absence of child deaths, he highlights the presence of people here today thanks to the progress in health.

To make visible the millions of lives saved by health progress, he asks a simple question: how many more children would have died if the child mortality rate had not declined?

 


Our World In Data

> 30% of the world's electricity came from renewable sources in 2023

> The rise of tax revenues in Southern Europe

> Data on suicides is lacking, especially from poorer countries

> Over 33,000 near-Earth asteroids have been detected since 1990

> Colombia’s homicide rate has more than halved since the 1990s

> Nearly one in five cars sold in 2023 was electric

> How effective are policies in reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture?

> How are temperatures changing, and what are the impacts on sea level rise, sea ice, and ice sheets?


How effective are policies in reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture? By: Hannah Ritchie, April 22, 2024

All countries now have policies, but not all work as intended. Some drive trade-offs or lead to spillover impacts elsewhere, but there are many examples of successful stories.

Agriculture is a difficult problem to solve. It feeds 8 billion people but is also one of the world’s most environmentally damaging sectors. It’s the leading driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss, land use, freshwater withdrawals, and water pollution.

The world will need effective governmental policies — called agro-environmental policies — and innovations in sustainable food technologies if we want to reduce these impacts while feeding 9 or 10 billion people.

You might think, then, that the obvious thing to do is to have more and more policies focused on reducing its environmental impacts. But this assumes that all policies are effective and don’t impose trade-offs with food production or socioeconomic outcomes. This is not always the case.

Sri Lanka is a particularly dramatic case showing how rash and poorly designed policies can lead to tragic consequences. In mid-2021, the government abruptly banned the import of chemical fertilizers. On an agri-environmental policy scorecard, this might have looked good. Fertilizer use — which can cause pollution — plummeted.

But it caused dramatic losses in the country’s food supplies. Rice production fell by almost 40% from 2021 to 2022. The production of key export crops, such as tea and rubber, also fell significantly. The country spiraled into an economic crisis. While this crisis is not entirely the result of its fertilizer ban — the import ban was partly in response to economic problems — it made things worse.1

The lack of planning or foresight made this policy so damaging. Farmers had no time to find nutrient alternatives or learn how to optimize organic production. It illustrates clearly that just because a country has a policy in place doesn’t mean it produces good outcomes.

I’ve written previously about how different national priorities are when it comes to food production. Farmers in most low-income countries don’t have access to fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, or other vital inputs, and their yields suffer as a result. In middle- and high-income countries, farmers often overuse fertilizers and pesticides, causing lots of water pollution.

Effective policies must consider trade-offs and priorities, not just in terms of national outcomes but also the global environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

In this article, I look at global data on agricultural policies, some success stories, and what policymakers need to consider to prevent environmental damage from being offshored to other countries.
.../...

 

 

   


Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, Paul Manafort and Donald Trump all go out to a bar. Who picks up the tab?
- Vladimir Putin.


After he dies, Vladimir Putin finds himself standing in a giant lake filled with blood.

The blood reaches all the way up to the Russian dictator’s neck, so much so that he has trouble staying above it and breathing.

He looks around and sees that next to him is Joseph Stalin. Stalin is standing with blood only up to his waist, calmly smoking a pipe.

”This is completely unfair,” says Vlad. “Osip, you murdered millions of people, and I am only responsible for the death of a few hundred thousand. Why am I nearly drowning, all the way up to my neck in blood, and you only have blood up to your waist?”

Stalin removes the pipe from his mouth, then waits a few seconds before responding.

”My dear Volodya,” he says. “I am standing on the shoulders of Lenin.”

 


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