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Bringing back American chestnuts

Jill Neimark (@jillneimark) is a writer whose work has been featured in Discover, Scientific American, Science, Nautilus, Aeon, Psychology Today and The New York Times. She writes this piece for …

Harnessing bacteria to give crops a boost

There is growing interest in the important ways that microbes impact all facets of our life. “In our bodies, they help fight off disease. In the soil, they help deliver …

Technology makes “droughtshaming” easier

Social technologies are making it easier for Californians to call out those they deem to be water wasters. Twitter hashtags such as #DroughtShame or #DroughtShaming not only verbally reprimand water …

Calculating your water footprint

The California drought is dominating the news. Washington and Oregon have also declared drought emergencies. The list goes on. And the water situation is not likely to get better: “water …

Fruit growers try tricking Mother Nature

Producers in northern Michigan grow a variety of fruits, but tart cherries – sour cherries – are one of their biggest crops. Fickle spring weather has resulted in extreme temperatures …

Hydroponics turn Kenyan homes into gardens

Hydroponics is increasingly being used for production agriculture in Kenya, but it’s also gaining traction in urban settings, by those interested in growing their own food. The adaptability of the …

Consumer demand is changing iconic products

Consumer insistence for healthier, more natural ingredients and transparency in the food system is prompting an increasing number of corporations to “overhaul” even iconic products. A large and vocal consumer …