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Wheat Grows Twice as Fast Under LED Light
In a recent study , researchers managed to grow wheat in half the usual time using LEDs . The experiments also included a control using sodium vapor lamps , but these were unsuccessful compared to the LED tests . The new shortened , eight-week ,
LED-based grow time means it ’ s possible to grow up to six generations of the cereal every year . “ Globally , we face a huge challenge in breeding higher yielding and more resilient crops ,” team leader Dr . Brande Wulff told Lux magazine . “ Being able to cycle through more generations in less time will allow us to more rapidly create and test genetic combinations and find the best combinations for different environments .” The team also has proof that the speedbreeding technique works at various levels for bread wheat , durum wheat , barley , pea , chickpea , and canola . Speed breeding , when used alongside conventional techniques , can be an important tool to advance the understanding crop genetics of crops , say the scientists .
— ledsmagazine . com
New Greenhouse Film Could Improve Photosynthetic Efficiency
University of Colorado ( CU ) Boulder engineers and Michigan State University ’ s department of horticulture are working together to develop a new type of greenhouse film that could help solve food , energy , and water security challenges posed by population growth and climate change . The scalable , costeffective material would split sunlight into photosynthetically efficient light and repurpose inefficient infrared light to aid in water purification . “ The new CU Boulder technology will take the form of a semi-translucent film that splits incoming light and converts the rays from less-desired green wavelengths into more desirable red wavelengths , thus increasing the amount of photosynthetically efficient light for the plant with no additional electricity consumption ,” says Xiaobo Yin , an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering at CU Boulder . “ The near-infrared wavelengths can help clean brackish wastewater , allowing it to be recirculated in an advanced humidification / dehumidification interface and further reducing the greenhouse ’ s energy footprint ,” says team leader , assistant professor Ronggui Yang . The thin material would be applied directly to the surface of greenhouse panels . The tech will be developed in a four-year research program funded by a $ 2.45-million grant from the USDA .
— hortidaily . com
2018 Thought for Food Challenge Calls on Youth to Tackle Food Security
The Thought for Food ( TFF ) Challenge once again invites young innovators from around the world to develop new ideas and business concepts to tackle the challenge of sustainably feeding the world ’ s growing population . The competition is open to everyone under the age of 35 , and no pre-existing idea or business is required . From January 15 to May 4 , 2018 , participating teams develop new ideas through an independent online platform that offers training tools such as a design thinking lab and 12-week start-up bootcamp . Teams of three to five participants are formed and led through a series of exercises that help them identify an opportunity and develop an innovative solution . Ten finalist teams then pitch their ideas for the chance to win cash grants from TFF and its partners . The TFF Challenge culminates with the annual TFF Summit , which will be held in summer 2018 . The TFF Challenge was established in 2012 to find new answers to the question : How do we feed nine-plus billion people by 2050 ? Previous entries to the competition have covered key areas such as vertical farming , logistics , breeding , ag tech , open data , aquaculture and livestock , food waste , synthetic biology , new proteins , and appropriate tech for smallholders .
— tffchallenge . com
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