Transforming lives with forgotten crops

In Tanzania, traditional crops are making a comeback, boosting people’s health, agrobiodiversity, and climate resilience. This video shares inspiring stories that show how Neglected and Underutilised Species (NUS) can positively impact farmers, retailers, and consumers alike. These success stories emerge at a critical moment. Since the industrial revolution, thousands of nutritious crops have been largely forgotten. Today, just three staples—wheat, rice, and maize—supply nearly half of the world’s calories. The journey to revive NUS is far from over. Through the CROPS4HD project, FiBL, SWISSAID, and AFSA are working in five countries, including Tanzania, to promote agroecologically grown NUS that restore agrobiodiversity, strengthen food security, and foster a more sustainable, resilient future

Pokrovni usevi u proizvodnji lekovitog i aromatičnog bilja

Ovaj vodič pruža pregled koristi i izazova u uzgoju pokrovnih useva i daje praktične savete za izbor vrsta

Blühende Wiesen, strukturreiche Hecken, summende Brachen

Die Förderung von Insekten, Vögeln und Pflanzen trägt direkt zur Bestäubungssicherheit, natürlichen Schädlingskontrolle, Bodenfruchtbarkeit und Tiergesundheit bei. Und auch wirtschaftlich lohnt sich das Engagement: über Direktzahlungen, Diversifizierung von Standbeinen und durch ein positives Image bei Konsument*innen. Der ProBio-Fachanlass auf dem Biohof Stäublig in Sigigen LU bot praxisnahe Einblicke in die Vielfalt möglicher Biodiversitätsfördermassnahmen

Wheat-Bean mixed cropping trials under organic management from 2015 to 2018

This database originates from field trials conducted between 2015 and 2018 by CREABIO at the La Hourre experimental site (southwestern France) and was compiled by ITAB. The aim of these trials is to investigate the impact of different varieties on the performance of wheat–faba bean mixed-cropping. Each treatment corresponds to the combination of a soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) variety and faba bean (Vicia faba), under sowing densities of 280 seeds/m2 for wheat and 25 seeds/m2 for fava bean. A total of 9 soft wheat varieties and 1 faba bean variety are tested. The mixed cropping is compared to two sole-crop controls: pure wheat and pure faba bean. The trials followed a split-plot design with 3 replicates. The database includes information on: - Field operations: sowing, fertilization, weed control, and harvesting - Production performance: grain yield, protein content, specific weight - Yield components: plants density (plants/m²), ears density (ears/m²), pods density (pods/m²) and grains density (grains/m ²) - Wheat growth monitoring: early and late growth habit, vegetative and reproductive phase vigour and height at maturity - Disease susceptibility to several pathogens: Zymoseptoria tritici (Mycosphaerella graminicola), Puccinia striiformis (P. glumarum), and Puccinia recondita. In addition, the database contains daily meteorological data (minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures, as well as precipitation) recorded at the on-site weather station throughout the trial period, along with several soil descriptors. This dataset is part of the database compiled as an outcome of Work Area 1 in project OrganicYieldsUP. Variable definitions can be found here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15276082 ID abbreviations: W-B: wheat/bean intercropping W: winter wheat FB: faba bean WFP: winter fodder beans Example in « FB15 » FB correspond to Faba Bean and 15 to the number of seeds.m-2 Publications based on this dataset (Frensh): Essai Association Blés-Fèverole (EcovAB) en agriculture biologique : – Campagne 2015-2016 – Campagne 2016-2017 Résultats du projet EcovAB, année 2015-2016 - Comportement des variétés de blé en situation d’azote limitante Résultats du projet EcovAB, année 2014-2015 Essai sur la production de blé panifiable en association avec la féverole - Synthèse des essais 2016-201

Plant neighbour type distinctively alters barley root-associated microbiomes under contrasting water stress conditions

It is well acknowledged that diversified cropping systems provide ecosystem benefits that promote sustainable crop production. Focal plants growing in diverse communities acquire resilient traits including distinct microbiomes that facilitate nutrient acquisition, disease suppression and resilience against abiotic stresses. Yet, we still have limited knowledge of individual plant neighbour effect on focal host root-associated microbiomes. Here, we examined the effect of plant neighbour on focal barley root microbiome assembly and 16 potential microbial functions under different drought stress scenarios, using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS amplicon sequencing analysis. We found neighbour type have distinct effects on focal barley microbial diversity and composition under contrasting water stress conditions. Distinct microbial taxa were differentially enriched between barley monocrop and intercrop systems. Distinct plant neighbours promote the enrichment of specific beneficial bacterial genera such as Variovorax, Massilia, Bacillus, Devovsia and Acidovorax in highly water limited than non-limited conditions. Additionally, we found potential microbial functions characterized different intercrop systems under contrasting water stress conditions. Specifically, barley roots from rye neighbour were significantly enriched with several functions associated with the nitrogen cycle, suggesting that rye root traits such as secreted benzoxazinoids could potentially interact with the N-cycling in the soil. These findings deepen our understanding into crop type selection for intercropping systems to promote sustainable crop production

Unscheinbar, aber unverzichtbar: Die Ackerbegleitflora

Zwischen Nutzpflanzen wie Weizen und Gerste gedeiht eine oft übersehene Vielfalt: Ackerbegleitpflanzen wie Acker-Stiefmütterchen oder Venusspiegel leisten einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Biodiversität

Hvordan kan husdyrene få det bedre? Her er ekspertenes 12 løsninger

– Det finnes ingen enkeltstående faktor som ved et trylleslag kan løse utfordringene med dyrevelferd, sier rådgiver Vegard Botterli fra forskningssenteret Norsøk. Så hvilke tiltak skal til? Her er svarene fra 15 forskere og eksperter som har blitt intervjuet i forskning.nos serie om dyrevelferd

Arable farmers, what does it take to convert in Denmark?

Sufficient premiums, targeted subsidies, and payments for ecosystem services compensate the farmers and maintain a competitive farm income. Practical recommendations • Use knowledge and recommendations from experienced advisors or peers to optimise input and fixed costs and overall revenues • Enhance resilience to uncontrollable production conditions by diversifying crops and varieties • Combine high-value crops (such as grass clover seed or arable vegetables) with bulk products to balance income and risk • Identify a yield level that minimises vulnerability to fluctuation in prices or environmental factors • Align cultivation methods and production ambitions that match reduced input costs through resource-efficient practices and self-sufficiency where possible • Document increases in biodiversity and nature value with the help of certified advisors, enabling payments or subsidies based on measurable ecosystem values • Calculate the farm´s climate impact to avoid potential penalties or taxes

Kennzeichnung biologischer Lebensmittel

Das Merkblatt bietet Lebensmittelfirmen und Hofverarbeitern Unterstützung bei der Beschriftung ihrer Produkte. Es erläutert die Anforderungen zur Kennzeichnung biologischer Lebensmittel gemäss den in der Schweiz geltenden gesetzlichen Grundlagen und den privaten Richtlinien von Bio Suisse und Demeter

Sources of resistance to wheat stem rust from the Danish breeding company Agrologica and gene banks

Identifying sources of ressistence against stem rust (Puccinia tritici