This robot uses chemical-free efficiency to remove thousands of weeds
Robotic innovations are becoming increasingly integrated with agriculture to make our growing systems efficient and sustainable. Recently, a startup called Carbon Robotics unveiled a new autonomous machine that uses computer vision and high-powered lasers to comb through fields and remove up to Read More...
How will farmers face rising sea levels? Floating gardens may be the answer.
Farmers in Bangladesh are ahead of the game in developing creative solutions for planting in places with more water than land because Bangladesh’s wild monsoon season gives farmers no choice but to adapt to excess rains. According to experts, 20 percent of the available land in Bangladesh will Read More...
Tree fungus can help boost tomato yields and improve flavor
Ceriporia lacerata is a type of fungus that causes trees to rot, but researchers have recently discovered that the fungus holds significant potential in helping boost tomato yields and reduce the need for fertilizers. Fertilizers are often used on tomato farms because the plant has a long growth Read More...
New partnership helps wildlife and farmers coexist peacefully in California
Wildlife and the agricultural industry have long been at odds in California’s Central Valley. The rich farming region known as “the breadbasket of the world” is responsible for 20 percent of the US’ rice production, but it’s also a critical habitat space for migratory birds which have Read More...
Sustainable agriculture startup turns CO2 into animal feed
Recently, we shared a story about how feeding cattle seaweed could significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock farming. Now, we would like to introduce to you Deep Branch, a UK-based startup that aims to cut the environmental footprint of agriculture by creating Read More...
Transparent solar cell greenhouses could grow food and produce energy
Solar power is one of the fastest-growing forms of renewable energy, so there are many initiatives that are trying to see how solar can be combined with other industries, like agriculture, to become even more effective. We at The Optimist Daily have already written about agrivoltaic farming, Read More...
Cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells would yield billions in benefits
New research is revealing time and time again that often the most sustainable solution is also the most economically viable. The latest example of this phenomenon is found in abandoned US oil and gas fields. New research from Hendrix College has found that cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells Read More...
Solar companies and farmers are working together to harvest sunlight and food
For generations, we have been powering our lives with greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels, damaging the environment and negatively impacting our atmosphere. Today, the effects of fossil fuels are tangible as we face climate change. Human innovation is making renewable sources of energy more Read More...
Scientists use food waste to create eco-friendly liquid fertilizer
While it’s well known that compost made from food scraps helps plants grow, scientists have now figured out how to create a liquid fertilizer out of fermented food waste, which can boost beneficial bacteria within plants making them more resistant to pathogens and reducing carbon emissions from Read More...
Design studio turns crop field into dynamic light show to boost growth
The Netherlands is a relatively tiny country, which is why it may come as a surprise to you that the Netherlands is the second-largest producer of vegetables in the whole world. The central reason for this is that the Dutch have long been pioneers in using highly efficient farming techniques that Read More...