Earthworms could become unexpected allies in the global fight against antibiotic resistance, by helping farmers turn manure into safer, high-value organic fertilizer through a process called vermicomposting. Researchers report that this low energy, nature-based technology can remove antibiotic resistance genes far more consistently than conventional composting, while also improving soil health and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Invisible pollutants in high tech greenhouses may be quietly reshaping the food on our plates and the soil beneath our feet. A new open access review maps how heavy metals, micro and nanoplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes increasingly pile up together in intensive “facility agriculture” and why this triple cocktail demands urgent attention from scientists, farmers, and regulators.

A new study has identified the first known gene in eggplant that provides resistance to begomoviruses, a group of plant viruses responsible for major crop losses worldwide. The research shows that virus-resistant plants accumulate far less viral DNA than susceptible plants, linked to a gene encoding an exonuclease involved in viral defense. This previously unknown resistance pathway could support the breeding of virus-resistant crops, strengthen food security, and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

With global population growth and rising food demand, agriculture ensures food supply while bringing severe environmental problems. Among these, agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) has become one of the major factors affecting water health and ecological security.

In the vast cotton fields of Xinjiang, plastic film covering technology has been a weapon for increasing yield—it conserves water, raises temperatures, and improves water utilization efficiency, significantly boosting cotton production in arid regions.

A research team led by Hiroshima University and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have proposed a neuroendocrine mechanism in bony fish that signals ovulation from the ovaries to the brain, using the medaka fish as a model; the first step to elucidate the neural circuits for facilitation of sexual receptivity in female teleosts. 

To test the viability of food waste as a plant growth medium, researchers grew tomato and watermelon seedlings in pure food waste substrate, pure commercial peat moss-based potting mix and blends of the two with varying ratios to compare seedling germination, growth and nutrient uptake. The pure food waste substrate was made up of food scraps from a commercial partner and wood chips from a tree service company. The study found that while food waste compost might not be viable as a standalone alternative to commercial potting mix, it could be suitable as part of a substrate mix.