Agrochemicals and sustainable agriculture
The latest chemistry news and research on agrochemicals, including pesticides, fertilisers and sustainable agriculture, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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Business
US aims to reinstate chlorpyrifos insecticide ban
2021 ban on remaining food uses was overturned on appeal in 2023
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Feature
The problem of plastic in our soils
Not just a marine issue, new research shows microplastics are also changing agricultural land. Bárbara Pinho finds out how and what we can do to prevent it affecting our food
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News
Call for EU to ban sale of pesticides already outlawed in the bloc
Coalition of citizen groups argues that measure would cost few jobs and save lives, protect the environment in low- and middle-income countries
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Research
Protecting wine from wildfire smoke taint with a nanotech coating
US researchers, prompted by vineyard losses from 2020 wildfires on the west coast, have developed protective cellulose nanofibre coatings for grapes
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Research
Field study reveals banned pesticide sulfoxaflor had no effect on pollination by bumblebees
Work adds to nuanced picture of pesticide’s effect on pollinating insects
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Business
Nature-inspired crop protection
Plant extracts, proteins and pheromones aiming to replace conventional chemical pesticides
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Article
How the chemical industry supports sustainable farming
Daniel Vennard, chief sustainability officer at the Syngenta Group, shares his perspective on why farming is an important part of the sustainability conversation
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Business
US bans chlorpyrifos on all food crops
Environmental agency removes remaining exceptions for agricultural use of controversial insecticide
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Article
PestiMix: tackling the pesticide problem
Screening pesticide compounds just got smarter and faster
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Research
Pollen-mimicking antidote saves bees after pesticide exposure
Calcium carbonate microparticles deliver detoxifying enzyme to bees’ guts
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Feature
The growing problem of pesticide resistance
Weeds and other plant pests can no longer be controlled by chemicals as easily as they could. Bárbara Pinho talks to the scientists finding solutions
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Feature
Getting to the root of soil nitrogen
The farming industry’s reliance on nitrogen compounds is altering the environment, but Ian Le Guillou finds a better understanding of the interplay between plants and microbes could help to reduce the impact
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News
Mystery illness that hospitalised hundreds in India stumps health experts
Authorities are looking at pesticide contamination of food and water as well as heavy metals
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Research
Synthetic hormone stops water loss in crops
Virtual screening and scaffold merging behind compound that closes plant stomata
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Research
Catalyst metal recovery adds greener notes to whisky production
Bacteria harnessed to make magnetite nanoparticles that can trap copper for click reactions
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Research
Rainproof pesticide uses sticky peptides to defend against Asian soybean rust
Devastating fungal disease tackled with antimicrobial and anchor peptide combo
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News
Iupac names 10 chemistry innovations that will change the world
Nanopesticides, MOFs and 3D bioprinting among potential breakthrough technologies for a sustainable future
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Research
Lightning-inspired method makes ammonia with no catalyst
Plasma-enabled electrolysis produces the vital gas in high purity – but also consumes much more energy than current methods
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Research
Fipronil responsible for historic honeybee die-off
Researchers conclude the mass death of honeybees in 1990s France was caused by the pesticide fipronil, not a neonicotinoid
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Research
Catalytic fix for nitrogen fixation
Single-atom ruthenium catalyst doubles efficiency of electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia