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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FeatureThe 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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NewsCall 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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ResearchProtecting 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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ResearchField 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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BusinessNature-inspired crop protection
Plant extracts, proteins and pheromones aiming to replace conventional chemical pesticides
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ArticleHow 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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BusinessUS bans chlorpyrifos on all food crops
Environmental agency removes remaining exceptions for agricultural use of controversial insecticide
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ArticlePestiMix: tackling the pesticide problem
Screening pesticide compounds just got smarter and faster
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ResearchPollen-mimicking antidote saves bees after pesticide exposure
Calcium carbonate microparticles deliver detoxifying enzyme to bees’ guts
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FeatureThe 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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FeatureGetting 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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NewsMystery 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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ResearchSynthetic hormone stops water loss in crops
Virtual screening and scaffold merging behind compound that closes plant stomata
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ResearchCatalyst 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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ResearchRainproof pesticide uses sticky peptides to defend against Asian soybean rust
Devastating fungal disease tackled with antimicrobial and anchor peptide combo
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NewsIupac 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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ResearchLightning-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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ResearchFipronil 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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ResearchCatalytic fix for nitrogen fixation
Single-atom ruthenium catalyst doubles efficiency of electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia
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ResearchUsed cooking oil helps weed out fertiliser pollution
Inverse vulcanisation used to turn waste canola oil into controlled-release fertiliser