REUTERS/China Daily
Seeing Purpose and Profit in Algae
Although algae grow prodigiously and contain potentially useful molecules, extracting those molecules has proved complicated and expensive. But a US company has a pilot plant that can turn a profit making diesel fuel from algae by making clean water from municipal sewage, using the carbon-heavy residue as fertilizer, and generating valuable credits for advanced biofuels, all simultaneously.
New Technology Helps Farmers Conserve Fertilizer and Protect their Crops
Nitrogen is applied by farmers to agriculture fields all over the world, and much of it is lost to the atmosphere and waterways. Researchers hope they’ve created the beginnings of a solution: a new software program helps farmers save money and mitigate environmental impact by giving them the information needed to determine how and when to apply nitrogen fertilizer.
Mobile Payments: How Digital Finance is Transforming Agriculture
In East Africa, where urban centers have become saturated with mobile money, mobile payments to farmers can be economically viable for value chains. The alignment between mobile money providers, large agriculture buyers, and farmers presents a win-win scenario for everybody.
Gateway Bug: How Crickets Could Hook America on Eating Insects
Crickets, which are sustainable and nutritious, have emerged in the past year as something of a food fad; ironically, farming these insects is quite costly, ranging from $20 to $40 per pound. But if the cost of farming drops, crickets appear likely to become a regular part of American diets given their merits, including high protein content and low carbon footprint.
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