Anna Schwabe, PhD

Sterile Pollen Technique as Novel Weed Management tool: https://lnkd.in/gmhituiG

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File under EATING IS AN #AGRICULTURAL ACT Uttered more than once by Kentucky #farmer and #writer and the conscious of eaters, Wendell Berry. "#EPA warns #farmworkers about risks of #Dacthal " - https://lnkd.in/gKzFsmu3 "Today, April 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing its next steps to protect people from the #herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, or Dacthal)." "EPA is warning people of the significant health risks to pregnant individuals and their developing babies exposed to DCPA and will be pursuing action to address the serious, permanent, and irreversible health risks associated with the pesticide as quickly as possible." Sadly, this isn't an April Fool's joke. Yet, the mainstream industrial agriculture folks might prefer you'd assume so. They have been "joking" eaters for a while now on the "need to feed the world" - calories - at any cost (but just not their profits!). Pesticides do, to a relative degree, harm the eaters - so always wash your fruits and veggies even if they are certified organic. Pesticides tend not to recognize fence lines. But, more importantly, the people who are most impacted from exposure to DCPA are FARMERS and FARM WORKERS. You know, those folks we eaters seem to want so badly to forget about while eating our Big Mac and Fries - they represent the S in ESG. These very real people are often underpaid, overworked, underage, undocumented, invisible, essential to our global food system. Some own the farm, itself, and many, many others are renters or migrant workers. They represent a key tradeoff for keeping food, biofuels, fiber, and many other derivatives of our agriculture system so darn "cheap!" The major social costs of the modern agricultural endeavor, the green revolution, hasn't been so much felt at check out line - although in 2022, the average US household spends about 11% of their income on groceries https://lnkd.in/gQExEPkG, an all time high, driven by pest outbreaks, weather , war, and over-inflated retail prices https://lnkd.in/gfFPA3Au) - but from the detrimental environmental, health, justice, livelihoods and community impacts. These hidden costs, if we address them, are often paid by us or via taxes by local, state and federal governments. Not by those individuals who profit most from keeping these impacts as market externalities. So what has been the response of #regenerativists, foodies, and #sustainability experts. Have you seen much talk about this EPA warning? Have you reached out to your suppliers or farmers to halt their use of the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, or Dacthal)? And did you know many pesticides also have PFAS??? Leaching in the water….💦 and USDA doesn’t know how much or where because these are usually inactive ingredients - proprietary ingredients. But assume likely everywhere pesticides are applied. Hmmmm…more research is needed?!?

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking strides to enhance its draft Herbicide Strategy, a pivotal component of its commitment to fulfilling Endangered Species Act (ESA) obligations. Following extensive public feedback, EPA is dedicated to refining the strategy for increased effectiveness and ease of implementation while safeguarding federally listed species. Key enhancements include: 1. Simplified Approach: EPA is streamlining the strategy by introducing a four-tier mitigation system, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. 2. Grower Flexibility: Expect expanded mitigation measures, particularly benefiting specialty crops, with new additions like erosion barriers and soil carbon amendments. Collaboration with USDA aims to identify further mitigation avenues, enhancing sustainability. 3. Geographical Considerations:Recognizing diverse landscapes, EPA aims to reduce mitigation requirements where growers have adopted voluntary practices or operate in areas with lower runoff potential. Moreover, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is collaborating with stakeholders to refine mapping strategies, aiming to tailor conservation efforts more precisely, potentially reducing the land area subject to pesticide restrictions. #EnvironmentalProtection #Sustainability #Collaboration #EPAUpdates

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Genetic drift from GM crops to wild populations is happening and it is worrying the scientific community, in this case from the Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China. What the longterm effects will be seem unclear, but genetic drift is certainly changing ecosystems, e.g. Soil microbial and fungal communities. GM crops are changing The Commons, how many of us are aware? Dong, Shijia, Yunfei Gao, Liu Xin, and Wei Ding. ‘Insights into the Effects of Transgenic Glyphosate-Resistant Semiwild Soybean on Soil Microbial Diversity’. Scientific Reports 14, no. 1 (30 December 2024): 32017. https://lnkd.in/dDdn2tMx.

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For all of you who have a personal seedbank and who are worried about storage issues, take a read. “32,000 years ago, an arctic ground squirrel consumed parts of a plant, specifically silene stenophylla, including its seed. The squirrel was in the process of digesting it when its life came to an end. Scientists were able to recover its body from the permafrost and examine it. To their amazement, they found that the seed was still viable and managed to germinate it. The resulting plant turned out to be a silene stenophylla, which had last bloomed 32,000 years ago. This incredible discovery highlights the resilience and vitality of terrestrial life.”

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As the new Entomological Society of America Book Editor in Chief, I would like to invite anyone with an idea for a book to submit it. Click here. You can access the type of books we have in our professional society: https://lnkd.in/ehZY5jWi. However, we are open to ideas. https://lnkd.in/eaxsytdD Please email me directly for more information. #science #sciencecommunication #entomology #entomologia #insects #insectos

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Interesting article on leafy greens. Regardless if you believe these numbers, if these are even close to accurate, this shows where a lot of work and research needs to be done. Within that, the industry needs to figure out lettuces! A few highlights: - 10% of known pathogen-caused foodborne illnesses - $5B cost annually - Lettuces linked to over 75.7% of leafy green foodborne illnesses and 70% costs.

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AAAS: "Observing soil bacterial ecosystems." It's a common misconception that subsoil plant growth is limited solely to the activity of roots. "In reality, there is a complex ecosystem that is influenced by a range of microorganisms known as the rhizosphere." Zhang et al.used a combination of quantitative phase imaging with three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy—which enables a depth of field of more than 100 micrometers or 1/10 of a millimeter, much tinier than a human hair. This reduces 'the number of captures needed to form a composite of superimposed images of the roots and bacteria and thereby limiting photobleaching.' Furthermore, "the sensitivity of the technique enables observation of microbial growth, competition, and gene expression in the early stages of colony development." So, colonies of associated microorganisms, not just roots. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2024) 10.1073/pnas.2403122121. You gotta admit that being able to create a three-dimentional imagine like this looks pretty cool.

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This weekend I presented a writing workshop at Lake Arrowhead and met Sean Cutler, a plant biologist developing "PLANT BIOSENSORS." These are crops that have been engineered to sense molecules in the environment (like pesticides or toxins) and then change color in response. Over the last few days, I've read much more about this work, and I think these plant biosensors could be incredibly useful for farmers. They could basically help stop infections before they spread. Here's how they work... About two decades ago, Cutler did seminal work to discover protein receptors that bind to a plant hormone called abscisic acid, or ABA. This hormone regulates how plants respond to stress. Plants sense ABA in a three-step process. First, ABA binds to a protein called PYR1, forcing it to shift into a different shape and revealing a "binding pocket" that latches onto another protein called HAB1. Over time, this causes HAB1 levels to drop in the cell, which plants use as a signal to activate their stress response. These proteins can be engineered to sense *new* molecules! Cutler's group at UC Riverside engineers the ligand-binding pocket in the PYR1 protein. They've solved its crystal structure, and they know exactly which amino acids are responsible for grabbing onto the ABA molecules. In a recent paper (https://lnkd.in/eHDEa6Rx) they randomly mutated these amino acids and searched for PYR1 mutants that can grab onto NEW types of molecules. And it worked. They made PYR1 proteins that can grab onto banned pesticides, like azinphos-ethyl and diazinon, with nanomolar sensitivity and without affecting ABA (in other words, the *new* proteins are orthogonal to the old ones.) But what about the response? How do these new PYR1 proteins trigger a plant to physically change colors? That's where the synthetic biology comes in. When the engineered PYR1 binds to its target, it then grabs onto a modified form of HAB1 (called HAB1*) and activates genes of the scientists' choosing. One can encode the betalain biosynthesis pathway --- the same genes that give beets their red color --- and have its expression be controlled by HAB1*. These are orthogonal, programmable biosensors inside of plants. So here's the breakdown: - Engineer PYR1 to detect new molecules. The sky is the limit; this could be toxins, molecules associated with soil nutrient levels, pathogen proteins, and much more. - Rewire the genetic output so that PYR1, when activated, triggers the production of red pigments or something else (and not drought response.) - The plants change color when they sense the target molecules. Hopefully there will be field trials soon. Regulations will slow this work down, but farmers could plant JUST A FEW of these plants amongst the tens of thousands in their fields. These biosensors don't need to be sold as food; they could be discarded at the end of every growing season.

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Unleashing the Power of Vetpreneurship: Why We Need More Vets Leading Change Initiatives The veterinary industry is ripe for innovation, and who is better to lead the change than the passionate, knowledgeable minds of veterinarians? That's where Vetpreneurship comes in! In partnership with the NVMA (Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association), Farm Alert is supporting 30 Veterinarians across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria to solve long-standing community animal health issues. We are encouraging vets to take their ideas and turn them into businesses that can revolutionize animal care. Here's why it's crucial: Filling industry gaps: Vets see the challenges firsthand and can develop solutions that address specific needs Innovation for animal well-being: With a deep understanding of animal health, vets can create groundbreaking solutions that improve animal health Meeting pet owner and livestock needs: Vets have a unique perspective on what pet and livestock owners struggle with and can develop services or products that directly address those concerns. Empowering vets to become Vetpreneurs fosters a more dynamic and responsive veterinary landscape, ultimately benefiting the animals we love. Do you have a brilliant idea to shake up the veterinary world? Are you a recent veterinary graduate (0 to 5 years post-graduation)? Then it's YOU we are looking for! Drop a comment and we will reach out to you https://lnkd.in/drWMqxN5

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File under COWS AS MACHINES So....What about the impact of these methane inhibitors on the cows? Curious, do folks know of any research on the animal welfare aspects of methane inhibitors for dairy and cattle? I just did some google scholarly searching and found a dearth of research on asking this question. I know the key impact on cows from the additive is more hydrogen in the rumen and blood. But what is the impact on the cows? Bloat? Less eating from appetite discomfort? I must admit I dislike these sorts of linear thinking techno fixes to industrial system failures - off course it’s this sort of thinking that leads to these problems in the first place. We are still treating these animals like industrial machines! Captialistic solutions to polluting are so arrogant, expensive, and disregard tradeoffs or consider potential emergent phenomena. The faith in human intelligence, in technocratic linear problem solving solving A+B = C. We are messing with a naturally selected symbiotic relationship between cows and bacteria. What is the impact on the cows quality of life when they no longer burp? Why isnt anyone talking about promoting less dairy and beef consumption? Why aren’t we talking about solutions in terms of net global emissions? Across industries? The focus on win-wins! We can techno ourselves out so we can always ‘have our cake and eat it too’ is the mantra of most climate and other environmental solutions. We can maximixe their profits and save the world! Let’s think much more multidimensional. Ask. How much of X is enough? Who wins and who loses? There is always a loser. Are we all ok with the loser losing? #methane #cows #beef #dairy #climate #additives #inhibitors #Bovaer

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** 9/24/2024 UPDATE: SOT just learned that the Syngenta Fellowship will not be bestowed this year, but the Society has many other awards for which postdocs and students are eligible: www.toxicology.org/awards ** ATTENTION POSTDOCS AND GRAD STUDENTS: Apply for the 2025 SOT Syngenta Fellowship Award in Human Health Applications of New Technologies, which is presented to a third-year (or later) graduate student or a postdoctoral trainee. Fellowship funding is to support mode-of-action research aimed at characterizing dose-dependent effects of xenobiotics on mammalian systems in such a way that the causal sequence of key events underlying toxicity is elucidated. The work should permit a quantitative basis for extrapolation of the results from animal bioassays or animal models (in silico, in vitro) to humans at relevant human doses. This is a one-year, nonrenewable award. The application deadline is October 9: https://bit.ly/3YCo4Mb

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IT’S NATIONAL PORK MONTH! 🎉   For more than 35 years, the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA® Plus) has helped pig farmers and their employees continually improve production practices with its education and certification program.      What is PQA® Plus you may ask?   - It educates on food safety🥓, animal well-being🐖, environmental stewardship🌿, worker safety👷‍♀️, public health and community👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  - It represents the commitment of farmers to continuously improve pig production practices   - It is sponsored by Pork Checkoff (through contributions from America’s Pork Producers). You can learn more on our website (https://lnkd.in/g25ZdC-8)    By promoting these standards, we build trust among our producers, our supply chain and with consumers alike. It’s about creating a sustainable future for pork production and enhancing its value in consumers’ lives. If you're interested in learning more about pork production or how we can support your team’s training, feel free to reach out. Together, we’ll build a bigger appetite for pork! 🥩🥗🍖🥕🥓🍑🥬   How does this relate to human nutrition research you may ask? ⁉️⁉️⁉️ A recent study was published with the basis to understand the benefits of biosecurity measures in the United States, this was the first comprehensive survey of pigs produced under the PQA Plus production standard. An incredible 54-month study surveyed over 3 MILLION pork samples from twelve processing locations and what were the results? “We detected no Trichinella sp. positives in any of these pork samples, providing a 95% confidence in a Trichinella sp. prevalence of <1 in 1,000,000 for the processors represented by the study. These results are consistent with international guidelines for having a negligible risk to public health.” (Reference: https://lnkd.in/g-K4pZPB)    Pig farmers continuously work to improve their farms in all areas of PQA, these practices have led to a near eradication of Trichinella from the US commercial pork supply. How about those pork facts! 💥💥💥💥   #Pork #FoodSafety #Sustainability #NationalPorkMonth #PQAPlus #Nutrition #Nutritionresearch     This content made possible by the Pork Checkoff.

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U.S. and international scientists have expressed concerns about the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) response to the spread of H5N1 avian flu in dairy cattle across multiple states. Researchers have criticized the USDA for not providing timely or sufficient genetic data, which is crucial for assessing and understanding the potential risks for humans. Despite claims of transparency, the USDA has been slow to release genetic sequences from the outbreaks (released recently on GISAID more than 3 weeks after the first outbreak) . This has hindered international efforts to understand whether the virus has mutated to become more infectious to cattle and potentially to humans. Scientists have also criticized the near complete lack of metadata associated (e.g. collection dates and locations) to the H5N1 sequences uploaded to GISAID. The article underscores implications for global disease surveillance and response, stressing the need for prompt sharing of data during outbreaks to enable effective containment and prevent wider transmission. #influenza #USDA #avianinfluenza #birdflu #evolution #H5N1 #health #globalhealth #publichealth #medicine #CDC #WHO https://lnkd.in/geJNHGfx

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Y'all. TLDR: Hemp cultivators must ensure that their crops contain less than 0.3% total THC 15-30 days before harvest. The USDA does not regulate hemp products post-harvest, leaving a regulatory gap for THCA hemp flower. Amending the CSA to redefine hemp to include all THC forms would help close this loophole and ensure compliance across all hemp products. The Farm Bill is typically revisited every 4-5 years, and we are currently overdue for another revision, making it an ideal time to address these issues. Deets: The Farm Bill dictates regulations for hemp cultivation. Hemp cultivators are required to conduct pre-harvest tests 15-30 days (state programs differ) before harvest to ensure compliance. Total THC must be <0.3% to be considered compliant. Once the pre-harvest test determines the crop is compliant the USDA's oversight ends. This means that post-harvest products, such as THCA hemp flower, fall outside the purview of the USDA. The USDA does not regulate these products, and herein lies a loophole. Harvested flower under 0.3% delta-9 THC is technically legal per the CSA, but was it legally produced? In order to change this, there is a need for a change in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The language within the CSA currently defines hemp as having less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Amending this definition to include all THC forms, including THCA, would close the existing loophole and ensure that all hemp-derived products remain within the intended legal limits. It's important to note that revisiting and amending the Farm Bill every 4-5 years is a normal and expected practice. The 2014 Farm Bill laid the groundwork for pilot hemp programs, while the 2018 Farm Bill expanded hemp legalization and established more comprehensive guidelines. Given that we are now overdue for another revision, it is an opportune time to address these regulatory gaps and update the Farm Bill to reflect the evolving landscape of hemp cultivation and product regulation.

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Here's everything you should know about embryo culture:👇🏻 Crossbreeding different plant varieties has long been a cornerstone of crop improvement. 🌱 One powerful biotechnological technique aiding this process is embryo culture. This method involves nurturing immature or mature embryos in a controlled environment to produce viable plants. Embryo culture involves extracting embryos from seeds and growing them in a nutrient-rich medium. 🌱 This technique is especially useful for rescuing embryos that would otherwise fail to develop naturally, particularly in interspecies crosses. While the concept might seem contemporary, the roots of embryo culture trace back to the early 20th century. Pioneers like Hannig, Dietrich, and Laibach laid the foundation for this field. Subsequent advancements in media composition and sterile techniques propelled embryo culture into a powerful tool for plant scientists. 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: ➡️ Mature Embryo Culture:  𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: : Involves the isolation and cultivation of fully developed embryos from ripe seeds. 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞: Typically used to overcome seed dormancy, rescue viable embryos, or shorten breeding cycles. ➡️ Immature Embryo Culture:  𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The isolation and cultivation of underdeveloped embryos from developing seeds. 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞: Primarily used to rescue hybrid embryos that would normally abort due to genetic incompatibilities. 📍 If you are interested in learning in-depth about the embryo culture technique, my latest blog, "An Overview of Embryo Culture," is just for you. Link in the comments. 👇🏻 How do you think embryo culture could revolutionize agriculture and help us create amazing hybrid plants? Share your answers and thoughts in the comments! ............................... FOLLOW ME for more plant science and agriculture content. ............................... Looking for a science writer to join your team? I can help you craft engaging social media strategies and blog content that resonate with your audience. Feel free to reach out to discuss your specific needs! ............................... #plantscience #planttissueculture #tissuecultureplants #embryoculture #tissueculturetechnique #tissuecultureapplications #plantbiotech #sciencecommunication #scicomm #biotechnology

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Throughout the H5N1 outbreak, there have been several epidemiological inflection points worth noting. Events that we should pay very close attention to. 1. Poultry flock and depopulation workers positive for dairy H5N1 strain in Colorado 2. Cats with no livestock exposure positive for H5N1 in Colorado 3. Individuals with no animal exposure positive for H5N1 in Missouri 4. Higher mortality among dairy cattle in California And now... USDA has confirmed the first H5N1 detection in swine from a mixed non-commercial poultry and swine operation in Oregon. And the USDA notes that the only reason this detection was identified was because the investigators were operating out of an abundance of caution. Without comprehensive surveillance we may miss subclinical or asymptomatic infections in humans and animals. https://lnkd.in/gP-qHKsB   #H5N1 #HPAI #GlobalHealth #OneHealth

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