Wheat

Herbicides were once touted as ‘miracle’ chemicals, but their days may be numbered as researchers work on targeted SynComs, microbial sharp-shooters that can take out weed infestations, enrich soil and, importantly, are safe for us and the environment.

Farmers have long known that it's a good idea to rotate crops. A Swiss study now indicates that wheat yields are boosted when those crops are planted in fields previously used to grow maize, which altered the soil's microbiome.

By digging up and eating sown wheat seeds, mice can have a huge impact on farmers' crops. In an eco-friendly effort to stop the rodents from doing so, scientists are now using wheat germ oil to make entire fields smell appetizing.

Wheat is one of the most widely grown crops, so any increases in its yield could go a long way towards reducing world hunger. That's where a new variety comes in, as its yield is reportedly up to 11 percent higher than that of regular wheat.

Disposable diapers are not eco-friendly, not only because of their plastic outer shell, but also due to their petroleum-based absorbent inner layer. There could soon be a sustainable alternative to the latter, though, and it's made from wheat gluten.

The results of a clinical trial find introducing gluten into a baby's diet from the age of four months may reduce their risk of developing celiac disease. The researchers stress larger trials are necessary before any broad dietary recommendations are suggested.

A new study from the University of Queensland debunks the myth that modern strains of wheat are overbred, vulnerable varieties that are heavily dependent on pesticides and fertilizers. It found found that modern wheat outperformed older strains in side-by-side field trials under various conditions.

After a massive international effort involving over 200 scientists across 20 countries, the entire wheat genome has been finally sequenced. The landmark human achievement is hoped to lead to more efficient wheat breeding and production of crops.

​It's no surprise to hear that many people who consume a typical Western diet don't get enough fiber. They could, of course, change their eating habits, but now they may not have to. Scientists have developed a new type of wheat that has 10 times the amount of fiber as its normal counterpart.

New Holland Agriculture has thrown down a grainy gauntlet to Claas, John Deere and the rest of the harvesting industry by releasing the CR10.90 – the world's most powerful combine harvester with a chaff-smoking 652 horsepower (486 kW) fit to thresh the plants off the competition.

A new study has examined the potentially disastrous implications that a combination of global warming and air pollution could have on crop yields by the year 2050.

Researchers have discovered a new way to increase plant growth by suppressing the natural response to environmental stress. The scientists have found a modifier protein which can be used to interfere with the plants growth repression proteins.