A groundbreaking study from South Korea has revealed the evolutionary journey of brown algae through genomic analysis. The research highlights key milestones, including the transition to multicellularity and species diversification, and uncovers viral integrations in brown algae genomes that influenced their evolution. It also explores practical applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and climate change mitigation, emphasizing brown algae's potential for carbon capture and ecosystem restoration, while offering valuable insights into enhancing ecological resilience amid climatic challenges.

In an invited Tansley Review, CABBI researchers discuss strategies to increase Rubisco content as part of short- and long-term efforts to meet the growing global food demand.

Researchers from Norway, Austria and Switzerland have calculated just how much energy it takes to put livestock products and other foods on our tables. Animal-based products, like meats, fish, dairy, eggs and cheese, were the largest energy consumers, responsible for 60 per cent of the energy footprint of agriculture worldwide, while providing just 18 per cent of all calories.

Kajwan Rasul and colleagues calculated the global energy return on investment for agriculture over time from 1995 to 2019. The authors find that the return on energy investment for global agriculture has increased from .68 to .91 over the study period. Animal-based products are particularly energy-hungry, accounting for 60% of the energy used in the global agrifood system but providing just 18% of the calories. 

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis shows that more than half of the weedy rice sampled in the rice-growing region of the southeastern U.S. has become herbicide resistant.