Understanding dairy cow behavior has been a hot topic of dairy science research in the last few decades. In a special issue of JDS Communications dedicated to behavior in dairy animals, a new study highlights the importance of environmental enrichment for improving the welfare of housed dairy cows. Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that introducing a simple novel object into the cows’ environment can significantly reduce boredom-associated behaviors, make the environment more engaging, and help the dairy science community better understand the effects of housing on behavior.

Caio Canella Vieira, a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and assistant professor of soybean breeding, is leading a new project to develop resilient soybean plants and decrease damages from southern root-knot nematodes. The microscopic worms cause an estimated $160 billion in damages globally each year. Vieira was awarded a $791,000 grant by the National Insitute of Food and Agriculture to develop soybean plants with resistance to the pest as it encrouches northward with climate change.

The challenges posed by climate change and greenhouse gas net-zero transition are discussed. Several key technology areas which require innovation are briefly reviewed in this article, including renewables, energy storage, distributed energy resources, CO₂ utilization, agriculture, and the synergy between Al and energy transition. The shift in mindset from “re-cycling” to “re-using” and a redefinition of “wealth” for a more sustainable future are also proposed.

The researchers developed a novel corona dielectric barrier discharge (cDBD) microreactor that produces plasma-activated water (PAW) using solar energy.