http://ec.europa.eu//research/index.cfm?pg=whatsnew en Wed, 22 May 2013 14:45:31 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Wed, 22 May 2013 14:45:31 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-autospar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29935 As a food, asparagus can trace an illustrious lineage back 20,000 years to Egypt; it features in the world's oldest surviving cook book, Apicius's third century 'De re coquinaria'; it is packed with vitamins, and a very good source of dietary fibre. No wonder the asparagus is such a prized food. But its reputation as the ultimate gourmet vegetable is also reflected in its delicate cultivation, with white asparagus in particular requiring labour intensive hilling. And in Europe, this dedicated nurturing is threatening the crop as farmers struggle to find the manpower needed to harvest asparagus. ]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-autospar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29935 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28940 As a society, we are becoming more aware of the many ways we can help support sustainable development and preserve the environment. Governments, scientists and international organisations are calling attention to soil: the basis for more than 90 % of world food production. With one in eight inhabitants of the world suffering from hunger, ensuring soil is managed and restored for global food security is vital. Soil is also important for sustainable development, and supports ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.]]> Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-11:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28940 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=70&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=24553 There is a electrifying new way to squeeze more from an ancient resource - olives. The idea is to shock the olives with an electrical pulse before squeezing them. The brief pulses of a strong electrical field enlarge the pores in the cellular membranes, simplifying the extraction of oil.]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=70&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=24553 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24493 Researchers in Germany and Hungary have engineered novel pellets that are able to repel pests in a way that does not harm the environment and that could fertilise the plants. These pellets are made of cyanobacteria and fermentation residues from biogas facilities. The organic farming industry could stand to benefit from this innovative development since organic farmers stand to lose entire crops when pests, such as cabbage root flies, lay their eggs on freshly planted vegetables.]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-11:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24493 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=a22&item=Infocentre&artid=24214 Water is a precious commodity, especially in regions where rainfall is scarce. For farmers, smart irrigation means better crops for less outlay.]]> Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-16:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=a22&item=Infocentre&artid=24214 http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?pg=pace_conference_2012 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-23:/iscp/index.cfm?pg=pace_conference_2012