Agriculture

The latest on what's growing and what's faltering across the world's farms—and the resources they use to keep running.

Latest in Agriculture

a close up of food scraps being poured into a compost bin

Food scraps could power future airplanes

By Mack DeGeurin

Two men are standing behind an enormous, pale orange Atlantic Giant pumpkin, with their hands resting on it. They are inside a large greenhouse structure, surrounded by green vines and leaves. Both men are smiling and wearing casual t-shirts and jeans.

Giant pumpkin growers face off for world gourd domination

By Diana Hubbell

pouring coffee into a white cup that is sitting on coffee beans

Coffee’s delicious journey from tiny bean to tasty brew

By Sara Kiley Watson

Dubai chocolate is a dessert prepared with milk and dark chocolate, roasted shredded wheat, pistachio paste and tahini.

Why foods like Dubai chocolate go viral

A dramatic, wide-angle photo of a scarecrow standing in a dry cornfield or patch of tall, brown crops at sunset. The scarecrow is dressed in a dark hat and long coat, with a sack covering its head and stick arms outstretched. The sky above is colored with orange and pink clouds.

How scarecrows went from ancient magic to fall horror fodder

Selection of overripe avocados against yellow background

AI may help you pick the perfect avocado

A celebratory outdoor scene shows a man giving a thumbs-up while standing next to a massive, pale orange pumpkin at a weigh-off event. Two young children are sitting happily atop the pumpkin. A digital scale displaying "2346" is visible in the background, along with banners for the "Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off," under a bright blue sky.

Behold, the pumpkin king: A 2,346 pound gourd

a mushroom with a white stem and a red cap with white dots

Mario’s super-sized mushroom exists in real life

Close-up of a unique Dracula Orchid with intricate patterns and textures, resembling a monkeys face, against a dark, blurred background

Famous monkey-face ‘Dracula’ orchids are vanishing in the wild

By Diogo Veríssimo, Amy Hinsley, Luis Baquero / The Conversation

Exploration Acres corn maze seen from aerial photograph

Inside the making of a world-class corn maze

a venus fly trap closes on a fly.

Venus fly traps’ death-grip trigger discovered

By Laura Baisas

a new broccoli growing

New broccoli hybrid can thrive in colder climates

By Laura Baisas

Researcher using thermometer to measure meatball temperatures in kitchen

Ground beef infused with apple scraps clears taste test

Ripe grapes growing on plants in vineyard lit by sun

Bronze Age farmers often prioritized wine over olives

A thin section of a maize ear at a very early stage of development (about 3 millimeters long). Each color represents the expression of a different gene in stem cells and associated cells.

Want better corn? Color its stem cells.

A midden in rural England on a cloudy day

Bronze Age feasts uncovered in ancient English trash heaps

Surkandarya Valley in Uzbekistan

An Uzbekistan cave holds an ancient agricultural secret

Cooked shrimp on plate with fork and cilantro

Walmart’s ‘radioactive shrimp’ recall isn’t a reason to fear irradiated food

By Andrew Paul, Laura Baisas

Close up of ear of corn in corn crop field

Corn gets gassy when it feels too crowded

Cacao Beans in seed pods next to chocolate chunks in cacao seed pod

How to make perfect chocolate, according to science