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Food crisis and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 in the hungriest countries

The number of people battling acute hunger and suffering from malnutrition is on the rise again. The upheaval set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic may push even more families and communities into deeper distress.

29 Apr 2020

Iron-biofortified beans help improve physical performance of anemic women in Rwanda

Anemia is a global health problem common in low-income countries. Severe cases can lead to fatigue, heart problems, and complications in pregnancy. When widespread, anemia can also weigh on national economies.

29 Apr 2020

Study examines temperature increases in U.S. counties and their impact on crop yield

The global pandemic has put a focus on essential workers, those we rely on for basic services. Workers who pick crops, from strawberries to apples to nuts, already face harsh conditions harvesting in fields during summer harvest months.

29 Apr 2020

New study can help track the impact of climate change on honey bees

New research from the University of British Columbia and North Carolina State University could help scientists track how climate change is impacting the birds and the bees... of honey bees.

28 Apr 2020

Researchers identify a new risk factor for multiple neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), have identified a new risk factor for multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

28 Apr 2020

Antibiotic exposure and its priming effect on disease-causing bacteria

Antibiotics save lives -- but using them also helps antibiotic-resistant strains evolve and spread. Each year, antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect some 2.8 million people in the United States, killing more than 35,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

27 Apr 2020

Rural populations living around large cities less vulnerable to disasters

Rural populations living around large cities have better access to resources and are therefore less vulnerable to disasters than rural communities located near small cities, a new study conducted in Pakistan's Punjab province suggests.

27 Apr 2020

Study highlights a new way to increase crop production

During the past few weeks, empty supermarket shelves, without pasta, rice and flour due to panic buying, has caused public concerns about the possibility of running out of food.

24 Apr 2020

Alliance’s COVID-19 response: Taking actions to address increase in world hunger

The unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis have reached every corner of the globe. While stemming the tragic human toll is still our collective global priority, another looming crisis is coming into view: an alarming increase in those going hungry.

24 Apr 2020

Africa needs inclusive food systems to prevent COVID-19 calamities

To prevent COVID-19-induced calamities, Africa needs to have inclusive food systems, says a report.

23 Apr 2020

Researchers create new coating to prevent cross-contamination between fresh produce

Over the course of their journey from the open fields to the produce displays at grocery stores, fresh vegetables and fruits can sometimes become contaminated by microorganisms. These items can then spoil other produce, spreading the contamination further and increasing the number of food items that can cause illnesses.

23 Apr 2020

Media literacy can have a positive impact on kids' nutrition, family relationships

During this pandemic when few parents can limit screen time, a new study shows that building critical media skills as a family can have a positive impact on kids' nutrition without restricting their access to TV and computers.

21 Apr 2020

Mason receives $500,000 USDA grant to implement Rural Opioid Telehealth Project

The George Mason University College of Health and Human Services has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the Rural Opioid Telehealth Project, which will serve an estimated 177,000 rural, low-income residents of Virginia and West Virginia.

21 Apr 2020

University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center awarded $8.7 million NIEHS grant

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has awarded the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center a five-year, $8.7 million grant to conduct research aimed at better understanding and minimizing the negative health and environmental impacts of chlorinated organic compounds found at Superfund sites across the Commonwealth and the U.S.

20 Apr 2020

Analysis reveals cocktail of pharmaceuticals in the waters of Bangladesh

In spring of 2019, researchers set out to investigate what chemicals could be found in the waters of Bangladesh.

20 Apr 2020

Study: Incentive-based programs are not a suitable solution to control pests in fruits, vegetables

While incentive-based programs have had many success stories in helping to regulate air quality, control pollution, and protect wildlife and fisheries, they may not be the answer to controlling invasive pests.

17 Apr 2020

Study finds milk consumption habits among east African herders 5,000 years ago

When you pour a bowl of cereal, you probably aren't considering how humans came to enjoy milk in the first place.

15 Apr 2020

Unexpected benefit of COVID-19 lockdowns on the environment and health

The pandemic spreading over the world has affected over 185 countries and territories so far, with over 2 million cases and 134,354 deaths. In response, many countries and regions have enforced lockdowns, in addition to the almost universal recommendations for social distancing. One of the most significant impacts has been the effect on economic activity the world over.

15 Apr 2020

Predicting the evolution of genetic mutations

Biologists have developed an algorithm able to predict how genetic mutations can make critical proteins change with evolution.

14 Apr 2020

Fruit puree may hide flavor of dark green vegetables in commercial baby foods

Commercially prepared baby foods that purport to be loaded with dark green vegetables are sweetened with fruit puree and often don't contain a high percentage of dark green vegetable content, according to a team of researchers.

13 Apr 2020