Electric power from potatoes Monday, February 28, 2011 Slices of freshly cooked potatoes can provide electricity for remote, off-grid communities, says a research team at the University of Jerusalem. A slice of potato can generate light for 20 hours, and several slices could power simple medical equipment, or even a low-powered computer.The work was described last year in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and hinges on a recent discovery that electricity flows from membranes disrupted by boiling. Potato batteries are estimated to generate electricity at a cost of about US$9 per kilowatt hour, about the same cost as AA alkaline batteries. D cells generate electricity for about $50/kWh.Expect to see another debate about "food or energy" to develop. The "antis" argue that these "food batteries" would be grown and used in areas of Africa where food may already be in short supply. Proponents, on the other hand, say many potatoes can't be moved to city markets in time to prevent them from rotting. BF ALUS and EG&S: The tangled world of ecological services Key Asian meat market in turmoil
Loveland launches AQUA FORCE to boost water efficiency in pivot-irrigated fields Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Loveland Products, Inc. has introduced , a new water‑use‑efficiency product built specifically for center pivot irrigation systems and designed to help farmers get more value from every inch of applied water. Unlike traditional surfactants or wetting agents, is formulated to move... Read this article online
New program supports Canadian farmers with succession planning Tuesday, January 13, 2026 A new program is available to help Canadian farm families on their succession plan journeys. Groundworks is a collaborative effort between the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing, AgriRisk Managers, and Loft32, along with support from AAFC. The program supports farmers with... Read this article online
Ontario Prairies Cover Crop Survey Launch Tuesday, January 13, 2026 As cover crop use continues to expand across Ontario and the Prairie provinces, a new survey has been launched to better understand how these practices arechanging onfarms. The survey aims to collect valuable information about how cover crops are being used, what benefits they provide, and... Read this article online
Cost-Share Intake Opens for Biological Inoculant and Biochar Testing Monday, January 12, 2026 Are you testing or interested in testing biological inoculants or biochar? If so, Ontario farmers have an exciting opportunity to access cost-share funding through the Ontario On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). A new intake will open in late January to support producers in the... Read this article online
Lallemand awards $14,000 in scholarships to support future animal agriculture leaders Friday, January 9, 2026 Lallemand Animal Nutrition has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarship program, awarding a total of $14,000 to five undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in animal science, nutrition, and veterinary medicine. Now in its 11th year, the program recognizes students... Read this article online