Jules Hart

Organic produce is a lucrative niche for growers to enter, the market having broken $60 billion in 2020. This makes organic weed control methods more important to perfect than ever — especially in perennial crops, where weeds cannot be controlled by tilling. Instead of tilling, Cornell researchers are looking at a different solution: electricity. Cornell…

In an organic setting, soil health is integral. However, current organic systems rely heavily on tillage and cultivation to keep weeds down; both of these techniques disrupt soil structure, which can cause soil to erode and nutrients to run off. They also cause compaction, which can hinder plant root establishment. A new guide to growing…

The future is now with the introduction of a new field called Digital Biology, where researchers aim to achieve two-way communication with plants, in order to learn what the plant needs — whether it be water, nutrients, light, or another factor — and respond. Digital biology is being pioneered by a brand-new Center for Research…