While using mating pheromones is a much safer pest control method than pesticides, many farmers don’t use them because they’re expensive. But there has been a recent development that makes them cheaper to synthesise. Camelina plants have been genetically modified to produce seeds that contain a fatty acid that’s a precursor to insect mating pheromones. Pheromones synthesised using the Camelina fatty acids are estimated to cost between $70 and $125 per kilogram, less than half the cost of current methods and on par with pesticide prices. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
