Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), also known as berseem, represents one of the most important forage crops in Egypt and several temperate and subtropical regions. As a winter annual leguminous crop, it provides essential fresh fodder, silage, and hay for livestock while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. However, the productivity and quality of Egyptian clover face a significant threat from dodder (Cuscuta planiflora), a parasitic weed that can cause yield losses of up to 80%. This parasitic plant lacks photosynthetic capability and depends entirely on its host for survival, extracting nutrients and water through

In the quest for sustainable agriculture, biofertilizers have emerged as a game-changer. These natural fertilizers harness the power of microorganisms to enhance soil fertility and plant growth, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. When applied biofertilizers to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.

Egyptian agriculture faces significant economic losses from terrestrial snail infestations, particularly in the Nile Delta region where humid conditions favor their proliferation. Land snails cause extensive damage to vegetables, ornamentals, fruit trees, and field crops throughout Egypt. These molluscan pests consume plant tissue, damage seedlings, contaminate produce, and serve as intermediate hosts for parasitic diseases affecting livestock and humans. The reliance on synthetic molluscicides containing metaldehyde or methiocarb poses serious risks to non-target organisms, beneficial insects, soil health, and water quality. Organic integrated pest management provid

You have probably eaten a pasta dish with mushrooms or a pizza with mushrooms, but have you ever looked at mushrooms as a source of health rather than just food? Mushrooms are fungi that have been used by humans for centuries in culinary applications. Currently, more than 2,000 species of mushrooms exist in the wild, but only about 25 species are wildly consumed as food (Valverde et al., 2015). Romans used to call mushrooms “Food of the Gods”, while Chinese people referred to them as “Elixir of Life” due to their various health benefits and medicinal properties (Pardeep K. Khanna & Shivani Sharma, 2013). The aim of this newsletter is to provide a simple and cle

Pests and diseases cause between 20-40% of all crop production to be lost each year, this equates to losing around $300 billion annually (FAO, 2023). Such losses contribute massively to food insecurity, which is particularly prevalent in African countries. Pesticides are typically used to control pests, but their excessive use has led to biodiversity loss and widespread pollution, which in turn harms humans and the environment. To combat this growing challenge, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies have been increasingly adopted. These strategies focus on a combination of cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical approaches to control pests in an environmen

Agriculture is the backbone of all civilizations, and the stronger this backbone is the stronger the civilization will be. Agricultural systems are man-made systems with the aim of cultivating the largest number of crops possible within the system. However, it makes no sense to follow a system that meets the aim we need if we can not sustain the system for years to come. Additionally, human and soil health should be evaluated as well, and the overall environmental effects should be studied before adopting any agricultural system. From this perspective, agronomists realized that the highest yield/production is not a reliable indicator for the efficiency or the sustainability