Mycoherbicides, which are developed from plant pathogenic fungi that infect specific host plants, have been proposed as a targeted means of preventing or reducing the cultivation of illicit drug crops. This study focused on mycoherbicides intended to target illicit plantings of cannabis, coca, and opium poppy. The committee was asked to examine questions about the efficacy of the mycoherbicides, their persistence in the environment, th... More >>

Report in Brief >> The release of food safety data gathered during federal inspections of meat, poultry, and egg product processing establishments such as slaughterhouses, warehouses, and retail stores would help increase transparency and could lead to improvements in public health. For example, purchasers, consumers, and public interest organizations could use the data to identify companies with performance records consistently above or belo... More >>

Report in Brief >>Biofuels offer an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Interest in biofuels stems from their potential to improve U.S. energy security because they are produced from renewable domestic sources and from their potential to provide life-cycle greenhouse-gas benefits compared to fossil fuels. The Renewable Fuel Standard, which is a subtitle of the Energy Independence and Security Act enacted by Congress in 2007, mandates that 3... More >>

Report in Brief >> The continued growth of the aquatic farming industry depends on the development of nutritious feeds that maximize fish growth and health while minimizing the environmental impacts caused by uneaten feed and animal waste—a challenge that can only be met with updated information on the nutritional requirements of fish and shrimp. This report, the latest in a series of National Research Council reports on the nutritional needs o... More >>

To ensure the safety of food distributed through the National School Lunch Program, food banks, and other federal food and nutrition programs, the United States Department of Agriculture has established food safety and quality requirements for the ground beef it purchases. This National Research Council report reviews the scientific basis of the Department’s ground beef safety standards, evaluates how the standards compare to those used by larg... More >>