Agriculture Hub

 The world of genes Since the 1920s, the use of genetics to grow new strains of plants and animals has brought substantial changes in agriculture. Only at the beginning of the 20th century was genetics developed as a science dealing with the concepts of heredity and variation in plants and animals. Later came its application to practical issues. Extremely stable are the chromosomes. However, means of assortment, segregation, and recombination of genetic factors are present during sexual reproduction processes. Thus, within a population, enormous genetic diversity is provided. In order to adapt it to particular applications, this variability makes possible the improvements that can be made within a species. Variability is often contributed by occasional mutations (spontaneous changes) in genes. Of course, the study of genetics did not await the creation of new strains of plants and animals, and some advances were made by observational methods even after the application of genetic sc...

 What is it about ? Sustainability is a dynamic term in agriculture with many dimensions, including economic (sustainable farming should be a productive activity that contributes to a robust economy), social (sustainable farming should be equitable to its employees and have a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community and environmental aspects. In agriculture, environmental protection means good stewardship of the natural systems and services on which farmers depend. This entails, among other things: Building and maintaining healthy soil Managing water wisely Minimizing air, water, and climate pollution Promoting biodiversity There is a whole area of study dedicated to achieving these objectives: agroecology, farm management science, ecosystem science. Farms controlled using agro-ecological concepts will prevent adverse impacts by working with nature rather than against it, without compromising efficiency or profitability. Sustainable agriculture practices Rotating c...

 Why leadership is so important in the agricultural industry ? The typical user has never been further away from the entrance to the farm. Nevertheless, market demand for food supplies has risen exponentially. Concerns about sustainable and environmentally friendly production are growing. At the same time customer preference and the high profile emphasis on "healthier" choices coincide and clash. We would argue that there is simply not a broad enough understanding of the dynamics of farm management today. The farm used to be mom and pop, with the children living off the property. They just had to think about manufacturing. Now it's a multi-million dollar enterprise where you need to have all of a top flight general manager's expertise in finance, human resources, operations, sales and marketing, transport and logistics and technology. In the past decade, the quantity of agronomic data filtered and used in decision making has exploded. More problems regarding control a...

             The processing of animal products, such as beef, dairy, wool and leather, is a multi-billion-dollar industry per year and accounts for more than half of the value of agricultural products in the United States. In addition, in diets eaten worldwide, livestock products supply about 13 percent of energy and 28 percent of protein. This is going to witness an astronomical change soon due to a fast growing industry and demand from the market. Milk, eggs and meat are most wanted products that human beings heavily depend on. With a high consuming population , animal production badly needs innovative ideas for its growth and also a sustainable support with regard to climate change. Importance of this field To meet expected demand for animal products, the industry must streamline production and advance capacity to avoid, track, diagnose and treat animal diseases.  Genetics, treatment, diet, and the environment affect the health and efficiency o...

 Everything is chemistry  At the cellular and molecular level, biochemistry is the application of chemistry to the study of biological processes. Around the turn of the 20th century, it developed as a distinct discipline when scientists combined chemistry, physiology, and biology to study the chemistry of living systems. It investigates the chemistry of living organisms and the molecular basis for the changes occurring in living cells. Biochemistry is both life science and chemical science. It uses chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and immunology techniques to research the structure and actions of complex molecules contained in biological material, and how they interact to shape cells, tissues, and whole organisms. For example, biochemists are interested in brain function mechanisms, cell multiplication and differentiation, communication between and within cells and organs, and the chemical bases of inheritance and disease. In such methods, the biochemist tries to decide ...

 What is Aquaculture ? As the name says, it combines water and cultivation, especially for human consumption, is the regulated method of cultivating aquatic species. It's a term similar to agriculture, but instead of plants or animals, with fish. Fish farming is often referred to as aquaculture. It is possible that the seafood you find at your local grocery store is branded as farmed fish. In coastal ocean waters, freshwater ponds and rivers, and even on land in tanks, aquaculture can happen all over the world. The mechanism being Aquaculture The methods of aquaculture’s farm-to-table process can differ from species to species. Generally, there are four stages of the production chain, starting in hatcheries and ending at the seafood counter in your grocery store. Both of these phases will differ in terms of their environmental effects and the quality and protection of the seafood they produce, which is why the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification program is ad...

 The field of wonders if used judiciously Biotechnology is biology-based science at its simplest: biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to create technologies and products that help enhance our lives and our planet's health. For more than 6,000 years, we have used microorganisms' biological processes to produce useful food products such as bread and cheese, and to maintain dairy products. Healing a world facing lethal diseases By harnessing nature's own toolbox and using our own genetic makeup to cure and direct study lines, biotech helps to heal the world by: 1. Diminishing rates of infectious disease 2. Saving millions of children's lives 3. Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world 4. Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects 4. Creating more precise tools for disease detection and mitigation 5. Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the...

 Intro The analysis of all living species that are too small to be visible to the naked eye is microbiology. This contains, collectively known as 'microbes', bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae. In nutrient cycling, biodegradation/biodeterioration, climate change, food spoilage, disease cause and control, and biotechnology, these microbes play key roles. Microbiologists study microbes, and some of the most important discoveries that have underpinned modern society have resulted from studies by renowned microbiologists, such as Jenner and his vaccine against smallpox, Fleming and the discovery of penicillin, Marshall and the identification of the correlation between infection with Helicobacter pylori and stomach ulcers, and zur Hausen, who discovered the link papilloma virus and cervical cancer. Branches of Microbiology Microbiology is a very vast discipline and it expands into many disciplines. 1. Bacteriology: the study of bacteria. 2. Immunology: the...

 Intro Food Science is a multidisciplinary discipline that includes chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, microbiology and engineering in order to provide us with the scientific expertise to solve the real problems associated with the food system's many facets. A knowledge of the chemistry of food products, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water, and the reactions they encounter during processing and storage are the basis of the discipline. Including drying, freezing, pasteurization, canning, irradiation, extrusion, to name only a few, a thorough understanding of processing and preservation methods is required. In addition to statistical quality control methods, the ability to perform analysis of food constituents has been established. It is also important to understand the microbiology and the safety aspects of food. Food Science continues to be a relatively new and growing discipline, produced largely in response to social changes in North America and other parts of the de...

Startups (freshly created companies) are booming everywhere according to Get2Growth website ( link ) and this will keep on increasing at an exponential rate. So with that same motivating entrepreneurial mindset, we are launching the FOA Business Idea Competition with a clear goal of educating firstly students about the word of entrepreneurship and helping them to start their own business. With the help of many stakeholders such as the SME Mauritius and other important government bodies that support entrepreneurship in Mauritius, we will take our faculty to the next level and promote talent in our campus. The power of technology in agriculture Many people have that mindset that agriculture is only limited to normal planting of crops, aquaponics or even hydroponics, but if we take agriculture to the next level and try to think outside the box, we can innovate by connecting the other dots together. The agricultural industry is witnessing a rapid expansion with new companies innovating usi...

The faculty of agriculture of University of Mauritius (FOA) is the oldest faculty within the university, founded in 1914. Being a powerhouse of knowledge, diversified both on an academic and professional basis and also paving students' towards a startup road for the future, FOA with its small number of students has always maintained its standard and respect both in Mauritius and abroad.  The goal of the FOA Knowledge Hub simple. We want to engage students in a more holistic university environment towards knowledge sharing, build up a community of agriculture enthusiast and promote entrepreneurship at the faculty.