food-systems
Food systems encompass the interconnected processes involved in producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food, from farm to table and beyond. For plant science, understanding food systems is essential because plants form the foundational layer of nearly all human nutrition, making crop biology, agricultural practices, and plant-based innovation central to improving food security, sustainability, and resilience. Research at this intersection helps scientists develop crops better suited to feed growing populations while minimizing environmental impact across the entire supply chain.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-04
Researchers analyzed the viruses present in the guts of diarrhea-affected and healthy piglets in England, finding a surprisingly complex mix of at least 14 virus types in both sick and healthy animals — with no clear single viral culprit responsible for the illness.
At least 14 different virus types from 10 or more virus families were identified in both diarrhea-affected and healthy piglets, including astrovirus, rotavirus, and parvovirus.
Four viruses (astrovirus, enterovirus, kobuvirus, and smacovirus) were found in 100% of all samples — both sick and healthy pigs — making them unlikely sole causes of disease.
Several viruses (including astro-, entero-, sapelo-, sapo-, posa-, adeno-, and toro-viruses) showed higher levels in sick pigs, but the differences were not statistically significant.