New research on sustainable agriculture shows why farmers adopt or dismiss nontoxic farming methods

If researchers knew what kept farmers from adopting natural methods to grow healthier plants and vanquish pests, curbing hunger worldwide might be more feasible. That assumption underpins a new joint research project at Virginia Tech.

Trichoderma, a fungus, and cocopith, the dust of a coconut, both stimulate healthy plant growth and limit the need for pesticides. The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management has long promoted the two natural solutions in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

But persistent factors keep some farmers from getting on board.