The use of animal manure in agriculture appears to be the best choice in terms of metal contamination of our soils Metals and hormone-disrupting substances such as oestrogens present a genuine risk to the sustainability of agriculture and water management in Europe. This is the conclusion of doctoral research conducted by Chinese environmental scientist Yuwei…
Ever since humans first learned to grow their own food, farmers have been saving seeds to produce the next crop. This practice has been essential for over a millennium since it encourages sustainability and stronger crops. Unfortunately, the relatively new idea of copyrighting seeds has all but put an end to this traditional relationship. Large…
DAVID TURNBULL continues his series of profiles of Canberrans with a story. This week the focus is on two scientists striving to do amazing things with digital data. Science has changed. Ten years ago, you could study botany at university and emerge with a degree that’d set you up for a career. But those days…
Strategic use of solar arrays could provide financial boost, help farmers continue producing crops and even save water As farmers debate whether fields should be used for agriculture or solar panels, new research from Michigan State University says the answer could be both. Jake Stid, a graduate student in the College of Natural Science Hydrogeology Lab, analyzed…
Insects are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, but why? Agricultural intensification tops the list of proposed reasons, but there are many other, interconnected drivers that have an impact, according to new research led by Binghamton University, State University of New York. Research on insect decline has surged in recent years, sparked by an alarming…
The municipalities of Mytilene and Western Lesbos on the eastern Aegean Island of Lesbos have been declared in a state of emergency for one month due to a dramatic decline in water reserves. The decision aims to bypass red tape causing delays, expedite much-needed measures and infrastructure projects, and address the water shortage. A detailed…
An international team of agronomists is calling for a new approach to estimate crop yield potential and gaps — information that is critical in planning how to meet growing food demand. University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers made major contributions to the study, published online April 8 in the journal Nature Food. “We are in a race…
Obi Nwaegbe’s stirring exhibition at the University of Cambridge, UK, brings into thrilling focus a decade’s worth of revolutionary work by the JR Botek Foundation, highlighting the resilience of African farmers in the face of climate change. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports A stirring exhibition, titled The Roots of Resilience, that “sows” – pun intended – the seeds of…
A new study published in Ecological Processes reveals that no-tillage farming — a technique that avoids plowing — can significantly improve soil health while reducing carbon pollution. Researchers found that NT farming increases soil carbon storage, enhances microbial activity, and prevents degradation, making it a promising tool for sustainable agriculture. With the changing climate and…
Researchers at Göttingen University show keys to nature conservation measures at landscape level How can the loss of species and habitats in agricultural landscapes be stopped? Up to now, measures have mostly been implemented by individual farms. In contrast, agri-environmental measures that are planned across farms at landscape level offer greater potential for creating suitable…