An important stretch of the mighty Mississippi River is getting mighty dry, just in time for the busiest grain export season in the country. According to the National Weather Service, this week water levels on part of the lower Mississippi came within inches of a record low, and conditions are expected to continue as grain […]
Insects provide many essential benefits to ecosystems, including pollinating crops and flowers, helping to maintain healthy soil and recycling nutrients. They also keep populations at healthy levels through their own food chains. A new project by researchers from the University of Melbourne has found a way to increase insect species numbers in a small urban […]
Japan has begun discharging treated water containing radioactive tritium from the decommissioned Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move led to China announcing an immediate ban on all aquatic products from the island nation. China’s customs bureau said in a statement that it was “highly concerned about the risk of radioactive […]
Looking to reduce your food waste? Or eat more veggies? If so, maybe it’s time to start a home garden. According to new research from the University of Sheffield, people who grow produce at home tend to consume more fruits and vegetables, and have much lower amounts of food waste compared to households without gardens. […]
Quick Key Facts What Is Water Harvesting? Water harvesting involves the harvesting of rainwater, or water from the atmosphere through systems that involve collecting it for drinking and irrigation. Rainwater harvesting is thousands of years old, and on a smaller practical scale, rainwater is a good way to conserve water for later use, particularly during […]
Quick Key Facts What Is Overfishing? Overfishing occurs when fish are caught faster than their populations can reproduce and replenish themselves, and it’s among the greatest threats to our oceans. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, one-third of assessed fisheries worldwide are pushed beyond their biological limits, which has severe […]
The peels of the aloe vera plant — as aloe barbadensis is commonly called — are routinely thrown away as agricultural waste, but scientists have found that these rinds can ward off bugs, acting as a natural insecticide for crops. The aloe plant has been used for millennia in the treatment of wounds, skin problems […]
According to Alain-Ricahrd Donwahi, the president of last year’s United Nations’ COP15 conference on desertification and a former defense minister from the Ivory Coast, it is likely that the planet will experience a major food supply disruption long before temperatures reach the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This is due to the […]
Quick Key Facts What Is Composting and Why Does It Matter? Composting is the practice of intentionally breaking down organic substances — like food scraps — and turning it into compost, essentially a nutrient-rich organic matter that is excellent for feeding plants. It also helps reduce methane emissions associated with food waste (more on that […]