agriculture

Despite Their ‘Bad Rap,’ Bats Can Help Farmers

Despite Their ‘Bad Rap,’ Bats Can Help Farmers

April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day! In celebration of these sometimes unsung nocturnal pollinators, a new study has demonstrated how bats can be allies of agriculture, as they feed on important crop “pests.” The researchers found that encouraging bats can be beneficial for conservation efforts, as well as local farmers, a press release from […]

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    EU Nature Restoration Plan Postponed Indefinitely

    EU Nature Restoration Plan Postponed Indefinitely

    The European Union’s nature restoration law, which had set out to restore 20% of land and sea areas in the EU by 2030, has now been postponed indefinitely after a vote to pass the bill on Monday was canceled. The nature restoration law was initially proposed in June 2022 and has spent the last several […]

    Energy Industry’s Methane Emissions Soared to Near Record High in 2023 Despite International Climate Pledges: IEA Report

    Energy Industry’s Methane Emissions Soared to Near Record High in 2023 Despite International Climate Pledges: IEA Report

    According to key findings from the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s latest Annual Methane Tracker, in 2023, global methane emissions from fossil fuels stayed close to a record high despite new global reduction pledges. Human activities like agriculture, oil and gas production and the accumulation of food waste in landfills produce methane — a much more […]

    Endangered Species 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Endangered Species 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts The Endangered Species Act To understand what “endangered species” means, it’s important to unpack the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which followed the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the first piece of federal endangered species legislation. Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1973, the ESA states that the federal government has a […]

    Potassium Depletion in Soil Threatens Global Food Security, Scientists Warn

    Potassium Depletion in Soil Threatens Global Food Security, Scientists Warn

    Nutrient depletion in agricultural soil is nothing new. There have been numerous studies and concerns about the depletion of nutrient-rich topsoil and the loss of nutrients like carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, but scientists are now warning about the depletion of potassium in soil. In a study published in the journal Nature Food, scientists highlight how […]

    20 Global Dishes With the Greatest Biodiversity Risks Include Meat-Based and Vegan Fare, Study Finds

    20 Global Dishes With the Greatest Biodiversity Risks Include Meat-Based and Vegan Fare, Study Finds

    Our food choices can have substantial environmental impacts. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, worldwide food production — especially animal agriculture — is the main cause of biodiversity loss. One of the major reasons is that livestock and their feed require a great deal of land. Certain foods — such as Indian kidney bean […]

    Grocery Chains to Ban Use of Neonics by Suppliers, in Move to Protect Pollinators

    Grocery Chains to Ban Use of Neonics by Suppliers, in Move to Protect Pollinators

    Some grocery chains are moving to help protect pollinators by requiring their suppliers to stop using nitroguanidine neonicotinoids, or neonics. Chains including Whole Foods and Kroger have recently outlined policies that will ban the use of neonics in crop production. Whole Foods’ policy also applies to its floral department. According to the Whole Foods policy, […]

    Bangkok City Workers Ordered to Work From Home to Avoid Toxic Smog

    Bangkok City Workers Ordered to Work From Home to Avoid Toxic Smog

    Government employees in Bangkok have been ordered to work from home for the next two days in order to avoid a thick layer of noxious smog covering the city. On Thursday, authorities warned that air pollution levels in Thailand’s capital and neighboring provinces had reached unhealthy levels, reported Reuters. Non-government employees have been urged to […]

    USDA Census of Agriculture Shows U.S. Losing Small Farms to Factory Farming, While Gaining in Renewable Energy Use

    USDA Census of Agriculture Shows U.S. Losing Small Farms to Factory Farming, While Gaining in Renewable Energy Use

    The latest Census of Agriculture from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) raises concerns over a loss of small farms and a growth in larger farms, while also showing some promise with the growth of renewable energy implementation in agriculture. The USDA completes a Census of Agriculture every five years to count the nation’s farms […]