The new TSEA or Agricultural Ecosystem Health Cards provide a practical tool for diagnosing agricultural ecosystem health through analysis of surface-level crop indicators and underground soil level. These handbooks enable users to make basic or advanced diagnoses, with a focus on biological parameters such as microbiological activity.
A UBC study using satellite imaging found that Latin America's agricultural expansion slowed down from 2007 to 2013, a notable decline after decades of rapid growth. The slowdown is tied to global commodity prices and may not last if the economy recovers.
Researchers found that wetlands created between tile-drained agricultural fields and rivers can remove 62% of nitrates from water. The slow flow of water through the wetland allows microbes to eliminate nitrate, reducing its emission as a greenhouse gas. Building a wetland is an effective long-term solution for reducing nitrate runoff.
The LIFE REGEN FARMING project demonstrates regenerative agricultural practices that increase grass yields by up to 14% while maintaining nutritional quality. This approach reduces chemical fertilizers, increases grazing time, and lowers the carbon footprint of milk production.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have discovered five strains of yeast capable of breaking down agricultural by-products into bioethanol. This breakthrough could lead to the production of over 400 billion litres of bioethanol annually from crop waste, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Human intervention in arctic and boreal wetlands results in significant increase of CO2 emissions, leading to overall warming effect despite decrease in methane emission. Conversion of temperate wetlands into agricultural land causes higher climate impact due to increased radiative forcing.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's SAWBO initiative uses animated educational videos to teach subsistence farmers how to construct raised planting beds and install drip irrigation systems. These techniques can increase agricultural productivity, conserve water, and even combat desertification.
A global map produced by researchers at Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research reveals that streams within 40% of the global land surface are at risk from insecticide runoff. The map highlights areas such as the Mediterranean, USA, Central America, and Southeast Asia as particularly vulnerable to water pollution.
A large-scale study by University of Southampton researchers has found that the agricultural development of a region in eastern China is ecologically unsustainable, with losses of ecosystem services and declining water quality. The study suggests that economic development has created a trade-off between gains in agricultural productivi...
A new UF/IFAS study reveals that warming temperatures could lead to a decline in wheat production, with crop losses estimated at one fourth of the annual global wheat trade. The research used computer models to predict the impact of temperature increases on wheat yield and found that warmer temperatures are already slowing yield gains.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the University of York used genetic sequencing techniques to analyze DNA from parchment samples, revealing insights into livestock breeding history. The study sheds light on how agricultural development shaped animal genetics across centuries.
The Arab Food Security Project aims to improve domestic productivity by investing in agricultural research, resulting in a 28% increase in wheat yield across 10 countries. The initiative will work towards reducing dependence on food imports and promoting better rural livelihoods through knowledge sharing and improved technologies.
A study by Purdue and Iowa State universities surveyed 6,795 people in the agricultural sector, revealing a significant divide between scientists and farmers on climate change causes. More than 90% of scientists attributed climate change to human activities, while 66% of corn producers blamed natural shifts in the environment.
Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences conducted a new study on leadership development. The study found that leadership development progresses in three stages: readiness, willingness, and ability. Students who develop these skills can become effective leaders. Leadership i...
A new study projects a significant loss of suitable agricultural land in Mediterranean regions and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa under climate change, while high latitudes experience an expansion of cropland. The simulation highlights the need for sustainable land management and adaptation measures to ensure food security.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests climate change may increase agricultural land availability in the North, but reduce it in tropical regions. This shift could lead to more frequent harvests in some areas and fewer in others, impacting global food production.
African green revolution could boost land use and carbon emissions, contrary to previous successful initiatives in Asia and Latin America. Researchers warn of potential environmental consequences despite potential long-term benefits like cheaper food and reduced poverty.
Improving agricultural productivity in Africa could lead to an increase in global deforestation rates and carbon emissions. However, the study found that if markets become more integrated, the negative effects of a green revolution in Africa will diminish over time.
A synchronized lock and dam system failed during a severe flood in April 2013, resulting in seven unmoored barges crashing into the dam. The incident caused significant damage to the navigation channel, flooding adjacent land and disrupting agricultural shipments.
Reducing agricultural production in provinces like Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Hebei, and importing food from other regions, could conserve China's water resources. A new report suggests that restructuring these regions could reduce national water use while maintaining food security.
A California-based study found that pregnant women living near fields with chemical pesticide applications had a higher risk of having children with autism or developmental delays. The study identified associations between specific classes of pesticides and increased risks of these conditions.
The EU's Common Agricultural Policy reforms are too weak to positively impact farmland biodiversity, with over half of all farmland exempt from ecological measures. Experts call on member states to take action to address declining biodiversity and intensification of agricultural practices across Europe.
Researchers from Oregon State University have identified the ancestral home of Phytophthora infestans, a costly and deadly plant disease that causes potato late blight. The discovery provides new avenues to discover resistance genes and helps explain the mechanisms of repeated emergence of this disease.
Researchers predict global malnutrition will decline significantly if agricultural productivity grows, despite income growth. Improved food security will lift many people out of hunger-stricken regions through increased caloric consumption and higher protein diets.
Researchers at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station will investigate plant-soil interactions to reduce environmental nitrogen losses. By understanding how plants coordinate microbial priming to coincide with plant demand for nitrogen, they aim to create more efficient agricultural systems.
The shale gas industry's high water usage competes with residential and agricultural needs in arid regions, depleting groundwater resources. Researchers suggest using brackish water and recycling wastewater to minimize the industry's water footprint.
In a recent study, scientists document the importance of irrigated agricultural crops to the Long-billed Curlew, a species of continental conservation concern. The study highlights the need for allocating water reliably to wetlands and flooded agricultural lands to support the species' survival.
The Feinstein International Center at Tufts University is awarded an $8.5 million contract to support evidence-gathering from agriculture projects in Ethiopia. The project aims to understand the impact of agricultural development on rural communities and inform policy improvements.
A recent study at Chalmers University of Technology found that greenhouse gas emissions from food production threaten the UN's 2-degree Celsius limit for global warming. Reducing meat and dairy consumption could bring agricultural climate pollution down to safe levels, but broad dietary change can take time.
A study published in Agricultural Systems found that planting cover crops increases eight of eleven ecosystem services, including carbon and nitrogen retention, erosion prevention, and weed suppression. The research highlights the importance of considering temporal dynamics when assessing management system effects on ecosystem services.
Agroforestry is key to increasing food production in Africa by replenishing soils, improving biodiversity, and conserving natural resources. By adopting sustainable agricultural intensification techniques, farmers can meet the growing population's needs without degrading the environment.
Crop intensification through agroforestry can improve soil fertility, biodiversity, and water quality, increasing food production in Africa. By reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers, farmers can maintain nutrient cycling, organic matter build-up, and ecosystem resilience.
African smallholder farmers can benefit from agroforestry practices to increase storage of carbon, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve resilience to climate change impacts. Agroforestry is a win-win solution that addresses both mitigation and adaptation needs in food-focused production systems.
Agricultural fires in Indochina have detrimental effects on the environment, releasing vast amounts of smoke that cause air pollution. The fires also pose health risks to individuals with respiratory concerns.
The recent Ohio River flood of 2011 caused significant agricultural land damage, with approximately 1,000 acres flooded. However, due to the timing of the flood, cultivated soils were not severely impacted, resulting in minimal loss of soil productivity and yield reduction. The study highlights the need for reevaluation and implementat...
Converting natural land to cropland decreases global vegetation growth, with the largest reductions in former tropical forests and savannas. The study's findings have important implications for terrestrial carbon storage, suggesting strategies should be avoided to prevent severe degradation of vegetation growth.
A recent study found that community-focused agriculture has a measurable effect on economic growth in certain US regions. For every $1 increase in agricultural sales, personal income rose by 22 cents over five years.
A Princeton University research team created a model to evaluate how human response to climate change may alter the agricultural utility of land. The study found that most conservation lands have low agricultural utility due to rugged terrain, but some areas could become more valuable for farming in the future.
A modeling study by US Forest Service researchers shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and sediment entering rivers and streams. Converting agricultural lands to forests in or near battures can greatly lessen water outflow and reduce sediment load, with a t...
University of Illinois researchers suggest a partnership between farmers and scientists to develop effective practices for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agricultural fields. The goal is to find widespread regional acceptance and reduce the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
Historic global trends predict that global forest cover will decline by 10% over the next century unless new technologies boost yields or strategies to decrease food consumption are introduced. Reforestation may increase global forest cover to 35% within 70 years if food production and consumption stabilize.
Advances in agricultural technology have led to the removal of 1.5 billion pounds of unhealthy saturated and trans fats from North American diets since 2006. Scientists are working to meet the increasing demand for protein-rich foods while addressing challenges such as climate change, soil erosion, and evolving pests and diseases.
A recent study by Kansas State University predicts that the High Plains Aquifer will deplete to 69% by 50 years if current irrigation trends continue. Reducing water use could extend the aquifer's lifetime and increase net agricultural production until 2110.
NASA detects hundreds of fires in central Africa on August 21, 2013, suggesting deliberate agricultural burning to manage land and clear unwanted plants. The fires produce smoke degrading air quality and pose threats to species extinction.
Researchers have found pesticides commonly used in California's agricultural regions contaminating Pacific Tree Frogs in remote mountain areas, including national parks. The detection of pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and simazine highlights the potential long-term impact on biodiversity.
Researchers found that common fungicides and insecticides can weaken the immune systems of honey bees, making them more susceptible to infection with a deadly parasite. The study's findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on pesticide use during crop pollination.
The Ecological Society of America examines ways to improve soil, water, and nutrient retention, pollinator support, and pest suppression. Sessions focus on land sharing, global-to-local connections, and resilient future interdependencies between conservation and agriculture.
A study published in Science magazine found that current agricultural policies result in considerable financial and environmental costs. The research suggests refocusing public policies could improve the situation by rewarding farmers for ecosystem services like climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water regulation.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine concludes that US farm subsidy policies contribute to the worsening obesity epidemic by making unhealthy foods affordable for consumers. The study recommends investing in sustainable agriculture and prioritizing public health in agricultural policy.
Researchers found that two 15-year-old constructed marshes in Ohio accumulated soil carbon at an average annual rate of 2150 pounds per acre, surpassing natural wetlands and other agricultural lands. This suggests that restored and man-made wetlands should be considered for long-term carbon storage.
Dozens of agricultural fires in central Africa were detected using NASA's MODIS satellite, highlighting the widespread use of slash-and-burn agriculture methods. These practices threaten biodiversity and air quality, producing smoke that can lead to deforestation and erosion.
A recent study suggests that empowering women farmers with knowledge of improved agricultural practices and modern storage methods can significantly increase food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. This approach has been shown to reduce poverty and post-harvest losses, leading to a more stable food supply.
Agricultural fires are a common occurrence in eastern Russia, particularly during the planting season. The Russian military uses specially equipped transport airplanes to put out over 90 fires, highlighting the need for monitoring and intervention.
Two studies by the University of Pittsburgh researchers found that wood frogs living near agricultural fields are resistant to chlorpyrifos and other insecticides. This increased resistance may be an adaptation to frequent exposure to pesticides, which can harm amphibian populations.
Researchers found that current costs of forest conservation are low, but future agricultural yields could increase dramatically, rendering financial incentives ineffective. This threatens the long-term viability of conservation programs in tropical developing countries.
Research finds double cropping associated with higher GDP, median per capita income, and better public sanitation. Double cropping also linked to stronger employment and tax revenue, which benefits entire economy.
A record-breaking algae bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by a combination of long-term agricultural practices and extreme weather events. The researchers predict that future blooms will be even more severe unless agricultural policies are revised to reduce nutrient runoff.
A research team led by Anna Michalak found that the 2011 record-breaking algal bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by long-term agricultural practices combined with extreme precipitation, weak lake circulation, and warm temperatures. The team predicts future mega-blooms unless scientifically guided management plans are implemented.
A large-scale study found that wild insects consistently enhance fruit set for a broad range of crops and agricultural practices on all continents. The researchers concluded that losses of wild insects from agricultural landscapes will likely impact both natural heritage and harvests.
A study developed a new model to improve climate balance in agriculture by identifying key factors contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and energy inefficiencies. Organic farming strategies, such as planting legumes and using soil less intensively, show promise for reducing emissions and improving yields.