The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. Spanning eight countries, it has been called the “lungs of the planet” for its vital service of converting enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Now, Brazilian lawmakers have approved a bill to allow conservation funds to be used to pave a highway — BR-319 […]
Quick Key Facts What Is Vertical Farming? What if you could walk into your grocery store in February to buy fresh tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and leafy greens — all fresh and locally grown in the middle of winter? With vertical farming on the rise, that might just become a reality. Vertical farming is pretty much […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its Plant Hardiness Zone map, a map of the U.S. that helps gardeners decide what plants will grow best in their local areas, based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. The updates show an average of 2.5°F warmer across the contiguous U.S. compared to the previous map, […]
An analysis of crops and croplands has found that 1.6 million acres of grasslands in the Great Plains of the U.S. and Canada were destroyed in just one year, in 2021. The amount of grassland plowed during this time is about the size of Delaware, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported. The new Plowprint Report […]
The Environment Committee of European Parliament has voted to ensure sustainable use of pesticides and reduce their use by at least half by 2030. Members of Parliament (MEPs) voted to also reduce the use of “more hazardous products” by 65 percent as compared to the average from 2013 to 2017, a press release from European […]
Agriculture is the primary driver of forest and habitat loss worldwide. Some wilderness areas in northern climates have begun to be more suitable for agriculture due to global heating, and this is increasing the risk of agricultural expansion, putting ecosystems at risk. A new study by researchers from the University of Exeter shows that humans […]
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 […]
The new hottest crop in Italy? Mangoes. Amid warming temperatures caused by climate change, some farmers in Italy are cutting back on growing traditional crops of the country, instead focusing on producing fruits that are commonly grown in tropical areas. Mango farming in particular has seen a boost, rising from 10 hectares in 2004 to […]
Rivers are the lifeblood of the planet. Essential for plants, animals and humans, clean water is increasingly being contaminated with agricultural runoff containing toxic pesticides and other contaminants. A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford has found an even greater threat to the water quality of rivers, as well as the ecosystems […]