Soybean cultivation, the third leading cause of tropical deforestation, can now be monitored with greater precision. Photo: Pixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication licensePixabay Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license

Tracking soybean to stop deforestation with chemistry and AI

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An innovative method combines chemical fingerprinting and machine learning to pinpoint the origin of soybeans with unprecedented accuracy. A practical tool to support the enforcement of stricter traceability rules
Orchids can provide clues about the overall health of global ecosystems and pollination in particular. Photo: Ian Capper Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 LicenseIan Capper Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 License

Pollination in Australia more than halved in 50 years according to orchids

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Thanks to their limited “flexibility,” orchids are early indicators of the crisis affecting insects. Since the 1970s, an analysis by the University of Canberra reveals, pollination in Australia has declined by 60%
At least one fifth of the 8,500 animal species linked to the soil, including fungi and invertebrates, would today be at risk of extinction. CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use. Image: pxhere No attribution requiredpxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

One in five soil-dependent species is at risk of extinction

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A new study by Conservation International and IUCN reveals that over 20% of soil-related species could disappear. And the current lack of data suggests an even more problematic picture for biodiversity
On 27 May in Brussels, a meeting of the promoters of seven EU initiatives to identify opportunities and develop operational recommendations for the advancement of the rural bioeconomy. Image: © 2026 BBioNets consortium Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC BY-NC 4.0 DeedBBioNets consortium Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC BY-NC 4.0 Deed

From local action to European strategy: a Policy Lab for the bioeconomy

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On 27 May in Brussels, a meeting of seven EU-funded initiatives. The aim: to bridge the gap between local experimentation and European policymaking, and to deliver actionable recommendations for the rural bioeconomy
A temporary soybean crop on a rye field in Dallas County, Texas. In the U.S., the area planted with cover crops has exceeded 7 million hectares in recent years, representing a 17% increase in just five years. Photo: NRCS/SWCS, Lynn Betts Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 LicenseNRCS/SWCS, Lynn Betts Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 License

For better soil health, cover crops come out on top

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A U.S. study has examined 50 years of best practices: cover crops ensure more consistent effects, while tillage, rotations and drainage show less uniform impacts across different contexts
Vaste aree della Grande Pianura ungherese sono sempre più soggette a processi di aridificazione. FOTO: GaborLajos via Wikipedia

Thermal waters against desertification: the Hungarian experiment

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In the Central European country, a grassroots project is bringing together citizens and local farmers. The goal: redirect thermal waters to the fields, restoring natural cycles and countering the drying out affecting agricultural land in the Great Plain
When introduced into urban settings, forest soil microbes can help promote people’s well-being by rebalancing the domestic microbiome. Image: Santeri Viinamäki Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0 DeedSanteri Viinamäki Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0 Deed

The forest at home: in Finland, soil microbes improve human health

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A Finnish study shows how introducing forest soil into domestic environments increases the microbial diversity of indoor air, with potential protective effects on the immune system of infants growing up in enclosed spaces
Biodiversity at risk in the United Kingdom. In the worst-case scenario, by 2070 many areas of the country could lose up to 20% of their existing local species. Photo: Ian Sharp Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedIan Sharp Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

2050 is the point of no return in halting the decline in biodiversity in Great Britain

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In the worst-case scenario, a study highlights, at least 200 species are at risk of extinction while 9 out of 10 plant habitats will face lasting changes. And there is ever less time to reverse the course.
The study, conducted in the forests of Yunnan Province, demonstrated how altitude-driven environmental changes shape the genetic potential for phosphorus mineralization in the soil. At the same time, soil pH acts as a constant filter, limiting the microbial community capable of performing this vital function across different landscapes. Photo: Rod Waddington Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedRod Waddington Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Elevation, pH, and calcium are key factors in the phosphorus cycle

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A Chinese study has identified the key factors influencing the distribution of available phosphorus in tropical and subtropical forests, by modelling the genetic potential for phosphorus mineralization in soil
Brazil's wetlands cover an area of 167,000 km² and have a carbon density per hectare six times higher than forests. Photo: Thpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedThpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Beyond the Amazon: a forgotten carbon reserve in Brazil’s wetlands

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In the Brazilian savanna, wetlands store enormous amounts of carbon, but they are threatened by climate change and agricultural expansion. Moreover, conservation policies, which focus almost exclusively on forests, tend to ignore them

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