The recovery of organic waste enables the creation of bioproducts of circular origin that help reduce waste while opening up new economic opportunities for many industries. Photo: Denise Nys, Pexels free to useDenise Nys, Pexels free to use

Researchers use circular strategies to turn waste into bioproducts

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The European Biorecer project, which is active in Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden, aims to create new value chains through the creation of bioproducts based on the circular recovery of organic waste
Between 2005 and 2021, 6008 trees died in Helsinki Central Park: 1892 of them in the last year alone- Photo: Pekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedPekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

More trees in urban boreal forests are getting killed by climate change

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Trees are increasingly falling victim to certain phenomena related to global warming such as drought, heat, fire and increased pests, a Finnish research has found. The figures from Helsinki's “Central Park”
Nel XXI secolo, in Europa, la prevista diminuzione della mortalità da freddo estremo non sarà sufficiente a compensare l’aumento dei decessi derivanti dalla calura. Foto: Content License

Climate change increases mortality caused by extreme temperatures

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Study tracks future climate mortality in Europe: fewer deaths from cold weather but many more casualties from extreme heat. The Mediterranean will pay the highest price
Worldwide, 18.5 billion tons of often still edible bread, or one-tenth of total production, is wasted every year. Photo: shoehorn99 Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 Deedshoehorn99 Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 Deed

Solid state fermentation turns waste bread into new protein food

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Scientists at Aberystwyth University have proposed a circular solution for recovering the discarded but still edible bread. With fermentation, nutritional content increases
In the U.S., turfgrass, including domestic lawns, covers more than 160 thousand square kilometers and host an important biodiversity. Photo: rawpixel free public domain CC0 imagerawpixel free public domain CC0 image

Less intensive management of lawns promotes soil biodiversity

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A study shows how less intensive management of lawns, especially of those surrounding homes, allows to support many below-ground species that contribute to the balance of the ecosystem
Unlike traditional manure, frass is low in pathogens and rich in key elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr Attribution 3.0 United States CC BY 3.0 US DeedForest & Kim Starr Attribution 3.0 United States CC BY 3.0 US Deed

Insect waste can be a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers

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A study from U.S. has highlighted the soil benefits of applying frass, the mix of insect waste products that can be turned in a resource in a circular economy model
Tree crops such as olives, coffee, fruit trees, and cocoa currently cover more than 183 million hectares worldwide and contribute to the protection of global biodiversity. Photo: Maxence Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedMaxence Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Perennial woody crops help preserve biodiversity

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Some plants, such as coffee, cocoa and fruit trees support wide biodiversity. But science and agricultural policies, researchers write, tend to underestimate their potential
The agri-food sector also plays a key role in achieving climate neutrality in the EU by mid-century. Photo: GRID-Arendal Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedGRID-Arendal Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Soil health and living labs are the pillars of EU agriculture of the future

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The EU Commission released the Vision for Agriculture and Food 2040: Soil care, innovation and research are crucial to achieving climate neutrality by mid-century
Scientists have discovered light receptors that help plants conserve energy as they grow. In this way, even when casually covered with soil, the seedling can elongate further until it emerges from the soil again. Photo: roc&rm Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deedroc&rm Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

With the help of light we can improve plant growth

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An American study provides new information on how plants detect light and grow. The finding could help make more resilient crops
Microplastics are a dangerous and widespread factor in soil pollution. Photo: Marco Verch CC-BY 2.0Marco Verch CC-BY 2.0

EU 2030 target at risk as microplastics dispersion grows in Europe

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According to the European Environment Agency, between 2016 and 2022, microplastic emissions increased by between 7.5 and 8.6 percent. The targeted 30 percent reduction by the end of the decade appears “unlikely”