In China, the government is set to launch a campaign to restore the country's most fertile soil. Photo: Steve Evans Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Steve Evans Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

China launches anti-erosion black soil campaign

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China wants to curb degradation of its most fertile soil, spread across three regions which contribute on their own to the production of 50 percent of the country's rice, 41 percent of soybean and 34 percent of corn. But climate change is still a major concern
According to FAO, the agribusiness sector must mitigate climate change by adopting several carbon neutrality strategies. Photo: UGA CAES/Extension Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)Photo: UGA CAES/Extension Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Agriculture is crucial to mitigate climate, FAO says: here are five key actions

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The agribusiness sector is both a victim and a cause of climate change, says FAO. The solution comes through the implementation of some key strategies focused on carbon neutrality and supported by governments
U.S. soils devoted to grazing and agriculture are in critical condition as a result of long-term processes. Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate change is threatening U.S. agriculture, Forbes writes

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The magazine's examination: U.S. agriculture, as well as livestock, is reckoning with climate and drought. While soil health is of growing concern
The application of biochar is one of the soil conservation best practices suggested by WEF. Photo: GIZ/Tim Brunauer Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)GIZ/Tim Brunauer Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

“Support and rewards are needed to preserve soil and climate mitigation”, WEF says

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World Economic Forum shows the link between soil health and climate mitigation. Supporting farmers by rewarding soil- and climate-friendly practices is crucial
Over the past 60 years, the average weight of harvesters has increased 10-fold with a major impact on soil ecosystem functions. Photo: Dan Davison Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Dan Davison Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Mechanical dinosaurs are the ultimate threat to soil

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The weight of harvesters averages 36 tons approaching burdens of sauropods walking on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. The resulting soil compaction is now putting both ecosystem balance and crop yields at risk
During the period under investigation, soil sealing covered almost 1,500 km2. Photo: Pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredPxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Europe has lost 3,600 km2 of soil due to land take in seven years

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Between 2012 and 2018, soil loss mainly affected suburbs and semi-rural areas that play a key role in ecological balance with severe consequences for the climate, the European Environment Agency says
Peat clods cut to be used for horticulture and gardening. An activity that endangers the survival of the precious peat bogs. PHOTO: bernswaelz from a href = "https://pixabay.com/it/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1263431"> Pixabay

The UK proposal: “No more peat for gardening”

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Peatlands are essential carbon sinks. But conservation efforts are threatened by the use of peat for gardening and horticulture. In 2020, 2.3 million cubic meters were used in the United Kingdom. The Wildlife Trusts propose to definitively ban this practice
Pesticide contamination has been found on 87 percent of pears produced in Belgium, 74 percent of Spanish cherries, and 85 percent of Italian celery. Photo: pxhere Creative Commons CC0 Public domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredpxhere Creative Commons CC0 Public domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

EU policy on pesticides is failing as contamination of fruits and vegetables grows

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Over the past decade, European citizens' exposure to pesticides is increasing sharply with obvious health risks, NGOs from 60 countries have found. Study "contradict official claims that toxic pesticides use is declining and that food residue levels are under control."
La siccità è favorita dal cambiamento climatico e contribuisce essa stessa ad alimentare ulteriormente il fenomeno. Foto: Pixabay License Libera per usi commerciali Attribuzione non richiesta

Drought, invertebrates, and carbon: the vicious cycle affecting soil and climate

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Drought limits the action of invertebrates and their ability to store organic carbon in soil, according to research from Switzerland. A finding with obvious implications for climate change
Total emissions from the agricultural sector in Europe fell by 20.7 percent between 1990 and 2020. Photo: CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredCC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Agriculture and soil contributed to declining emissions in Europe

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Between 1990 and 2020, annual CO2 equivalent emissions fell from 5.65 billion tons to 3.7 billion tons. Reductions in fertilizer use and livestock population have made an important contribution. While in soil, absorbed carbon exceeds the amount emitted

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