High energy costs and China's export squeeze are pushing fertilizer prices to their highest levels since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Photo: Cjp24 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Cjp24 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Soil tests revive as fertilizer prices skyrocket

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Fertilizer costs at their highest peak in 12 years. Here is the chance to focus on preliminary soil analysis, a crucial tool to limit excessive and inefficient use of additives
By 2050 agriculture will need to produce almost 50 percent more food than in 2012. Photo: R. Nyberg, USAID Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0R. Nyberg, USAID Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0

FAO: we must invest in sustainable agriculture (Or we won’t be able to feed the world)

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The UN organization unveils the "State of Land and Water 2021": human action causes degradation in 1.66 billion hectares of land. Agriculture and ecosystems. "Agricultural production and ecosystem services are more endangered where economic growth is needed most."
For years, U.S. and Canadian scientists have been studying microbes of some farmland in Ontario to identify links between some particular crops and soil balance. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not required

Microbes tell us how the soil is doing. And they help save on fertilizer

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It' s not just about organic matter: microbes are crucial in guaranteeing a proper soil balance. Canadian and Amercan scientists have developed a new test to capture soil biological activity
Launched in 2015, the SEPAL platform hosts over 7,000 users currently engaged in anti-deforestation efforts. Photo: Crustmania Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Photo: Crustmania Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

FAO relaunches open-source data to curb tropical deforestation

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Phase 2 of SEPAL, the digital land monitoring program launched by the UN organization, is underway. The target are the tropical areas, which are the epicenter of global deforestation.
The Colombian capital Bogotá is home to several best circular practices promoted in Latin America. Photo: Felipe Ortega Grijalba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Felipe Ortega Grijalba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Latin America is the new benchmark for urban agriculture and land care

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From recycling to green building, from countering land consumption to urban gardens: here's how Latin America is becoming a leading player in the circular economy
Congo's forests are one of the largest global sinks of irrecoverable carbon. Photo: Marie Frechon. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Photo: Marie Frechon. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

“Irrecoverable carbon released from forests is driving climate change”

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The world stores at least 139 billion tons of carbon that once dispersed cannot be offset in time. Protection of endangered areas and indigenous communities is essential
Jequitibá and Jatobà trees in the municipality of Mococa, in the State of São Paulo. Brazil has the highest number of endangered species in the world. Photo: Mauro Halpern Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Mauro Halpern Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

It’s not just the Amazon: one third of trees species in the world risks extinction

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From Asia to Europe 30% of trees species could disappear, says BGCI. Human activities and climate change under scrutiny. The solutions? Expanding protected areas and raising more funds
Nel 2023 la Commissione UE finalizzerà la Nature Restoration Law con l’obiettivo di tutelare legalmente il suolo e azzerare il consumo netto entro il 2050. Foto: Gerd Altmann Creative Commons CC0 Public domain

EU ready to work on soil law: “Net consumption must go to zero by 2050”

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The Commission has announced a European law for soil protection by 2023. Debora Fino (Re Soil): "An historic choice, now Member States can take a major step forward". Concerns over France and Germany's position
Australia is betting on soil carbon sequestration. But according to an expert "the idea that the agricultural sector can offset fossil damage is pretty fanciful." Photo: John Englart Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)Photo: John Englart Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Soil carbon sequestration in Australia can’t offset emissions

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Australia is focusing on soil carbon sequestration. But without a government u-turn in the fight against climate change, the agricultural sector will not be able to offset the damages of the fossil fuel industry
Deforestation in a nutshell. Between 2002 and 2018, the Brazilian Amazon lost more than 20 million hectares of tropical forest. Photo: Amazônia Real from Manaus AM, Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Amazônia Real from Manaus AM, Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

FAO, NASA and Google join forces to beat deforestation through data power

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FAO announces the launch of a Data Partnership to tackle deforestation. The initiative is based on geospatial information, which is being increasingly used in recent years to monitor soil and risk areas.