The Ulan Buh desert in Mongolia hosted the first large-scale trial conducted by Chinese researchers. Photo: 摩游乐 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)摩游乐 Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

China is fighting desertification by adding cellulose to sand

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Chinese researchers offer a solution to soil degradation: a plant paste that can turn the desert into a grassland. The new technology might help 500 million people in Central Asia
The spread of wildfires in the US poses a serious threat to the corporations that have invested in forest protection to offset their emissions. Photo: CALFIRE_Official Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)CALFIRE_Official Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Wildfires are putting corporations and carbon market in trouble

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Prompted by climate change, wildfires are devastating larger portions of the forests that generate the emission credits sold to the corporations
Proper soil management contributes to climate mitigation, FAO says. Photo: United Nations Development Programme in Europe and CIS Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)United Nations Development Programme in Europe and CIS Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Well managed soil can offset as much as 34% of agricultural emissions

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"Best pratices help global soils to sequester enough carbon o offset up to one third of agricultural GHG emissions," says FAO. Here are two brand new practical tools
Dal 1990 ad oggi le emissioni dell'industria alimentare globale sono aumentate dell'8%. Foto: Pxfuel Free for commercial use, DMCA https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-oimhn

“Food system generates one third of all human-caused GHG emissions”

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Historically underestimated, emissions from pre- and post-production activities weigh strongly on estimates of food industry's total climate footprint. Mr. Tubiello (FAO): "Zero balance is no longer enough, we need to reduce the impact of all sectors."
The food production system, says Ellen MacArthur Foundation's latest report, can be redesigned to let nature thrive Photo: Pixabay Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredPixabay Free for commercial use Attribution not required

Diversity and circular design will lead global food into the future

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Ellen MacArthur Foundation: "To create an environmentally friendly food production system, we must redesign the supply chain by diversifying ingredients and regenerating crops."
Soil analysis of the Mayon volcano in the Philippines has revealed some promising species of bacteria. Photo: Patryk Reba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Patryk Reba Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Soil bacteria from a volcano bring new hope for cancer treatment

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Scientists from the University of Los Baños have isolated 30 bacteria species found at the Mayon volcano, in the north of the country. One of them seems to have relevant antibiotic and antitumor properties.
Agriculture, U.S. organizations explain, "needs a collections of practices tailored for each region, climate, soil type, and farming system." 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

Three U.S. soil associations unveil seven proposals for climate-resilient agriculture

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Proposals from U.S. experts: data use, effective communication, specific solutions, collaboration and more. The goal? Changing agriculture to tackle climate change.
The rush of tourists and the consequences of climate change, says The Guardian, threaten the Lake District, one of the UK's most fascinating places. Photo: Doug Sim Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Doug Sim Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Climate change and tourism are threatening poets’ Lake District

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Uncontrolled visitor sprawl and climate change are contributing to erosion and biodiversity loss in Britain's iconic Lake District, according to the Guardian. And restoration is getting more expensive
Global subsidies to agriculture are worth $540 billion, or 15% of production value. Agribusiness remains the main beneficiary. 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

Global agriculture is supported by $470 bn in harmful subsidies, FAO says

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87% of global agricultural subsidies lead to price distortions, climate damage and social inequality. That's why we must rethink them in a sustainable way. As some governments are already doing
Taliban negotiators in Doha, Qatar, November 2020. On the left, wearing a gray suit and white mask, is Abdul Ghani Baradar, current abinet leader in Kabul. Photo: Ron Przysucha, U.S. Department of State, Public DomainRon Przysucha, U.S. Department of State, Public Domain

CBS: “How climate change has become a Taliban ally”

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Over the past three decades, floods and droughts have devastated the agricultural soil in Afghanistan, CBS says. This helped the Taliban to recruit a growing number of desperate farmers with no alternatives