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The fourth edition of the States General of the Green Economy for soil health is scheduled for November 6 in Rimini during Ecomondo. Photo: Ecomondo, media kitPhoto: Ecomondo, media kit

States General for soil health: circular bioeconomy and soil regeneration are the main issues of 4th edition

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On November 6, the Ecomondo exhibition in Rimini (Italy) will host the annual event organized by the Re Soil Foundation in cooperation with the event's Technical Committee and the National Bioeconomy Coordination Board. Main themes are circular bioeconomy, regeneration, European policies, and ongoing projects
La Scuola invernale di chimica agraria si rivolge a dottorandi, ricercatori post-dottorato e ricercatori in fase iniziale. Immagine: ©Copyright 2025 Università di Bologna

Soil, climate, and resilience: Bologna hosts the Agricultural Chemistry Winter School

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The event, organized by organized by the Italian Society of Agricultural Chemistry (SICA) and the University of Bologna will take place in February. Researchers can submit their contributions by December 12. The discussion will focus on sustainable agronomic strategies for the soil-plant-microbiome system
Il taglio del 20% nell’impiego dei fertilizzanti chimici raccomandato dall’Unione Europea non sarebbe sufficiente per raggiungere l’obiettivo fissato dal Green Deal di dimezzare le perdite di nutrienti entro il 2030. Foto: Vladimir Srajber pexels free to use

Cutting fertilizer use will not be enough to meet EU nitrogen targets

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A study by the UFZ in Leipzig reveals that a 20% reduction in the use of nitrogen fertilizers will result in a relatively modest decrease in nutrient losses to soil. Regional agricultural systems are a decisive factor
The results of the study open up new prospects in the fight against the most dangerous bacteria for plants, such as Ralstonia solanacearum, which affects over 200 plant species, including key crops such as tomatoes and potatoes. Photo: Lance Cheung USDA Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedLance Cheung USDA Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

AI helps plants track down mutant bacteria

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A group of Californian researchers has used artificial intelligence to design improved versions of a receptor, expanding its ability to recognize threatening bacteria. This has updated the plants' defense system.
Understanding how rice maintains productivity with the support of the microbiome under conditions of nutritional deficiency can help develop new strategies in precision agriculture. Photo: IRRI Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedPhoto: IRRI Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Root bacteria help reduce the environmental impact of rice cultivation

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A Japanese study has identified some bacteria in rice roots that are responsible for nitrogen fixation and can spread in soil without fertilizers or pesticides. This helps the plant adapt and grow
il Parco Nazionale di Doñana National Park in Spagna è una delle aree più colpite dagli effetti della siccità. FOTO: Ministero spagnolo per la Transizione ecologica e la Demografia (MITECO), 2022.

Drought, the Mediterranean in the hotspot in the world is small

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Un nuovo rapporto dell'UNCCD ha individuato gli impatti, ambientali, sociali ed economici della siccità nelle zone più colpite nel biennio 2023-2024. Tra loro, Spagna, Marocco e Turchia. "Una catastrofe globale che si estende su milioni di km quadrati e colpisce milioni di persone"
Drought impacts vegetation growth and rivers in Europe. Photo: Torsten Sachs (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported CC BY-ND 3.0 DeedTorsten Sachs (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu) Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported CC BY-ND 3.0 Deed

Drought is once again a major threat to European agriculture

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Agricultural drought is affecting northwestern Europe, the Baltic and some eastern and southern regions of the Continent. In contrast, following heavy rains higher yields are expected in Italy, Greece and the Iberian Peninsula
Drones can photograph the health of crops providing crucial information to farmers. Photo: Nikola Tomašić Pexels free to usePhoto: Nikola Tomašić Pexels free to use

Drones are the new allies of hemp farmers in the US

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Processing of images captured by drones, a study from the University of Florida states, makes it possible to assess the health and growth status of plants by providing guidance on the optimal fertilizer dose
A deciduous forest in Western Europe. According to the EU Environment Agency, from land use, land use change and forestry, the continent saves nearly 200 million tonnes of carbon each year. Photo: sharloch Attribution - Noncommercial - No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deedsharloch Attribution - Noncommercial - No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Europe’s soil carbon sink declines (but the trend can be reversed)

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According to the EU Environment Agency, from land use, land use change and forestry, Europe saves almost 200 million tonnes of carbon each year. Compared to 330 recorded on average between 1991 and 2013
Grasslands are home to a wide variety of plant species and provide numerous ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, support for pollinators and grazing for livestock. But they are also some of thh most threatened ecosystems due to human activities, including land use change and intensive agricultural practices. Photo: Cortez Rohr/USFWS Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedCortez Rohr/USFWS Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Study reveals how much nitrogen grasslands can tolerate

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According to researchers, applying more than 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare in a year would make grasslands “functionally poor, highly unstable and vulnerable to extreme weather events”