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By protecting its vast grasslands, Canada can reduce carbon emissions and meet its climate goals: Photo: Bernard Spragg CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain DedicationBernard Spragg CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Soil conservation in Canada can save 78 million tons of CO2

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By 2030, Canada aims to invest CAD $4 billion in "nature-based solutions" to reduce emissions. Conservation efforts and best practices for grasslands, peatlands, agricultural fields and forests are the main initiatives
Antibiotics used for livestock promote climate change as they impact on soil microbes. Photo: Alan Levine Free for personal and commercial use Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Alan Levine Free for personal and commercial use Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

How livestock antibiotics affect microbes and promote climate change

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Antibiotics and heat impact on microbes, accelerating their respiration andbCO2 emissions. Monensin, a widespread product used in animal breeding, is under fire.
Deforestation causes additional carbon emissions, exacerbating the climate emergency. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use Attribution not required

Forests are losing far more carbon than expected thus worsening climate change

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Annual carbon loss from deforestation has doubled since the beginning of the 21th century. A Chinese study revises upward earlier estimates that assumed a decline. Agro-industry in the crosshairs
Peatlands are a distinctive element of the Šumava National Park landscape. Photo: I.Sáček, senior CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Donation to the Public DomainI.Sáček, senior CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Donation to the Public Domain

Here is how peatlands are recreated in Bohemian Forest

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LIFE for MIRES project halfway through its journey: the restoration of peatlands within the area offers new opportunities to tackle climate change, says the staff. Today 720 hectares of wetland soil have already returned to their original condition.
The U.S. crop feed industry uses more than 100,000 tons of pesticides annually. Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture Public Domain Mark 1.0 U.S. Department of Agriculture Public Domain Mark 1.0

The hidden cost of U.S. meat? 107K tons of pesticides, says The Independent

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Negli Stati Uniti l’industria dei mangimi continua a fare ampio uso di pesticidi nelle colture di soia e grano per l’alimentazione animale. Nel mirino, rileva il quotidiano britannico, l’atrazina e il glifosato. Sostanze pericolose per l’uomo, gli animali e il suolo
Agriculture collects $520 billion of $1.8 trillion harmful subsidies tracked in the world every year. Photo: Pixabay License Free for commercial use No attribution requiredPixabay License Free for commercial use No attribution required

$1.8 trillion climate-damaging subsidies support agriculture and other industries

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B Team's report: a huge mass of government subsidies promotes unsustainable production or emission-intensive consumption, harming nature and causing the degradation of global ecosystems. More than 500 million dollars support soil-damaging activities
Fungi play a crucial role in storing organic carbon within the soil. Photo: MaxPixel CC0 Public Domain Free for commercial use Link referral required https://www.maxpixel.net/Tiny-White-Micro-Fungi-Nature-Spheres-Round-Wood-4733086MaxPixel CC0 Public Domain Free for commercial use Link referral required https://www.maxpixel.net/Tiny-White-Micro-Fungi-Nature-Spheres-Round-Wood-4733086

Carbon keepers fungi are the soil secret weapon against climate change

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Soils with higher amounts of fungi release less CO2, University of Zurich finds. A major discovery for the study of new solutions in the fight against climate change
The biointensive method aims to maximize agricultural yields at a lower input of resources. Photo: Elina Mark Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Elina Mark Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

In Spain biointensive method proves successful as yields increase 81%

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A study from Spain: Biointensive gardens experience higher yields, lower water consumption and increased carbon sequestration. Creating an effective solution to desertification
A soil sampling operation. The survey, which also involves Colorado State University, is focused on the interactions between grazing, soil and the carbon cycle. Photo: courtesy of Francesca Cotrufocourtesy of Francesca Cotrufo

Grazing land, hidden treasure: “Adaptive grazing management helps climate and soil”

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A research on the interactions between livestock, soil and the carbon cycle was just launched in the US. Francesca Cotrufo (Colorado State University): "We are already working at global scale, market participants have realized the importance of the issue". Carbon is crucial, "but accurate calculation methodologies are needed".
Contamination and plastic pollution in soils are even greater than those affecting the seas and oceans.

Pollution, there is more plastic in agricultural land than in the oceans

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FAO produced the first report on the use of plastics in agri-food systems. Pollution is pervasive, especially in Asia. The solutions revolve around the "6Rs": reject, redesign, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. It is essential to invest in the search for alternative products

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