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Irrigation absorbs 88 percent of all fresh water consumed on a global scale. Photo: USDA PDM 1.0 DEED Public Domain Mark 1.0 UniversalUSDA PDM 1.0 DEED Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal

Optimizing crop combinations can alleviate water shortages

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A study highlights how water scarcity can be solved in the U.S. six major river basins. Shifting to less water-intensive crops that still provide adequate incomes for farmers is crucial
Every year sand and dust storms bring 250 Great Pyramids of Giza into the atmosphere ©UN Photo/Blagoje Grujic ©UN Photo/Blagoje Grujic

Growing sandstorms. 25% are human-related

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UNCCD: The problem of sand and dust storms is exacerbated by poor land and water management, drought and climate change. Choosing the correct agricultural practices can stem them
Some soil bacteria can be particularly resilient during drought. Photo: PantheraLeo1359531 CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 InternationalPantheraLeo1359531 CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International

Some soil bacteria will adapt to climate change

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An Austrian study highlighted the behavior of soil bacteria during drought. "Simulating future climate conditions actually resulted in more bacteria remaining active despite drought," the authors explain
In agricultural systems based on the contribution of rainfall, the ability of the soil to retain water is decisive in providing adequate yields: Photo: John Sutton CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericJohn Sutton CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

FAO: the future of agriculture is linked to the water-soil relationship

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Managing soil water in an effective way is a key condition for developing agriculture capable of meeting global demand under the scenario of climate change, FAO notes
Under drought conditions, microbes produce more atmospheric compounds than they consume. Photo: Flore de Preneuf / World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Flore de Preneuf / World Bank Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Here’s how drought stress alters soil function in the rainforest

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Drought progressively reduces the ability of soil to consume biogenic volatile organic compounds according to a German study. The emission intensifies after soil rewetting
L’abbandono delle aree interne e la crisi climatica hanno trasformato le campagne europee, e, con esse, gli incendi che ogni estate colpiscono il continente. FOTO: Karsten Winegeart su Unsplash

Depopulation is changing the fire map of Europe

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L’abbandono delle aree rurali e la crisi climatica hanno trasformato le campagne europee. Con esse cambia la fotografia degli incendi che ogni estate colpiscono il continente
Extreme heatwaves in India put soil productivity at risk. Photo: mckaysavage Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)mckaysavage Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate change threatens India’s agriculture and development

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Extreme heat waves, made more and more frequent by climate change, continue in India. Soil productivity is at risk, as is the achievement of growth targets
Mud on the roads in Montecito, California, January 2018. Prolonged drought makes soil less permeable promoting landslides during wet periods. Photo: California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate and drought are the perfect recipe for disruption (not just) in California

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During extended drought periods, soil loses its ability to absorb water, writes The New York Times. When rain occurs, landslide risk increases. A combination of phenomena that climate change makes increasingly frequent
The spread of droughts is linked to rising temperatures. In 2022, the number of times negative monthly precipitation records were broken was the third highest since 1979. Photo: bluesbby from Mountain View, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)bluesbby from Mountain View, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The water cycle has changed. And it favors floods and droughts

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Extreme rainfall concentrated in short periods is becoming more frequent just like months characterized by exceptionally low rainfall, scientists from the Global Water Monitor Consortium explain. Growth in duration and severity of heat waves causes "flash droughts" especially in Europe and China
FAO's Global Symposium on Soils for Nutrition will be held in virtual format between 26 and 29 July 2022.©FAO/Matteo Sala

At the end of July, a global meeting on the link between healthy soil and nutrition

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From 26 to 29 July, hundreds of representatives from the political, agricultural, environmental, scientific and industrial world will participate in the Global Symposium on Soil for nutrition. Until the end of May, a call of abstracts to propose reports to be presented during the days of the event. Here the main themes