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According to a Chinese-British research, the low presence of some elements in the soil seems to be correlated to a higher mortality rate in Covid-19 cases. 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

Soil health and Covid-19 immune response could be linked, scientists say

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A Chinese-British research identifies a statistical correlation between the concentration of zinc, iron, copper and selenium in soil and the outcome of Covid-19 cases: the lower the concentration, the higher the fatality rate. The investigation suggests a link between the two events. But further studies will be needed
The presence of hazardous chemicals in beef suggests previous soil contamination. Photo: Lance Cheung, U.S. Department of Agriculture Public Domain Mark 1.0Photo: Lance Cheung, U.S. Department of Agriculture Public Domain Mark 1.0

Chemicals in meat and soil raise concern in US, The Guardian writes

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A contamination event in Michigan raises some alarm about dangerous chemicals infiltrating the soil and harming the food chain. US authorities' policy remains controversial, the British newspaper says.
Bioherbicides will be the industry that will drive the global growth of the broader biopesticide market between now and 2025. PHOTO: Pixabay.

Biopesticides, a 4.5 billion dollar market

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The forecast is contained in an analysis carried out by the research company Technavio. The expected average growth rate is 17% on a five-year basis. To push the biopesticides sector the negative sides of conventional products of chemical origin in environmental and health terms, in addition to the spread of organic agriculture
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
Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative

Africa, the Great Green Wall is an excellent economic investment too

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A cost-benefit analysis of the Green Great Wall project in the Sahel has been published in Nature Sustainability. Every dollar invested produces an average return of $ 1.2, peaking as high as $ 4.4. Despite the harsh climatic conditions
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."
In Nigeria, the traditional method for producing Kilishi has proved highly unsustainable. Photo: Fatima Bukar Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Fatima Bukar Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Nigeria is acting against deforestation trought sustainable dried meat

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Changing the production method of a traditional Nigerian delicacy to protect trees and climate. Here's the lesson of a solar powered plant in a country devastated by deforestation
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."
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
Pandemic gave a major boost to the proliferation of gardening and urban agriculture. Photo: John Breslin CC0 Public DomainJohn Breslin CC0 Public Domain

California shows golden rules for urban agriculture and sustainable gardening

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The gardening boom since 2020 offers great opportunities. But caring for urban gardens without wasting resources requires attention.