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Agroecology schools offer support for farmers in Guatemala
Agricultural Industry, NewsA crossroad between tradition and modern science, agroecology is spreading among farmers in Guatemala through a training program. This preserves ancient practices and protects soil health

Environment restoration in the EU is worth almost 2 trillion euro
Economics and finance, NewsThis is reported in a briefing by the European Environment Agency, which also calculates the return on investment for terrestrial ecosystems: every euro spent guarantees an economic return of between 8 and 38 euros

500,000 deaths a year linked to the decline in pollinators
Environment, NewsThe "prudential" estimate is contained in a new international study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Premature deaths are thought to be caused by decreasing availability and rising prices of healthful foods, which are in turn linked to the global decline of bee and pollinators

Loss of urban biodiversity is a threat to human health
Environment, NewsLoss of microbial biodiversity in degraded soils, which is particularly prevalent in cities, promotes the spread of bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance, says an international study. Restoring green spaces, by contrast, creates a biological barrier to their spread

Ants better than pesticides in protecting soil health and increasing agricultural yields
Agricultural Industry, NewsAccording to a research ants provide crucial services for crops such as decreasing pest activity and plant damage while leading to higher yields

Ukraine will have to deal with war damages to agriculture for a century (at least)
Agricultural Industry, NewsUkraine farmland could suffer the same consequences as the soils of northern France, which are still contaminated with the munitions waste from World War I. A severe problem for the global food supply chain

UN experts ask Brazil not to approve ‘poison package’ on pesticides
Agricultural Industry, NewsUN asks Brazilian Senate to reject controversial rule which would undermine pesticide regulation. Substances pose serious risks to human health and the environment, experts say. During Bolsonaro's presidency, 1,500 pesticides have already been approved (562 in 2021)

Tropical plants provide a solution for heavy metal-contaminated soils
Innovation & Technology, NewsAccording to a study by NTU Singapore twelve plants proven effective in phytoremediation of soils contaminated with cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium. The findings confirm the potential of nature-based -interventions

FAO is launching a photo contest dedicated to soil issues
Environment, NewsSoil value is the focus of #Soils4Nutrition, the new photo contest launched by FAO. From war consequences to the micronutrient challenge, food security is increasingly in the spotlight. Submission closes on July 10

European organic farming keeps growing as market sets record high
Agricultural Industry, NewsOrganic land in Europe covers more than 17 million hectares, with a 5.3% increase year on year. But the biggest surge comes from consumers: in the midst of the pandemic, sales mark the highest growth of the decade.