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The presence of antibiotic-resistant genes in microbes is particularly high in soils subjected to cultivation or farming. 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

Analysis of soil microbes is a major tool against antibiotic resistance

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A study of soil microbes gets started in Ireland. The metagenomic survey, by the VistaMilk research center, aims to identify microorganisms that benefit the soil
Pollen from several bee species show traces of pesticides. 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

Pesticides persist in bee pollen, study says

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An Irish study shows that pollen from several bee species retains traces of toxic substances from neonicotinoids. And researchers are concerned
In many cities in the United States and Canada, municipal waste incinerators were largely shut down in the 1970s in the face of growing concerns about air pollution. Photo: Fraser, Clayton B. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Public DomainPhoto: Fraser, Clayton B. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA Public Domain

Waste incineration leaves a heavy legacy in soils

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Where waste was once burned, higher concentrations of lead are detected in the soil, says research from Duke University. With obvious health consequences
Fossil sources are used in the extraction and production of essential elements and substances such as hydrogen and ammonia that form the basis of nitrogen fertilizers Credit: © Natural England/Steve Marston Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Credit: © Natural England/Steve Marston Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

“There’s no Net Zero with nitrogen fertilizers”, Soil Association says

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According to the British association, fossil-based nitrogen fertilizers are an obstacle to achieving Net Zero. In contrast, "there is a need to support nature-friendly approaches"
In Guatemala, agroecology is considered a key resource to counter the negative effects of spreading monoculture. Photo: Lon&Queta Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)Lon&Queta Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Agroecology schools offer support for farmers in Guatemala

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A 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
In the EU, says the European Environment Agency, the economic benefits from the restoration of continental ecosystems amount to approximately EUR 1,860 billion. Photo: Jacek Karczmarz Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Jacek Karczmarz Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Environment restoration in the EU is worth almost 2 trillion euro

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This 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
The decline in pollinating insects has negative effects on the availability and price of healthy foods such as nuts, legumes, fruit and vegetables, causing an increase in premature deaths. PHOTO: Pixabay

500,000 deaths a year linked to the decline in pollinators

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The "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
Urban biodiversity at risk. By mid-century, 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities. Photo: Loozrboy Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) Loozrboy Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Loss of urban biodiversity is a threat to human health

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Loss 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 play an effective role in counteracting plant pests. Photo: Abdulmominbd Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Abdulmominbd Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ants better than pesticides in protecting soil health and increasing agricultural yields

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According to a research ants provide crucial services for crops such as decreasing pest activity and plant damage while leading to higher yields
Contaminated land in Verdun, northern France. The effects of soil contamination in World War I battlefields are still clear more than a century later. This a precedent that scares Ukraine and global agriculture. Photo: public domainpublic domain

Ukraine will have to deal with war damages to agriculture for a century (at least)

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Ukraine 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

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