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U.S. soils devoted to grazing and agriculture are in critical condition as a result of long-term processes. Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate change is threatening U.S. agriculture, writes Forbes

The magazine's examination: U.S. agriculture, as well as livestock, is reckoning with climate and drought. While soil health is of growing concern
Pesticide contamination has been found on 87 percent of pears produced in Belgium, 74 percent of Spanish cherries, and 85 percent of Italian celery. Photo: pxhere Creative Commons CC0 Public domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredpxhere Creative Commons CC0 Public domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

EU policy on pesticides is failing as contamination of fruits and vegetables grows

Over the past decade, European citizens' exposure to pesticides is increasing sharply with obvious health risks, NGOs from 60 countries have found. Study "contradict official claims that toxic pesticides use is declining and that food residue levels are under control."
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

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
Pollution alert: There are 10 million potentially contaminated sites worldwide. Photo: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

FAO launches its mission against global soil pollution

The UN organization presents the International Network on Soil Pollution, a project to tackle contamination and restore damaged lands. Fixing the problem - says FAO - is crucial to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
Glyphosate poses a threat to human health, soil health and ecosystem preservation. Photo: Jo Zimny Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Jo Zimny Photos Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Le Monde criticizes Bruxelles’ green light to glyphosate: ‘EU is ignoring scientists’ concerns’

According to the French newspaper, European experts do not take into account the studies certifying the health risks associated with glyphosate. Under the lens is the preliminary analysis of the Food Safety Authority that could lead the EU Commission to grant a new authorization to the use of the controversial herbicide
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

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
The banned pesticides have been exported to 20 countries. Photo: Hamish John Appleby (IWMI) Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Photo: Hamish John Appleby (IWMI) Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

UK exported seven home-banned pesticides

British authorities have banned several hazardous pesticides. However, a loophole allows companies to sell them abroad, a Greenpeace report has revealed. The list features herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Including a neonicotinoid causing large-scale adverse effects on bees.
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

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.
Mushrooms are able to absorb and break down many toxic substances, thus restoring soil health. Photo: Raffael Herrmann cc0.photo public domainPhoto: Raffael Herrmann cc0.photo public domain

Oil-eating mushrooms bring contaminated soil back to life

U.S. researchers test the ability of mushrooms to absorb and break down soil contaminants. A strategy to restore land by reducing the weight of waste
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

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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