What is dirt? There’s a whole wriggling world alive in the ground beneath our feet, as a soil scientist explains

Rock dust is only part of the story of soil. Living creatures, many of them too tiny to see, keep that soil healthy for growing everything from food to forests.

Brian Darby, Associate Professor of Biology, University of North Dakota • conversation
March 25, 2024 ~7 min

What your fruit bowl reveals about climate breakdown

Earlier springs due to climate change are wreaking havoc in orchards.

Chris Wyver, PhD Candidate, Pollination and Climate Change, University of Reading • conversation
March 22, 2024 ~8 min


Climate change is shifting the zones where plants grow – here’s what that could mean for your garden

The US Department of Agriculture has updated its plant hardiness zone map, which shows where various plants will grow across the country. Gardeners should take note.

Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology, West Virginia University • conversation
March 22, 2024 ~10 min

Climate-friendly beef? Argentina’s new ‘carbon-neutral’ certification could help reduce livestock emissions – if it’s done right

Cattle are major producers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But there are methods that can reduce their climate impact – if ranchers have incentive to use them.

Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~9 min

Climate-friendly beef? Argentina’s new certification could help reduce livestock emissions – if it’s done right

Cattle are major producers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But there are methods that can reduce their climate impact – if ranchers have incentive to use them.

Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~9 min

Carbon-neutral beef? Argentina’s new certification could promote more climate-friendly livestock production – if it’s done right

Cattle are major producers of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But there are methods that can reduce their climate impact – if ranchers have incentive to use them.

Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~9 min

Solar power occupies a lot of space – here’s how to make it more ecologically beneficial to the land it sits on

Solar development isn’t always good for the land, but pairing it with agriculture can produce multiple benefits.

Matthew Sturchio, PhD Student in Plant and Ecosystem Ecology, Colorado State University • conversation
March 12, 2024 ~8 min

Why are farmers up in arms? The view from Wales

Green reforms are piling additional pressure on farmers struggling to make ends meet.

Alex Heffron, PhD Candidate in Geography, Lancaster University • conversation
March 8, 2024 ~7 min


The true cost of food is far higher than what you spend at the checkout counter

A new UN report finds that the true global cost of producing food is $12.7 trillion more than consumers pay at the checkout counter. We pay those uncounted costs in other ways.

Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, Arizona State University • conversation
Feb. 28, 2024 ~10 min

What ancient farmers can really teach us about adapting to climate change – and how political power influences success or failure

Agricultural sustainability is as much about power and sovereignty as it is about soil, water and crops.

Chelsea Fisher, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of South Carolina • conversation
Feb. 26, 2024 ~11 min

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