How do we reduce pesticide use while empowering farmers? A more nuanced approach could help

The debate about pesticides often gets polarised, pitching farmers against consumers.

Jessica Knapp, Assistant Professor in Ecology, Trinity College Dublin • conversation
yesterday ~7 min

Migratory birds are on the move and nature-friendly farms can help them on their way

As climate change threatens their food supply, migratory birds may find help in an unlikely place.

Yali Si, Assistant Professor of Ecology, Leiden University • conversation
April 17, 2024 ~5 min


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

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

Why farmers are struggling to go green

Green subsidy reforms are alienating farmers reeling from sky-high production costs.

Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~8 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

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


Nanotechnology promises to help farmers cut pesticide use – but could also make chemicals more toxic

Nano-enabled pesticides could pose huge risks and they aren’t being regulated effectively enough yet.

Martina G. Vijver, Professor of Ecotoxicology, Leiden University • conversation
Feb. 23, 2024 ~7 min

Our robot harvests cotton by reaching out and plucking it, like a lizard’s tongue snatching flies

Cotton is one of the world’s largest crops and is harvested with large, heavy machines. Robotic harvesting could yield higher-quality cotton with less damage to plants and soil.

Hussein Gharakhani, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University • conversation
Feb. 13, 2024 ~8 min

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