July 21 to August 11, 2023
“4 per 1000” Initiative
August 8, 2023
4 per 1000 – can it be done?
The world’s soils contain 2 to 3 times more carbon than the world’s atmosphere, and have huge potential for carbon storage. The “4 per 1000” initiative, launched by France in December 2015 at COP 21, estimates that if the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the top 30-40 cm of the world’s soils could be increased by just 4 parts per thousand per year, this would nearly compensate for the annual global increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/news/4-per-1000-can-it-be-done/
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - Interview Paul Luu
26 juillet 2023
« Le retour aux labours déstocke du carbone » Paul Luu, secrétaire exécutif de l’initiative 4 pour 1000
Le secrétaire exécutif de l’initiative 4 pour 1000, Paul Luu, met l’accent sur l’intérêt de l’agroécologie pour stocker le carbone dans les sols.
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - Institut français de la Vigne et du Vin
28 juillet 2023
[Vidéo] Qu'est-ce que le stockage carbone dans les sols ?
Série La Minute Vignevin n°1
https://www.pleinchamp.com/actualite/video-qu-est-ce-que-le-stockage-carbone-dans-les-sols
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - Collectif Tribune - Paul Luu - Amarenco - AXA Climate
31 juillet 2023
Urgence écologique : « Les activités économiques doivent contribuer activement à la restauration de la biodiversité »
Un collectif de plus de 150 entreprises et associations, dont Axa Climate, Bouygues et Amarenco, appelle dans une tribune au « Monde » le gouvernement français à faire de la régénération du vivant la boussole de ses lois de planification.
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - Citation
27 juillet 2023
Demande de soutien de l'État pour le projet de modernisation de l'abattoir de Quillan
https://www.senat.fr/questions/base/2023/qSEQ23070796S.html
Agriculture and Agroforestry - Soil - Food Security - Forest - Carbon
Soil - Earth’s species - Fungi - Plants - Bacteria - World’s most species-rich habitat
August 7, 2023
More than half of Earth’s species live in the soil, study finds
Soil estimated to be home to 90% of world’s fungi, 85% of plants and more than 50% of bacteria, making it the world’s most species-rich habitat
Sols - Espèces - Vie
9 août 2023
Sur Terre, plus de la moitié des espèces vivent sous terre
https://sciencepost.fr/terre-moitie-especes-vivent-sous-terre/
Soil - Agriculture
August 9, 2023
Die Erde, die unsere Welt rettet - Landwirtschaft neu denken
Die Erde im Boden ist unscheinbar und nichts Besonderes. Eine braune und recht schmutzige Masse. Aber sie ist so viel mehr als nur Dreck. Sie hat das Potential, die Welt zu retten.
Soil carbon - MRV - Agriculture - Regenerative agriculture
July 20, 2023
What it takes to get clarity on soil carbon
Food companies have jumped all the way into soil carbon sequestration but there is still the question of measurement.
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/what-it-takes-get-clarity-soil-carbon
Agriculture - Agriculture de Conservation des Sols - Sols
4 août 2023
Une démarche engagée vers l’agriculture de conservation des sols depuis 15 ans
Frédéric Rémy s’est installé en 2008 en tant que chef de cultures à la Ferme de Saint-Lubin (Val-d’Oise). Face à des soucis de fertilité du sol et de gestion des graminées, il entame, dès son arrivée, une transition progressive de l’exploitation vers l’agriculture de conservation des sols.
Agriculture - Biomasse - Rôle - Carbone - Stockage - Sols - Transition écologique
24 juillet 2023
Quel rôle de la biomasse dans la transition écologique ?
https://theconversation.com/quel-role-de-la-biomasse-dans-la-transition-ecologique-205311
Sols - CO2 - Mesures - Stations au sol - Plan d’aménagement - Chine
4 août 2023
Des scientifiques chinois proposent un plan d’aménagement de stations au sol pour l’observation de la concentration de CO2 dans l’atmosphère, essentiel pour atteindre les ambitions de zéro net de la Chine avant 2060
Sols - Erosion - Planète - Pauvreté - Biodiversité
21 juillet 2023
Environnement : l’érosion des sols accentue la pauvreté sur la planète
La planète connaît un dangereux déclin de la nature. Un million d’espèces sont menacées d’extinction, les sols deviennent infertiles et les sources d’eau se tarissent. Le cadre mondial pour la biodiversité, adopté par les dirigeants mondiaux en décembre 2022, a pour objectif de stopper et d’inverser la perte de la nature d’ici à 2030.
Agriculture - Breeding - Cows - Climate-friendly - Methane
August 9, 2023
The climate-friendly cows bred to belch less methane
Agriculture - Farming - Climate - Indigenous - Philippines
August 4, 2023
In Philippines, climate change tests Indigenous farming like never before
* In the uplands of the Philippines’ Iloilo province, Indigenous Suludnon farmers maintain deep connections to the agroecosystem that has sustained their community for generations.
* Agroforestry systems and diversified planting have helped the Suludnon cope with a changing climate, and traditional knowledge of natural signs of hazardous weather have allowed them to prepare for storms.
* However, with climate change bringing increasingly frequent extreme weather events, along with crop pests and disease, the Suludnon’s time-refined methods are coming under strain.
Agriculture - Food - Rice - Shipments - India
July 20, 2023
India bans rice shipments to curb price rises
India has outlawed the export of non-basmati white rice in an attempt to ward off looming domestic price spikes.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66260414
Agriculture - Food - Rice - Food crisis - India
August 1, 2023
Why India's rice ban could trigger a global food crisis
What happens when India bans exports of a food staple that is essential to the diets of billions around the world?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66360064
Agriculture - Food - Vegan diet - Meat diet - Greenhouse gases - University of Oxford - Study
July 20, 2023
Vegan diets produce quarter of high-meat diets’ greenhouse gases – study
Other environmental impacts such as land use, water pollution, water use and biodiversity loss were also significantly lower.
Agriculture - Carbon farming - Regenerative agriculture - Environment
July 19, 2023
Carbon farming: agriculture that helps the environment (and humans)
https://www.pressenza.com/2023/07/carbon-farming-agriculture-that-helps-the-environment-and-humans/
Sécurité alimentaire - Agriculture - Défi - Terre
25 juillet 2023
Le défi de la sécurité alimentaire : nourrir la terre, nourrir les hommes
Alors que s'ouvre à Rome un sommet sur la sécurité alimentaire, trois invités dans la matinale pour évoquer ce sujet avec
Sébastien Abis Directeur du club DEMETER et chercheur associé à l’IRIS
Matthieu Brun Directeur scientifique de la Fondation pour l’agriculture et la ruralité dans le monde (FARM) et chercheur associé à Sciences Po Bordeaux
Pauline Verrière Responsable plaidoyer systèmes alimentaire et crise climatique chez Action contre la faim
Agriculture - Technique du zaï - Eau - Sahel
3 août 2023
Cultiver sans eau ou presque : la technique du zaï au Sahel
https://theconversation.com/cultiver-sans-eau-ou-presque-la-technique-du-za-au-sahel-210855
Agriculture - Canicule - Climat - Espagne - Serge Zaka
21 juillet 2023
Canicule et agriculture : «L’Espagne ne pourra plus être le verger de l’Europe»
Les températures caniculaires dans le sud du Vieux Continent font craindre des pertes de rendements agricoles. Au-delà de 43°C, les cultures méditerranéennes subissent un stress thermique et peuvent perdre leurs fleurs, feuilles et fruits, prévient l’agroclimatologue Serge Zaka.
Food producers - Deforestation rules - EU - Supply-chain
August 9, 2023
World’s Top Food Producers Push Back on Deforestation Rules
Backlash from Brazil is latest example of farmers crying foul
New requirements will increase costs for supply-chain tracing
Deforestation - Amazon - Falls - Brazil
August 2, 2023
Amazon deforestation falls over 60% compared with last July, says Brazilian minister
Marina Silva welcomes progress but says climate crisis means upcoming regional summit needs to produce real action
Industrie agroalimentaire - Afrique - AEOI - Ambassade de France au Kenya
27 juillet 2023
De l'autre côté de l'Afrique - L'industrie agroalimentaire en AEOI - Lettre Eco N°34
Le texte intégral de cette lettre en français :
A summary of this letter in English:
Climate
Climate - July - Hottest - Climate scientists
August 8, 2023
July was world’s hottest month on record, climate scientists confirm
Global average temperature exceeded previous record by substantial margin
Climate - 2023 - Hottest - Scientists
July 18, 2023
2023 is set to be hottest on record amid global heatwaves, scientists say
There is more than 80 per cent chance that this year will be the hottest on record, analysts say
Climate - China - Beijing - Tropical Storm
August 4, 2023
Tropical Storm Doksuri hammers Beijing, bringing China’s capital its heaviest rain in 70 years
Agriculture - Climate - Rains - Wheat fields - Argentina
July 20, 2023
Rains relieve Argentina's drought-hit wheat fields
Climate - July - Extreme weather - Record - Nasa
July 20, 2023
Leading Nasa climate expert says July likely to be hottest month on record
Gavin Schmidt of Goddard Institute for Space Studies warns of likelihood of new high as heatwave bakes large parts of planet
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/20/nasa-climate-crisis-july-hottest-month
Policies and Governments
COP28 - Climate summit - Agriculture - Food - Agenda
July 25, 2023
COP28: Science-based roadmap to 1.5C promised for food systems at climate summit
The COP28 Presidency team has launched its food and agriculture agenda for the summit in Dubai this winter, urging nations to include emissions from food systems in their climate commitments.
USA - China - John Kerry - Li Qing - Climate talks
July, 2023
CLIMATE TALKS RESUMED: US climate envoy John Kerry visited China this week and spoke with a number of senior Chinese officials, including premier Li Qing and his counterpart climate envoy Xie Zhenghua. (The premier is the highest administrative position in the government of China.) On Twitter, Kerry said he had “an important discussion on how the US and China can accelerate action and work together to keep 1.5 C alive”. (See Spotlight below for more on this.) [source: CarbonBrief]
UE - Sols - Commission européenne - Cour des Comptes - Ambition
25 juillet 2023
Sols : un manque d’ambition de l’UE?
La commission vient de présenter une proposition de directive sur la santé des sols qui prévoit dans un premier temps un meilleur recueil des données. Mais pour la Cour des comptes de l’UE, les efforts devraient surtout se concentrer sur la bonne application des obligations déjà en place dans la directive Nitrates et la Pac.
https://www.sillonbelge.be/11344/article/2023-07-25/sols-un-manque-dambition-de-lue
USA - Biden administration - ‘Climate smart’ agriculture
July 19, 2023
The Biden administration bets big on ‘climate smart’ agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated more than $3 billion to help farmers transition to practices that sequester carbon and reduce emissions. But some researchers claim the program can’t measure emissions accurately and is unlikely to achieve its climate goals.
https://grist.org/agriculture/the-biden-administration-bets-big-on-climate-smart-agriculture/
ONU - Sécurité alimentaire - Nutrition - Monde - Rapport
Juillet 2023
Monde – Rapport de l’ONU sur l’état de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition dans le monde (SOFI) en 2022. D’après le rapport, publié le 12 juillet dernier, 9,2% de la population mondiale est touchée par la faim, et en moyenne 735 millions de personnes ont été sous-alimentées en 2022. Bien que ce chiffre soit en léger recul par rapport à 2021 (739 millions), celui-ci reste bien supérieur aux effectifs pré-pandémie, et des zones comme les Caraïbes et l’Afrique souffrent toujours fortement de crises alimentaires. Cela s’explique par l’augmentation des phénomènes climatiques extrêmes, l’aggravation des conflits, les perturbations socio-économiques liées à la pandémie, mais également par le conflit russo-ukrainien qui a fragilisé l’accès de ces zones à la nourriture. L’Afrique reste la région la plus touchée par la faim, avec près de 20% de la population estimée comme sous-alimentée en 2022. Par ailleurs, 29,6 % de la population mondiale n’a pas un accès constant à la nourriture, et près de 42% n’a pas accès à une alimentation saine. 600 millions de personnes devraient être touchées par une malnutrition chronique d’ici 2030. [source Ambassade de France au Kenya]
Tools
Land - Global Land Squeeze - Storing carbon - Biodiversity - WRI - Report - Tool
July 2023
The Global Land Squeeze: Managing the Growing Competition for Land
In this report, WRI researchers explore how rising demand for food, wood and shelter is squeezing land that’s needed for storing carbon and protecting biodiversity. This research uses new modeling to give a true global picture of the carbon opportunity costs for land use and proposes a four-pronged approach–produce, protect, reduce, restore–for sustainably managing the world’s finite land.
https://www.wri.org/research/global-land-squeeze-managing-growing-competition-land
Agriculture - Agricultural Carbon Programs - Farmers - Croplands - Systems Change - White paper - Tool
August 2023
Agricultural Carbon Programs: From Chaos to Systems Change
In this white paper, American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Sierra View Solutions (SVS) analyze the current state of agricultural carbon programs, explore four main reasons why farmer participation may be low, and recommend 12 strategic changes that would help these programs, which are mainly focused on cropland, to succeed. The most critical barriers AFT and SVS identify are the economics of the programs, concerns about additionality, requirements for permanence, and data and technology barriers for agriculture.
This analysis may be used to help farm trade associations, environmental groups, carbon program developers, and policymakers better understand some of the specific barriers to enrollment that agriculture faces and the changes that could lead to widespread adoption of farm conservation practices. If implemented, the recommendations may lead to systemic change that will transform agriculture from a source of greenhouse gas emissions to a sink. They may also provide the public and producers with the assurance that the emerging agricultural carbon programs are a credible and cost-effective approach to climate mitigation and adaptation.
https://farmlandinfo.org/publications/ag-carbon-programs-chaos-to-systems-change/
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July 13 to 20, 2023
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - Paul Luu - Livre - Les agriculteurs ont la Terre entre leurs mains
15 février 2023
La Chaire a lu pour vous Les agriculteurs ont la Terre entre leurs mains de Paul Luu avec Marie-Christine Bidault
Agriculture and Agroforestry - Soil - Food Security - Forest - Carbon
Soil - Soil health - Sustainable agriculture - Climate change - UT-Dallas researchers
July 18, 2023
UT-Dallas researchers dig into soil health
The team is making it easier to keep soil healthy, supporting sustainable agriculture and fighting climate change.
Food - Food security - Nutrition - Healthy Food - U.N. report
July 15, 2023
Two in Five People Cannot Afford Healthy Food
Latest U.N. report on food security and nutrition has insightful but grim statistics
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023
Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum
https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc3017en
Agriculture - Food - Food security - Food production - Drought - EU
July 15, 2023
Drought parches nearly half of EU land stoking food production fears
Recent rainfall in Spain and Portugal was not enough to undo the damage to food production from drought earlier in the growing season, while fears are growing for crops in northern Europe, where a new drought is developing.
https://news.sky.com/story/nearly-half-of-european-union-land-slides-into-drought-12921475
Agriculture - Farm fields - Soil - Carbon storage - MIT - Berkeley - US
July 16, 2023
Farm fields don’t just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much
Agriculture - Farms - Pesticides - Wild pollinators - Study
July 18, 2023
Cutting pesticide use on farms doubles abundance of wild pollinators
In a three-year study on US farms, the numbers of wild pollinators and commercial bees were much higher in fields where pesticides were applied only when needed
Agriculture régénérative - Sols - Matière organique - Bretagne - France
19 juillet 2023
JT 12/13 - France 3 - Environnement : l’agriculture régénérative, pour une production raisonnable et économe
En Bretagne, pour préserver les réserves en eau et éviter les pénuries, deux agriculteurs ont décidé de cultiver différemment. Ils pratiquent depuis 20 ans l’agriculture régénérative. Cette technique permet de restaurer la qualité des sols agricoles, et encourage le développement de matière organique.
Agriculture régénérative - Pâturage régénératif - Système agrosylvopastoral - Alentejo - Portugal
16 juillet 2023
Dans cette ferme de l’Alentejo au Portugal, les arbres prennent leur retraite et les porcs partent en congé de maternité
Un projet de pâturage régénératif adapte l’ancien système agrosylvopastoral portugais de Montado pour aider à améliorer la santé des sols et à soutenir la biodiversité
Agriculture régénérative - Agricultura regenerativă - Francis Bucaille - Gaiago România - Sébastien Record
Juillet 2023
Vidéo - Agricultura regenerativă începe de la un univers uitat
Să treci la agricultura regenerativă, nu înseamnă doar să reduci numărul de lucrări, să schimbi flota de utilaje, ci mai ales să înțelegi cum funcționează un întreg univers uitat. Plantele depind de două universuri care se întrepătrund și depind unul de altul - mediul de la suprafață, cu toți factorii de stres și solul, cu miliardele de microorganisme care îl pot face mai mult sau mai puțin fertil. Respectul pentru natură se bazează pe o gândire complexă, în care se înțelege conexiunea și interdependența dintre cele două lumi. Unii oameni au făcut acest pas, au studiat și au găsit soluții în acest sens. Un fermier francez, Francis Bucaille a aflat ce înseamnă un sol mort, inert, neproductiv și a gândit soluții cu care să-l revitalizeze. În acest moment, produsele sale pentru sol se vând prin compania Gaiago în toată lumea, iar din iarna anului trecut au ajuns și la noi prin Gaiago România. Ce fac aceste produse, dar mai ales cum funcționează în contextul complex despre care am vorbit mi-a explicat Sébastien Record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YuZ8UP-b_U
Climate
Climate - Climate crisis - Extreme weather
July 20, 2023
Extreme weather: the climate crisis in four charts
As much of the northern hemisphere endures blistering heatwaves and parts of Asia are deluged with rain, a number of climate records are being challenged
Climate - Climate change - Hunger - Food security - UN
July 12, 2023
UN warns climate change is pushing millions of people into hunger
New research from UN shows around 735 million people are currently facing hunger, compared to 613 million in 2019
‘UNPRECEDENTED’: Down to Earth reported that “1-10 July was a record-breaking period” for rainfall across several Indian states, with some “exceeding the normal by 61% going up to 10,000%”. Flash floods and landslides killed at least 20 people in Himachal Pradesh, said the Hindustan Times. India’s capital Delhi has seen “unprecedented flooding”, according to the Indian Express, with the Yamuna river reaching the highest level on record, prompting mass evacuations and causing havoc with water supplies. By Leo Hickman, Carbon Brief’s editor in Hampshire, England
CERBERUS: A lingering heatwave across southern Europe is set to “intensify next week and could break the 48.8C record for Europe’s top temperature”, said the Times. Dubbed “Cerberus” after the three-headed dog of Greek mythology, the heatwave saw the Italian health ministry announce yesterday an "extreme" health warning for 15 cities, including Rome, Bologna and Florence, reported Sky News. Drought and wildfires are affecting countries including Poland, Croatia, Greece and Spain. By Leo Hickman, Carbon Brief’s editor in Hampshire, England
INTENSIFYING: In the US, Axios said earlier today that an “expanding, intensifying heatwave prompted the National Weather Service to issue heat alerts for 115 million people on Friday in 15 states”. Southern states, from California and Arizona through to Texas and Florida, have all experienced extreme and sustained high temperatures. Meanwhile, the New York Times said that extreme flooding across north-eastern states – particularly Vermont where up to 23cm of rain fell in two days last weekend – showed the “limits of America’s efforts to adapt to climate change”. By Leo Hickman, Carbon Brief’s editor in Hampshire, England
Climate - Heatwaves - Flash floods - United States
July 17, 2023
US weather: flash floods in the northeast, heatwave intensifies
Climate - Heatwaves - United States
July 15, 2023
A weekslong heat wave will intensify this weekend and push temperatures close to 130 degrees
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/14/weather/heat-wave-phoenix-california-las-vegas-climate/index.html
Climat - Vagues de chaleur - Hémisphère nord
15 juillet 2023
Climat : Europe, Asie, Amérique… Des vagues de chaleur frappent l'hémisphère nord du globe
Des records de températures sont attendus dans plusieurs régions du monde. En réaction aux très fortes chaleurs, les autorités ont parfois pris des mesures de restriction.
Climat - Vagues de chaleur - Etats-Unis
15 juillet 2023
Jusqu’à 54 °C en Californie : le sud des Etats-Unis suffoque sous une dangereuse vague de chaleur
Un dôme de chaleur sévit depuis le début de la semaine au-dessus des Etats désertiques du Sud-Ouest, entraînant de sérieux risques pour la santé.
Policies and Governments
Agriculture - World food security - Cereals - Agreement - Russia - Ukraine
July 18, 2023
Russia's blackmail on global food security is unjustifiable
EDITORIAL - By withdrawing from the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, and making its reinstatement conditional on an easing of Western sanctions against his country, Vladimir Putin is jeopardizing supplies to many countries, particularly the poorest.
Agriculture - Sécurité alimentaire mondiale - Céréales - Accord - Russie - Ukraine
18 juillet 2023
Le chantage injustifiable de la Russie sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale
ÉDITORIAL - En se retirant de l’accord sur l’exportation de céréales ukrainiennes via la mer Noire et en conditionnant sa réintégration à un allègement des sanctions occidentales contre son pays, Vladimir Poutine met en péril l’approvisionnement de nombreux pays, notamment parmi les plus pauvres.
Agriculture - Soil health - Soil carbon measurement - Agricultural carbon sinks - Congress - USDA - US
July 14, 2023
Opinion: Congress and USDA double down on soil carbon measurement and agricultural carbon sinks
EU - Soil protection - European Commission - States - European Court of Auditors
July 12, 2023
EU auditors court slams lacklustre EU soil protection efforts
The European Commission and EU member states are not being ambitious enough with their protections for EU soil, nearly 70% of which was found to be unhealthy, the European Court of Auditors said.
UE - Protection des sols - Commission européenne - États - Cour des comptes européenne
12 juillet 2023
Protection des sols : la Commission et les États ne font pas suffisamment d’efforts selon la Cour des comptes européenne
Pour la Cour des comptes européenne (CCE), la Commission et les États membres ne mettent pas suffisamment de moyens et manquent d’ambition dans la protection des sols, dont 70 % sont considérés comme insalubres en Europe.
Research - Studies
Soil - Soil systems - Carbon sinks - Carbon-focused management strategies - Multi-pool management - Research
June 15, 2023
Unlocking complex soil systems as carbon sinks: multi-pool management as the key - Gerrit Angst et al, Unlocking complex soil systems as carbon sinks: multi-pool management as the key, Nature Communications (2023).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38700-5
Miscellaneaous
Entreprises - Neutralité carbonne - Greenwashing
6 juillet 2023
Easyjet, Gucci, Nestlé… Les entreprises abandonnent la neutralité carbonne face aux accusations de greenwashing
Fini la neutralité carbone ! Plusieurs entreprises à l'instar d'Easyjet, Gucci ou encore Nestlé renoncent à cette allégation. Alors que les recours se multiplient à leur encontre pour greenwashing et pratique commerciale trompeuse, les entreprises se détournent peu à peu de la très critique compensation carbone, seul moyen d'atteindre aujourd'hui la neutralité.
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June 30 to July 13, 2023
“4 per 1000” initiative - Quote
June 30, 2023
Is Soil How We Save The Climate?
Agriculture and Agroforestry - Soil - Food Security - Forest - Carbon
Soils - Agriculture - Improving soil - Farming - Better farming techniques - 1.5C heating target
July 4, 2023
Improving soil could keep world within 1.5C heating target, research suggests
Better farming techniques across the world could lead to storage of 31 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide a year, data shows
Soils - Soil samples - Key nutrient targets
July 12, 2023
25% of soil samples failing on key nutrient targets
https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/25-of-soil-samples-failing-on-key-nutrient-targets
Soils - Soil health - Nutrients - Key role
July 5, 2023
Soil health: The key role of nutrients
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/opinion/soil-health-the-key-role-of-nutrients/
Soil - Tool - Conservation - Agricultural lands - Study
June 30, 2023
Sounds of the soil: A new tool for conservation?
* Researchers are discovering that listening to the soil can be a way to understand biodiversity belowground without having to overturn every bit of the land.
* Studies have shown that soils of restored forest areas have both more complex sounds and more critters than soils of degraded sites.
* Soils of intensively managed agricultural lands, also appear to be quieter, indicating that soil sounds could be a proxy for soil health.
* Some researchers are also using sounds to identify distinct species in the soil, which could open up lots of possibilities for both pest management and wildlife conservation.
Soil - Soil carbon capture - Microbes - Role - Study
June 27, 2023
Microbes play leading role in soil carbon capture, study shows
* Soil is a significant carbon reservoir, storing more carbon than all plants, animals and the atmosphere combined, making it crucial for addressing the climate crisis.
* Microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, are the primary drivers of carbon storage in soil, surpassing other soil processes by a factor of four, according to a new study in Nature.
* The efficiency of microbial metabolism plays a vital role in determining the amount of organic carbon stored in soils worldwide, according to the research, which also calls for improved soil carbon models for effective policies and climate solutions.
* Enhancing microbial efficiency can lead to increased carbon storage in soils, but further research is needed to understand how to achieve this.
Agriculture - Food - El Nino - Rice crops - Guatemala
July 13, 2023
El Nino is threatening rice crops while grain supplies already are squeezed by the war in Ukraine
https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-el-nino-rice-ukraine-c094d60a613a9bb861505130fb4958c4
Agriculture - Agroecology schools - Restore degraded land - Guatemala
July 7, 2023
Agroecology schools help communities restore degraded land in Guatemala
* The transformation of ancestral lands into intensive monoculture plantations has led to the destruction of Guatemala’s native forests and traditional practices, as well as loss of livelihoods and damage to local health and the environment.
* A network of more than 40 Indigenous and local communities and farmer associations are developing agroecology schools across the country to promote the recovery of ancestral practices, educate communities on agroecology and teach them how to build their own local economies.
* Based on the traditional “campesino a campesino” (from farmer to farmer) method, the organizations says it has improved the livelihoods of 33,000 families who use only organic farming techniques and collectively protect 74,000 hectares (182,858 acres) of forest across Guatemala.
Agriculture - Food - Poisonous pea - Crop - Climate crisis - Sciences
July 8, 2023
Scientists say poisonous pea could be made vital climate crisis crop
Gene editing or selective breeding hold promise of a non-toxic variety of the protein-rich and drought-resistant plant
Agriculture - Livestock - Climate change - Daffodil diet - Methane emissions
July 10, 2023
Climate change: Could daffodil diet for livestock help?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-66147726
Agriculture - Agroecology - Farmer autonomy - Lebanese project
June 29, 2023
One seed at a time: Lebanese project promotes agroecology for farmer autonomy
* Lebanese organic seed farm Buzuruna Juzuruna is on a mission, part of a growing network of agroecological efforts in the country, to change conventional farming through seed sharing and communal education.
* Despite its location in the Fertile Crescent, Lebanon today relies heavily on imports to feed its population due to economic collapse, conflicts and political upheaval.
* Buzuruna Juzuruna is using multiple efforts, including free classes, festivals and even circus performances to expose local farmers to older, more ecological methods of farming.
* In its work, Buzuruna Juzuruna emulates the ecosystems it treasures, by being open-source and horizontal in design.
Agriculture - Farming - Farmers - More incentives - To cut emissions
June 27, 2023
Farmers need more incentives to cut emissions — report
A consulting group's report said agricultural emissions need to be cut sharply — but with potential rewards for farmers — if the global temperature rise is to be held to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Agriculture régénérative - Aliments - Environnement
9 juillet 2023
Agriculture régénérative : cultiver des aliments et restaurer l'environnement
Les nouvelles technologies et l'agriculture régénérative promettent d'augmenter la production alimentaire tout en réduisant l'impact environnemental : la façon dont nous produisons des aliments peut également sauver la planète
Agriculture - Café - Agroforesterie - Méthodes agroforestières - Résilience climatique - Ouganda
6 juillet 2023
Café et résilience climatique en Ouganda
Un projet aide les agriculteurs à adapter des méthodes agroforestières à la culture des grains de café dans le respect de l’environnement. Ils espèrent ainsi augmenter leur production de café sans recourir aux pesticides tout en préservant la fertilité et la santé des sols pour l’avenir.
Sols - Carbone - Stockage carbone - Recherche - Cirad
7 juillet 2023
Limiter l’évaporation du carbone contenu dans les sols
Un groupe de huit scientifiques du Cirad vient de publier les résultats d’un long travail de recherche sur l’impact des activités humaines sur le stockage du carbone dans les sols.
https://www.cultivar.fr/technique/limiter-levaporation-du-carbone-contenu-dans-les-sols
Climate
Climate change - Record high temperature - Earth
July 6, 2023
Earth hit an unofficial record high temperature this week – and stayed there
Climate change - Average global temperature - Rise - Earth
July 5, 2023
Tuesday was world’s hottest day on record – breaking Monday’s record
Average global temperature hits 17.18C and experts expect record to be broken again very soon
Climate change - Rain - Heaviest rain - Japan
July 10, 2023
Japan sees ‘heaviest rain ever: Is climate change making downpours more extreme?
Climat - Changement climatique - Inondations
10 juillet 2023
Inondations monstres en Espagne, aux Etats-Unis, au Japon : vers un été climatique hors norme
Personne n’est à l’abri. New York et le sud-ouest du Japon ce week-end, Saragosse en Espagne la semaine passée… Ces derniers jours, de violents orages et des pluies torrentielles se sont abattues aux quatre coins du monde, entraînant inondations et glissements de terrain. Retour sur une semaine de tous les risques alors que l’été 2023 s’annonce déjà hors norme.
Climate change - Deforestation
June 27, 2023
Climate change: Deforestation surges despite pledges
Climate - Climate change - Real time map
June 30, 2023
This map shows the consequences of climate change on the planet
Climat - Dérèglement climatique - Carte en temps réel
9 juillet 2023
CARTE. Visualisez en temps réel les conséquences du dérèglement climatique sur la planète
Quels changements nos écosystèmes sont-ils susceptibles de subir dans les trois prochaines décennies, sous l'effet du réchauffement climatique ? Un outil de cartographie disponible gratuitement en ligne, conçu par une entreprise et une université américaines, nous donne un aperçu.
Policies and Governments
EU - European Parliament - Biodiversity - Ecosystems - Restoration
July 12, 2023
First attempt to kill EU nature law fails in Parliament vote
https://www.politico.eu/article/first-attempt-to-kill-eu-nature-law-fails-in-parliament-vote/
EU - European Parliament - Biodiversity - Ecosystems - Restoration
July 12, 2023
Euronews covers the latest vote on the EU Nature Restoration Law today which resulted in 336 votes in favour of the amended law and 300 against, with 13 abstention in the European Parliament. The outcome means the regulation will be sent back to the European Parliament's environment committee, where it had been previously voted down. If the committee moves it forward, the European Parliament will be able to enter negotiations with member states, which have already established a common position on the file, to fine-tune the provisions and craft a compromise text that could then be endorsed by both co-legislators. The regulation establishes binding targets in seven fields of action, such as farmlands, peatlands, pollinators and sea bottoms, with the goal of reversing the environmental damage caused by unchecked human activity and climate change. [source Nature4Climate]
UE - Parlement européen - Biodiversité - Ecosystèmes - Restauration
12 juillet 2023
Biodiversité : cinq questions sur le projet de restauration des écosystèmes, qui a obtenu un premier feu vert au Parlement européen
Le Parlement a adopté, mercredi à Strasbourg, une version amendée de ce texte, qui prévoit d'imposer aux Etats membres des objectifs contraignants de restauration des terres et espaces marins abîmés par la pollution ou l'exploitation intensive.
UE - Parlement européen - Restauration - Nature - Projet de loi
12 juillet 2023
Le projet de loi sur la restauration de la nature adopté par le Parlement européen, dans une version minimale
Les députés européens ont voté contre une motion de rejet farouchement soutenue par la droite avant d’adopter le texte prévoyant des objectifs de restauration des terres et d’espaces marins.
EU - Climate goals - Nature restoration law
July 10, 2023
Timmermans: EU climate goals ‘hinge on’ success of nature restoration law
EU - European Commission - Soils - Food security - Law
July 6, 2023
EU sets out first-ever soil law to protect food security and slow global heating
Proposal to improve soil health throughout continent by 2050 criticised for lack of legally binding targets
EU - European Commission - Soils - European legislation - Lacking ambition
July 5, 2023
Commission tables first EU soil law, slammed for ‘lacking ambition’
EU - Europe - Farmers lobby
June 29, 2023
The truth behind Europe’s most powerful farmers lobby
Copa-Cogeca claims to speak for all farmers. Critics say it only represents large enterprises.
https://www.politico.eu/article/copa-cogeca-farmering-lobby-europe/
EU - Europe - Farmers lobby - Point of view
June 30, 2023
In the Name of the Farmers
Who gets a seat at the Brussels table and do they truly speak for the people they say they represent?
EU - Commission - New EU Green Deal - Soil
July 8, 2023
Commission tables new EU Green Deal package focusing on soil, waste and new genomic techniques
The European Commission presented on July 5th its Green Deal package called “sustainable use of plant and soil natural resources”, which contains four different proposals.
The latest array of laws, which not only aims are making sustainable use of key natural resources the norm, but also strengthening the resilience of EU food systems and farming, includes: the Directive on soil monitoring, the Regulation on plants produced by new genomic techniques, the Revision of food waste and textile aspects of the waste framework directive, and the Revision of legislation on seeds and other plant and forest reproductive material.
Soil monitoring law: the objective of the new soil directive is to create a monitoring framework for all soils in Europe. It also aims at making sustainable management of soils the norm, by setting a list of practices to be used in EU countries, as well as requesting them to identify, investigate and remediate potentially contaminated sites.
Food waste proposal: According to the adopted text, Member States are required to take the necessary measures to reduce food waste by the end of 2030 by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households) compared to 2020 levels.
To know more, have a look at the following pages:
- Press release: http://bitly.ws/Kxbe
- Ensuring resilient and sustainable use of EU's natural resources: http://bitly.ws/Kxbs
- Questions and Answers on a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience: http://bitly.ws/KxbI
- Frequently Asked Questions: Reducing Food Waste in the EU: http://bitly.ws/KxbP
UE - Bruxelles - Sols - Préservation - Législation européenne
7 juillet 2023
Bruxelles propose une directive sur la santé des sols
Cette première législation européenne vise à ne compter, en 2050, que des sols sains dans l’Union européenne. Elle enjoint notamment les États membres à s’engager dans la préservation de cette ressource, sans toutefois imposer de mesures aux agriculteurs.
UE - Commission européenne - Sols - Législation européenne - Ambition à la baisse
6 juillet 2023
La Commission européenne revoit à la baisse son ambition de protéger les sols
Près de dix ans après l’échec d’une législation similaire, la Commission européenne veut protéger les sols au même titre que l’air, l’eau ou l’environnement marin sans introduire d’objectifs intermédiaires contraignants.
Scotland - Farming - Agriculture - Agriculture Bill - Farmers
July 10, 2023
Scotland farming: What is the Agriculture Bill and what does it mean for farmers?
The Bill is due to be brought to the Scottish Parliament this year.
France - Etat - Condamnation - Effrondement du vivant - Pesticides
30 juin 2023
Effrondement du vivant : l’Etat condamné à réparer le préjudice évologique causé par l’usage des pesticides
C'était le premier procès sur la biodiversité. Il se conclut sur la condamnation de l'État, pour ne pas avoir respecté ses obligations de réduction de pesticides, causant un préjudice écologique. Le Tribunal administratif de Paris donne un an au gouvernement pour réparer ce préjudice et prévenir l’aggravation des dommages.
Tools
Small Farmer Atlas - 10,000 small-scale farmers - Comprehensive survey - Solidaridad Network
July 12, 2023
Solidaridad Network launches the Small Farmer Atlas, a comprehensive survey based on the input of 10,000 small-scale farmers in 18 countries on 3 continents. The survey sought out their perspectives on issues ranging from prosperity and income, to bargaining power and land use to create a data rich resource focused on eight commodities. [source Nature4Climate]
https://stories.solidaridadnetwork.org/the-small-farmer-atlas/index.html
