April 26 to May 3, 2024
Initiative « 4 pour 1000 » - ReSoil
8 janvier 2024
Le stockage de carbone dans les sols agricoles : par quels mécanismes ?
L’initiative 4 pour 1000 lancée par la France lors de la COP 21 part du constat que, à l’échelle mondiale, le stock de carbone représente 0,4% des émissions annuelles de Gaz à Effet de Serre (GES). Ce rapport théorique a conduit à suggérer qu’une hausse annuelle de 0,4% conduirait à compenser l’ensemble des émissions planétaires. En France, une augmentation de cette proportion permettrait théoriquement de compenser 12% des émissions de GES. Ce raisonnement est néanmoins trop simpliste pour être intégré tel quel. En effet, l’augmentation du stock de carbone des sols permise par des pratiques favorables n’est possible que sur une durée limitée. Le stockage plafonne à partir d’un certain seuil notamment en fonction de la teneur en argile. De plus, ces pratiques doivent être maintenues pour que le stockage maximal perdure dans le temps.
https://www.resoilag.com/blog/le-stockage-de-carbone-dans-les-sols-agricoles-par-quels-mecanismes
Agriculture and Agroforestry - Soil - Food Security - Forest - Carbon
Agriculture - UK Farmers - Climate - Impacts - Crops - Price
29 April 2024
‘Washout winter’ spells price rises for UK shoppers with key crops down by a fifth
Analysts say impact on wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape harvests means price rises on beer, bread and biscuits and more food imported
Agriculture - Climate - Extreme Weather - Heavy Rains - China’s Rice
29 April 2024
Heavy Rains Threaten China’s Rice as Extreme Weather Grips South
Agriculture - Climate - Heavy Rains - Farmers - Crops - UK
29 April 2024
‘Water everywhere’: Shropshire farmers race to salvage harvest after record rain
Some crops completely wiped out and dramatic falls in yields being predicted in county which reflects crisis in rest of UK
Wine - Viticulture - Viniculture - Worst wine harvest - Climate change - International Organisation of Vine and Wine - OIV - Report
27 April 2024
Worst wine harvest in 62 years blamed on ‘extreme’ weather and climate change
A new report shows where has wine production dried up the most in Europe.
Agriculture - Soil - Soil sensor - Soil station - European Farmers - UK trials
29 April 2024
Soil sensor 'revolutionising' European agriculture begins UK trials
A unique soil station that is helping European farmers dramatically increase profitability by cutting fertiliser use is now being trialled at more than 20 UK farms.
Agriculture - Soils - Common ground - Film - Finian Makepeace
27 April 2024
EPISODE 369: GROUND RULES
Agriculture - Grazing ruminants - Environmental benefits - Soil - Research
27 April 2024
Research confirms environmental benefits of grazing ruminants
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/research-confirms-environmental-benefits-of-grazing-ruminants/
Agriculture - Agroecology - Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities - Women - Ecuador
25 April 2024
Women weave a culture of resistance and agroecology in Ecuador’s Intag Valley
* In Ecuador’s Intag Valley, the women’s artisan collective Mujer y Medio Ambiente (Women and the Environment) has developed an innovative way to dye and stitch fibers from the cabuya plant, an agave-like shrub.
* The women use environmentally friendly techniques, such as natural dyes from native plants and insects, and agroecological farming practices to cultivate cabuya as a complementary crop to their primary harvests.
* Being part of the collective has empowered the women economically and personally, enabling them to contribute to their children’s education, gain autonomy, and become community leaders in the nearly 30-year struggle to keep mining companies out of their forests.
* In March 2023, the community’s resistance paid off when a provincial court recognized that mining companies had violated the communities’ constitutional rights and canceled their permits, setting an important precedent for protecting constitutional and environmental rights in Ecuador.
Agriculture - Food Security - Moroccan farmers - AFD - Agreements - SIAM
26 April 2024
Food security: AFD supports financing for Moroccan farmers at the SIAM
In the village of the 16th Moroccan International Agricultural Show (SIAM), which opened on 22 April 2024 in the city of Meknes in the north of the Cherifian kingdom, Crédit Agricole du Maroc (CAM) and French Development Agency (AFD) signed two agreements in support of a new programme focusing on climate change and food security. Valued at €72 million, the initiative will also be supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
https://www.afrik21.africa/en/food-security-afd-supports-financing-for-moroccan-farmers-at-the-siam/
Agriculture - Alimentation - Sols - Qualité des sols - Sols africains - Afrique
30 avril 2024
Alimentation contaminé : les sols africains vous mettent en danger
Face à l’impératif de prospérité agricole, l’Afrique se retrouve confrontée à un défi de taille : celui d’améliorer la qualité de ses sols tout en diminuant le recours aux pesticides. Comment se portent les terres africaines et quel est l’impact de leur état sur l’alimentation ?
Agriculture - Agroécologie - Santé des sols - Agriculteurs wallons - Transition agroécologique
27 avril 2024
"Si je ne fais pas ça, je ne peux pas me sentir bien" : ces agriculteurs wallons ont fait le choix de la transition agroécologique
Agriculture - Agriculture durable - Agriculture productive - Santé des sols - International Fertilizer Development Center IFDC - Togo
27 avril 2024
Santé des sols, clé d’une agriculture durable et productive
L’International Fertilizer Development Center IFDC, acteur majeur du développement agricole en Afrique célèbre ses 37 années d'engagement au Togo en faveur de la santé des sols et l’accompagnement des producteurs.
https://www.agridigitale.net/article/sante-des-sols-cle-dune-agriculture-durable-et-productive
Sols - Carbone - Puits de carbone - Réaction chimique - Recherche
25 avril 2024
Cette réaction chimique est à la base des puits de carbone dans les sols
Les puits de carbone fonctionnent naturellement partout sur la planète. Mais comment ? Des chercheurs ont fait le grand saut pour comprendre les réactions chimiques qui permettent à la matière organique de stocker efficacement le carbone. Et ils ont été surpris.
Sols - Vers de terre - Pouvoirs
26 avril 2024
Les supers pouvoirs du ver de terre - Journal Télévisé 20h TF1
https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/jt-20h/videos/le-20-heures-du-vendredi-26-avril-2024-21307764.html
Call for projects
Call for projects - Grand Challenge - Bezos Earth Fund - Conservation - Innovation - Climate - Nature - Sustainable development impact of proteins - Biodiversity conservation
25 April 2024
Bezos Earth Fund releases $100m for AI to help the climate and protect nature
As part of a bold initiative to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to fight climate change and preserve nature, the Bezos Earth Fund has announced the launch of a $100 million multi-year Grand Challenge. This announcement comes at a crucial time when environmental challenges demand innovative and rapid solutions to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Running for three years, the Grand Challenge will focus its first cycle on a number of key areas, including the sustainable development impact of proteins, biodiversity conservation and power grid optimisation. However, the challenge is open to all innovative ideas that contribute to the fight against climate change and the protection of nature. To ensure fairness and access, the foundation of American billionaire Jeff Bezos, head of Amazon, the global online retail giant, is inviting innovators from all over the world to take part in this ambitious challenge.
The submission process for the first round of the Grand Challenge will begin in May 2024, offering innovators an opportunity to take their ideas forward and help build a more sustainable future for all. The winners will be announced at the Bezos Earth Fund-TED event during Climate Week in New York at the end of September 2024.
Call for projects - Agro-ecology projects - Innovative agroecological practices - Moroccan agricultural landscape - Morocco
29 April 2024
MOROCCO: €4 million in funding for agro-ecology projects
In the wake of the 16th Salon international de l'agriculture au Maroc (Siam), a call for expressions of interest has been launched to promote agroecology as part of the "IHYAE" programme. With a budget of €4 million, this call aims to revitalise agricultural practices in Morocco, as part of the national "Green Generation 2020-2030" strategy.
Coordinated by the Agence pour le développement agricole (ADA), this call for projects aims to transform the Moroccan agricultural landscape by promoting the adoption of innovative agroecological practices in key regions of Morocco, notably Fès-Meknès (centre-north), Oriental (north-east) and Souss-Massa (south-west). National and international civil society organisations are strongly encouraged to participate, as their expertise is essential in guiding farms towards more sustainable practices.
https://www.afrik21.africa/en/morocco-e4-million-in-funding-for-agro-ecology-projects/
Policies and Governments
G7 - G7 commitments - Ministers - Climate - Environment ministers
30 April 2024
G7 commitments: Climate, energy and environment ministers from the G7 group of most industrialized nations met in Italy on 29-30 April.
A key outcome is their pledge to produce updated national climate change plans that align with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Press release (Agricultural references pages 9, 19 and 31 - Healthy Soil references pages 28, 29 and 30):
Saudi Arabia - UNEP - World Environment Day campaigns - Land - Desertification - Restoration - Resilience
28 April 2024
Saudi Arabia and UNEP launch World Environment Day campaigns to combat desertification and restore degraded lands
UK - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) - Agroforestry
2 May 2024
Alternative Land Uses: Experts offer agroforestry guidance
Combining farming and forestry is a centuries-old concept but, as agriculture intensified in post-war Britain, farmers lost sight of the importance of in-field trees and shelter belts.
That is now changing with agroforestry set to be classified as an agricultural activity in the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme in England, attracting revenue payments of £248-£849/ha, plus capital payments.
Defra is reviewing current permanency arrangements for agroforestry.
U.S. - Agricultural Land Protection - Essential Tool - Climate Change - Research - American Farmland Trust
23 April 2024
Agricultural Land Protection is an Essential Tool for Fighting Climate Change
American Farmland Trust shares new research that shows from 2001-2016, 11 million acres of American farmland were converted to uses that threaten the future of agriculture. Looking ahead, AFT modelling indicates that the U.S. will lose an additional 18.4 million acres by 2040 in the absence of significant policy interventions. [source Nature4Climate]
https://usnature4climate.org/2024/04/23/agricultural-land-protection-as-climate-tool/
Policies - New EU nature law - Agriculture - Farmers - Open letter calls for green policies - Scientists
26 April 2024
New EU nature law will fail without farmers, scientists warn
Open letter calls for green policies that empower farmers, after months of protests jeopardise future of flagship biodiversity deal
Policies - EU Policy - Agriculture - Farming reform - Agricultural rules
25 April 2024
EU Policy. Record approval of farming reform raises legal, climate concerns
Faced with the roar of protesting farmers, the European Parliament has stripped down agricultural rules in record time – but some worry MEPs have been too hasty.
Europe - European Parliament - Environment - Farmers - Green requirements
25 April 2024
Parliament gives final nod to loosen green requirements for farmers
The European Parliament gave its final green light on Wednesday (24 April) to changes to some environmental conditions for receiving payments under the bloc’s subsidy scheme, which are expected to come into force by June, after member states’ approval.
U.S. - New York State - Agriculture - Agricultural Stewardship Programs - Record Investment - Environmentally Sustainable Best Practices - Soil - Water
24 April 2024
During Earth Week, Governor Kathy Hochul Announces Record Investment in Agricultural Stewardship Programs
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Provides Nearly $82 Million for Programs that Assist Farms to Implement Environmentally Sustainable Best Practices, Protect Soil and Water Quality, and Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Mongolia - Grasslands - Landmark climate finance deal
23 April 2024
Mongolia signs landmark climate finance deal for its grasslands
Mongolia's government and a coalition of partners have signed a nature finance agreement aimed at protecting 35.6 million acres (144,000 square km) of the country's lands and waters, including the world's last great tract of temperate grassland
https://www.thecattlesite.com/news/mongolia-signs-landmark-climate-finance-deal-for-its-grasslands
Europe - Parlement européen - Environnement - PAC - Exigences environnementales - Assouplissement
25 avril 2024
Le Parlement européen approuve l’assouplissement des exigences environnementales de la PAC
Le Parlement européen a donné son feu vert définitif, mercredi (24 avril), à la modification de certaines exigences environnementales pour l’obtention de paiements au titre de la Politique agricole commune (PAC). Les règles assouplies devraient entrer en vigueur d’ici juin, après l’approbation des États membres.
France - Agriculteurs - Colère - Mesures complémentaires
27 avril 2024
Colère des agriculteurs : ce qu'il faut retenir des mesures "complémentaires" annoncées par le gouvernement
Cette nouvelle série d'annonces intervient trois mois après les blocages de la profession agricole.
Québec - Terres agricoles - Dégradation - Constat
25 avril 2024
Québec n’en fait pas assez pour empêcher la dégradation des terres agricoles
Les terres agricoles de la province se dégradent et le ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) n'en fait pas assez pour renverser cette tendance. C'est le sombre portrait que dresse un nouveau rapport de la commissaire au développement durable, Janique Lambert, déposé jeudi à l'Assemblée nationale.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2067695/sols-agricoles-rapport-commissaire-environnement
Research and Studies
National commitments - Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - Biodiversity
6 April 2024
National commitments to Aichi Targets and their implications for monitoring the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - C. Maney and all
UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Research shows that governments widely failed to provide evidence of their efforts to implement a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in line with their commitments under the CBD up to the year 2000. The research looked at nearly 8,000 commitments in 58 NBSAPs. Governments reported on only 56 percent of these pledges. [source Nature Beat#27]
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44185-024-00039-5?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#Abs1
Carbon storage - Roots - subsoil carbon dynamics - AI - Agricultural practices - Study - Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
25 April 2024
Going deep: Roots, carbon, and analyzing subsoil carbon dynamics - Ezhilmathi Angela Joseph Fernando, Michael Selvaraj, Yusaku Uga, Wolfgang Busch, Hunt Bowers, Joe Tohme
Agricultural practices currently contribute to the emission of approximately 10%–12% atmospheric greenhouse gasses, with tillage agriculture accelerating soil disruption and carbon dioxide release. Nevertheless, various options exist, such as converting new lands for agriculture, promoting healthier plant-based diets, adopting advanced management technologies, and minimizing food loss. However, these measures alone are insufficient to ensure environmental sustainability within planetary
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1674205223003647
Conservation action - Biodiversity - Sustainable management - Positive impact - Study
25 April 2024
The positive impact of conservation action - Penny F. Langhammer and all
Governments recently adopted new global targets to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand the outcomes of conservation actions. We conducted a global meta-analysis of 186 studies (including 665 trials) that measured biodiversity over time and compared outcomes under conservation action with a suitable counterfactual of no action. We find that in two-thirds of cases, conservation either improved the state of biodiversity or at least slowed declines. Specifically, we find that interventions targeted at species and ecosystems, such as invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and restoration, protected areas, and sustainable management, are highly effective and have large effect sizes. This provides the strongest evidence to date that conservation actions are successful but require transformational scaling up to meet global targets.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj6598
