Farmworkers are deemed ‘essential’ but are not protected from COVID-19

As many people in the U.S. shelter-in-place in their homes, farmworkers are at risk of becoming severely ill from the coronavirus as they continue to support the country’s food supply chain.

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Farmworkers are deemed ‘essential’ but are not protected from COVID-19

Why old is new again in farming, and why it has the potential to feed and save the planet

The COVID-19 pandemic response shows our potential to pull together.

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Why old is new again in farming, and why it has the potential to feed and save the planet

Biodiversity decline puts food supply at risk

Biodiversity decline around the globe is hurting our capacity to develop food. A new study from the United Nations found that biodiversity is a key element in producing sustainable and secure food sources — such as crops and livestock — is currently in a decline due to several factors, including climate change . Scientists working with the Food and Agriculture Organization arm of the UN discovered that biodiversity has dropped across three levels: ecosystems, genetics and species. Without diversity in all three of the sectors, farmers and livestock owners will have a more difficult time raising reliable food sources in years to come. “The proportion of livestock breeds at risk of extinction is increasing. Overall, the diversity of crops present in farmers’ fields has declined and threats to crop diversity are increasing,” the research stated. Related: SUPERFARM design envisions an urban vertical farm that is energy self-sufficient The decline in species, for example, affects essential tasks in nature like managing pests and pollination. With an estimated 40 percent of species expected to go extinct over the next 20 to 30 years, this could have a devastating impact all around the world. Large mammals are also hurting from a lack of biodiversity, with over 25 percent of livestock on the verge of extinction. Further, there are only around seven percent of livestock breeds that are not at risk of extinction, which is alarming for the future of breeding. The UN report concluded that climate change is a contributing factor in the decline of biodiversity. Other human interactions with the environment are also leading to a change in biodiversity, including pollution, demographic changes, land abuse, and overcultivation. The study also warned that our ability to monitor changes in biodiversity is limited, which means we might be worse off than we think. Fortunately, the topic of biodiversity is getting more attention by worldwide leaders. In fact, it will take center stage at the upcoming G7 meeting and the World Conservation Congress gathering. It is unclear what will be done to combat the issue, but biodiversity decline is a problem that can no longer go ignored. Via CNN Image via Shutterstock

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Biodiversity decline puts food supply at risk

How DSM is embracing the Sustainable Development Goals

The food supply giant is pursuing five of the SDGs to drive its sustainability efforts, including the mission to eradicate hunger.

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How DSM is embracing the Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability execs share strategies for new era of ESG disclosure

A new era of investor accountability is driving new processes at NRG, Prologis and Salesforce.

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Sustainability execs share strategies for new era of ESG disclosure

What lies beneath: To manage toxic contamination in cities, study their industrial histories

With the constant turnover of land, many American cities are facing legacy hazardous waste that they didn’t even know was there.

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What lies beneath: To manage toxic contamination in cities, study their industrial histories

This element, essential to all life, is rapidly disappearing from the planet

Of the many things threatening the world’s food supply, the element with the ability to wreak the most havoc hasn’t made many headlines. Researchers are now warning that waning phosphorous levels could devastate food production around the globe. A nonrenewable resource with no synthetic substitute, phosphorous is an essential nutrient and it’s disappearing faster than anyone realized. Read the rest of This element, essential to all life, is rapidly disappearing from the planet

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This element, essential to all life, is rapidly disappearing from the planet

We’ve lost a third of the world’s farmlands in the last 40 years

A new study found that the world has lost a third of its food-producing land in the last four decades. Erosion and pollution are two of the biggest reasons that we’re losing fertile soil , and it’s happening at a rate far faster than the natural processes that replace diminished soil. Researchers are taking this message to world leaders this week in Paris , in an effort to command environmental policies that call for agricultural practices that would slow the land loss. Read the rest of We’ve lost a third of the world’s farmlands in the last 40 years

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We’ve lost a third of the world’s farmlands in the last 40 years

Contemporary timber homes rise above Lithuania’s historic ammunition vaults

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Contemporary timber homes rise above Lithuania’s historic ammunition vaults

Climate change poses a serious threat to global wheat crops

New studies reveal that increasing global temperatures are likely to put a damper on wheat crop yields. A six percent reduction in yields is expected for each 1.8 degree F (1 degree C) increase in temperature. Considering that current emissions levels could eventually lead to a global temperature increase of 9 degrees F (5 degrees C), this is very bad news. Read the rest of Climate change poses a serious threat to global wheat crops Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Climate Change , Environment , food , food crops , food supply , global temperatures , global warming , greenhouse gas emissions , hunger , population , wheat , wheat crops

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Climate change poses a serious threat to global wheat crops

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