California’s San Joaquin Valley is one of the United States’ most productive agricultural regions. It’s also home to one of the highest concentrations of threatened and endangered species in the country. What will the state’s new groundwater regulations that require retiring large swaths of agricultural land mean for biodiversity in the region?
The United Nations has set a Sustainable Development Goal to end world hunger by 2030. Increasing crop yields is necessary to achieve this goal. However, intensive irrigation practices can also increase the uptake of ozone by plants, damaging sensitive leaf tissues. Lack of ozone pollution mitigation efforts may prevent future progress towards global food security.
The Endangered Species Act – which has long been known as the strongest environmental law in United States history – has been undermined by recent rule changes under the Trump administration. Weaker protections for species in peril heighten the probability that species will go extinct, placing biodiversity and related ecosystem services further at risk.
Many recent studies have reported that shifting to a more sustainable diet can help reduce the impacts of climate change, but it remains unclear what can actually drive widespread diet changes. A new study investigates the behavioral drivers that motivate dietary changes and finds that peer pressure is a significant factor.
On a quest to find examples of food-secure islands, Sara Santiago interviewed Dr. Natalie Kurashima, who studies traditional agriculture practices in Hawaiʻi. With kindness, humility, and dedication, Natalie shares her experience of tying her research to her indigenous roots in Hawaiian land and agriculture.
In contrast to their oil-rich neighbors, Israel and Jordan are currently dependent on imported fossil fuels to meet their energy needs. Expanding renewable energy production provides a promising pathway to achieving greater energy independence and security for these nations.
Globally, the conversion from forest to agriculture and livestock rearing is among the key threats to tropical forests. Harvesting non-timber forest products can be a sustainable alternative source of livelihood for forest-dependent communities. A recent study from Brazil considers the potential of the açaí palm in enabling forest conservation and ending poverty.
Fish hold value across many areas of life. They are metaphysically representative of Christianity, critical for healthy aquatic ecosystems, and provide a staple in the nutrition of billions of people around the world. One study suggests looking at religion as one approach to hold fishers to the regulations designed to protect fish for the future.
