Food, Agriculture and Water

Expanding on previous studies, a team of researchers recently found that pesticides pose a greater risk to ecosystem health than previously recognized. This risk is magnified in places with water scarcity. 

The global climate system is changing and, until now, the drivers of these shifts have been hotly debated: is it caused by humans or is it normal climate variability? New research confirms that humans are the main cause of climate shifts – which will have important implications in support of swift climate action by managers and political figure.

Andrew Ofstehage, postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, used his background in agronomy and anthropology to investigate the soy boom in Brazil. In his upcoming book “Welcome to Soylandia!”, Ofstehage shows how transnational North American farmers are managing both soils and investors while creating narratives around their presence in Brazil.

The increasing incidence of drought in the United States calls for creative ways to distribute limited water resources. Water markets are one response to this challenge, but do they work? A recent study uses data from the Rio Grande Valley to quantify their impact.