Is Grass-Fed Beef Better?
The idea of cows grazing in a pasture seems idyllic. We asked experts how their emissions stack up compared to factory farms.
Soil
‘We can tell farmers the problems’: experts say seismic waves can check soil health and boost yields
‘Soilsmology’ aims to map world’s soils and help avert famine, says not-for-profit co-founded by George MonbiotGeorge Monbiot: Over a pint in Oxford, we may well have stumbled upon the holy grail of agricultureA groundbreaking soil-health measuring tec…
More than 520 chemicals found in English soil, including long-banned medical substances
Fertilising arable land with human waste leaves array of toxins that could re-enter food chain, study findsMore than 520 chemicals have been found in English soils, including pharmaceutical products and toxins that were banned decades ago, because of t…
Regulators overlooking toxic Pfas found around Lancashire chemicals plant
Exclusive: Environment Agency not testing for ‘forever chemical’ made by factory despite evidence of emissionsRegulators measuring “forever chemicals” near a Lancashire chemicals plant are not testing for a substance made by the company itself, despite…
Ground zero: rain-starved southern Australia is grappling with one of the worst droughts in memory
Rainfall picked up in June and July in some areas but it may already be too lateSign up for The Crunch email newsletterIn a “normal” year, Bernie Free would start seeing green shoots in the paddocks of his dairy farm in early May. This year the germina…
‘A win-win for farmers’: how flooding fields in north-west England could boost crops
A ‘wetter farming’ project explores rehydrating peatland to help grow crops in boggier conditions while cutting CO2 emissions“I really don’t like the word ‘paludiculture’ – most people have no idea what it means,” Sarah Johnson says. “I prefer the term…
‘All the birds returned’: How China led the way in water and soil conservation
The Loess plateau was the most eroded place on Earth until China took action and reversed decades of damage from grazing and farmingIt was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever.The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000…
‘All the birds returned’: How China led the way in water and soil conservation
The Loess plateau was the most eroded place on Earth until China took action and reversed decades of damage from grazing and farmingIt was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever.The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000…
Global heating likely to hit world food supply before 1.5C, says UN expert
Water scarcity threatening agriculture faster than expected, warns Cop15 desertification presidentThe world is likely to face major disruption to food supplies well before temperatures rise by the 1.5C target, the president of the UN’s desertification …
Peat-free success for carnivorous plants adds weight to peat ban, says RHS
Exclusive: Scientists hope success of growing carnivorous plants without peat will convince ministers not to water down banThe proposed ban on using peat on private gardens and allotments is in danger of being weakened as opponents argue it is more dif…