A new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that the world may soon see a dramatic drop in rice production. Climate change has been causing changes in soil processes, which are believed to have increased levels of arsenic in rice, a substance toxic to human health.
Five organizations representing more than 2,500 experts have written to the President of the European Commission and to the European Parliament to demand major changes to the way the CAP operates, as they are concerned that the latest changes may turn rural areas into large expanses of monocultures, making them uninhabitable for wildlife.
The study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that running just once a week or less frequently, for less than 50 minutes and at a pace lower than 8 km/h, is linked to significant health benefits. Running, even for a short time, reduces the risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease by 30 percent.
Farmers who are part of a cooperative in the Rutsiro District have increased their earnings by growing strawberries. The cooperative, with 449 members of which 189 are women, grows strawberries on 20 hectares. Farmers are benefiting from increased yields, thanks also to the support of the Rwanda Agriculture Board. Before making such investments, farmers used to lose 30 percent of their harvest due to poor handling along the supply chain.
The Trump administration has stated that it has filed paperwork to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. This is the first formal step in a process that will take about a year. Once it exits, the USA, one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, will become the only country outside the agreement.
In a country such as Colombia, which is predominantly agricultural, there are almost 43,000 hectares of agricultural land cultivated with agroecological practices, which allow farmers to use less herbicides and pesticides without losing productivity. According to Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, many of these products are destined for international markets.