Recent updates

Cool the Planet, Feed the World – 7. December

Cool the Planet, Feed the World: The Power of Regenerative Food and Farming to Save the Planet At REcyclerie, Paris, France. To date, global climate crisis conversations have focused on solely emissions reduction. While necessary, reducing fossil fuel emissions alone is simply inadequate – it is a 50% solution. Even if we were to cut all human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, the globe would continue to warm for decades or even centuries to come. However, there is hope. There is growing scientific evidence that regenerative organic agriculture can reverse climate change through soil carbon sequestration, while at the same time delivering other essential ecological, economic, and health benefits. Given that the industrial food and farming system as a whole is the number one cause of GHG emissions, climate activists need to start thinking of themselves as food, farming and natural health activists as well. Regeneration International is hosting “Cool the Planet, Feed the World: The Power of the Regenerative Food and Farming to Save the Planet” to raise awareness about how regenerative organic agriculture can […]

Recent updates

Bonn Climate Change Negotiations Kick Off

With little time for negotiating left before governments are expected to meet in Paris to agree a new global climate deal, negotiators are meeting once again in Bonn this week for the latest round of UN climate talks. Pavlos Georgiadis is there, and he gives us this report. More will follow during the week. @geopavlos In order to get an adequate agreement, discussions need to intensify efforts to ensure that a range of key elements of the draft text are strengthened. These elements include finance for loss and damage caused by global warming, as well as adaptation and mitigation to the effects of climate change. What is also important to get back into the context of the Paris UNFCCC negotiations, is the language on decarbonisation of the global economy as a source of emerging long term consensus. Also important is scaling up political ambition for action, including regular reviews. Negotiators need to finish this week in Bonn with a text that contains a few clear political options for each of these elements. This text is […]

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Visiting the Vine and Wine World of Moldova

Written By:  Derek Freitas, Eco Ruralis Staff The Republic of Moldova is the 22nd largest wine-producing country in the world. For such a small country, it certainly grows a lot of grapes. Agritourism is on the rise and so is the market for its wines all across Europe but are there enough economic opportunities for small-scale producers? And how does the export focus of the national government affect the genetic diversity of grapes? Recently, Eco Ruralis staff made a visit to find out more. The land of the Republic of Moldova has a long and rich history of grape and wine production dating back to the Dacian times. The first grape vines were here around 7,000 BCE and for 5,000 years wine has been made – so, they are pretty good at it! Generations and generations of people living in the countryside have produced wine for family consumption and local trade which is still the case today. There are 4 historical wine regions: Valul lui Traian (south west), Stefan Voda (south east), Codru (central), and […]

Latest from Brussels

Milk crisis: 3 Reasons why the Commission are at Fault

ARC2020 exclusive: Part one two by André Pfimlin, translated from French by ARC2020’s Samuel Feret and Peter Crosskey. In part one, Andre outlines the milk crisis: part two, to be released tomorrow morning, suggests solutions. #MilkCrisis   “Since the long term market perspectives are good for animal products and since Europe has significant potential for growing milk production, we should produce more and export more”, said European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan. “We must accelerate the modernisation and consolidation of livestock farmholdings to make them more productive and more competitive”, a Copa-Cogeca vice-president said recently (1). In 2015, just like 2009, at the height of yet another milk crisis the line is the same out of Brussels, be it from the European Commission or Copa-Cogeca. For our policymakers, dreaming of unlimited export trade for decades to come, the short-term volatility of world prices takes a back seat. It is down to the livestock farmers to anticipate market volatility and either build up reserves when prices are high or take out private insurance policies. So there will be […]