There are some big and pressing topics in agri-food and for rural places. Some of these are ongoing – rural and farming depopulation, land access, agroecology, economic and ecological disparities in the Common Agricultural Policy – and others are new. So what’s new – and what’s worth covering in debate form? […]
Over 200,000 European Citizens have signed an ECI petition calling on the EU to protect its soil. What does this mean, and what might happen next? […]
The global food system has been operating in post-truth mode for decades. Having constructed food scarcity as a justification for a second Green Revolution, Big Agriculture now employs its unethical marketing tactics to selling farmers “climate-smart” agriculture in the form of soils, seeds and chemicals. […]
It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organised creatures. Which creatures – and who said this? Read on….. […]
As Earth Day approaches, it’s time to recommend some skin care for Mother Nature. Restoring soil fertility is one of humanity’s best options for making progress on three daunting challenges: Feeding everyone, weathering climate change and conserving biodiversity. […]
The aim of the 4pour1000 initiative (4per1000 in English) is to increase carbon in the soil by 0.04%. This could help halt the annual increase in Co2 in the atmosphere. The initiative is seeking expert comments on biological soil indicators by 15th March. Mario Cattizone has more […]
The earth beneath your feet is life giving. Today is world soil day so let’s explore the marvels of that more simple yet spectacular of things – dirt. Read on for a treasure trove of soil resources. […]
What happens when socially and ecologically engaged artists really focus on soil? And in so doing, bring different people – from across a wide spectrum – together to get to know that earth beneath their feet a little better? In one city in the UK – Bristol – they have done just that. Mario Catizzone tells us about it. […]
Two recent publications on Soil and Cities and on the effect of Roundup on soil microbiota show just how important and delicate that dirt beneath our feet is. […]
Europe needs – and is getting – itself some soil angels. Who are they? What do they do? And where do mud angels (!) come into it? Mario Catizzone explains […]
People are stepping up to protect Europe’s soil. Will the Institutions? Guest post by Mario Catizzone. […]
Deep beneath our feet, out of sight and out of mind, millions of tiny communities of microbes are working together to perform key ecosystem functions. […]
Olivier De Schutter, Hans Herren and Emile Frison (on behalf of IPES-food) critically consider holistic management within the rubric of sustainable diets in our livestock debate. […]
Transitioning to organic regenerative agriculture practices ‘offers the best, and perhaps our only, hope for averting a global warming disaster.’ […]
IATP’s Ben Lilliston at #COP21 in Paris, examines France’s soil plans, and how agroecological or otherwise they are. […]
Agricultural and Rural Convention