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Research Highlights Systemic Strategies for Building Resilience in Agri-Food Systems Against Global Shocks

Research Highlights Systemic Strategies for Building Resilience in Agri-Food Systems Against Global Shocks

An editorial analysis in 'Agriculture and Food Security' synthesizes research across agricultural systems, emphasizing how climate-resilient farming, structural policies, and targeted dietary interventions are crucial for building resilience against environmental and economic crises. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture faces persistent vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change, economic volatility, and geopolitical instability. The analysis, drawing on definitions from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, defines sustainable healthy diets as those providing sufficient safe, nutritious food while minimizing environmental footprints and protecting against malnutrition. The research organizes contemporary scientific insights into five thematic pillars: climate-resilient farming, sustainable production technologies, food environments shaping diets, governance policies, and supply chain waste reduction. It conc...

Thick smog shrouds New Delhi after Diwali firecrackers add to seasonal pollution

Thick smog shrouds New Delhi after Diwali firecrackers add to seasonal pollution

A thick blanket of smog has shrouded India’s capital after firecrackers lit up the skies over New Delhi during Diwali celebrations

Almaty Region Experiences Increased Drought Frequency and Intensity, Highlighting Agricultural Vulnerability

Almaty Region Experiences Increased Drought Frequency and Intensity, Highlighting Agricultural Vulnerability

The Almaty region has shown a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, particularly in its flat areas, according to an integrated assessment of moisture availability and dryness. This study, spanning from 1990 to 2024, utilized various indices including the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI-6) and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-6), alongside NDVI-based vegetation response. The research indicates that the region's climate is characterized by high spatial and temporal variability. Average long-term temperature deviations during the growing season reached 1.2 °C, with a maximum of 1.8 °C in Kegen. Precipitation variability was highest in Esik and on the Almaty Kamensky Plateau, and lowest in arid areas like Aul 4 and Bakanas. The humidity coefficient ranged from 0.33 (severe aridity) to 2.0 (excessive humidity), with the Hydrothermal Coefficient (HTC) confirming non-arid conditions in mountainous areas and severe aridity in desert regions. The year 2021 w...

New Delhi wakes to toxic smog after Diwali as firecrackers add to seasonal pollution crisis

New Delhi wakes to toxic smog after Diwali as firecrackers add to seasonal pollution crisis

A thick blanket of smog has shrouded India’s capital after firecrackers lit up the skies over New Delhi during Diwali celebrations

UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding global warming, stating that the 2015 Paris Agreement's primary goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels is no longer attainable. This declaration comes as UN climate talks, COP31, commence in Turkey. Guterres, whose second and final term as UN chief is expiring, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting worsening heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts globally. He revealed that scientists informed him last year that the 1.5°C target was no longer realistic due to the excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. The UN is now focusing on limiting how much further global temperatures will rise beyond this threshold. Guterres stressed that all nations must do more, and do it now, to address the climate crisis.

Upgrading power grids to accommodate renewable energy is a key issue at climate talks

Upgrading power grids to accommodate renewable energy is a key issue at climate talks

Outdated power grids around the world are a major hurdle in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy

COP31 summit leaders urge world to "move faster" on climate

COP31 summit leaders urge world to "move faster" on climate

By Valerie Volcovici and Simon Jessop ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Leaders of the COP31 climate summit urged the world to accelerate the fight against global warming as rising temperatures and an increasing number of climate-driven disasters threaten lives and the global economy, as the annual

NOAA Predicts Wetter Winter for Southern and Eastern U.S. Due to Strengthening El Niño

NOAA Predicts Wetter Winter for Southern and Eastern U.S. Due to Strengthening El Niño

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a shift in the jet stream southward and eastward across the United States during the winter of 2026-2027. This atmospheric change is a direct consequence of the strengthening El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to reach very strong intensity by the end of 2026. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at Columbia University corroborate this, with models projecting sea surface temperature anomalies significantly above normal in the tropical Pacific. NOAA's prediction indicates an increased likelihood of wetter weather and storms for the southern region, extending from California to Florida, as well as along the East Coast. Furthermore, NOAA warns that heavy rainfall in areas previously affected by drought could elevate the risk of flash floods and landslides, as dry soil may struggle to absorb large volumes of water quickly. The El Niño event is anticipated to pers...

Beef Industry-Funded Curriculum on Cattle's Climate Impact Withdrawn After Rancher Backlash

Beef Industry-Funded Curriculum on Cattle's Climate Impact Withdrawn After Rancher Backlash

A science curriculum designed to educate high school students on the climate impact of cattle, specifically methane emissions, was removed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) following protests from ranchers. The lesson, titled 'Methane & Cattle: A Climate Connection,' was intended for approximately 1.2 million students across over 100 school districts nationwide. Ranchers, including prominent South Dakota farmer Brett Kenzy, criticized the lesson, arguing that cows do not harm the environment. Jim Mundorf, a rancher and podcaster, further amplified the backlash through his blog, leading to widespread discontent within the farming community. Rick Henningfeld, AFBFA education director, confirmed the lesson's removal at the beef industry's annual convention, CattleCon, stating that the foundation heard the feedback and is editing the content with the hope of reintroducing it. A subsequent lesson on cattle digestion, published in July, omits any mention of methane or climate change....

UN Ocean Conference Launches '10,000 Ships for the Ocean' Initiative to Expand Global Ocean Observations

UN Ocean Conference Launches '10,000 Ships for the Ocean' Initiative to Expand Global Ocean Observations

The '10,000 Ships for the Ocean' initiative was launched at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference with the goal of establishing a coordinated fleet of 10,000 commercial vessels to provide real-time meteorological and, progressively, ocean observations by 2035. This initiative is led by OceanOPS, a joint center of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO), in collaboration with other international scientific institutions and partners. The project aims to leverage the thousands of commercial ships already traversing the world's oceans to significantly expand global weather and ocean observation capabilities, particularly in poorly monitored regions. Advances in technology, such as compact autonomous sensors and improved satellite communications, are making it easier for ships to collect and transmit data with minimal crew involvement, transforming commercial vessels int...

World food prices dip in October, but remain higher than a year ago

World food prices dip in October, but remain higher than a year ago

By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6% higher than a year earlier, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on

New Study Projects Future Heatwaves to Exceed Recent Extremes in Duration, Area, and Severity

New Study Projects Future Heatwaves to Exceed Recent Extremes in Duration, Area, and Severity

A new study led by researcher Philipp Aglas-Leitner from Freie Universität Berlin, published in Nature Communications, indicates that future heatwaves are projected to be significantly more intense, longer-lasting, and cover larger geographical areas than any experienced in recent history. The research team analyzed 22 exceptional heatwaves that occurred globally between 2010 and 2023, with an in-depth focus on nine events from 2015 to 2023. These historical events were then compared against climate model projections spanning from 2020 to 2100. The study examined multiple characteristics of heatwaves, including duration, cumulative heat, median and maximum severity, and spatial extent. The findings consistently show that a substantial proportion of future heatwaves will surpass the severity and scale of recent extreme events, particularly towards the end of the 21st century. This suggests that the extreme heat experienced in recent years may only be a precursor to what is to come due to climate change.