Agriculture
Keeping U.S. mercury off the global market
The Mercury Export Ban of 2008 went into effect last month. The bill, proposed by then-Senator Barack Obama, was signed into law by President George W. Bush on the eve of the 2008 elections. [Read more…] about Keeping U.S. mercury off the global market
Meat demand and the environment
The world’s population growth rate has been declining since its 20th Century peak – when mechanized agriculture, improved sanitation, and medical advances lead to the greatest population boom in human history. [Read more…] about Meat demand and the environment
Is the ocean pumping iron?
About 30 years ago, an oceanographer, John Martin, noticed that large areas of the sea contained ample supplies of nitrogen and phosphorus. He wondered why these nutrients, which fuel plant growth, were not being used by marine plankton. [Read more…] about Is the ocean pumping iron?
Fast, cheap, and wasteful: Americans and food
A past Earth Wise segment explored global food waste: worldwide some 30-50% of food produced is never eaten. This figure includes inefficiencies in harvesting, storage, and transport, among other things. [Read more…] about Fast, cheap, and wasteful: Americans and food
Get to know I-522
Three months ago, California voters struck down Proposition 37. The proposition, which was defeated 53-47%, would have required food and beverage manufacturers to clearly label products that contain genetically modified organisms—commonly known as GMOs. Opponents of the legislation led a $46 million dollar campaign to help ensure its defeat. [Read more…] about Get to know I-522
Are falconers more effective than scarecrows?
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Falconry is an ancient sport, believed to have originated in the Mongolian steppes some 3,500 years ago. Before the days of firearms, the art of training bird of prey to hunt in the wild – and submit to a human – was a prized skill. It’s often associated with nobility; France’s Louis the XIII is said to have kept some 300 falcons. [Read more…] about Are falconers more effective than scarecrows?
A tale of factory farms, fertilizer, and fish
A new study released in the journal Environmental Science and Technology is the second to highlight that manure used to fertilize farm fields may reduce the health of fish living in adjacent streams. [Read more…] about A tale of factory farms, fertilizer, and fish
Arsenic and baby formula
In a nutshell, it’s suspected that some 75% of U.S.-grown rice contains elevated levels of arsenic. The likely culprit: past agricultural practices that relied on lead arsenate pesticides and left a legacy of arsenic in our soils. [Read more…] about Arsenic and baby formula
Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Recently, I was chatting with a newspaper reporter about the impacts of encroaching development in California’s Mojave Desert. I mentioned we could expect to lose some of the wondrous diversity of plants and animals that are adapted to such extreme desert conditions. Her response? “I know you’re right, but no one cares about diversity.” [Read more…] about Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Bad news for maple syrup and moose
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Following an exhaustive review of more than fifty years of long term data on environmental conditions at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the results are clear: spring is advancing and fall is retreating. [Read more…] about Bad news for maple syrup and moose
Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Last year, Americans bought nearly 38 million Christmas trees, spending $1.8 billion dollars. Nearly a quarter of these were artificial trees, which now include a number of pre-lit and decorated options. [Read more…] about Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Making sense of arsenic and rice
A few months back, we ran a segment on a disturbing trend seen in rice. Elevated levels of arsenic have been recorded in U.S. rice, with crops from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas exhibiting the highest levels. More than 75% of domestic rice is grown in these regions. [Read more…] about Making sense of arsenic and rice
Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
Last month, California had the chance to be the first state in the union to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food. Dubbed the ‘Right to Know Act,’ Proposition 37 would have required producers to clearly label raw or processed foods that contained modified ingredients. [Read more…] about Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
The carbon impact of your meals
Many people have adopted a philosophy of buying local food because they are concerned about the carbon footprint of transporting food long distances. People are rebelling against tomatoes from South America and garlic from China, because they can reduce greenhouse emissions by buying locally. Some people even start their own gardens for this reason. [Read more…] about The carbon impact of your meals
Military veterans and agriculture
The Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training Program focuses on transitioning military veterans into careers in agriculture. Launched by Marine Sergeant Colin Archipley and his wife and business partner Karen, the program gives veterans the skills they need to get from ‘seed-to-store.’ [Read more…] about Military veterans and agriculture
A comeback for the American chestnut?
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The tall, stately American chestnut once dominated our eastern forests. Sturdy wood from chestnuts was used for furniture, floors, and telephone poles, and its prolific nuts were a favorite food for people and wildlife. [Read more…] about A comeback for the American chestnut?
It’s fall – that means raking leaves, apple pies, and the reappearance of the ozone hole
Ozone is found in two places in Earth’s atmosphere. At ground-level, ozone is a dangerous air pollutant with a wide variety of human-health effects. About 25 miles above us, the ozone layer shields us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. Without ozone in the stratosphere, the Earth would be uninhabitable by higher forms of life….like us. [Read more…] about It’s fall – that means raking leaves, apple pies, and the reappearance of the ozone hole
From the frontlines to the farm field
