agriculture land News | Agriculture XPRT

Land “Grabbing” Grows as Agricultural Resources Dwindle

Since 2000, more than 36 million hectares—- an area about the size of Japan—- has been purchased or leased by foreign entities, mostly for agricultural use. Today, nearly 15 million hectares more is under negotiation (www.worldwatch.org). “Farmland is lost or degraded on every continent, while ‘land grabbing’—- the purchase or ...

Oct. 5, 2015

By Worldwatch Institute

Land “Grabbing” Grows as Agricultural Resources Dwindle

Since 2000, more than 36 million hectares—an area about the size of Japan—has been purchased or leased by foreign entities, mostly for agricultural use. Today, nearly 15 million hectares more is under negotiation (www.worldwatch.org). “Farmland is lost or degraded on every continent, while ‘land grabbing’—the purchase or lease of ...

Oct. 5, 2015

By Worldwatch Institute

Patrick Administration honors Hadley for agricultural land preservation

Officials of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) today joined local famers, landowners and municipal officials to celebrate the town of Hadley’s achievement in protecting more farmland than any other community in the state. It’s an honor to be here, celebrating the immense success and commitment of the town of Hadley toward protecting agricultural land in our ...

Jul. 7, 2009

By Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

The effects of agricultural land use change on farmland birds in Sweden

The effects of changing agricultural practices on farmland birds are explored in a recently published study from Sweden. Overall abundance of 16 common species declined by 23% between 1994 and 2004, which may be partly caused by changes in land use, such as an increase in the amount of wheat cropland. However, effects vary between species, and some species increased or stayed stable in number. ...

May 7, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Climate change to shift global spread and quality of agricultural land

New areas of land suitable for agriculture will open up under climate change’s effects, new research predicts, particularly in far northern regions of the world. However, the overall quality of land for farming will decline and many regions, including Europe, could lose large areas of suitable land. Demand for agricultural products is expected to rise by 70–110% by 2050. This is ...

Feb. 11, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Making agriculture sustainable

Agriculture is possibly the most important sector of global activity. It is a source of foods, fibers and, increasingly, fuel. It provides livelihoods and subsistence for the largest number of people worldwide. It is vital to rural development and therefore critical to poverty alleviation. Up to 40% of the land’s surface is used for agriculture, along with 70% of the world’s fresh water supply. ...

Feb. 4, 2008

By Environmental News Network (ENN)

The land of vanishing pastures

The northern Indian regions of Kashmir and Ladakh are home to a variety of livestock that provides meat as well as fine wool used to produce the famous Pashmina shawls. But overgrazing, strong winds and car traffic are now destroying pastures and posing a hazard to the survival of traditional herding. To watch the video click ...

Dec. 17, 2013

By SciDev.Net

Agricultural land grabs threaten local property rights and sustainable development

With large-scale agricultural investments on the rise, the rights of local people must be protected. Large-scale land acquisitions for agricultural use by both local and foreign commercial entities – often dubbed “land grabs” - are on the rise worldwide. Often touted as a form of economic development, these ...

Apr. 17, 2011

By World Resources Institute WRI

“Land Grabs” in Agriculture: Fairer deals needed to ensure opportunity for locals

The trend of international land grabbing—when governments and private firms invest in or purchase large tracts of land in other countries for the purpose of agricultural production and export—can have serious environmental and social consequences, according to researchers at the Worldwatch Institute. Deals that focus solely on financial profit can leave rural populations more ...

Jul. 25, 2011

By Worldwatch Institute

New satellite sensing tool for improving agricultural land use observation

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) data indicate that annually 2500 km3 of freshwater are used for agricultural production, which amounts to 70% of the water resources the whole of humanity consumes in a year. With the global population continuing to grow at a high pace, it is essential to optimize the use of water resources and to increase agricultural production in ...

Jun. 3, 2008

By Environmental News Network (ENN)

Sustainable Agriculture to Promote Biodiversity

• Biodiversity affects key ecosystem services, such as the primary production of food for humans and the rest of nature, plus the recycling of nutrients and water. • One hectare of land contains a lot of biodiversity in the soil – equivalent to the weight of one cow of bacteria, two sheep of protozoa, and four rabbits of soil animals such as earthworms. The INSPIA* project is ...

May 1, 2014

By European Crop Protection Association (ECPA)

Agriculture to 2050 – the challenges ahead

Agriculture must become more productive if it is to feed a much larger world population while responding to the daunting environmental challenges ahead, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said here today. Opening a two-day High-Level Expert Forum on How to Feed the World in 2050 Diouf told the 300 delegates that over the next 40 years: 'The combined effect of population growth, strong income ...

Oct. 12, 2009

By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The sustainability of livestock grazing land

European biodiversity significantly depends on the availability of habitat that is not intensely farmed. It is therefore important to identify grazing systems for livestock that require relatively little land management. Sheep grazing and reindeer herding are examples of such 'large-scale low-input grazing systems' (LSGS). However, they must be economically viable as well as environmentally ...

Sep. 4, 2008

By European Commission, Environment DG

Grasslands: The future of sustainable agriculture

Grassland: Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture was written to increase our awareness of the vital role grass and grassland plants have in ensuring a sustainable future for American agriculture. Published by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, the book's content is geared toward agriculturists, students, the ...

May 20, 2009

By Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

China: agricultural production and groundwater

As in many parts of the People’s Republic of China, Shanxi Province is experiencing reduced water security for the agriculture sector. Changing climate conditions, including reduced rainfall, are increasing reliance on groundwater resources in the province. Unsustainable groundwater use for food production intensifies the impacts of climate change, and cost-effective adaptation responses ...

Nov. 24, 2016

By International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH)

Empowering women in agriculture

Reducing gender inequality is fundamental to eliminating hunger and developing more sustainable food systems, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told international experts and country representatives at an International Women’s Day event in Rome. “This year we are celebrating Women’s Day against the backdrop of the ...

Mar. 6, 2014

By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Land acquisitions could add tension to transboundary waters

Millions of hectares of farmland in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America have been leased to foreign countries, sovereign wealth funds, and private corporations over the past half-decade with little to no explicit legal agreement on how water can and will be used on the acquired properties. A new report from the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Land acquisitions: How ...

Mar. 13, 2012

By Stockholm International Water Institute

Jatropha can revive degraded land, says study

Large-scale cultivation of Jatropha – known as a potential source of biofuel – can improve the soil quality of degraded lands and address climate change, says a new study. Jatropha curcas seeds yield ...

Sep. 30, 2012

By SciDev.Net

Irish agriculture faces emissions dilemma

Ireland is facing a classic conflict, pitching economic growth targets against the need for action on climate change. On one hand, Ireland’s planners want to see significant growth in its food and agriculture industry – a sector that is one of the main pillars of the country’s economy, accounting for about 8% of gross domestic product. On the other hand, the country − ...

Jul. 23, 2016

By Climate News Network

Latest agricultural technology innovation

Companies and breakthroughs most likely to help the world produce more food with less Dwindling water, farmland and fossil-based fertilizers are making it increasingly difficult to feed people today, let alone those expected in the future. Select companies are poised to reinvigorate large scale agriculture with cleantech innovations that help expand yields, increase efficiencies, ...

Oct. 31, 2012

By Kachan & Co.

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