Articles tagged with "agriculture"
Trump To US Farmers: Drop Dead While I Help Argentina
The article criticizes former President Donald Trump for neglecting U.S. farmers who supported his 2020 election bid, highlighting that instead of providing them relief from the damaging effects of his trade wars, tariffs, and inflation, his administration arranged a $20 billion bailout package for Argentina. This aid, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shortly before a government shutdown, included currency swaps and other financial assistance, benefiting Argentine economic interests rather than American agricultural producers. The article suggests that this bailout disproportionately favors hedge fund manager Rob Citrone, who has significant investments in Argentine debt and companies and reportedly has close ties to Bessent. The piece further underscores the irony that while U.S. farmers face hardships, including loss of undocumented labor and lack of federal clean energy support, Argentina is gaining a competitive edge in global agricultural markets, especially with increased soybean exports to China. The article also references criticism from Democratic members of Congress who argue that Argentina’s newfound competitiveness harms American farmers and calls on readers to express their
energyclean-energyagriculturetariffsbailouttrade-warsinflationHyundai Motor & Kia Expand Use of Wearable Robot in Agriculture with Korea’s Rural Development Administration - CleanTechnica
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have partnered with Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) to introduce the wearable robot X-ble Shoulder into agricultural settings across Korea. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 23 at Hyundai’s Uiwang R&D Center, aims to enhance farmers’ health and safety while improving operational efficiency. The X-ble Shoulder, developed by Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics LAB, is designed to reduce shoulder joint load during physically demanding tasks, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Field tests conducted earlier in 2023, using electromyography (EMG) sensors, demonstrated that the X-ble Shoulder reduced shoulder muscle activation by approximately 22%, validating its effectiveness in alleviating physical strain for farmers. Moving forward, Hyundai, Kia, and the RDA plan to expand testing, promote the technology’s adoption, and tailor the wearable robot for agricultural use. The RDA will also support usability assessments, identify demand, connect with relevant institutions,
robotwearable-technologyagricultureHyundai-MotorKiaroboticssustainable-farmingUK Not Making Hay While The Sun Shines - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights a significant reduction in hay yields across parts of the UK due to one of the hottest and driest summers on record. In eastern regions, hay and straw production has dropped by as much as 50 percent, while western areas have seen record yields thanks to favorable rainfall. This shortage has driven up prices, with quality hay in England now costing around £200 per tonne delivered. Farmers have had to rely on winter stores and imported hay, including from France, despite logistical challenges and increased costs post-Brexit. Industry experts, such as Andrew Mansbridge of the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association, emphasize that the dry conditions have severely impacted straw and hay supplies, with some fields producing only brown stalks by mid-summer. The shortage is nationwide, forcing merchants like Olly Morris to seek alternative suppliers and deal with the high costs of transporting hay from Scotland and Wales. The situation serves as a potential "canary in the coal mine," signaling broader agricultural vulnerabilities
energyagricultureclimate-changedroughthay-productionUK-farmingcrop-yieldsBacon, Hotdogs, Pork Chops, & Ham Bad For Climate Change Too? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the environmental and health concerns associated with consuming pork products such as bacon, hot dogs, pork chops, and ham. It references research linking processed red meats, including pork products, to increased risks of colorectal cancer and premature death. From a climate perspective, pork production is identified as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, ranking second among animal agriculture sources after cattle. Key factors driving these emissions include manure management, feed production, and transportation. For example, producing a single strip of bacon generates manure weighing 80 times more than the bacon itself, resulting in an enormous environmental burden. Additionally, the article challenges common misconceptions that replacing beef with pork is a more climate-friendly choice, comparing this to the flawed belief that hybrid cars are environmentally beneficial compared to fully fossil-fueled vehicles. It emphasizes that plant-based foods are the most climate-friendly protein sources, offering complete amino acid profiles without the environmental costs of animal agriculture. The piece also notes an often-overlooked source of
energyclimate-changecarbon-emissionsagriculturesustainabilityenvironmental-impactlivestock-emissionsHow automation and farm robots are transforming agriculture - The Robot Report
The article from The Robot Report highlights how automation and farm robots are revolutionizing agriculture by addressing the rising global food demand and labor shortages. With the world projected to need 70% more food by 2050 to feed nearly 9.7 billion people, farm automation has shifted from a luxury to a necessity. Modern agricultural robots automate critical tasks such as planting, harvesting, and weeding, while supporting sustainable farming practices. These robots, combined with satellite imagery and AI-driven analytics, enable precision agriculture that optimizes resource use, reduces waste, and minimizes environmental impact. Farm robots have evolved significantly since the late 1990s, when GPS-guided tractors first appeared. Today’s smart machinery operates with centimeter-level accuracy and real-time monitoring of soil and crop conditions. These technologies allow for precise seed placement, targeted weed removal without chemicals, and nutrient analysis to ensure optimal growth. Robotics plays a key role in precision agriculture by enabling targeted watering, fertilizing, and pest control, which lowers costs and
robotagriculturefarm-robotsautomationprecision-agricultureAIsmart-farmingBurgers Bending Your Budget? Blame It On Climate Change - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica explains that the rising cost of burgers and red meat is closely linked to climate change and its impact on agriculture. Climate change has led to more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, which disrupt pasture availability for cattle ranchers. As a result, ranchers face higher feed costs, sometimes sourcing feed from hundreds of miles away, and are forced to reduce herd sizes by sending cattle to slaughter earlier. This reduction in cattle supply, combined with increased costs for feed, equipment, and higher interest rates, has driven beef prices to record highs, with ground beef surpassing $6 per pound and steaks nearing $11.50 per pound. The article highlights methane emissions from cows as a significant contributor to greenhouse gases, exacerbating global warming and further intensifying climate impacts. This creates a feedback loop where climate change worsens conditions for cattle ranching, which in turn affects meat prices. The phenomenon of rising consumer costs driven by climate-related factors is termed
energyclimate-changegreenhouse-gasesmethane-emissionsagriculturesustainabilityenvironmental-impactSolar electric sheep marry Australian farmers with clean energy
The article highlights the innovative practice of combining agriculture, specifically sheep grazing, with solar electricity generation—a concept known as agrivoltaics or “solar electric sheep.” This approach is exemplified by the 149-megawatt Glenrowan West solar farm in Australia, operated by Gayle and Tom Lee, which integrates livestock grazing with renewable energy production on the same land. This dual land use, already established in Europe, Japan, and parts of the United States, offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution that maintains vegetation under and around solar panels, improving soil health and reducing maintenance costs for solar companies. Australian pioneers like Ben Wynn of Wynergy are also exploring cattle-plus-solar models, though successful implementation requires careful solar farm design to accommodate animals. Researchers such as Eric Nordberg emphasize the mutual benefits for farmers and solar companies: farmers retain grazing land without selling it to energy firms, while companies gain free vegetation management. Despite limited local data in Australia, international examples show positive outcomes, including reduced
energysolar-poweragrivoltaicsrenewable-energysolar-grazingagriculturesustainable-farmingLentils Have More Protein Than Hamburger? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights that lentils contain more protein per 100-gram serving than ground beef, with lentils providing 23.6 grams of protein compared to 17.5 grams in beef. Lentils also have significantly less fat (1.92 grams versus 19.2 grams in beef), and they offer a range of essential nutrients including potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper, and calcium. Unlike beef, lentils contain almost no sodium or cholesterol. While lentils are lower in the amino acid methionine, they are not deficient, and can be combined with other plant foods such as beans, nuts, seeds, quinoa, and sweet potatoes to ensure a complete amino acid profile. Beyond nutritional benefits, the article emphasizes the environmental impact of food choices, noting that lentils are among the lower greenhouse gas emitters compared to beef, which is one of the highest contributors to agricultural emissions. Given that Americans are the largest consumers of beef globally,
energysustainabilityclimate-changegreenhouse-gas-emissionsagricultureprotein-sourcesenvironmental-impactNuclear war could starve world, wipe out 87% of global corn: Study
A recent study from Penn State highlights the devastating impact a nuclear winter could have on global corn production, potentially triggering catastrophic worldwide famine. The research modeled six nuclear war scenarios with varying soot injections into the atmosphere, simulating corn yields across 38,572 locations. A regional nuclear war injecting about 5.5 million tons of soot could reduce global corn production by 7%, severely straining food security. In contrast, a large-scale global nuclear war releasing 165 million tons of soot could slash corn yields by 80%. Additionally, the destruction of the ozone layer would increase harmful UV-B radiation, further damaging crops and potentially driving total corn production losses to 87% in the worst-case scenario. The study utilized the Cycles agroecosystem model to simulate crop growth and accounted for the combined effects of reduced sunlight, lower temperatures, and increased UV-B radiation. The researchers also proposed a potential mitigation strategy involving “agricultural resilience kits” containing region-specific, cold-adapted, fast-growing
energynuclear-waragricultureclimate-impactfood-securityenvironmental-sciencecrop-productionChanges In The Earth's Climate Are Making Food Production More Costly - CleanTechnica
A recent study led by Maximillian Kotz at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center highlights how climate change-driven extreme weather events are significantly increasing food production costs globally, with broad political and social implications. The research documents sharp price spikes linked to climate extremes, such as an 80% rise in vegetable prices in Arizona and California due to 2022 heat and drought, a 50% increase in olive oil prices in Spain and Italy following droughts, and dramatic price surges in cocoa and coffee from West Africa. These findings build on earlier work connecting abnormal heat to overall inflation, suggesting that as climate change intensifies, consumer food prices and inflation will continue to rise worldwide. The study emphasizes that these food price increases have cascading consequences beyond economics, affecting nutrition, social stability, and political order. For example, past climate-related food price shocks have contributed to unrest, such as the Arab Spring protests linked to a wheat price spike after Russian wildfires in 2010. Experts warn that austerity measures
energyclimate-changefood-productioninflationagricultureenvironmental-impactprice-increaseBiochar & Rock Dust: Unlocking The Future Of Climate-Smart Agriculture - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the growing interest in two nature-based technologies—Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) and Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)—as promising solutions to decarbonize food systems while delivering multiple agronomic and socio-economic benefits. A new report titled “Unlocking the Future of Climate-Smart Agriculture,” led by Tom Mills, provides a comprehensive analysis of how these technologies can be integrated into agricultural supply chains, particularly in the Global South. The report estimates that BCR and ERW could collectively remove between 1.5 and 2.5 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually by 2050, while also improving soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and enhancing farmer resilience against climate shocks. Although biochar is more mature and closer to widespread deployment than ERW, pilot projects are already underway in various regions, demonstrating practical applications across key agricultural value chains such as coffee, cocoa, rice, and sugarcane. Examples include regenerative coffee initiatives in Colombia using biochar and early
energyclimate-changecarbon-removalbiocharrock-dustagriculturesustainabilityAre There Practical Solutions To Methane Emissions From Cattle? - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the significant issue of methane emissions from cattle, particularly those raised on factory farms in the US. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 to 26 times greater than carbon dioxide, is produced naturally during the digestive process of ruminant animals like cows. This enteric methane accounts for 17% of global methane emissions and 3.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing methane emissions is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, a target endorsed by over 150 countries in the 2021 Global Methane Pledge aiming for a 30% reduction by 2030. While eliminating beef consumption would be the simplest solution, it is unrealistic for the general population, so practical mitigation strategies focus on reducing emissions from livestock production. One promising approach centers on altering cattle diets, especially in factory farms where cows are often fed inexpensive, unsustainable feeds like corn and soy, including dried distillers grains (
energymethane-emissionsgreenhouse-gasesclimate-changeagriculturesustainabilitylivestock-managementPVFCCo Phú Mỹ và TGS hợp tác phát triển chuỗi giá trị xanh
PVFCCoTGSgreen-value-chainstrategic-partnershiprenewable-energyagriculturesustainable-developmentDrone Swords Into Ploughshares: How Ukraine’s Wartime Expertise Can Reshape Farming
drone-technologyUkraineagriculturewartime-innovationfarming-solutionsclean-technologysustainability