The University of Waikato的动态

For the past ten years, we have been developing?ways of accelerating soil health, to revitalise soil?ecology, improve biodiversity, and in turn create more food sovereignty and food security. One of the outcomes of this research is a?soil enhancing medicine, called Thirteen Moons, and it is now ready for use. It contains more than 300 ingredients, directly from?the region, and it?works by activating?and animating?the micro-biome that lives?within the soil.? The biological life?is the key to healthy soil, and healthy soil means healthy plants.?This is a fundamental principal of organic and regenerative agriculture, and the Thirteen Moons works alongside the more established practices, such as compost making, mulching, ground cover crops, crop rotation, and no till cultivation.

The thirteen moons system is part of natural farming. It employs the fact that water has the power to hold information as a memory. I can explain more about this if you are interested, by writing a comment below. Regeneration occurs naturally. It is not an action of the farmer, but the land caretaker can facilitate it by making sure that the actions on the farm are contributing to, or at least not obstructing, nature's own self healing and self regulating power. Please comment.

I'm pleased to share my recent research on resilient agriculture: ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? DOI:?10.13140/RG.2.2.25802.79049 In a world facing rapid climate change and resource limitations, understanding how to build resilient agricultural systems is crucial. This review paper explore into the synergy between sustainable soil management, rural practices, and transformative agroecology. By exploring these interactions, we aim to reveal pathways to more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices, especially in developing countries ?? I found it essential to deepen the understanding of how traditional wisdom and modern practices can coexist and enhance each other ?? This paper synthesizes a wide range of academic literature and compelling case studies from around the globe, offering a comprehensive view of current methods and future opportunities in the field ?? #SustainableAgriculture #Agroecology #SoilManagement #RuralPractices #Resilience #Research #Sustainability #DevelopingCountries

New paper out ???????? The Doughnut Biotool: A tool to assess life-cycle biodiversity impacts from building projects ?? There is a trend towards more systematic assessments of the biodiversity impacts that occur on-site as part of development projects. ?? However, off-site biodiversity impacts occurring throughout the rest of the value chain (e.g. from forestry activities, mining, manufacturing, heat and electricity production) are rarely considered. ?? To bridge this gap, this article introduces the Doughnut Biotool, an open-source calculation tool to assess biodiversity impacts throughout the entire life cycle of development projects. ?? The tool was initially developed to help implement Doughnut Economics and absolute sustainability principles in development projects. ?? This paper presents the design of the tool and the method and data it relies on. ??The tool is applied to two separate case study projects, and used as a basis to discuss hotspots of biodiversity impacts within the building's life cycle. Authors: Nicolas Francart, Rasmus N?ddegaard Hansen, Camilla Ernst Andersen, Morten Ryberg, Liv Kristenssen Stranddorf, and Harpa Birgisdóttir Read it here: https://lnkd.in/guwUWUAb Link to Doughnut biotool on github https://lnkd.in/gzNWvbmk Link to The Doughnut for Urban Development https://lnkd.in/d-zTzwm8

We are thrilled to be part of the AgEnRes project and share the vision for revolutionizing energy and fertilizer efficiency in agriculture across the EU! ?? Our primary focus lies in developing an EU-wide web database dedicated to energy-saving technologies in agriculture. The creation of this database is crucial; it lays the groundwork for empowering farmers with actionable insights and sustainable practices, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and fertilizers. Given the volatility of these resources, marked by price fluctuations and supply concerns, our work is more important than ever! ?? The #AgEnRes project, funded by the EU, aims to enhance farm resilience, bolster decision-making at the farm level, and support the development of sustainable policies. Our commitment is to help make European farming more robust, financially stable, and environmentally friendly! #Agriculture? #EnergyEfficiency #Innovation #Sustainability #AgEnRes #Research #Farmers #AUA #SFTG

?? New Issue Alert! ?? The latest issue of ‘Australian University Science’ magazine is packed with insights showing how science is paving the way for a successful transition to a net zero emissions economy! ???? From physics to biology, chemistry to earth sciences, every scientific discipline plays a crucial role in this vital journey. One of the key sectors we dive into is agriculture, highlighting how it can significantly contribute to our sustainable future. ???? In this issue, Dr Debra Cousins, Chair of the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC), discusses how this initiative, involving 11 university partners, three Indigenous organisations, and multiple industry partners, secured $300 million in funding over 10 years. She emphasises the critical role of university science in developing innovative solutions for reducing agricultural emissions, which account for 16% of Australia's total emissions. By combining multiple technologies and leveraging fundamental university research, the CRC aims to create pathways to low-emissions agriculture that are effective, impactful, and economically viable for farmers. Don’t miss out on these inspiring articles and research findings that underline the importance of science in solving the world’s most pressing challenges. See https://lnkd.in/gB6ng5sC Melissa Brown, Mark Buntine FRACI CChem, GAICD Jacqui Ramagge Adam Trevitt Katrina Falkner FTSE Shaun Collin, Marcel Dinger, John Bartlett, Susan Howitt Australian Government Department of Education Department of Industry, Science and Resources Science & Technology Australia Australian Research Council Ed Husic MP Jason Clare MP Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering The Australian Academy of Science Cathy Foley Innovative Research Universities (IRU) Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN Universities) Regional Universities Network The Group of Eight Universities Australia Cooperative Research Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

PLEASE UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT SMALL ANIMALS THAT WE FIND UNDERNEATH. Earthworms are indeed example of "boring animals" that play a crucial role in ecosystems. Here are some of their economic importance: Benefits: 1. Soil aeration: Earthworms burrow, creating tunnels that improve soil aeration, water infiltration, and root growth. 2. Nutrient cycling: Earthworms break down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and making them available to plants. 3. Soil structure: Earthworms improve soil structure, increasing its water-holding capacity and fertility. 4. Ecosystem engineering: Earthworms modify their environment, creating habitat for other organisms. 5. Biodiversity: Earthworms contribute to biodiversity by supporting complex food webs. 6. Agriculture: Earthworms are used in vermicomposting, producing nutrient-rich compost for agriculture. 7. Ecological indicators: Earthworms serve as indicators of soil health and ecosystem quality. Costs: 1. Soil erosion: Earthworms can contribute to soil erosion by burrowing, making soil more susceptible to water and wind erosion. 2. Crop damage: In rare cases, earthworms can damage crops, such as alfalfa or clover, by burrowing into roots. Overall, earthworms have significant economic benefits, and their importance in ecosystems cannot be overstated. They are a valuable component of soil ecosystems, and their activities support agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.

?? The Green Frontier: Exploring the Wonders of Plant Science ?? Step into the wondrous realm of plant science, where the green giants of our planet hold the keys to life, sustenance, and biodiversity. From the towering forests to the tiniest mosses, plants play a vital role in shaping our environment and sustaining life on Earth. Plant science encompasses various disciplines, ranging from botany and ecology to agronomy and biotechnology. At its core, it seeks to understand the intricate processes that govern plant growth, development, and interactions with their surroundings. One of the most fascinating aspects of plant science is the study of plant diversity and evolution. From the ancient ferns that flourished millions of years ago to the modern crops that feed billions of people, plants have evolved a remarkable array of adaptations to survive and thrive in diverse environments. In agriculture, plant scientists are at the forefront of efforts to feed a growing global population while minimizing the environmental impact of food production. Through innovative approaches such as precision farming, genetic engineering, and sustainable practices, we can enhance crop yields, improve nutritional quality, and conserve natural resources for future generations. Beyond agriculture, plants hold tremendous potential as sources of medicine, biofuels, and renewable materials. By unlocking the secrets of plant biochemistry and genetics, researchers are discovering new compounds with therapeutic properties, developing sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, and creating biodegradable materials to replace plastics. #PlantScience #Botany #Agriculture #Biodiversity #Sustainability #Innovation #GreenTech #CropScience #EcoFriendly #AgTech #Biodegradable #Research #GreenLiving #EnvironmentalScience #OrganicFarming #PlantResearch #GeneticEngineering #?????

Agriculture is the artificialization or simplification of nature ?? . AGROECOLOGY is the science that draws on social, biological and agriculture sciences and integrates these with traditional knowledge and farmers' knowledge. AGROECOLOGY has its roots in ecology, applying the understanding of natural ecosystems and comparing these to mechanized agro-ecosystems. there are six principles of ecology: ?Networks: nature is a network of living systems within other living systems that are interconnected. ?Cycles: matter cycles continually through the web of life, hence ecosystems do not generate waste. ?Solar energy: this is the fundamental source of energy that drives all ecological cycles. (this is why agroecology gives emphasis to plant diversity as plants transform solar energy into chemical energy which drives all other networks and food webs.) ?Partnership: exchanges of energy and resources in an ecosystem are sustained by pervasive cooperation, not competition.( The challenge then is to design synergistic systems.) ?Diversity: all ecosystems derive stability and resilience through the richness of diversity. ?Dynamic balance: an ecosystem is a flexible, ever-fluctuating network. Farmers have a deep knowledge of the ecosystem as they live within it and interact with nature. in many instances, this knowledge has been eroded and lost. In any case, instead of imposing western science and value on them, we should Create a dialogue of wisdoms. At the same time, we cannot romanticize traditional knowledge. With climate change, conditions are changing and farmers may not be able to deal with new challenges with just traditional knowledge. Agroecology approaches combined with traditional approaches would facilitate the optimization of systems and build resilience.???? #Agriculture #Nature #Agroecology:key concepts, principles and practices #Third_world_Network #PQPs