Metals and hormone-disrupting substances such as oestrogens present a genuine risk to the sustainability of agriculture and water management in Europe. This is the conclusion of doctoral research conducted by Chinese environmental scientist Yuwei Jia at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her research provides new insights into the distribution, availability, and risks associated with these pollutants, while also highlighting shortcomings in current regulations.

In a recent study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, researchers showed that some spinach defensins can confer similar protection to citrus and potatoes — and possibly other crops. The effects show significant progress toward recovering yield and improving quality in diseased plants.

In a recent study, Kim and co-author Woodam Chung, PhD, a forest engineer at Oregon State University, were the first to objectively measure biomechanical stress experienced by professional timber fellers during actual timber felling operations. They also evaluated forest workers’ perceptions of wearable exoskeletons—emerging technology already being used in other physically demanding industries such as shipbuilding and automotive and aerospace manufacturing.

This study reveals that bark beetle-driven forest disasters in Central Europe follow a hidden 9–12-year cycle linked to solar activity. Logging of bark beetles culminate during solar minima in drought years, while it drops during solar maxima when droughts are stopped by precipitations. Our study used five decades of data from Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia.  Research reveals solar cycles and climate patterns—especially total solar irradiance—play a major role in cyclical forest damage.

Five of Europe’s leading agricultural, food and life sciences institutions announce the launch of the European Science Alliance for Agriculture and Food (ESAAF)—a new scientific coalition designed to support the transformation and resilience of the EU agri-food sector.