The global decline of wild bee populations is alarming. Landscapes characterised by intensive agriculture offer hardly any suitable habitats. Isolated local efforts are often not enough to counteract this loss. Now, researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Halle show that combining certain agricultural and environmental measures at the landscape level can offer more protection for wild bees. Their findings show that organic farming combined with multi-year natural habitats – such as meadows planted with long-lasting, perennial plants – is particularly effective. These two types of habitats together support significantly more wild bees than either does on its own. The results were published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Study shows that carbon and nitrogen losses from the soil persist for nearly a decade after burning, and conversion to agriculture causes even more severe impacts.

Mealworms need a minimum level of protein to grow and become a sustainable food source, according to a new study that challenges the myth that insects have superpowers of taking plastic waste and converting it to a nutritionally valuable product. 

Setting aside at least 20% of agricultural landscapes for rewilding and adopting wildlife friendly practices on remaining farmland could reverse biodiversity declines while maintaining food production. That is according to scientists who have put forward a blueprint for integrating nature recovery and farming.

Cellulose-based textile material can make the clothing sector more sustainable. Currently, cellulose-based textiles are mainly made from wood, but a study headed by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology points to the possibility of using agricultural waste from wheat and oat. The method is easier and requires fewer chemicals than manufacturing forest-based cellulose, and can enhance the value of waste products from agriculture.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have successfully increased the production of D-lactic acid from methanol by exposing Komagataella phaffii yeast to ultraviolet irradiation.