Farmers’ protests that swept across Europe in 2024 were driven by a wide range of concerns that differ markedly between countries, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Göttingen. Based on survey responses from more than 2,200 farmers in Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, the study finds that farmers’ motivations go far beyond commonly cited issues such as environmental regulations. Instead, complaints range from bureaucracy and low incomes to political dissatisfaction and uncertainty about the future of farming. The findings also suggest that policy responses at national and EU level only partly reflect farmers’ actual priorities. The results were published in the journal Food Policy.

A study led by a University of Calgary researcher has come up with an AI-based early detection system for river-borne pathogens — including whirling disease in trout and salmon. The study was published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution in late December.