Articles tagged with "sustainable-agriculture"
A New Wave Of Algae Is Perking Up The Vertical Farming Industry - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the emerging role of microalgae, particularly Spirulina, in revolutionizing vertical farming and addressing critical global challenges related to land use, biodiversity loss, and food scarcity. Spirulina, a nutrient-rich blue-green algae, can be cultivated indoors in bioreactors, making it suitable for vertical farming and reuse of existing infrastructure. Researchers at the University of Arizona are enhancing Spirulina’s nutritional profile and developing affordable DIY bioreactors to enable local production, aiming to reduce costs and deploy Spirulina as a sustainable food source in regions facing famine and food insecurity. Despite its nutritional benefits—including providing all nine essential amino acids and vital fatty acids—Spirulina’s widespread adoption has been hindered by its strong, often unpleasant taste when consumed as powder. This taste barrier has limited its commercial use mainly to dietary supplements rather than mainstream food markets. However, Icelandic company VAXA Technologies is tackling this challenge by producing fresh Spirulina with a neutral taste directly from bioreactors, as demonstrated
materialsvertical-farmingalgaeSpirulinabioreactorssustainable-agriculturefood-technologyAgrivoltaics And The Underdogs Of The Natural World
The article discusses the emerging field of agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy production with agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Highlighted alongside Ryan Reynolds’ new National Geographic series "Underdogs," which showcases lesser-known species, agrivoltaics is presented as a promising solution to the global biodiversity crisis. Unlike traditional utility-scale solar farms that often clear land and reduce habitat quality, agrivoltaics integrates solar panels with crops, pollinator habitats, and other natural elements, thereby preserving productive farmland and supporting ecosystems. Farmers benefit from reliable income through leasing land for solar projects, while developers gain community support by emphasizing environmental benefits. The article also highlights innovative applications of agrivoltaics, including urban farming initiatives and anti-desertification projects. For example, large-scale solar arrays in China’s Kubuqi Desert aim to halt desert expansion by fostering micro-ecosystems beneath solar panels. Additionally, agrivoltaics supports diverse agricultural practices such as mobile farming and community gardens, enhancing food production in urban and
energyagrivoltaicssolar-energybiodiversitysustainable-agriculturerenewable-energyenvironmental-conservationDairy digesters slash methane emissions by 80% on California farm
A recent University of California, Riverside study demonstrates that sealed dairy digesters can reduce methane emissions from manure by approximately 80% on a California dairy farm. Methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years, is a significant contributor to global warming, with California dairy farms being major sources due to manure management. The study involved detailed atmospheric methane measurements before and after installing a digester at a Tulare County family-run dairy, revealing substantial emission reductions after addressing initial system leaks through collaboration between scientists, the system operator, and the farmer. Dairy digesters work by covering manure pits with gas-tight membranes that trap methane produced during anaerobic decomposition. The captured methane is then cleaned and repurposed as fuel, often powering trucks that would otherwise use diesel. While highly effective, digesters have limitations: they can leak if not properly maintained, do not reduce other pollutants like ammonia or fine particles, and require significant investment and regulatory permits, making them less feasible
energymethane-emissionsdairy-digestersrenewable-energygreenhouse-gas-reductionbioenergysustainable-agricultureNew Agrivoltaic Showcases Sheep And Honeybees
energyagrivoltaicssolar-powersustainable-agriculturepollinatorsecosystemlivestockAgrivoltaics Benefit from Comparatively High Acceptance - CleanTechnica
energyagrivoltaicssolar-energyphotovoltaicssustainable-agriculturerenewable-energypublic-acceptanceJapan: Scientists develop new trick to trap ammonia from air, water
energyammonia-productionartificial-photosynthesiscatalystssustainable-agriculturecarbon-emissionsphotocatalysisAlt Carbon scores $12M seed to scale carbon removal in India
energycarbon-removalclimate-techsustainable-agricultureenhanced-rock-weatheringenvironmental-impactIndiaInterview With Carbon Removal India CEO Asitava Sen On Scaling CDR In India
energycarbon-removalclimate-changesustainable-agricultureagribusinessIndiaCDRHoofprint Biome boosts cow nutrition while slashing methane burps
cow-nutritionmethane-reductionlivestock-managementsustainable-agricultureclimate-impactanimal-scienceHoofprint-Biome