Scaling #lowcarbon #fertilizers: #agrifood sector calls for EU support [#Promotedcontent] https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/opinion/scaling-low-carbon-fertilizers-agri-food-sector-calls-for-eu-support/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

Rising soil nitrous acid emissions, driven by climate change and fertilization, accelerate global ozone pollution https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250530123821.htm

#environment #soil #emissions #fertilizers #fertilization #ozone #pollution #climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis

Rising soil nitrous acid emissions driven by climate change and fertilization accelerate global ozone pollution: Study https://phys.org/news/2025-05-soil-nitrous-acid-emissions-driven.html

#environment #soil #emissions #fertilizers #climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ozone #pollution

Enhancing #Plants and #Fungi Symbiosis

https://happydaze.io/enhancing-plants-and-fungi-symbiosis/

#scientists use small #peptides to enhance symbiosis between plants and fungi, offering a #sustainable alternative to artificial #fertilizers

Solar, Windfarms, #rewilding, #housing -- all are way better uses for the land!

Should #GolfCourses Be Converted Into #Solar Or #Windfarms?

by Tom Hale, 2/25/2025

"It sounds like one of President Donald Trump’s most dreaded nightmares: what if the world’s golf courses were transformed into wind and solar farms? A new study has highlighted that the land occupied by golf courses in the 10 countries with the most courses could generate up to 842 GW of solar power and 659 GW of wind power – far exceeding the existing installed capacity in many cases.

"If the US were to transition entirely to #Renewable energy by 2035, it would require thousands of square kilometers for onshore wind and even more for solar farms. In theory, the space occupied by US golf courses alone could provide about 20 percent of this capacity, the study concludes.

"Another finding was that more land is allocated to golf courses than renewable energy production across many countries, including the US and the UK.

"Maintaining these lush greens comes at a steep environmental cost too – sapping #water resources, destroying #wildlife habitats, and relying heavily on #fertilizers and #pesticides. The researchers point out that golf courses occupy vast amounts of land yet serve a relatively small, often #rich subset of the population.

"'Golf courses, which often occupy vast areas of land and are accessible only through exclusive membership, highlight significant land use conflicts. The concept of energy justice argues that the benefits and burdens of energy supply and land use should be distributed equitably across society. In this context, the general public could benefit if decision-makers decide to use these exclusive golf courses for renewable energy projects,' the study authors write.

"Some countries have taken this idea seriously in the past. For instance, Japan has turned some of its disused golf courses, built in the 1980s during a boom of interest in the sport, into fields of solar panels.

"While the researchers say they’re not proposing that renewable energy companies swoop in to seize the world’s golf courses, they do suggest their project highlights the need for better discussions on land use and energy infrastructure.

"'Our study does not advocate for the direct conversion of golf courses, but it highlights the vast potential for renewable energy on similarly large and #underutilized areas,' Dr Jann Weinand, lead author of the study and Head of the Integrated Scenarios department at the Institute Jülich Systems Analysis at Forschungszentrum Jülich, said in a statement.

"'In light of the ongoing debates about land use for renewables, it is crucial to consider how we allocate land overall – especially when significant space is dedicated to activities that benefit only a limited segment of the population,' added Dr Weinand.

"The study is published in the journal Environmental Research Communications."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/should-golf-courses-be-converted-into-solar-or-wind-farms/ar-AA1zL3qG
#Degrowth #Capitalism #EatTheRich #SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow

https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-ammonia-market/23583/

Ammonia Market: Growing Demand & Industrial Applications

The Ammonia Market is expanding rapidly, driven by its crucial role in agriculture, chemicals, and industrial manufacturing. As a key component in fertilizers, ammonia supports global food production, while its use in refrigeration, pharmaceuticals.

#AmmoniaMarket #Agriculture #Fertilizers #GreenAmmonia #CleanEnergy #IndustrialChemicals #SustainableFarming #Refrigeration #ChemicalIndustry #EnergyTransition

A new genetic engineering method could move nitrogenase pathway inside plants mitochondria, allowing plants to produce their own ammonia (like self fertilizing). Before this was done through fertilizers and special bacteria
https://phys.org/news/2025-03-nitrogen-protein-free.html
#biology #agriculture #fertilizers #GMO

Belarus leads in potash exports, supplying $1.89B globally in 2024. Despite sanctions and competition from Canada and Russia, it remains a key player in global agriculture.
As demand grows and markets shift, can Belarus sustain its dominance in fertilizer exports?

#Belarus #Potash #GlobalTrade #Agriculture #Fertilizers #MiningIndustry
#BelarusEconomy #TradeWars #Geopolitics #CropProduction #ExportMarkets

#GolfCourses Use More Land Globally Than #Solar or #WindEnergy

Story by Mihai Andrei, February 25, 2025

"The land use of #RenewableEnergy is often criticized in public and political debates. However, a new study shows that something as frivolous as golf courses use up more land globally than solar or wind energy. Golf courses, which often serve a small number of #AffluentPeople, are also terrible for the #environment and use up a lot of #water and resources.

Competition for space

"The lush greenery you see on golf courses is a well-maintained lie. Golf courses use enormous amounts of water — sometimes in regions already facing shortages. Maintaining that flawless grass also means heavy reliance on #fertilizers and #pesticides, which seep into local waterways, harming# wildlife and #polluting #ecosystems. To make it even worse, golf courses are apparently competing with renewable energy for space.

"Every acre we allocate to one use is an acre less for another. Currently, more than 38,400 golf courses span the globe, occupying vast stretches of valuable land. Surprisingly, researchers from Germany’s Forschungszentrum Jülich found that countries (especially richer countries like the US, the UK, and Canada) dedicate far more land to golf courses than to #SolarFarms or #WindTurbines.

"Let’s put this into perspective. If you take the golf courses in just the top ten golfing countries and convert them into renewable energy, you’d get an extra 842 gigawatts (GW) of solar or 659 GW of wind capacity. And to put that into perspective, that’s more than the entire quantity of renewable energy these countries produce and are forecast to have for a few years.

Replacing golf courses with something more useful isn’t a new idea, it’s already happening in some areas. In Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, an entire golf course now hosts 260,000 solar panels, generating 125 gigawatt-hours annually. Meanwhile, in South Korea, 'screen golf,' indoor simulated golfing experiences, provide a popular, space-efficient alternative to traditional courses."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/general/golf-courses-use-more-land-globally-than-solar-or-wind-energy/ar-AA1zHvIE
#Renewables #RenewablesNow #GolfCourses #WaterIsLife #Rewilding #WindTurbines

#Burnsville #Minnesota to pilot ‘#FoodForest’ at #CivicCenterPark

By Christine Schuster, February 7, 2025

"An old hockey rink in Burnsville will soon be transformed into an educational #garden under a new citywide initiative to implement #sustainable land practices and build long-term solutions to health inequities.

"The #MarketGarden, where student interns will help grow produce for local nonprofit, is one of several new programs being launched this summer under the 'Grow Burnsville' initiative.

"The City of Burnsville’s sustainability pitch won first place at this year’s Childhood Obesity Prevention and #EnvironmentalSustainability Awards held by the United States Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America.

"The $125,000 prize money set 'Grow Burnsville' into motion.

"'It’s just thrilling,' said Sue Bast, the city’s environmental specialist and sustainability coordinator.

"A 'food forest' planted at Civic Center Park this spring is one of Grow Burnsville’s pilot projects, Bast said.

"Once it’s matured, the food forest will be an open food resource to anyone looking for free access to fruits and other edible plants. Using the principals of #permaculture, no chemical #pesticides or #fertilizers will be used in maintaining the forest, according to Bast.

"David Woods, the conservation program director with Urban Roots, said Burnsville’s food forest is designed to be low-maintenance.

"The city enlisted #UrbanRoots, a St. Paul-based nonprofit, to help with the design and implementation of #GrowBurnsville initiatives.

"The food forest will take 3-5 years to fully develop, according to Woods. The forest includes around 40 different plantings, such as apple, pear and plum trees, herbs and a variety of native shrubs with edible berries or nuts.

"'I’m hoping the successes that’ll come from the Burnsville project will help promote it elsewhere,' Woods said.

"'We’re going to see how this works,' Bast said. 'It could possibly be a direction we want to go with some public land that is underused.'"

Learn more / listen:
https://www.twincities.com/2021/06/24/burnsville-to-pilot-food-forest-at-civic-center-park-2/
#SolarPunkSunday #foodsovereignty #FoodForest #FoodSecurity

(3/4) Animal-based foods consistently impact #landuse, GHG emissions, #nitrogen input & ammonia #emissions more than #plant-based alternatives. A high demand for animal feed necessitates extensive utilization of cropland & for #fertilizers substantial nitrogen inputs: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100281

Excerpt from "How to make your yard a friendlier place for #pollinators"

#Pollination doesn't only produce more plants – it also helps make fruits and vegetables larger, more abundant, and even more flavorful.

by Abby Jackson, January 22, 2024
The Cool Down [#US-based publication]

How to Support Pollinators in Your Yard

"Plants are the foundation for every living thing on our planet, and without pollination, plants would be unable to reproduce and our food supply would be at risk.

"Here are a few things you can do to support their safety and protect our food resources for years to come:

- Avoid #pesticides, #herbicides, and synthetic #fertilizers as much as possible.

- Choose flowering plants that produce pollen and nectar, that are native to your area, and that support a variety of pollinators. Avoid hybrid plant varieties, as they've been bred specifically for aesthetics and may have unattractive nectar.

- You can use the #NationalWildlifeFederation's #NativePlant finder to discover plants in your area that attract pollinators. The #AudubonSociety has a similar search that identifies native plants in your area that attract birds.

- Follow seasonal changes and diversify your yard with plants that bloom at different times of the year for year-round blooms.

- Remove #InvasivePlants and weeds when possible.

- Provide a hydration station. Birdbaths are hazards for many pollinators because they can easily drown in them and because they are preyed on by other animals. Filling a shallow bowl with pebbles or marbles to a low water level will allow pollinators to drink while sitting on a perch. [I do create "bee baths" with marbles and rocks. I will be very cautious if I decide to provide "bird baths" this summer]

- Provide nesting sides, like a #BeeHouse. [Old logs can be good for some bees]

- Use certain plants strictly as food for the larvae of pollinators to ensure they will have enough energy to grow and frequent your yard. For example, #MonarchCaterpillars [and #TussockMothLarvae] love to eat #milkweed, and #BlackSwallowtailCaterpillars feed on #parsley [I did not know this! I will provide some parsley for their consumption this year!]

"#Rewilding your yard with native plants and #clovers, designating a garden bed to attract pollinators, or even having a pollinator-friendly plant in a pot on your #balcony are other ways you can make your area a friendlier space for pollinators.

"Any action that helps pollinators is a positive action that benefits you and the animals and nature around you."

Read more:
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/how-to-make-your-yard-a-friendlier-place-for-pollinators/
#GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForBees #Gardening #SolarPunkSunday

"A recent theory proposes that whales weren’t just predators in the ocean environment. Nutrients that whales excreted may have provided a key fertilizer to these marine ecosystems.
Research supports that theory. It finds that whale excrement contains significant amounts of iron, a vital element that is often scarce in ocean ecosystems, and nontoxic forms of copper, another essential nutrient that in some forms can harm life".
#ecosystems #whales #marine #fertilizers
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1072766

" #OilAndGas companies see #plastics as a “plan B” for their industry as policymakers try to transition to clean energy, and the #agricultural sector is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for everything from #fertilizers to #pesticides."

"The framework includes eight types of arguments — four that represent outright climate denial, and four that represent a more nuanced form of “climate delay.”

https://grist.org/accountability/fossil-fuel-sectors-climate-obstruction-twitter-x/

Dutch court orders government to slash #nitrogen emissions as it did not do enough to cut high levels of the #emissions caused by intensive #farming, heavy use of #fertilizers, traffic & construction. Lowering them involves cutting the number #livestock held... (1/2) https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/dutch-court-orders-government-cut-nitrogen-emissions-2025-01-22/