Climate change
A new global study reveals that severe, prolonged drought can have catastrophic effects on crucial grassland and shrubland ecosystems, potentially leading to soil erosion, dust storms, and disrupted carbon sequestration. The research, contributed to by University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) researchers, demonstrates the devastating impact of extreme drought on
Food supply
Insecurity and drought have become critical challenges across Nigeria, exacerbating food insecurity and prompting urgent intervention. Benue State, in particular, has been devastated by bandit and herder attacks, forcing approximately 90% of the population in Zone A into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. The situation is dire, with crops abandoned
Food supply
Researchers have discovered that biochar derived from agricultural waste can significantly improve plant resilience and mitigate drought impacts. The study, conducted by a team from Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and published in Frontiers in Plant Science, found that walnut shell biochar effectively enhances tomato drought resilience by improving root development,
Food supply
Investigations into food security in Ethiopia, where climate shocks and droughts frequently threaten rural livelihoods, have highlighted the critical importance of resilience. Researchers from Addis Ababa University have published a significant study on the role of Enset (Ensete ventricosum), a drought-tolerant crop, in enhancing household resilience in Central Ethiopia. The
Food supply
Nigeria's agricultural sector has remained stagnant over the decades, with limited access to credit being one of the significant bottlenecks to growth. Experts point out that traditional bank loans are inaccessible to many smallholder farmers due to high collateral demands and short repayment cycles, leaving them unable to
Food supply
Climate change poses a significant challenge to the global agricultural sector, particularly in rain-fed farming systems like Kenya's, where smallholder farmers are highly susceptible to drought and other climate-related shocks. According to a recent study, climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices are a practical solution to combat this problem and
Climate change
Agricultural insurance has emerged as a critical component of Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters. According to Ms Olga Mavankeli, the Provincial Director for Midlands Province at the Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services, the importance of agricultural insurance cannot be overstated.
Climate change
Roughly 60 miles of the Hudson River, spanning from Beacon to just north of Germantown, have been plagued by a thick layer of pea soup-colored scum composed of cyanobacteria, which is an uncommon occurrence in a river that typically flows in two directions and mixes with ocean water several times
Climate change
The University of Hertfordshire has warned that the UK must urgently start developing drought-tolerant wheat and adopt precision irrigation methods to protect food security in the face of climate change. Wheat is the UK's most important arable crop, providing around 20% of the calories consumed in the country.
Climate change
As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increase due to climate change, environmental degradation, and unplanned human activities, Ghana's Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, emphasizes the urgent need to build resilience against disasters. Speaking at the commemoration of the 2025 International Day for Disaster
Climate change
As winter ski season approaches, New Hampshire's mountain resorts are facing a challenge: a prolonged drought that has limited their snowmaking capabilities. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than half of New Hampshire was in "extreme drought" as of October 7. Climate change is
Farmers
Russia's agricultural industry is facing a bleak outlook for the 2026 autumn sowing campaign, with officials warning of "difficult conditions" due to severe drought and low rainfall. The southern region, responsible for a significant portion of the country's winter grain production, is experiencing its
