Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic pesticides commonly used in conventional agriculture since the early 1990s. They are now known to contribute to large die-offs of important pollinators and other beneficial insects. A new study in Science shows the consequences of neonicotinoids reach beyond invertebrates and are causing fish populations to crash. Researchers found that neonicotinoid applications to watersheds… Read More ›

  Some invasive pests are nearly impossible to control, even with the most powerful chemicals, but netting is proving to be a promising solution for both conventional and organic agriculture. A recent study published in the journal Insects found that fine-mesh netting reduces damage to berry crops from multiple pests all at once, reducing the… Read More ›

A recent study in Frontiers In Sustainable Food Systems found that as many organic farmers rely on manure as a tool to manage soil fertility, they have a strong need for more research to develop feasible strategies to reduce food safety risks associated with their use. Organic practices, particularly the use of untreated manure and… Read More ›

  Insects can be really important and beneficial to crop production when they provide services such as pollination and help control other pest insects. A recent study published in Science Advances shows that crop yield improves when the abundance and diversity of insects increase. Using data from 89 studies conducted on 1,475 field sites across… Read More ›

  At a time when unemployment threatens rural economies around the world, farms with more crop diversity offer more jobs. A recent study in the journal Ecological Economics has shown that across the globe, crop-diverse farms provide more employment opportunities than specialized, monoculture farming systems. In addition to supporting more jobs, increased crop diversity was… Read More ›