Category

Policy

Credit: Cron field. Credit: Svetlozar Hristov / Pixabay

The power of certifications in the modern agri-food sector

By | Agriculture, Blog, Policy

Certification empowers producers to meet international quality, safety, and sustainability standards, expanding their market access. It assures consumers of ethical and environmentally friendly practices, supporting food safety and product reliability. Training programs also guide farmers in certification requirements, building trust, fostering sustainable agriculture, and enhancing competitiveness in the global marketplace.

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Image: The chart shows the number of national agri-environmental policies in each country. - It can be seen that there are a particularly large number of agri-environmental policies in the EU member states. Credit: Wuepper et al., "Nature Food," 2024

Researchers publish dataset of over 6,000 policies from all over the world

By | News, Policy

In the intricate tapestry of global agriculture, sustainability threads its way through economic development and environmental conservation. Through a comprehensive database spanning over six decades and 200 nations, researchers illuminate the nexus between a country’s prosperity and its commitment to eco-friendly agricultural policies. From soil erosion battles to income-driven policy dynamics, data-driven insights cultivate a greener future.

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Join the International “Fascination of Plants Day” around May 18, 2024 – a global celebration of plants!

By | Blog, Policy

The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) jointly with over 60 National Coordinators across the globe proudly announce the launch of the seventh edition of the Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD), scheduled to take place on and around May 18, 2024. A celebration of the captivating world of plants, FoPD invites individuals of all ages to engage in plant-based interactive events and activities organised by scientific institutions, universities, botanical gardens, museums, schools, farmers, and companies worldwide.

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COP28 logo

What is a COP?

By | Blog, Policy

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, referring to the 198 parties including the European Union that have signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, originally adopted in Brazil in 1992.

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The climate crisis and biodiversity crisis can’t be approached as two separate things

By | Climate change, DSI, News, Policy

Anthropogenic climate change has, together with the intensive use and destruction of natural ecosystems through agriculture, fishing and industry, sparked an unprecedented loss of biodiversity that continues to worsen. In this regard, the climate crisis and biodiversity crisis are often viewed as two separate catastrophes. An international team of researchers calls for adopting a new perspective. In their review study they recommend (in addition to complying with the 1.5-degree target) protecting and restoring at least 30 percent of all land, freshwater and marine zones, establishing a network of interconnected protected areas, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between political institutions, which often operate independently.

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International Agreements and the Plant Genetics Research Community: A Guide to Practice

By | Blog, DSI, Plant Science, Policy

Plant Genetic Resources underpin not only the future of agriculture and food security, but are increasingly being re-evaluated to address issues such as climate adaptation, nutrition and the wider bio-economy. This week a prominent ‘perspective’ paper provides an excellent overview and explanation of the international agreements that govern use of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) as well as best practices for complying with the agreements.

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