The toxic chemical diquat, an ingredient used in place of glyphosate in weedkillers in the United States, has been found to cause multiple types of damage to organs and kill gut bacteria, according to new research. Diquat is sprayed extensively on orchards and vineyards, and its use has increased as controversial substances like paraquat and […]

In the introduction to Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin’s new book, Poisoning The Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America, the authors cite an alarming statistic from 2015 that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are present in the bodies of an estimated 97% of Americans. How did we ever get to this point? Their book is […]

Our gut bacteria — collectively known as the “gut microbiome” — perform many important tasks in addition to the basics of breaking down food and vitamins, including supporting our immune system and brain health. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have recently identified a family of gut bacteria that can absorb per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances […]

Founded in 1947 by J.I. Rodale, Rodale Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the regenerative organic agriculture movement grow through research, education and farmer training. In his study of regenerative organic farming, Rodale — who came up with the term “organic” — studied Indigenous agricultural practices, including those of communities like the long-lived Hunza […]

New research has found that recycling food waste using methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion and “refeed” can lead to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with disposing of it in landfills. Pressures like population growth, land degradation and urbanization are putting strain on the global agrifood system, which is a major […]

Insect numbers are plummeting, with the recent The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey finding that bug splatters in the United Kingdom have fallen 63 percent since 2021. There are things you can do to help with the bug crisis, and when you support insects they will help your garden thrive by pollinating your plants and […]

In a new study, scientists have quantified the amount of pain and suffering fish, specifically rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), feel when they are caught and left in the open air prior to slaughter. According to the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the fish experience around 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain during […]

In Halifax County, Virginia, a futuristic farm is taking shape, where a 65-megawatt solar farm is sharing space with grazing lambs and a 10-hive apiary that is home to 500,000 bees. The bees are taking flight at Crystal Hill Solar, an agrivoltaic site with the capacity to power 10,800 homes per year, according to the […]