Recycling human and animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops

Recycling human and animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops

Description: (article) research, Instructors - high school

Contents: It might not be a pleasant image, but recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as phosphorus and dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, according to a global analysis of nutrient recycling published in Nature Sustainability. 

Source: phys.org/news https://phys.org/news/2024-12-recycling-human-animal-excreta-nutrient.html 

Crossposted: Library Toolkit/Regenerative agriculture - Issues; Library Resources/ Soil - Specific Topics & Compost - Specific Topics

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Soil biodiversity - The magical world of soil biodiversity and its translation in Portuguese and Kyrgyz

Soil Biodiversity - The magical world of soil biodiversity & its translation in Portuguese and Kyrgyz

Description: (collection of stories/book, pdf link) Instructors - all ages

Contents: A collection of 10 stories for kids from around the world to dig in and discover the magic that lies beneath our feet. The soil biodiversity book competition for children highlights the importance of soil organisms and raises awareness of the urgent need to protect soil biodiversity among a young audience (children aged 6-11 years). This collection of 10 stories includes the best entries received from more than 80 books spanning over 60 countries.

Source:  Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) (United Nations) 

https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/highlights/detail/en/c/1599318/ 

Crossposted: Library Toolkit/ Global & Healthy Communities - online communities: Library Resources/ Soil - Specific Topics

In Svalbard, the global seed vault banks biodiversity & sprouts controversy

In Svalbard, the global seed vault banks biodiversity & sprouts controversy

Description: (article) research, Instructors - high school

Contents: Two-thirds of the world’s food comes today from just nine plants: sugar cane, maize (corn), rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil-palm fruit, sugar beet, and cassava. In the past, farmers grew tens of thousands of crop varieties around the world. This biodiversity protected agriculture from crop losses caused by plant diseases and climate change. Today, seed banks around the world are doing much of the work of saving crop varieties that could be essential resources under future growing conditions. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway supports them all. It is the world’s most famous backup site for seeds that are more precious than data; background info, controversies, indigenous biocultural heritage notes

Source: atlasobscura.com https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/svalbard-global-seed-vault-purpose?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20newsletter%2012%2F9%2F2024&_kx=hg_0yVQLccu5UwSuT4i9EujiUMiu5nBKktRbzhUFoW0.UUnqkC 

Crossposted: Library Resources/ Healthy Plants - Seeds, Issues; Library Toolkit: Marginalized Peoples & Food Systems, Biospheres