Discover stories in Agriculture
Does Removing Habitat Around Farm Fields Really Make Our Food Safer?
Three people died and hundreds were sickened in a 2006 outbreak of E. coli. Wildlife eventually took part of the blame, but does removing habitat near fields to keep wildlife out actually make our food safer? A NatureNet Science Fellow investigates in a new video.
Can We Grow Safe Produce and Conserve Nature at the Same Time?
Farmers are destroying habitat near farms out of fear that wildlife is spreading E. coli and other pathogens to their fields. But is wildlife a source of foodborne illness? New research from Conservancy scientists suggests not.
Follow the Cow that Follows the Burn
At the Chippewa Prairie in Minnesota, conservationists are using GPS tracking to learn the secret movements of an important grassland animal: Cows. Wait. Cows?
Wild Pollinators Are Critical in Keeping our Picnic Baskets Full
Bees may seem like uninvited guests at your picnic – but before you shoo them away from the fruit salad, think twice, as they play a critical role in making your picnic possible. Some of the most healthful, picnic favorites – including blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, avocados and almonds – would not make it to the table without the essential work by bees and other insects. Most crops depend on pollinating insects to produce seeds or fruits. In fact, about <a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/274/1608/303.long"><b>three-quarters</b></a><b> of global food crops</b><b> </b><b>require insect pollination </b>to thrive; <b>one-third of our calories and the </b><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0021363"><b>majority of critical micronutrients</b></a>, such as vitamins A, C and E, come from animal-pollinated food crops.
A Bull Fight for Conservation
Studying bison interactions may help managers make better decisions on fenced preserves and ranches -- where most bison roam today.
