The article highlights groundbreaking research conducted by Colorado State University and Cornell University that demonstrates how solar arrays can aid grasslands during drought. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, reveals that photovoltaic (PV) arrays located in grassland ecosystems can reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels, and increase plant growth by up to 20% or more compared to open fields.

Researchers found that plants beneath and around the solar systems benefited from partial shading and additional water that collects on panels. During a dry year, grass growth on the east side of panels was significantly higher than in neighboring open sites. This positive response was reduced during wet and normal years but still demonstrated the potential benefits of co-locating solar power infrastructure with ecosystem preservation.

The study’s lead author, Matthew Sturchio, emphasizes that small changes in array design, configuration, and management could unlock untapped benefits, particularly those related to water use. The researchers are now exploring ways to optimize solar array placement and design to maximize the benefits for grassland ecosystems.

Alan Knapp, a University Distinguished Professor at CSU, notes that their research has significant implications for restoring grassland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions. He suggests that building solar facilities in areas where they can benefit from strategic placement is an obvious win-win. The team plans to investigate the functional underpinnings of this idea at a newly constructed research facility.

This pioneering study showcases the potential for solar arrays to support grassland conservation, especially during drought-prone seasons. As researchers continue to explore and refine this concept, it may provide valuable insights into creating more resilient and sustainable ecosystems for generations to come.

The world’s food supply is facing unprecedented challenges due to Earth’s rapidly changing climate. University of Hawai’i scientists are among a team of researchers who have discovered an innovative way to help adapt food crops around the world to these new conditions. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change reveals how plant genebanks, also known as “living libraries,” can speed up the process of breeding crops better suited for climate change.

These living libraries store seeds and other genetic material from millions of genetically diverse plants worldwide. They provide a vital resource for plant breeders working to develop new crop varieties that have traits such as drought resistance, disease tolerance, or improved yields. The researchers used sorghum, a grain grown for food, fuel, and livestock feed, to test a new method called environmental genomic selection.

This approach combines DNA data with climate information to predict which plants are best suited for future conditions. It can be applied to any crop that has the right data, including sorghum, barley, cannabis, pepper, and dozens of other crops. By using a smaller, diverse “mini-core” group to forecast how crops will perform in different environments, scientists can quickly select the best parents for new, climate-resilient varieties.

“This method will help us keep pace with the hotter temperatures and increased risk of flooding from Earth’s changing climate and help develop new varieties to ensure food security,” said co-author Michael Kantar of the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR).

The researchers also discovered that nations with high sorghum use may need genetic resources from other countries to effectively adapt to climate change. This highlights the value of global teamwork in securing the world’s food supply.

In conclusion, living libraries can play a crucial role in helping us adapt food crops to climate change. By leveraging these genetic resources and innovative breeding techniques, we can develop more resilient crop varieties that will ensure global food security for generations to come.

The European Union’s goal of achieving 25% organic agriculture by 2030 is ambitious, but researchers argue that new genomic techniques (NGTs) should be allowed in organic farming to make this target more sustainable. NGTs, also known as gene editing, involve subtle genetic tweaks that can help develop crops that are climate-resilient, produce higher yields, and require less fertilizers and pesticides.

Currently, 10% of EU farming areas are organic, but these farms often require more land to grow the same amount of food. This means that expanding agricultural land could lead to biodiversity losses, negating some of the environmental benefits of organic farming. Researchers suggest that by allowing NGTs in organic production, farmers can increase crop yields while maintaining their environmentally-friendly practices.

The EU institutions are currently debating how to regulate NGTs, which did not exist when the EU legislation on GMOs was adopted in 2001. A proposal from the European Commission suggests allowing NGT usage in conventional but not organic farming. However, researchers argue that this creates a hurdle for identifying, labeling, and tracing NGTs in food products.

Researchers also note that NGTs are still not well understood by consumers, who often confuse them with traditional GMOs. This confusion can lead to unnecessary labeling and regulation. By defining and regulating NGTs separately from traditional GMOs, the EU can create a more efficient and effective regulatory framework for this technology.

Ultimately, researchers suggest that the decision to allow NGTs in organic farming should be made by the organic farming and consumer communities through democratic processes such as citizens’ juries or food councils. This would ensure that any new technologies are aligned with the values and goals of organic consumers and farmers.

By embracing gene editing in organic farming, the EU can create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly agricultural landscape while also supporting innovation and progress in this sector.