Urban planning policy has had a powerful influence on the amount of green space in cities, according to a recent UK study. It found that a change in planning policy in 2000 led to a decline in urban green space in nine cities between 2001 and 2006, although the amount of green space in all but one of the cities studied has increased overall since 1991.

Intensive farming methods have simplified landscapes across Europe, leading to a loss of biodiversity. A recent study has investigated the effects of intensive farming on plants, beetles and birds in Western European regions and found that plants and birds are particularly affected.

A framework to combine economically viable agriculture with effective biodiversity conservation has been described in a recent study. According to the researchers, their approach provides a simple guide designed to help planners and farmers achieve sustainable agriculture.

The biodiversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi — important soil organisms that can help plants to capture nutrients — is greater in organically managed soils with reduced tilling compared to conventional methods, a new Swiss study suggests. This illustrates the impacts that land management practices such as ploughing can have on soil biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides.

Ecological intensification, using land and resources in ways that minimises negative ecosystem impacts while maintaining agricultural productivity, has been proposed as a way to sustainably increase crop yields, but remains under debate due to a lack of evidence. This six-year study of a large commercial farm assessed how using land for wildlife habitat affected food crops. The study shows that it is possible to remove up to 8% of land from production and maintain (and in some cases increase) yield.

Conservation of wild plants related to important crops requires more concerted efforts, according to a new study conducted in Scotland. The study makes recommendations for improving conservation within Scotland, as well as outlining a process that could help other countries to prioritise their wild plants.

There are several types of wildlife-friendly farming scheme, some of which are more prescriptive than others. A recent study compared the effects of different wildlife-friendly farming approaches, including organic farming, on pollination. The findings suggest that organic farming practices enhance pollination services but may compromise crop yield. ‘Conservation Grade’ farming schemes — biodiversity-focused practices funded by sales of labelled food products — can support both pollination and yield.

EU pesticide regulations have encouraged farmers in developing countries to adopt alternative pest management practices and employ safer means of handling pesticides, according to a recent study which investigated green bean farming in Kenya.

Biological control agents are an environmentally-friendly way of controlling pests and diseases on crops and are advocated in the EU’s Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive1. The authors of a new review of the current state of biological control refer to a recent UN report2 which states that it is possible to produce enough food to feed a world population of nine billion with substantially less chemical pesticides — and even without these pesticides if sufficient effort is made to develop biocontrol-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. The study suggests that policy measures can speed up the development and use of environmentally-friendly crop protection.

Actress Scarlett Johansson once again says she would enjoy being an organic farmer when her Hollywood career is over.

We can thank 3 important books published in the 1940s for the certified organic produce we see in stores today.

Although new on the Indian retail scene, Ikea already has big plans to alleviate one of the country's largest environmental ills.

The latest agricultural apps are helping farmers boost productivity and profits.

Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for The Rolling Stones and the cofounder of MNN, talks to pop star Jason Mraz about his avocado farm and what it felt to be named the

In the South Bronx, a 124-unit housing development with a rooftop farm combines low-income housing with an emphasis on healthy living and fresh food.

Sustainable agricultural practices add essential carbon to soil's organic matter, which could be key to reviving soil quality.

Biodynamics is often misunderstood. This short video gives some basic facts.

Norway says it will end all fox and mink farms by 2025, and it's the first Nordic country to take the step,

Deserts have a lot of sun, but not much water. That's why researchers are advocating combined solar and agave farms.

The insects may have started farming millions of years before humans developed agriculture.

Animal rights advocates are beginning to focus their attention on shareholders. But will it work?

A brief overview of how corporations, which control today's farming industry, are responsible for the abuse and mistreatment of hundreds of millions of farm animals every year.

LF-ONE System Available as "Buy it Now" at www.growhyve.com

AUTOCROP system now re-branded as HYVE™ to be most descriptive of company's indoor farming products.

Company is positively disrupting the way the world grows and eats

Climbing coconut and arecanut trees to harvest their prizes is strenuous, dangerous work, and requires a young body. But in Dakshina Kannada, India, "there is a substantial migration of well-educated youngsters to the cities for white collar jobs," K. Ganapathi Bhat told India's The News Minute. "There is a huge scarcity of employment in labour-intensive sectors like agriculture, especially those skilled in climbing trees."

"Having been born in a family with an agricultural background, it was painful to see the ripe coconut and arecanut either eaten by birds or falling across the fields," Bhat says. At 60 years of age, he's too old to climb the trees himself. But unlike most farmers, he has a Bachelors of Science in Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Thus he cobbled this together:

The bike-based contraption runs on gas, using what appears to be a chainsaw motor. After testing it out for two years on roughly 2,000 arecanut trees on his own farm, Bhat reckons the "mileage" is 90 trees per liter of gas (360 trees/gallon), and that the machine can carry an 80kg (175-pound) person to the top of a 30-meter (98-foot) tree in 30 seconds--safely. If the brakes fail, a backup brake kicks in to jam the wheels in place. As long as your tree isn't mushy and algae-covered (he tested those, too, and found the performance unsatisfactory), you're in business.

Here's more footage of the machine in action, including Bhat jumping up and down on it, to demonstrate that it safely stays in place:

Although he's been approached by several manufacturers, Bhat has turned them down, as he's not interested in profit. "I wish to partner with an organisation that would help me share the technology with the farmers to benefit them," he says. "I do not wish to seek royalties for such a venture. But I want to make sure that this product reaches as many farmers as possible, so that, in some way, it helps in the development of the overall agricultural scenario of the country."

The scientists, including those from the University of Sheffield in the UK, said overuse of antibiotics, high animal numbers, and low genetic diversity caused by intensive farming techniques increase the likelihood of these pathogens becoming a major public health risk.

Richard Lutz, in isolation, watches the world go by. 

A typical show day for Gary Clarke involves getting up early to wash and blow-dry his Hereford cattle before the crowds arrive. It is dedication like this which has helped the humble Burnie Show reach its 100th year.

Think rural women are all farmers' wives? You need to meet my netball team.

There's been no end to bad news for the dairy industry, but one Queensland farmer is defying the trend by boosting tourism and drawing in droves of fans.

Relentless climate-related headlines paint a picture of an agricultural industry under siege and farmers say they need more help to adapt.

Wide Bay macadamia grower Kate Rose is crediting 'Korean natural farming', which she says improves the microbiology in the soil using indigenous microorganisms, for a large increase in crop yield.

About a year ago, my partner and I learned of a revolution in Australia's paddocks. We want to farm in a more natural way, but the stakes are high making the shift could send us broke.

A Riverland family farm diversifies its cropping operation to take on crickets.

Water banking involves the deliberate injection of surplus water into known aquifers. The idea is to repurpose the world’s many artesian basins as giant sustainable storage tanks - ones that can readily be drawn upon in times of drought. It’s just one of the ideas we explore in the second instalment of our two-part series on water conflict and management – the politics, the problems and the potential solutions.

After a devastating bushfire, one remote WA farming community takes steps towards a solar solution and it's cheaper, safer, and more reliable.

Holowiliena Station is in the grip of a horror drought, but reviving an ancient trade is proving a lifeline to this farming family.

The Mini Minor car was a symbol of the Swinging Sixties and now it is helping one veteran dairy farmer keep a perspective on the rigours of family life and work.

Irish empty-nesters Derek and Jackie Edwards are living the dream on the other side of the world, working on farms for food and board in Australia.

Thirty per cent of the Shire of Westonia is owned by corporate agricultural companies and locals say they are worried it is ruining the "sense of community" in the shire's small rural towns.