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Agriculture & Environment: Desert science

News

Here is a list of the latest articles

Well drilling in South Sudan

Africa may struggle to extract groundwater, experts say

Africa's newly revealed groundwater may not be easy to tap into because of political and technical challenges, experts warn.

15 May 2012 | EN

White building

Developing countries 'need a say in geoengineering debates'

Planet Under Pressure speakers said developing countries should be included in decisions about climate change technology 'fixes'.

29 March 2012 | EN | ES | 中文

Wheat farmer

Leading scientists launch action plan on food security

An international commission of senior scientists has launched a charter for action on food security for different sectors of society.

29 March 2012 | EN | ES

Dead Sea

Environmental concerns for Red Sea-Dead Sea project

Plans to channel more than a billion cubic metres of water each year from the Red to the Dead Sea have been challenged by environmentalists.

23 March 2012 | EN

The Rail-Road Bridge  on Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh state in south India

Climate change can dry south Indian river, says new study

Computer simulations predict severe water shortages in south India’s Godavari basin, which call for conservation practices.

1 March 2012 | EN

The drylands of Marsabit District,  northern Kenya

Preserving biodiversity 'protects drylands'

Biodiversity influences how well a dryland ecosystem functions, and therefore how it will respond to climate change, say scientists.

16 January 2012 | EN

Agroforestry can fix Pakistan’s depleting tree cover

Pakistan should turn to agroforestry to stem its shrinking forest cover, say experts.

16 December 2011 | EN

Commercialising genes 'may help conserve Mexican oasis'

Underground oasis may boost Egypt's development

Scientists may have discovered a way of unlocking Egypt's huge underwater aquifer, but critics question the feasibility of the project.

10 November 2011 | EN | FR

A desert

Scientists unite to put drylands on Rio+20 agenda

African and Latin American scientists are calling for drylands, which are home to two billion people, to be a key part of the Rio+20 agenda.

7 November 2011 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Arid farmland

US$1 million for East African ICT project

An East African ICT scheme that channels agricultural information to villages has won a US$1 million award.

14 September 2011 | EN | FR

Beer

Breweries persuade drought-hit farmers to switch crops

A collaboration between researchers and breweries to boost sorghum production in East Africa could help farmers cope with drought.

5 September 2011 | EN | FR

A man providing water for camels

Kenyan farmers may soon receive first drought payout

Kenyan farmers who lost cattle in the Horn of Africa drought may be compensated through an insurance scheme.

15 August 2011 | EN | FR

One of the irrigation sites in Senegal

'Green wall' project gathers pace in Senegal

Senegal has started its fourth year of planting, following the signing of an MoU to disseminate strategies between countries.

12 August 2011 | EN | FR

Pakistan seeks tech fix for impending water crisis

Pakistan is considering several water management techniques to head off a water crisis caused by wastage and warming.

1 August 2011 | EN

Namibia from space

Namibia's satellite centre to warn of disaster threats

A new satellite observation centre will provide useful information to Namibian farmers.

27 July 2011 | EN | FR

Lack of data on droughts hampers risk reduction efforts

Despite the publicity droughts get, there is still a lack of data to monitor and model the risks they pose worldwide, says a UN report.

4 July 2011 | EN

Dryland regions unite to combat food security

The Global Dry Land Alliance, initiated by Qatar, will foster research collaboration among arid nations.

30 June 2011 | EN | FR

Solarpanels

Middle East desert solar plan criticised

The Desertec Industrial Initiative should make more effort to consult locals and boost science in the region, say critics.

20 May 2011 | EN | FR

Guava seller

'Toxic sugar bait' could help control malaria

Malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes depend on natural sugars for survival — and this could be exploited to trap them.

31 March 2011 | EN

Fox tail agave

Tequila plant holds promise as arid biofuel source

The agave plant genus, famous for its use in tequila and fibre production, could be a promising source of biofuel for arid regions, say experts.

7 March 2011 | EN | ES