fertilizer
Credit: Etienne Girardet/Unsplash
Farm to Trouble series: Farming practices contribute to persistent Gulf of Mexico "dead zone"
One year away from the deadline to reduce farm runoff into the Gulf of Mexico by 20%, the goal remains out of reach.
In short:
- Fertilizer runoff from Midwest farms flows into the Mississippi River, creating a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and affecting drinking water upstream.
- Despite over 25 years of federal efforts and billions in funding, targets for reducing runoff are far from being met.
- The "Farm to Trouble" series explores potential solutions and examines the ongoing impact of agricultural runoff on the environment.
Why this matters:
Unchecked agricultural runoff degrades water quality, harms marine ecosystems and poses risks to human health. The health of the Gulf of Mexico’s ecosystem is at stake, affecting marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing and tourism. The persistent pollution contributes to broader environmental concerns, such as water quality issues and the resilience of coastal ecosystems against climate change.
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Newsletter
Credit: Etienne Girardet/Unsplash
The race for eco-friendly ammonia production heats up
In a bid to tackle the climate crisis, companies are innovating to create green ammonia, aiming to revolutionize agriculture and fuel industries.
In short:
- Green ammonia production seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of traditional fertilizer manufacturing, which is responsible for nearly 2% of global CO2 emissions.
- Innovative companies are developing technologies to produce ammonia using renewable energy sources, potentially transforming it into a cleaner fuel alternative.
- Small-scale, efficient production methods could significantly cut transportation emissions and make fertilizer use more sustainable.
Key quote:
"We're seeing real progress in [the] development of ammonia cracking technology."
— Lindsey Motlow, senior research associate at Darcy Partners
Why this matters:
The shift toward green ammonia is crucial for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainable agriculture. This innovation not only promises a cleaner environment but also supports the global push towards renewable energy sources, impacting health outcomes by contributing to a reduction in air pollution.
Be sure to read Elizabeth Ouzts’ article about using biogas to clear the air near hog farms.
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Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash
Agricultural nitrogen pollution is global threat, but circular solutions await
Carbon dioxide is just one of several powerful greenhouse gases destabilizing the global climate, and just one of the human-produced pollutants severely impacting the natural world and threatening to push Earth out of its current habitable state.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Minnesota's burgeoning fertilizer problem
Minnesota’s water supply continues to be contaminated by fertilizer due to lackluster regulations and climate change.
A precise tally of agricultural pollution? Farmers are working on it.
Fertilizer, fossil fuels and cows mean farming creates 10% of Canada’s carbon pollution. Measuring it all is a complex and uncertain task.
Photo by Enguerrand Blanchy on Unsplash
Lake Okeechobee’s toxic algae blooms threaten Florida and could get worse
Electric green algal blooms are spreading, threatening wildlife, pets, people and cities. And algae season is only getting started.
Image by Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay
As Farmers Face a Warmer Future, an Ancient Grain Shows Promise
The Midwest is known for its rows and rows of corn and soybeans that uniformly cover the landscape. But in central Missouri, farmer Linus Rothermich disrupts the usual corn and soybean rotation with Japanese millet. He has been growing it since 1993.
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