Archive for December 2019
Weights show the way to cheap stored power
New ways to generate renewable electricity will offer cheap stored power and a solution to balancing supply and demand. Finding effective ways to store energy until it’s needed is a major obstacle for the renewable electricity revolution, but two new mechanical systems mean cheap stored power could soon be widely available. Cheaper than batteries, both…
Read MoreA fresh approach to managing invasive trees
For thousands of years, trees and humans have maintained an intimate connection. It’s therefore not surprising that many tree species were moved around the world, following the footprints of human civilisation. Globally, however, more tree species are becoming invasive, with detrimental ecological and socio-economic impacts. Understanding their invasion history and ecology is essential to developing…
Read MoreEntomologists keep fruit flies at bay
Collection of data on fruit flies in South Africa will help improve pest management in Europe and contribute to development of technology such as sensors with which to detect infected fruit. Insect experts from the Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology are part of a large-scale research project involving experts from 15 countries.…
Read MoreCow selection affects live weight and milk yield
Genetic progress in dairy herds is affected by sire selection. However, despite careful selection procedures, female progeny of selected sires produce at higher, similar or lower production levels than their mothers. This is because of the random combination of genes and the varying effect of environmental factors on the production performance of dairy cows. Dairy…
Read MoreJet stream changes may hit global breadbaskets
Patterns in the winds of the jet stream that circles the Earth can bring simultaneous heatwaves to breadbasket regions which provide up to a quarter of global crops, scientists have found. Extreme weather on this scale can significantly harm food production, making prices soar and fuelling social unrest. Western North America, western Europe, western Russia,…
Read MorePopulation, waste bigger environmental factors than livestock
As the world’s population increases and the planet’s temperature rises, many are pointing to animal agriculture as a leading cause of climate change, said Dr Robin White from the Virginia State University. White said animal agriculture can and must become a significantly more sustainable industry. Much of her research focuses on sustainable beef production that…
Read MoreWater-stressed South Africa needs action
WWF welcomes the formal launch of the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan by Human Settlements, Sanitation and Water Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in Pretoria as an important step towards more urgent action in the water sector. Christine Colvin, Senior Manager: Freshwater Programmes with WWF-SA, commented: “This plan has been waiting in the wings for the…
Read MoreClimate outlook for 2020
The variable and changing climate Climate conditions were in general unfavourable for agricultural production in the recent past seasons. Severe drought over most of South Africa and especially the central, western, south western and south eastern parts of the country already persists since about 2012. In areas where higher rainfall amounts occurred was the distribution…
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