Against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about the EU’s next financial framework, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), members of the European Parliament and the International Association Rurality-Environment-Development (RED) met at a conference in Brussels on 12 November to talk about the specific needs of rural areas post-2020. They urged the European Commission to include provisions […]
Total agricultural output in the EU up by 0.6% in 2018
The economic accounts for agriculture show that total agricultural output in the European Union (EU) stood at €434.3 billion in basic prices in 2018, slightly up (by 0.6%) compared with 2017. In 2018, the equivalent of 58.2% (or €252.6 bn) of the value of agricultural output generated was spent on intermediate consumption (input goods and […]
Eco-friendly pesticide based on insect peptides
A multidisciplinary team of EU researchers has developed and tested entirely new classes of biopesticides based on insects’ peptide hormones. They will reduce the risk of pesticide use in human health and are not harmful to the environment or beneficial insects, thereby providing sustainable crop protection. Background High levels of agricultural productivity must be […]
Operation against human trafficking in the agricultural sector in Europe
Between 16 and 20 September 2019, Europol supported the first Europe-wide Joint Action Days against human trafficking for labour exploitation focusing specifically on the agricultural sector. The operation, led by France, also involved law enforcement authorities from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. Results This operation, which lasted for five days, counted with […]
Postdoctoral position in sustainable and resilient of farming systems at CEIGRAM (Madrid, Spain)
The Research Centre for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM) is seaking for an expert in sustainable and resilient of farming systems. Organisation Research Centre for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM) – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Research field Agricultural sciences › Agronomics Economics › Agricultural economics Engineering › Agricultural engineering Tasks Perform the following co-management tasks: Help […]
Big data for small farms enhance resource use and profitability
Feeding the world’s growing population under increasingly extreme environmental conditions is challenging farmers globally. The hand that feeds us needs a helping hand, so EU-funded researchers developed an affordable farm-management platform. Copernicus and Apollo, came together under the auspices of the EU-funded APOLLO project to expand the implementation of precision agriculture. With a focus on […]
New electrical device provides chemical-free weed control
An EU-funded initiative has developed a scalable and sustainable alternative to herbicides for weed control, based on the use of electricity. As the world’s population increases there is a growing need to control weeds to protect agriculture, infrastructure and for aesthetic reasons. This market is currently dominated by herbicide manufacturers, but they are increasingly under […]
Low frequency electromagnetic waves improve structure of irrigation water
EU-funded researchers have developed a novel technology makes the irrigation of cereal crops become more efficient and environmentally friendly. Population growth and climate change are putting growing pressure on water resources, requiring agriculture to become more productive, efficient and environmentally friendly. As water grows scarcer the threat of drought increases along with higher levels of […]
PhD student chemical ecology – biological pest control
The Laboratory of Microbial Ecology of Processes and Bioinspirative Management in Heverlee (Leuven, Belgium) offers a research position in chemical ecology and biological pest control to a PhD student, with a contract of 1 year, starting on December 1, 2019, and extendable to 3 years. In previous work, it was found that microorganisms, including yeasts […]