Linus Blomqvist
@linusblomqvist.com
PhD student at the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara, former Director of Food & Agriculture and Conservation programs at the Breakthrough Institute. Land use/conservation/agriculture. Birder. www.linusblomqvist.com.
New paper on the impacts of management and organic/conventional ag on soils: www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org
April 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
New paper on the impacts of management and organic/conventional ag on soils: www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Yield improvements reduced global crop water footprint
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
Yield improvements reduced global crop water footprint (1972–2018), but further action needed for water sustainability
Temporal variation in the water footprint (WF) of crop production has been less studied compared to spatial variation. This study assessed global spatiotemporal trends in the WF of crop production fro...
www.researchsquare.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Yield improvements reduced global crop water footprint
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
New paper finds that adding legume and non-legume green manure improved nitrogen uptake and use efficiency in a cropping system: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
There is one caveat, however... 1/n
There is one caveat, however... 1/n
The fate of nitrogen derived from green manure and its influence on crop N agronomic performance
Substituting synthetic nitrogen (N) with green manure (GM) is a sustainable agricultural practice. However, the role of GM nitrogen (GMN) in crop prod…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
New paper finds that adding legume and non-legume green manure improved nitrogen uptake and use efficiency in a cropping system: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
There is one caveat, however... 1/n
There is one caveat, however... 1/n
I can't read this full paper because my university, quite rightly, is not willing to pay the extortionate fees charged by Nature Publishing Group, but the takeaways are clear from the abstract. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level - Nature Food
Yield potential estimates from statistical models and process-based crop models are compared across diverse climates and soil conditions. The findings reveal limitations of statistical methods, unders...
www.nature.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I can't read this full paper because my university, quite rightly, is not willing to pay the extortionate fees charged by Nature Publishing Group, but the takeaways are clear from the abstract. 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
I'm generally skeptical of win-wins for agriculture and biodiversity, but this one seems legit: planting perennial crops on marginal land leads to more birds without reduced profit.
Increased avian bioacoustic diversity without lost profit after planting perennial vegetation in marginal cropland
Expansion of arable cropland and intensification of agriculture has driven substantial losses of habitat, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Balanc…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I'm generally skeptical of win-wins for agriculture and biodiversity, but this one seems legit: planting perennial crops on marginal land leads to more birds without reduced profit.
It's 2025 and there are still people out there trying to define a maximum sustainable human population - in this case 2 billion people.
Cafaro (2025) "A New Definition of Global Overpopulation, Explained and Applied"
Cafaro (2025) "A New Definition of Global Overpopulation, Explained and Applied"
April 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's 2025 and there are still people out there trying to define a maximum sustainable human population - in this case 2 billion people.
Cafaro (2025) "A New Definition of Global Overpopulation, Explained and Applied"
Cafaro (2025) "A New Definition of Global Overpopulation, Explained and Applied"
"mitigating both plastic pollution and carbon emissions from the plastic sector could lead to a 22% increase in cropland expansion, a 35% increase in the area of cropland undergoing intensification and a 20% increase in deforestation relative to the baseline scenario." www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The potential land-use impacts of bio-based plastics and plastic alternatives - Nature Sustainability
Bio-based plastics have gained attention as a potentially sustainable way to reduce fossil fuel-based plastic demand and store carbon. However, large-scale adoption of bio-based alternatives could hav...
www.nature.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
"mitigating both plastic pollution and carbon emissions from the plastic sector could lead to a 22% increase in cropland expansion, a 35% increase in the area of cropland undergoing intensification and a 20% increase in deforestation relative to the baseline scenario." www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In a contest in California, rice yields were on average ~40% higher than the average for the state. Does that mean that yields could go up by 40%? Probably not. Presumably only the most productive fields were entered into the contest, and growers could invest more than would otherwise be economical.
Predictors of high rice yields in a high-yielding environment: Lessons from a yield contest
Rice production needs to increase to meet projected demand. Understanding a crop’s yield potential and the management practices and limitations to inc…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 12, 2024 at 7:19 PM
In a contest in California, rice yields were on average ~40% higher than the average for the state. Does that mean that yields could go up by 40%? Probably not. Presumably only the most productive fields were entered into the contest, and growers could invest more than would otherwise be economical.
Is there anything like #conservationsky here to follow topics related to conservation? I can't find such a feed.
December 5, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Is there anything like #conservationsky here to follow topics related to conservation? I can't find such a feed.
Can't wait to read this!
🌎🌎🌎
WE ARE EATING THE EARTH
Now available for pre-order!
I'm so proud of this book. It's about our food, our land, and our climate. I hope it will entertain you, tell you stuff you didn't know, and make you think.
Thanks so much for supporting it.
www.amazon.com/We-Are-Eatin...
WE ARE EATING THE EARTH
Now available for pre-order!
I'm so proud of this book. It's about our food, our land, and our climate. I hope it will entertain you, tell you stuff you didn't know, and make you think.
Thanks so much for supporting it.
www.amazon.com/We-Are-Eatin...
We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate
Buy We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate: Read Books Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
December 4, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Can't wait to read this!
Turns out you can use cap-and-trade not just for pollution but also for forests - and in this case, it worked.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Does cap-and-trade policy promote Forest cover? Evidence from China
Cap-and-trade policies have been widely implemented in areas such as pollutant emissions, energy, and water rights in order to achieve environmental r…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 4, 2024 at 6:09 PM
Turns out you can use cap-and-trade not just for pollution but also for forests - and in this case, it worked.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I'm trying to up my game when it comes to slide decks for academic presentations. Does anyone have a slide deck they're particularly pleased with that they would be willing to share? Or point me to someone else's deck if it's publicly available. Any other resources also appreciated.
November 26, 2024 at 4:35 PM
I'm trying to up my game when it comes to slide decks for academic presentations. Does anyone have a slide deck they're particularly pleased with that they would be willing to share? Or point me to someone else's deck if it's publicly available. Any other resources also appreciated.
I don't know what combination of causes led to this species' demise, but it was hunted on Malta back in the day and I once saw one in a hunter's private collection, an experience that sent shivers down my spine.
well, here it is lads
after combing through some 1,400 records, it looks like the slender-billed curlew is indeed extinct and the last known photo taken in 1995 was probably at the point it slipped beneath the waves 🦉🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
after combing through some 1,400 records, it looks like the slender-billed curlew is indeed extinct and the last known photo taken in 1995 was probably at the point it slipped beneath the waves 🦉🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
The slender-billed curlew is declared extinct
This is the first mainland European bird declared extinct in 500 years.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 19, 2024 at 3:33 PM
I don't know what combination of causes led to this species' demise, but it was hunted on Malta back in the day and I once saw one in a hunter's private collection, an experience that sent shivers down my spine.
Better nitrogen management in ag could reduce emissions of various polluting nitrogen compounds by up to one-third.
None of this is rocket science and could be implemented with the right policies and incentives.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
None of this is rocket science and could be implemented with the right policies and incentives.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Optimized agricultural management reduces global cropland nitrogen losses to air and water - Nature Food
Increased agricultural nitrogen inputs lead to elevated nitrogen losses and may result in detrimental environmental impacts. This study uses meta-analyses to evaluate and predict changes in nitrogen l...
www.nature.com
November 19, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Better nitrogen management in ag could reduce emissions of various polluting nitrogen compounds by up to one-third.
None of this is rocket science and could be implemented with the right policies and incentives.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
None of this is rocket science and could be implemented with the right policies and incentives.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
In terms of the carbon cost of food production, we're often doing agriculture in the wrong places. faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/u...
November 12, 2024 at 6:07 PM
In terms of the carbon cost of food production, we're often doing agriculture in the wrong places. faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/u...
Business-as-usual trends will largely miss 2030 global conservation targets
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Business-as-usual trends will largely miss 2030 global conservation targets - Ambio
To address climate change and global biodiversity loss, the world must hit three important international conservation targets by 2030: protect 30% of terrestrial and marine areas, halt and reverse for...
link.springer.com
November 12, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Business-as-usual trends will largely miss 2030 global conservation targets
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Community forest management has been proven effective in a number of places - but it's not the case everywhere, as this new paper shows www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Uncovering the conservation effectiveness of community forests: A case study from Shan State in Myanmar
Community forestry is a regime of forest management that engages local communities to conserve forests and improve their livelihoods. As the number of…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 12, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Community forest management has been proven effective in a number of places - but it's not the case everywhere, as this new paper shows www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
One of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is in the form of nitrous oxide from soil processes. These emissions occur even with legumes, which receive little to no fertilizer. Soy actually accounts for 40% of emissions from corn-soy rotations in the US. 1/2
November 12, 2024 at 5:47 PM
One of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is in the form of nitrous oxide from soil processes. These emissions occur even with legumes, which receive little to no fertilizer. Soy actually accounts for 40% of emissions from corn-soy rotations in the US. 1/2
Reposted by Linus Blomqvist
New study: we found that small reductions in pasture-based beef production in some areas, especially in temperate, humid regions like the Eastern US & Europe, could lead to large amounts of CO2 removal by regrowing native forests. Here's an explainer 🧵 www.nyu.edu/about/news-p...
Small Reductions to Meat Production in Wealthier Countries May Help Fight Climate Change, New Analysis Concludes
Eliminating fraction of current beef production could remove three years’ worth of global fossil fuel emissions
www.nyu.edu
November 4, 2024 at 9:46 PM
New study: we found that small reductions in pasture-based beef production in some areas, especially in temperate, humid regions like the Eastern US & Europe, could lead to large amounts of CO2 removal by regrowing native forests. Here's an explainer 🧵 www.nyu.edu/about/news-p...
Commercialized drought-tolerant corn compensates for 23% of total yield loss due to moderate climate change. Yay for new technology.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Agricultural innovation for climate change: limited but positive impacts of commercialized drought-tolerant corn - IOPscienceSearch
Agricultural innovation for climate change: limited but positive impacts of commercialized drought-tolerant corn, Seungki Lee, GianCarlo Moschini, Edward D Perry
iopscience.iop.org
November 6, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Commercialized drought-tolerant corn compensates for 23% of total yield loss due to moderate climate change. Yay for new technology.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
I can't comment on the methodological rigor of the underlying studies, but at face value, this seems... bad.
"neonicotinoids consistently harm bird health, behaviour, reproduction, and survival"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"neonicotinoids consistently harm bird health, behaviour, reproduction, and survival"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Neonicotinoids Impact All Aspects of Bird Life: A Meta‐Analysis
Neonicotinoid insecticides have unintendedly spread across a wide variety of environments. Here, we show, using a meta-analytical approach, that exposure to neonicotinoids leads to consistent negativ....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 11, 2024 at 3:53 PM
I can't comment on the methodological rigor of the underlying studies, but at face value, this seems... bad.
"neonicotinoids consistently harm bird health, behaviour, reproduction, and survival"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"neonicotinoids consistently harm bird health, behaviour, reproduction, and survival"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Pretty impressive: "world average agricultural emissions intensity fell by more than half since 1990"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Agricultural Productivity and Climate Mitigation | Annual Reviews
Agriculture will play a central role in meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets, as the sector currently contributes ∼22% of global emissions. Because emissions are directly tied to resources em...
www.annualreviews.org
October 10, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Pretty impressive: "world average agricultural emissions intensity fell by more than half since 1990"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
If I'm reading this right, no-till increased total nitrate losses from agriculture and redirected the losses from runoff to leaching. Winter cover crops reduce runoff but don't affect leaching.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
No-tillage farming enhances widespread nitrate leaching in the US Midwest - IOPscienceSearch
No-tillage farming enhances widespread nitrate leaching in the US Midwest, Yawen Huang, Wei Ren, Laura E Lindsey, Lixin Wang, Dafeng Hui, Bo Tao, Pierre-Andre Jacinthe, Hanqin Tian
iopscience.iop.org
October 1, 2024 at 4:17 PM
If I'm reading this right, no-till increased total nitrate losses from agriculture and redirected the losses from runoff to leaching. Winter cover crops reduce runoff but don't affect leaching.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
"Localized nitrogen management strategies can halve fertilizer use in Chinese staple crop production"
Well, that sounds promising.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Well, that sounds promising.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Localized nitrogen management strategies can halve fertilizer use in Chinese staple crop production - Nature Food
Staple crop production in China involves high levels of synthetic fertilizer use and losses to the environment. Using a localized nitrogen management model for wheat, maize and rice, this study estima...
www.nature.com
October 1, 2024 at 4:06 PM
"Localized nitrogen management strategies can halve fertilizer use in Chinese staple crop production"
Well, that sounds promising.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Well, that sounds promising.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
"When nitrogen limited fields are targeted ... yield gains are predicted to double. When nitrogen and irrigation co-limitations are targeted ... yield ... tripled."
Lots of potential to raise yields in Indian rice production with tried and tested technologies.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Lots of potential to raise yields in Indian rice production with tried and tested technologies.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Context-dependent agricultural intensification pathways to increase rice production in India - Nature Communications
Rice production in India is a foundation for global food security, but strategies for sustainable intensification are uncertain. By combining large-scale surveys with predictive modeling, the authors ...
www.nature.com
September 30, 2024 at 11:46 PM
"When nitrogen limited fields are targeted ... yield gains are predicted to double. When nitrogen and irrigation co-limitations are targeted ... yield ... tripled."
Lots of potential to raise yields in Indian rice production with tried and tested technologies.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Lots of potential to raise yields in Indian rice production with tried and tested technologies.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...