The sections highlight the importance of nature-based solutions to protect coastal communities from sea level rise and the need for economic growth to align with the health of the planet. They emphasize transitioning to industries compatible with nature, reframing the cost of addressing climate change as an investment in the future, and valuing natural landscapes for their environmental services. The focus is on recognizing the finite nature of land and natural resources, supporting biodiversity, and promoting sustainable practices to maximize the value of all lands. The key message is to shift towards a wealth model that benefits organisms and accumulates wisdom for future generations, moving away from extraction and exploitation towards a more sustainable approach.
Category: Food, Agriculture, Land & Ocean (FALO)
Cut Emissions:
– Curb Growing Demands
– Restore & Manage Ecosystems
– Shift Agriculture Practices
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Idemitsu switches on 2 MW of solar above rice paddy
Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan has launched a 2 MW agrivoltaics project in Japan, utilizing a movable mounting system to optimize sunlight for rice growth and power generation. This community-based model returns profits to farmers and aims to utilize 5% of the country's farmland for solar facilities. Agrivoltaics have the potential to increase renewable energy capacity in Japan, with research showing benefits for productivity in rice plantations. Recommendations include using double-axis tracking technology and vertical bifacial PV installations with safety measures and land-sharing approaches.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/19/idemitsu-switches-on-2-mw-of-solar-above-rice-paddy/
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Environmental News Network – Exploring the Promise of Regenerative Aquaculture at an Arkansas Fish Farm
MIT engineering student Kiyoko "Kik" Hayano collaborated with Keo Fish Farms through MIT D-Lab to create a model for regenerative water systems, showcasing a trend in U.S. universities towards addressing national food security challenges in rural communities. This partnership exemplifies how applied engineering and academic collaborations can result in innovative solutions for regenerative agriculture in the United States.
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What Happens When a Neighborhood Is Built Around a Farm?
Agrihoods and urban farms are innovative solutions to combat climate change by providing food security, reducing temperatures, capturing rainwater, and increasing biodiversity in communities. These green spaces can help mitigate flooding, provide nutritious produce, and cool neighborhoods, ultimately improving food security and sustainability. Successful implementation of agrihoods requires careful planning, including water logistics, crop selection, and adequate funding and staffing. By scaling up urban agriculture and implementing agrihoods, cities can become more resilient in the face of climate change.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/agrihoods-neighborhoods-built-around-farms/
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Agrivoltaics? Yes in my vineyard
Researchers in Spain conducted a study in the Murcia region, surveying 238 wine tourists and finding broad support for trellis-integrated agrivoltaics in vineyards, with 94% backing solar integration. The study focused on vineyards in a region where viticulture is significant, with questions about the importance of photovoltaic energy, preferred system configurations, and perceptions of landscape integration. Overall, the research found a positive social perception of agrivoltaic systems, particularly in vineyard settings, confirming high acceptance of this dual-use land model among the surveyed population. The results were presented in a study published in Renewable Energy Focus, with involvement from academics at Technical University of Cartagena and Miguel Hernández University of Elche.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/12/agrivoltaics-yes-in-my-vineyard/
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Environmental News Network – Farming for the Future
The University of Leeds and McCain Foods are partnering to establish the McCain Farm of the Future UK on the University's farm in Yorkshire, with the goal of reducing the environmental impacts of farming and increasing food security. This collaboration aims to accelerate innovation in British agriculture to tackle challenges like unpredictable weather, declining soil health, and policy uncertainty. By working together, the project seeks to develop sustainable solutions that address these pressing issues and pave the way for a more resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural sector.
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Indigenous forest fire brigades shortlisted for global climate award
CARE, an Asháninka Indigenous organization in the Amazon, has been nominated for the 2026 Ashden Award for their Indigenous-led Integrated Fire Management strategy, PAAMARI. The project successfully combines Indigenous wisdom with satellite technology to prevent and reduce wildfires in the region, with no wildfires recorded in 2025. The project focuses on training community members as fire brigade members, using high-tech monitoring, and teaching safe burning practices. Winning the Ashden Award would allow for the expansion of this work, providing essential safety gear to volunteer Indigenous community fire brigade members. Indigenous Peoples are effective stewards of the rainforest and with the right tools and respect for traditional knowledge, they can protect this important ecosystem from the impacts of the climate crisis.
https://www.coolearth.org/news/indigenous-forest-fire-brigades-shortlisted-for-global-climate-award/
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Could Light Be Used To Drive Enzymes for Efficient Ammonia Production?
Researchers are exploring the use of nanocrystal-nitrogenase biohybrids to reduce energy costs in ammonia production by harnessing light to convert N2 gas to ammonia. By studying electron delivery efficiency and hole scavenging in the CdS:MoFe complex, they aim to optimize the process and potentially lower energy costs. This innovative technology could lead to localized production near agricultural sites, reducing transportation costs and offering applications in fuel, feedstock, and energy storage. The research, highlighted by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science Basic Energy Sciences program, provides valuable insights into biological nitrogen fixation and electron transfer pathways, with implications for sustainable climate solutions.
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A Coal Town Reborn
The town of Loos-en-Gohelle in France has successfully transitioned from a coal mining economy to a sustainable one, with solar panels powering 90% of public energy needs by 2021. The town embraced its mining heritage and involved locals in the transformation process, leading to a diverse range of projects in clean energy, agriculture, biodiversity protection, and more. Citizen participation was key in this transition, which took decades and involved breaking away from the control of mining companies. The success of Loos-en-Gohelle has inspired others to replicate its citizen-powered transition model, with the founding of La Fabrique des Transitions to spread its methods nationwide, potentially impacting France's climate transition efforts.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/france-coal-town-reborn-loos-en-gohelle/
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Welcome to the ‘agrihood’ – the neighbourhood of the future?
Marcia Mikai and her colleagues are promoting the concept of agrihoods as a solution to unsustainable urban sprawl, aiming to restore ecosystems, build climate resilience, and develop healthy communities through sustainable forestry practices and mixed-use buildings. By replanting native and edible plants, agrihoods help cool cities, reduce flood risk, and replenish aquifers, while also providing shared green spaces that reconnect residents with their food and community. These zones actively sequester carbon from the atmosphere and offer environmental and social benefits for people of all ages and income levels. The UN Environment Programme's State of Finance for Nature report emphasizes the need to shift towards nature-positive solutions to prevent economic downfall, highlighting the potential benefits of incorporating nature-based solutions in cities like New York to increase productivity and create a thriving economy.