By carefully selecting which varieties of food crops to cultivate, much of Europe and North America could be cooled by up to 1°C during the summer growing season, say researchers from the University of Bristol. This is equivalent to an annual global cooling of over 0.1°C, almost 20% of the total global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution.

The growing of crops already produces a cooling of the climate because they reflect more sunlight back into space, compared with natural vegetation. Different varieties of the same crop vary significantly in their solar reflectivity (called ‘albedo’), so selecting varieties that are more reflective will enhance this cooling effect. Since arable agriculture is a global industry, such cooling could be extensive.

To read more please go on http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6091.html

Posted: 20 July 2009 under Global cooling.
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Romanian Ministry of Agriculture will finalize within next month the strategy about agriculture, where irrigation plays a key role’ declared Emil Boc (tr. Prime Minister) at Calarasi, Romania.
‘The Agricultural Ministry will soon implement this project. The core issue is Romania to become from an importer player to an agri-food exporter’ declared Boc. He’s been asked also if the previous - government project about drought control will still be of interest to be tested in Calarasi county.
The Prime Minister declared that 70% of all agri products and food consumed in Romania is imported knowing that this country can feed 80 million people.

Posted: 17 July 2009 under Romania.
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