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As the West burns, a town fields its own amateur firefighters

Carl Segerstrom

September 05, 2018 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dufur, Oregon

In the town of Dufur, Oregon, local residents have been acting as firefighters to protect their fields and homes, using farming equipment to bury dry vegetation and tanks of water to put out the flames. While this has been the norm for years – because of the length of time it takes professional firefighters to arrive – the recent increase in wildfires is calling into question the safety of this informal fire fighting and figuring out how to work together with professionals.

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Farmers see promise and profit for agroforestry in southern Kenya

Kagondu David Njagi

August 31, 2018 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kerita

Climate change coupled with an increasing human population is reducing the amount of land that Kenya farmers are able to use for profitable crops. To get the most out of what's left of the arid land, many are turning to agroforestry projects and are seeing results in the form of healthier land and increased profits.

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Aging cocoa trees provide opportunity for agricultural reform in Ghana

Nellie Peyton

August 30, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ghana

In Ghana, cocoa trees are aging and producing lower yields, worrying the farmers who rely on the crop to make a living; the decreased yield is also presenting opportunity for agricultural reform to produce a more sustainable vision for agriculture in the region. Across western Ghana, organizations are working together to create customary land agreements and helping land tenants to encourage long term investment in replanting cocoa trees.

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'It saved our business': Italy's farmers turn low into high with cannabis

Lorenzo Tondo

August 30, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Sicily

In Italy's farmland traditionally that has traditionally been known to grow wheat, farmers have recently found that growing non-pharmaceutical hemp yields greater profit. Allowing them to hire more workers and produce more results on their dry lands, many are crediting the crop for saving their business.

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How Church-Owned Property Can Help Communities 'Grow'

Joseph Darius Jaafari

August 29, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Rockford, Michigan

Across the United States, communities and local churches are coming together to create farming projects that utilize unused, church-owned land. The farming ventures typically benefit students and families throughout the respective regions.

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Berry Farmers Break Free From Big Agriculture

Lynsi Burton

August 29, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Lynden, Washington

Many farmers in the United States toil under exploitative working conditions, enduring long hours, low pay, and exposure to dangerous chemicals; after taking their battle for better conditions to the legislature, a group of farmers have created a co-op so that they can own the land they work on. The co-op has generated a lot of interest and now produces around 200 boxes of organic produce every week.

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Can scientists save one of the world's favourite bananas?

Roland Pease

August 26, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Australia, Queensland

The Cavendish banana is the preferred banana worldwide thanks to its size and being seedless. It's this latter trait, however, that has made it susceptible to disease. Currently under attack by a deadly fungus, one scientists has high hopes that genetics can help locate resistance genes and help save the fruit.

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How Ancient Grains and a Seed Bank Turned Life Around for Rural Women

Chhavi Sachdev

August 23, 2018 |

News Deeply |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Panchiyasaal, Gujarat

Gujarat is known to be very dry land, which makes planting annual crops a struggle for many farmers. Due to the determination of one farmer's wife, however, many are discovering that to be successful, they must diversify from only planting maize and look to millet as well.

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This makeup company is using its supply chain to revitalize the rainforest

Eillie Anzilotti

August 21, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Guatemala

Much of Guatemala's lands have been degraded due to a consistently burgeoning industrial market for palm oil and cattle farming. As a company that makes makeup using a variety of plants, beauty corporation Lush has committed to investing in natural plant production by buying land that would otherwise be at threat of deforestation. The Sustainable Lush Fund then works with on-the-ground organizations and farmers to sustainably utilize the land and increase the diversity of crops all while supporting local agriculture.

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Can dogfish save Cape Cod fisheries?

Eva Botkin-Kowacki

August 20, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chatham, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is losing its namesake fish to climate change and overfishing, which is in turn hurting the profits of local fisherman. Adapting to the circumstances, fisherman have begun catching and marketing dogfish as the sustainable alternative, but their appeal, or lack thereof, has been slow to catch on in the United States. To promote the change in fish, the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance is working to fight stereotypes at a local level.

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