Ecology And Environmental Science

Scientists in Northern Italy are experimenting with unusual and totally eco-friendly sound and odor devices to fight off insects from their cultivated fields. And their studies suggest that these methods could be as efficient in protecting crops as using chemical based pesticides. In the meantime, in a field study near Pisa, Italy, researchers are learning how important it is to keep semi-natural habitats next to cultivated fields. These areas are an important resource for pollinators and it now seems they even have an impact on the yield of the cultivated crops.

The European grape berry moth and the cicada Scaphoideus titanus are considered to be the major pests of cultivated grape. Commonly farmers use plant protection products like insecticides or plant growing regulators to protect their crops against pests and diseases. But used in a wrong way, pesticides can pose a risk to humans and the surrounding environment.

We're facing a natural disaster in the middle of an economic disaster. The federal government has to balance its budget the way our families do......