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Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) released its 2023 status report in September, “Empowering Africa Food Systems for the Future.” It provides “a comprehensive outlook into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead” for creating sustainable food systems on the continent. The report cites youth empowerment and advances in technology and infrastructure as key components in overcoming significant challenges to the continent’s food security. According to the AGRF report, “Africa is at a critical juncture” in providing food security for its people with its youth population projected to reach 200 million by 2030. More than 20% percent of Africa’s population (about 257 million people) is undernourished (FAO, 2022). More than 20 million people and at least 10 million children “faced severe food shortages in Africa due to crop failure and four consecutive dry seasons” (UNICEF, 2022) The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) predicts annual food imports will increase from $15 billion in 2018 to $110 billion by 2025. Fertilizer prices have increased by about 78% compared with the average prices in 2021 (Hebebrand & Glauber, 2023). According to the AGRF report, “Poor infrastructure shaves up to 2% off Africa’s average per capita growth rates.” By adopting “appropriate technology, it is estimated that an additional 96 million hectares in sub-Saharan Africa can be irrigated by smallholders.” This could benefit nearly 369 million people. The report blames “dominance of starchy staples, alongside lower animal-sourced foods and fruits and vegetable supply” for deficiencies in the continent’s consumption of micronutrients (vitamin A, iron, zinc, folate, B vitamins, and calcium). Source: https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AASR-2023.pdf

By Rick Laezman* Since the first iterations of robots and machine learning appeared, their possibilities have captured our imaginations and our darkest fears. The menacing potential of robots and machines to replace humans has always seemed like a science fiction scenario that wasn't entirely fiction. Ironically, this technology can do just the opposite, by helping humanity overcome a very real and existential threat in the form of climate change. In fact, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics make a great team as society attempts to transition to clean and renewable sources of energy generation. Transforming the nation's energy infrastructure requires numerous changes, not just to the fuel sources but to the myriad of support systems and equipment required to achieve this transformation. Advanced digital and mechanical innovation can facilitate these ancillary needs in several ways. Power Production The first step in renewable energy generation is development. AI and robotics are helping renewable developers in many ways. Sites must be identified and evaluated, and the necessary equipment must be manufactured and installed before any power can be generated. Just as robotics are doing in other industries, they are improving the manufacturing process for solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable generating equipment. The role of robotics in manufacturing has been expanding, as robots perform tasks more quickly, efficiently, and safely than humans. More companies are also turning to robotics when they need to address a shortage of qualified labor in manufacturing. The California-based manufacturer, Orbital Composites, specializes in “reducing blade costs and footprints by cutting transportation expenses.” Using a grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE), the company is teaming up with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine to develop a process using 3D printing and robotics to manufacture wind turbine blades on the site of their installation. The process will streamline the manufacturing of turbines and eliminate the logistical challenges of delivering equipment to remote, inaccessible locations. After power generating equipment has been manufactured, developers use data analytics, algorithms, and modeling—all features of AI—for more effectively evaluating sites for the development of renewable sources, like wind power, solar, and geothermal. DroneDeploy is a software company that employs so-called “digital twins” or computer renderings to help companies evaluate sites. Using drones, cameras, robots, and software, the company captures data and produces maps and modules. Solar developers use this information to make informed assessments of their sites and implement a layout of panels that maximizes electricity generation. Geothermal power also faces challenges in site evaluation that can be addressed with AI and robotics. The selection process is typically very labor intensive. Developers analyze geological surveys that are conducted by humans relying on traditional methods. AI can dramatically improve the speed, reliability, and accuracy of this process by analyzing vast amounts of geological data and identifying suitable reservoirs of geothermal resources. AI can dramatically improve the speed, reliability, and accuracy of this process by analyzing vast amounts of geological data and identifying suitable reservoirs of geothermal resources. This saves companies money and time, enabling them to effectively select sites with the greatest potential for development. Inspection and Maintenance Once renewable sites are developed and utilized, they must be inspected and maintained. AI and robotics can help utilities improve the safety and efficiency of these processes. Wind turbines and solar farm panels are typically installed in locations that are far from densely populated areas and often difficult to access. Even when located in more accessible places, wind turbines still require teams of humans to scale dangerous heights using ropes and other suspended equipment to make visual inspections. Likewise, geothermal and wave generation resources pose accessibility challenges to humans due to the uniqueness of their locations. Utilities can now reduce time, costs, and safety risks by using smart technology to perform inspections and maintenance. Utilities can now reduce time, costs, and safety risks by using smart technology to perform inspections and maintenance. Tim Lichti is the co-founder and CEO of Swap Robotics, an Ontario, Canada-based company that builds robots designed to provide yard maintenance on solar farms. The company’s “solar vegetation robots” provide a much-needed service around the panels. The mobile units drive through the rows of panel arrays, cutting grass and weeds before they interfere with solar generation. According to Lichti, “the outdoor world needs to be maintained.” He explains that “after the solar farm is built, the biggest expense that is ongoing is cutting the grass and the vegetation.” Drones can also fly into remote locations and inspect turbines or geothermal wells. They can scan, take high-resolution images, and capture data in a fraction of the time it takes a team of human inspectors to perform the same tasks. The information they gather helps detect issues that might go unnoticed by the human eye. Drones can also inspect turbines, panels, and other equipment for damage after a storm, wildfire, or other natural disaster when human access is impeded. Robotic technology aids in the inspection of large solar farms. Mobile robots, which resemble a toy car that a toddler would love to drive, can travel an entire solar farm, inspect materials, take images, and capture data on panels and arrays more quickly and efficiently than humans. Some robots are equipped with highly sophisticated thermal cameras to detect abnormal temperature fluctuations. These signal issues or defects in the panels that must be addressed. Robots are also deployed to provide security for solar farms. They move around the perimeter of the farm and send live images back to monitors in a control center where humans can respond to security issues. Because they are mobile, these robots cover much more ground and many more angles than stationary monitors and can help utilities avoid theft of expensive equipment. Would-be thieves aren't the only interlopers utilities need to keep away from their renewable generating facilities. Birds can be a major nuisance and safety hazard. In many cases, the birds themselves are a threatened or endangered species, presenting utilities with the added challenge of having to protect their equipment without harming or killing the culprits. Here, too, robotic technology and AI are helping utilities come up with a solution. The Edge Company is an Italian-based firm that uses artificial intelligence to help wind farm operators detect the presence of flocks of birds to avoid collisions and disruptions in their operations. The S9 Bird Control Robot by the California-based SMP Robotics scares away flocks from solar farm panels to help keep the panels clean and power generation uninterrupted. Robotics can also assist in extreme climates, where freezing temperatures can disrupt and damage wind turbines. The Latvian company, Areones, uses a specially designed drone to lift heavy materials to efficiently clean, spray, and de-ice frozen turbine blades. Artificial intelligence and machine learning help with maintenance by using data analytics and algorithms to identify, predict, and isolate problems. Finally, artificial intelligence and machine learning help with maintenance by using data analytics and algorithms to identify, predict, and isolate problems; schedule appropriate maintenance; and accurately time generation. For example, they can analyze weather and tide information to help schedule wind or tidal power generation, maximize output, and minimize unnecessary strains on the system. Grid Management One of the biggest challenges for the growth of renewables is achieving and maintaining a balanced integration with the existing distribution grid. Some renewable sources, such as wind and solar, are highly intermittent. They can generate power only when the resource is plentiful, e.g., when the wind blows and the sun shines. These times don't necessarily correspond to the times of peak demand. Furthermore, renewable power is often generated by small facilities that are located closer to the consumer rather than on or near large sites, like a coal-fired power plant. These distributed generating facilities pose unique challenges to grid operators. Traditional power generation from coal-fired plants, for example, take time to achieve peak generation or “ramp up.” Renewables can be used to compensate for this delay, but only if they are plentiful and in ready supply. These and other unique characteristics factor into the management of power generation, demand, and distribution on the grid. Operators must take steps to maintain a balanced or level flow of energy, ensuring adequate supply, avoiding disruptions, and preventing spikes. Grid operators must take steps to maintain a balanced or level flow of energy, ensuring adequate supply, avoiding disruptions, and preventing spikes. AI and robotics are helping the industry achieve this goal. The solution revolves mostly around the gathering, analysis, and application of data. This synthesis of digital information has also created its own growing vernacular of new terminology. For example, the combined effect of data processing is now commonly referred to as the “smart grid.” A smart grid processes information about demand, generation, and distribution much more quickly and efficiently than humans, making the grid run more smoothly and reliably, without disruptions. One feature of the smart grid is predictive analytics. Through computer analysis of information about renewable resources and weather patterns, utilities can make proactive decisions about when power is most likely to be generated, how much will be generated, which assets will generate it, and how the production will intersect with expected demand. Through this analysis, grid operators can maximize the use of renewable resources to ensure smooth operation on the grid. One feature of a smart grid created by AI is the so-called “self-healing grid.” Centralized computer systems gather information from remote sensors and equipment that communicate with one another over the internet, otherwise known as the “Internet of Things” (IoT). This processing of information from multiple remote sites enables utilities to make continuous “self-assessments” to quickly detect issues and avoid service disruptions. Traditionally, utilities have had to rely on customer complaints to identify issues, then send out teams to make repairs. Instead, the self-healing smart grid allows them to detect, and sometimes even predict, problems in real-time and reroute power to avoid outages and the need to deploy teams of service repair personnel. The smart grid has also created a new, hybrid type of consumer: “Prosumers” are utility customers who consume and produce power. The smart grid has also created a new, hybrid type of consumer. “Prosumers” are utility customers who consume and produce power. Owners of solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming prosumers. The owner of a home with rooftop solar panels consumes electricity drawn from the grid when it is needed. At other times, the owner may send excess power back to the utility over the grid. This will happen during the day when the sun is at its peak and the panels are busy generating electricity, but the home is not drawing much power because the owner is away. EV owners may also be prosumers. At times, they will draw power from the grid to charge their vehicle. At other times, the utility may draw power from the charged vehicle and send it to other sites where it is needed. In this way, the utility is using the vehicle like a storage device that supports the grid with backup power. Smart grid technology makes prosumers possible and gives utilities and grid operators the ability to manage them effectively. This allows them to manage power from renewables more effectively to ensure smooth distribution over the grid. AI and robotics are also empowering so-called micro-grids. These are small subsets of grids that service customers in a limited and defined area, often ones that are remote and inaccessible. Microgrids provide their own generation, typically through one or more sources of renewable power. They support the smooth operation of larger grids and often provide security and protection against various forms of natural disasters that can disrupt service in the areas. In the same way that grid operators are using the technology, micro-grids are also using AI to manage generation and distribution of their limited resources. Micro-grids are a useful tool for grid operators, and AI is making them more feasible in various locations. (For more on solar micro-grids see also “Power for the People”—How Solar Mini-Grids Help the Disadvantaged, April 2022, theearthandi.org.) Conclusion Stephen Hawking has been quoted as saying that “AI is either the best thing that ever happened to humanity, or the worst.” Scary images of metallic evildoers bent on the destruction of their creators make for good movies and comic books. The reality is much more nuanced and constructive. The development and use of AI and robotic technology does pose questions of an existential nature. Far from being a harbinger of the end of the human race, technology can and is being harnessed to help save it. Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat ever posed to humanity’s continued existence on the planet. AI and robotics are being used in many ways to help humanity face this threat. *Rick Laezman is a freelance writer in Los Angeles, California, US. He has a passion for energy efficiency and innovation. He has covered renewable power and other related subjects for over ten years.

First Step in TEPCO’s Long-term Strategy Garners Approval, Condemnation Japan’s now-defunct Fukushima Daichi nuclear facility, destroyed during the catastrophic 2011 tsunami that struck the nation’s northeast coast, recently reported its first-ever release of treated, radioactive wastewater into the nearby Pacific Ocean. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the plant’s operator, said that it had completed the release of 7,800 tons of treated water from ten tanks in a discharge that spanned seventeen days, beginning on August 24. Despite safety reassurances by the plant’s operator, scientists, and the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), the move was condemned by Japanese fishermen, environmental activists, and the Chinese government, which responded by banning imports of Japanese seafood. However, Prof. Jim Smith, an environmental scientist at the UK’s University of Portsmouth who specializes in the consequences of radioactive pollutants in the environment, was quoted in a news brief by NPR, saying, “I would call it not a risk at all.” “We've got to put radiation in perspective, and the plant release—if it's done properly—then the doses that people get and the doses that the ecosystem get just won't be significant, in my opinion,” Prof. Smith said. Less optimistic is Edwin Lyman, a nuclear power safety expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C. The “current plan, unfortunately, is probably the least bad of a bunch of bad options,” he says. Japanese fishermen are adamantly opposed to the release, based on its feared impact on their livelihoods, even if it is safe. Not long after the release began, they filed suit in Fukushima District Court to halt it, according to AP World News. This first release, part of a long-term strategy, is not likely to be the last. US News and World Report says more than 1.25 million tons of radioactive wastewater are stored in nearly 1,000 tanks at the facility. According to the IAEA, TEPCO evaluated potential exposure of the public, assuming two possible accident scenarios: “one where about 10,000 m3 of undiluted treated water leaks from 1 tank group into the sea accidentally over 20 days, and one where about 30,000 m3 of undiluted treated water is accidentally discharged over one day from 3 tank groups.” The radiation dose calculated for an adult, says the IAEA, is “in the range of 0.0002 (2E-04) mSv to 0.01(1E-02) mSv” for both accident scenarios. In both, TEPCO “conservatively assessed all exposure pathways, and confirmed that the exposure of the representative person living near the power plant would be well below 5 mSv per event,” which is consistent with the established international safety standards in the event of an accident.

In 2023, Pew Research Center released a report on US attitudes toward climate change and found that age, among other things, will likely drive environmental action and awareness forward. Here are some takeaways from their research. According to Pew, about two-thirds (67%) of US adults want the country to “prioritize developing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar,” over fossil fuels, 2% down from last year. Of US adults ages 18 to 29, 48% want the US to use renewables exclusively. However, 52% prefer the US to use a “mix of energy sources, including fossil fuels,” a view shared by a majority of all other age groups. Only 7% of US adults want the federal government to discourage the domestic production of renewable power, while 26% think it should stay neutral, neither encouraging nor discouraging it, which are decreases from 8% and 28%, respectively, from last year. Most US adults (58%) say state elected officials are not doing enough to address climate change. A similar majority (55%) say the same of the energy industry. Among US adults, 54% describe climate change as a “major threat to the country’s well-being,” down 4% from 2020. Only 37% of Americans say addressing climate change “should be a top priority for the president and Congress in 2023,” while 34% say it is important, but a lower priority. As a result, climate change ranks “17th out of 21 national issues included in a Center survey” from January 2023. Among US adults, 61% say global climate change “is affecting their local community either a great deal or some,” while 39% see “little or no impact in their own community.” While 74% say they support US participation in international efforts to reduce the effects of climate change, only 36% say the US is doing more than other large economies to mitigate the international impacts of climate change, up from 67% and 32%, respectively, from last year. Sources: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/09/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-climate-change/ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/americans-largely-favor-u-s-taking-steps-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2050/

Interview with Dr. Lisa Miller, Founder of Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind Body Institute—Part 3 In part three of The Earth & I’s interview with Dr. Lisa Miller, she spoke at length about how the attributes and potential of Generation Z, which refers to people born between 1997 and 2012, might impact the natural environment. The Promise of Gen Z Dr. Lisa Miller: Gen Z possesses two wonderful milestones as they stand on our shoulders. The first is Gen Z does indeed have a sense of unitive awareness that fellow living beings and the Earth are conscious. They need more support and language around that, but they are quick to see it for the most part. The second thing that Gen Z already has in their hearts is the dignity and rights of fellow living beings. They are outraged by things such as the mistreatment of animals and deforestation that takes the lives of trees and food away from orangutans and their babies. So, the only piece that Gen Z, I think, is now on the cusp of starting to discover—and where we might be supportive in putting together the unitive reality and their deep respect for living beings—is that all life, the unitive reality, its expression, and the distinct point from incarnations to fellow living beings, are emanations of God. Where we have failed Gen Z is we have taken the voice, the witness of holy, sacred, ultimate Source— God—out of the public square. Forty years of silence have left a whole generation—and 40 years is long enough for somebody to grow up and have a child who is now Gen Z—without a deep roadmap of “how-to” language and understanding of the deep, unitive, sacred source of all life, whom I call God, the Universe, Spirit, Ashem, Allah, whatever one’s word might be, or Jesus, right? So, where I think we can support Gen Z now is in understanding that all life is sacred and to be respected; we are part of one unitive reality, and this whole thing, every bit of it—even you—is godly. There is ultimate sacredness. There has been a desanctification—an influx of radical materialism—and I think this desanctification that is so in the air and water has cut off Gen Z from the sense of connection to God. That has caused the epidemic—actually, I would say the pandemic—of suicide. There has been a desanctification—an influx of radical materialism—and I think this desanctification that is so in the air and water has cut off Gen Z from the sense of connection to God. That has caused the epidemic—actually, I would say the pandemic—of suicide. The desanctification of the environment is the source—I would say it is 98%, maybe 100% of the source—of the pandemic of suicide and homicides, school shootings, and mass shootings. We can fix this. And the good news is that Gen Z is in a developmental growth spurt in late adolescence and emerging adulthood. We are hardwired to be seekers, to be in a quest, to be biologically prepared to inquire of the head, “And what is the deep nature of life? Who am I in this landscape of reality?” And from the heart, “How might I love more deeply and who loves me, and am I alone or are we connected?” And so, Gen Z is on a hunt developmentally, and we see this in science through a 50% increase in inheritable contribution for spiritual capacity in ages 15–18 and 20–22. We are catching Gen Z at just the right moment to help them reshuffle the deck and understand reality that is foundationally sacred. That is what will create the generation that leads us into a unitive reality with all living beings and Earth. E&I: In your classroom, what sense do you have of where Gen Z is getting their guidance? The guidance that’s going to open their hearts to nature—how to get involved, how to care enough to make the changes in their own lives, grow their own food, volunteer, start their own shelter, or whatever. Do they talk about that? Dr. Lisa Miller: Gen Z considers it normative and important to convene. They are conveners, whether they can be in small groups, whether they can be in crowd sourcing, whether they have a mission and they exercise it by getting 400,000 other Gen Zs to do something. They understand themselves in collective, which I take to be a human expression of their deep awareness of the unitive nature of life. They do not see themselves as a solo act. I would say that the Millennials and older—including myself—see ourselves as connected to others but also see ourselves as pursuing our path, whether it be a path of contribution or service. There is a very dominant presence of making our way. Meanwhile, Gen Z thinks in terms of making “Our” way. They are foremost aware of the superordinate. Where Gen Zs Get Their Guidance That said, where do they get their guidance? Well, in very much part from one another. They learn from multiple teachers, which is, of course, part of the spiritual path, Dharma, resonating with what comes as it comes, with what teacher might come in our path or what tradition we encounter on our own journey. They are learners from what I might call “trail angels,” multiple teachers. They learn from one another in the sense their lives are a great blessed quest, which is precisely where I think we can have a more sustainable world. Where Gen Z Struggles Where I think they still struggle is that they can be at times more relativists, more ideologues, you know, “This person got it, this person doesn’t.” Instead of saying, “I disagree with what they said,” there is a tendency to, through the miseducation of Gen Z, to disagree with THAT person. “Actually, no, they’re a BAD person.” I think where Gen Z has been miseducated, in large part by academia, is in equating one’s ideas with the worthiness of one’s being. And when we are reawakened to the notion that we are all rays of the sun, all emanations of God, including all sacred sisters and brothers—even the person with whom you disagree—trees, plants, mountains, and the sun. If you are a Democrat, a Republican is a child of God, and vice versa—if you’re a Republican, a Democrat is a child of God. God loves EVERYBODY. And in so far as we are loved, held, guided, and never left alone by God, so, too, might we show up for one another, and that means for EVERYBODY to be loving, holding, guiding, and never leaving anyone alone. You do not cancel people because they have a difference of opinion. We do not cancel people because we might consider them to be in a place of learning or disagreement with our stance. [T]he reaction to everyone is that of love. It does not mean you agree with people. It does not mean you don’t take a stand … but no one is to be cancelled. So, the notion of being held, guided, and never alone, is a foundationally spiritual view through which everyone counts and the reaction to everyone is that of love. It does not mean you agree with people. It does not mean you do not take a stand. And, certainly, I am 100% for spiritual activism, but no one is to be cancelled or eradicated. Gandhi, in speaking of the British, said, “I don’t want to kill them. I want to change their minds.” Three Seasons in Life for ‘Spiritual Awakening’ In the course of a human life, there are hardwired periods of developmental depression, where, suddenly, what was fine yesterday—the people in our lives, our jobs, our situation, how we live, where we live—feels like it is not enough. There is a tendency to respond with, “I don’t think I want to be married to you anymore” or “I had better change my job.” But, actually, this is a hardwired, body/mind/spirit unitive shift from inside. It is a time of existential growth and emergence. Developmental depression is a booting up of an augmented capacity for spiritual life. It feels full of hunger and quest. It feels like a half-empty glass of spirituality. It is the mission or “knock at the door” for the emergence of a deeper spiritual awareness, of an awakening of our natural, awakened brain, or awakened awareness. It happens in emerging adulthood, where Gen Z is now, and it happens in a second bridge of midlife, and, again, in elderhood—three bridges of developmental depression—the knock at the door for spiritual awakening. This is not lost time nor down time. This is not time away from our careers. This is the most important work we will do and are beckoned to do so—we really have no choice. We are moving from a narrow, command-control, air traffic control perspective: “What do I want? How am I gonna get it? Where is this plane going to land?” to “Hey! I can control maybe 2% or 3% of life; if I push the elevator button, I don’t know if it’s coming in ten seconds or four minutes, if it’s packed, if it’s empty, if everyone has COVID-19 or is healthy, if there’s dogs on it—I have no idea who’s on the elevator. “We can control 2%–3% of life. Ninety-seven percent of life is flux, is dynamism, and actually is sacred and evolutionarily.” We can control 2%–3% of life. Ninety-seven percent of life is flux, is dynamism, and actually is sacred and evolutionarily. So, in these moments of despair, I can shift my conversation from narrow, achieving awareness for myself—“What do I want, how am I gonna get it, how do I close the deal? Why didn’t I get what I want?”—to beyond myself: “Wow! I didn’t get what I want. What is life showing me now? What is God asking of me now? What, through the knowing of my heart through which I talk to God, Spirit, or through fellow living beings, seek guidance, synchronicity, am I being asked to understand, deepen, go beyond my ego, have an ego dump that can grow and expand to a greater state of awakened awareness?” Developmental depression is the knock at the door for spiritual awakening. Well, right now, coming out of COVID-19, we have had a mass, global, post-industrial, developmental depression. This is our knock at the door, for an ego dump, from where we ask, collectively, “What do we want? How are we gonna get it, whether it be bigger, better, faster, and more money, power, control, and my way?” to “Wait a minute! We can’t control any of that. The schools were closed. The hospitals were full. The government can’t take care of you every day. What is life showing us now? What in life is real?” Well, what was real is our beautiful Earth. What was real was the regeneration of Earth, the birds started singing, the forest repopulated, and there were more animals that didn’t get hit by cars on the highways, who could live and have offspring. The Earth, very quickly, started to regenerate and become more alive. What was real—"What is life trying to show me now?”—is that we are loved, held, and guided; we are never alone. COVID-19 was scary, but we did not fall through the existential black hole. We were loved, held, and guided. This was the mass developmental depression, the knock at our door for our new emergence, our renaissance of profound awakening, and our awakened awareness after which we are loving, holding, and guiding all living beings, including animals and human beings. No one is ever alone. *Lisa Miller, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Education at the Teachers College and Founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute of Columbia University. She is also the bestselling author of The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life. Editor’s Note: For the Earth & I, Jerry Chesnut spoke with Dr. Lisa Miller.

USGS Geologist Lays Out the Unprecedented Challenges Ahead By Gordon Cairns* A devastating chain of events—believed to have started with strong winds toppling over electric power lines onto a section of overgrown land on the Hawaiian island of Maui—has caused the US’s deadliest fire in over a century, as well as the potentially disastrous contamination of a pristine coral reef. Yet the groundwork for Lahaina’s August inferno was started a long time ago, due to human intervention in a natural paradise. When the Kingdom of Hawaii became a sovereign state at the end of the 18th century, this historic coastal town was called the “Venice of the Pacific.” An abundance of water flowed through the area’s streams, waterways, and canals from the nearby West Maui Mountains, where as much as 375 inches of rain falls every year. But in the intervening years, massive pineapple and sugar cane plantations were established, not only stripping out the biodiversity of the island but also diverting the plentiful water sources to hydrate the thirsty crops. Meanwhile invasive guinea grass was introduced to feed the growing herds of imported livestock that filled land not taken up by crops. Eventually these vast plantations closed, leaving behind a dry and barren landscape, a quarter of which is now covered by invasive grasses that can serve as kindling for the spread of fires. The August wildfires were the deadliest yet, turning more than 2,200 buildings into burned-out shells, tragically taking at least 98 lives and leaving thousands of residents homeless. But while wildfire destruction is becoming more common around the world, the situation in Lahaina is uniquely tragic. Close to the shore sits a tropical coral reef, which is at risk of contamination from toxic runoff from the debris of a modern town reduced to cinders. Ash tainted with contaminants, such as asbestos, lead and arsenic, is blowing into the ocean. USGS Priorities: Townsfolk Before Reefs The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is one of many government agencies coming to the aid of the islands in the aftermath of the disaster. USGS research geologist Curt Storlazzi stresses the importance of prioritizing the needs of the townsfolk before the coral reef: “First and foremost, we have to worry about the town rebuild, and then the next most important thing we have to think about is the reefs and what they mean to the people.” “First and foremost, we have to worry about the town rebuild, and then the next most important thing we have to think about is the reefs and what they mean to the people.” “It might be very minor compared to the loss of lives and housing,” he tells The Earth & I. “But after that, [the reef] is the next most important thing to the local community and that’s why they have asked us to come and help them.” He outlines the problem for the reef—an organism which thrives on purity—situated close to a source of pollution. The chemicals and metals released by the burning buildings, vehicles, boats, and modern human accessories entered the clear waters of the ocean. “Coral reef usually grows in clear, oligotrophic—or nutrient-poor—water, and now a lot of structures were burned and so there’s a lot of nutrients, there’s a lot of contaminants, there’s a lot of material, there’s a lot of ash that has gotten into the coastal ocean, making it very turbid,” Storlazzi says. “The water is now no longer clear, no longer oligotrophic—it’s now nutrient-rich, and there is a lot of contaminants in there. These are all things which will stress the near shore coral reef ecosystem.” Impacts on Livelihoods and Food “Not only will [the contaminants] stress the ecosystem—a lot of local folk fish those waters, and those nutrients and contaminants can get up into the food chain,” Storlazzi says. As part of the short-term disaster relief effort, the USGS sent out equipment, such as active sensors, to measure how nutrients are affecting the pH levels of the ocean, as they can cause coastal acidification and make the reef dissolve. While the vessels that went down in the harbor and just offshore are being recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Hawaii, an ocean cleanup is a far more difficult task. The pollutants in the water cannot simply be scooped out but will have to be cleansed by nature, gradually: “Basically, the ocean will flush out the reefs, but it takes time, as we have just put a massive input of new material in,” Storlazzi says. [T]hey cannot rely on historical data and so are still in the very early stages of their work. This will take time: Contaminant analysis is expensive and turnover time in laboratories can take months. As far as Storlazzi is aware, a land-based runoff of sediments, nutrients, and contaminants impacting a coral reef is unique in US history. The current catastrophe can only be compared to events in World War II when tankers and ships were torpedoed in Hawaii, Guam, and the Florida Keys, causing great destruction. Meanwhile, other marine scientists, such as Andrea Kealoha of the University of Hawaii's oceanography department, are working hard to understand the impact of an urban fire on coral reef health. As far as they are aware, this has never occurred before, and they cannot rely on historical data and so are still in the very early stages of their work. This will take time: Contaminant analysis is expensive, and turnover time in laboratories can take months. Lessons from Hurricane Maria Although the Lahaina disaster is unprecedented, possible solutions have been applied elsewhere in the world. Storlazzi explains: “Coral reefs have been smashed before, and other countries around the world have looked to nature-based solutions to better provide services to local communities in the aftermath.” Puerto Rico’s response to the damage caused by the storms of 2017 may be relevant to Lahaina’s plight: “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) just awarded Puerto Rico $38.6 million to restore and even improve those reefs which were damaged in the tropical storms of 2017 to provide coastal protection, making those coastal communities more resilient to increased storminess and sea level rise,” Storlazzi says. FEMA officials say the Puerto Rico hazard migration grant was the first time money has been allocated as part of a federal disaster risk reduction policy to restore a natural resource to protect survivors after a disaster. The work is painstaking. Scientists extract living coral fragments 10-to-15 feet below the surface, clean the damaged pieces, and store them in an area free of sand and rocks for six months. The restoration team then prepares a special cement epoxy that is carried in buckets to the sea floor by divers to glue the cleaned-up coral to the reefs. The results are worthwhile—this project will shelter 800 buildings on the shore, as well as protect endangered sea turtles that lay their eggs on the beach in nesting season. Storlazzi thinks a similar approach in Hawaii would be equally positive, supported by the scientific knowledge of the USGS. “This is one thing the State of Hawaii may look to do, not only to bring those reefs back to where they were, but in the longer term enhanced to provide coastal protection, to act like a submerged break water,” he says. The longer-term role will be to provide guidance so that the investment and rebuilding can be done as cost-effectively as possible: “Can we do that in a way that is safer, works better with nature, is increasingly resilient to future storms and sea level rising?” Prepping for Future Resilience Storlazzi was on one of the writing teams of the 5th National Climate Assessment for the Pacific, which is scheduled for publication in Fall 2023. One of the concerns examined is how to make villages, towns, and cities safer in a future where the possibility of these kinds of events are on the increase due to decreasing rainfall, increasing lightning, and climatic changes affecting vegetation. “We don’t want these things to happen, but one of the missions of the USGS is to learn from these events to prepare for the future. If we don’t learn, it makes the disaster even worse.” He says: “The projections are there is more likely to be more fires in the Pacific islands in the future. Anything we can learn here will not only help now but also will be increasingly important down the road.” He stresses: “We don’t want these things to happen, but one of the missions of the USGS is to learn from these events to prepare for the future. If we don’t learn, it makes the disaster even worse.” Unfortunately, the Lahaina fire is only the latest risk to the islands’ coral reef. As well as making wildfires more likely, climate change has also had a long-term impact on coral reef decline. Since 2009, the United Nations-supported Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network has found that 1% of coral reef are lost each year—14% across the globe have disappeared—and the reefs off West Maui haven’t been spared. Coupled with this, in 2015, almost half of the coral here was lost to coral bleaching. Of course, coral reefs are more than beautiful buffers around a shoreline. “Coral reefs are extremely important to the local economy of Hawaii, and this is mainly driven by tourism—they want to snorkel in those reefs, they want to sit on those beaches on sand generated by those reefs, they want to go fishing in the waters of those reefs,” Storlazzi says. One of the most important things the coral reefs do is protect those coastal communities, and that provides tens of millions [of dollars] throughout the State of Hawaii, over $800 million a year in protection, he adds. “The reefs are part of the Hawaiian creation story, the social fabric of the place.” It seems clear that the reefs will not only be central to the creation story but also to the future narrative of Hawaii, providing safety, pleasure, and prosperity—this time aided by human intervention. Our islands need healing, our islands need cleansing of the land, our people need healing, our children need healing. Aloha, true pure Aloha will bring true healing to overcome this tragedy. Aloha kekahi i kekahi, Aloha ʻāina, Aloha i ka wai [Love for and to each other, Love of the land, Love for the waters]. —Kahu Pohāleo Lokoʻolu Quintero *Gordon Cairns is a freelance journalist and teacher of English and Forest Schools based in Scotland.

Try these global recipes—from pumpkin bowls to muffins that ‘pop’ By Julie Peterson* Pumpkin is truly a global favorite for its deep cultural roots, thick creamy texture, earthy taste, and nourishing, calming touch. Ready for pumpkin immersion? It’s all here, cucurbit lovers. Why Pumpkin Says ‘Autumn’ Nothing says “fall is here” more than a variety of pumpkins arranged on the porch, in the entryway, as a table centerpiece, or piled up at a farmer’s market. But—to no one’s surprise—pumpkins are not just for décor. Properly stored, many varieties of pumpkins can be kept for three months to a year, giving one the opportunity to use this beneficial food well into the new year. Cultivated and available globally, pumpkin is a tasty and nutritious food. Botanically categorized as fruit, pumpkins are part of the Cucurbitaceae family, along with other squash like zucchini and butternut. There are about 150 varieties of pumpkins, so put aside thoughts that orange jack-o-lanterns are THE pumpkin. Pumpkins come in many shapes, sizes, and peel colors that can range from white, beige, pink, orange, green, blue, or black, along with multi-colored varieties with stripes, spots, and splotches. The peel can also be smooth, ribbed, nubbly, warty, blistered, knobby, or veined and pumpkin seeds vary in size and texture, as well. Throw in the colors, flavors, and textures of the inner flesh of pumpkins, and it’s little wonder that pumpkin offers a multitude of global culinary delights. Delicious and Good for You The bright orange flesh of pumpkins carries lots of beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A. This essential vitamin helps fight infections, keeps skin and bones healthy, preserves vision, regulates cell growth, and reduces inflammation. One cup of pumpkin provides more than 200% of the recommended daily allowance. Other immune-boosters that pumpkin provides include vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and folate. And pumpkin is also loaded with potassium, which has been shown in studies to regulate blood pressure, and lower risk of stroke, kidney stones, and type 2 diabetes. Bowl Them Over with Pumpkin Besides the classic pumpkin pie and roasted pumpkin seeds, recipes abound for pumpkin that is pickled, candied, pureed, fried, stewed, and baked. Whole pumpkins, seeds removed, can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients and then baked, providing a charming presentation in a pumpkin bowl. Try this meal in a pumpkin recipe for starters and then imagine the soups, rice dishes, and casseroles that could be baked in—and served in—a scrumptious pumpkin. Cheesy spinach and pasta in a pumpkin bowl screams appétissant! in this French onion gruyere bake. Another delightful way to serve pumpkin bowls is to bake the pumpkin first and then serve it hot or chilled, depending on what it will hold. Take A Global Pumpkin Recipe Tour Since pumpkin is enjoyed worldwide in a variety of daily and holiday dishes—from full meals to side dishes to desserts—come take a trip around the globe to sample some pumpkin delectations! Armenia Ghapama is a stuffed, baked pumpkin filled with buttery rice; dried plums, apricots, and cherries; raisins; cinnamon; honey; and nuts. It’s a festive dish that is filled with heartwarming nutrients. China More pumpkins are grown and eaten in China than any other country. Pumpkin dumplings, pumpkin fried with salted egg yolk, and the crunchy and gooey dessert of fried pumpkin cakes are just a few ways pumpkin makes it to the table in China. India India is the second largest producer of pumpkins and they are used as an important staple in Indian cuisine. A key ingredient in many holiday dishes, pumpkin also finds its way into every day dishes such as pumpkin flatbread, curries, fritters, and pumpkin sabzi, which is slow cooked with spices and has many variations. Japan These uniquely spiced Curry Kabocha Crumble Muffins have Japanese curry powder in addition to cinnamon and nutmeg and a crumbly crisp topping that includes oranges, coconut, and brown sugar. Truly a sweet and savory treat. Mexico The smell of this candied pumpkin dessert slow cooking in a large pot on the stove for hours promises to warm the heart and create anticipation for the sweet treat to come. South Africa Made as a dessert with cinnamon and sugar or as a savory dish with venison or ham, these pumpkin fritters are a comfort food that combines sweet and spicy. Two Simple Side Dishes It’s also fine to simply cook and eat the pumpkin! It works great as a side dish or a simple lunch. Roasted Pumpkin Cut a pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Slice pumpkin into wedges and drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast in a 400 ⁰F oven for about 25 minutes or until tender. Don’t forget to save and roast the pumpkin seeds because they are packed with protein, fiber, minerals, and healthy fats. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Scoop out pulp, stringy fibers, and raw seeds from a pumpkin. Place in a colander and separate seeds from pulp (as much as possible). Place seeds between towels to remove excess moisture. Toss the seeds in a bowl with olive oil and seasonings of choice. (Popular seasoning combinations include salt, garlic powder, and paprika; or spice it up with salt, pepper, and chili powder; or go sweet with maple sugar and cinnamon.) Spread the seeds evenly on a lightly greased cookie sheet and roast at 350 °F for about 15 minutes, stirring the seeds now and then for even browning. They are done when golden brown. (Note that large seeds may take twice as long to get crispy. When in doubt, take one out, cool it a bit, and taste test!) In 2022, researchers from around the world published a review summarizing the relevant literature that highlights the health benefits of pumpkin including the seeds, flesh, and peel. See the article from the National Library of Medicine for a deep dive into the Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Potential, and Therapeutic Benefits of Pumpkin. Soon, the sight of a beautiful pile of pumpkins in all sorts of shapes and colors can take on a whole new meaning: Don’t just think décor, think dinner! *Julie Peterson is a freelance journalist based in the Midwest region of the US who has written hundreds of articles on natural approaches to health, environmental issues, and sustainable living.

Coral Reef Study Reveals Surprising Findings An ambitious, two-year study of coral ecosystems known as the Tara Pacific expedition was recently completed, offering a new look at the biodiversity of coral reefs and a reference point for studying the biology of coral reefs during the modern period of the Anthropocene. The study’s findings were published in June 2023 in Nature Communications. The project’s extensive sampling and research were conducted aboard the Tara, a schooner after which the expedition was named. While at sea, the team sampled the coral ecosystems of thirty-two islands in the Pacific Ocean and ocean surface waters at 249 locations. This resulted in the collection of nearly 58,000 samples, using “various approaches.” As reported by Phys.org, a team of seventy scientists from eight nations were involved in the study with the project’s scientific coordinator, Dr. Christian Voolstra, professor of genetics of adaptation in aquatic systems at the University of Konstanz. The team reported a surprising conclusion from their findings: “We have been completely underestimating the global microbial biodiversity,” says Dr. Voolstra. Indeed, the current estimate of planetary microbial biodiversity—of around five million bacteria—is underestimated by nearly a factor of ten, he says. In other words, the planet may have ten times more biodiversity than previously thought. How can this be? According to the Phys.org news brief, coral reefs are the most “biologically diverse marine ecosystem on Earth.” Even though they cover just 0.16% of the world's oceans, they house about “35% of known marine species.” By using a “genetic marker-based data set,” the Tara Pacific researchers discovered that “all of the globally estimated bacterial biodiversity” can be found in the microorganisms of coral reefs.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), which conducts nonpartisan policy research for the US Congress, issued a report in mid-2023 called "Wildfire Statistics." The CRS defines wildfires as “unplanned fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped fires from prescribed burn projects.” Using data from the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), the CRS report shows the number of annual wildfires, though variable, decreased slightly over the last 30 years. Meanwhile, the affected acreage increased annually. It should be noted that acreage burned “does not indicate the severity of a wildfire” or its impact on forests and soils. From 2000 to 2022, an average of 70,025 wildfires have burned an average of 7.0 million acres (about the area of Belgium) annually. That is more than double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s (3.3 million acres). However, the 1990s averaged more fires annually (78,600). In 2022, 68,988 wildfires burned 7.6 million acres. More than 40% of those acres were in Alaska (3.1 million acres). By June 1, 2023, about 18,300 wildfires had burned over 511,000 acres (about half the area of Rhode Island) in the US. About 89% of the average number of wildfires from 2018 to 2022 (or about 52,600 fires) were caused by humans. Wildfires caused by lightning burned 53% of the average annual acreage affected from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, 52% of US acreage burned by wildfires was on federal lands (4.0 million acres). However, wildfires on state, local, or privately owned lands accounted for 83% of total fires. In 2022, over 2,700 structures were burned in wildfires, most of which were in California. Of the 1.6 million wildfires since 2000, 254 burned over 100,000 acres (about half the area of San Antonio, Texas) and sixteen burned more than 500,000 acres (about the area of Yosemite National Park). Source: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10244

Plastics Comprise 85 Percent of Trash Accumulating in the Earth’s Oceans By Cassie Journigan* Marine litter—first recognized, anecdotally, in the 1960s—has been a serious environmental concern since the 1980s, according to the 2015 book, Marine Anthropogenic Litter. But while today’s sources of litter are many and its effects are still growing, major efforts are underway to address the issue. Individuals, organizations, communities, and nations can all lend a hand. What is Marine Litter or Debris? Marine litter (or marine debris) refers to objects made of anything manufactured. It includes small pieces of trash, like cigarette butts, grocery bags, and plastic bottles, and massive items, like construction waste, commercial fishing tackle, and even ships. In the U.S., marine debris is legally defined as “any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes” (33 U.S. Code § 1956). The vast accumulation and ongoing supply of debris presents a threat to oceans and other water bodies. It can wipe out the lives of all kinds of marine life, from individual mammals, fish, and plants to entire ecosystems, as emphasized by Stephen Guertin, deputy director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, in 2019. The loss is not only felt in the natural world; it also impacts the livelihoods and lives of those who live, work, or play on or near the water. Sources of Marine Litter Marine litter finds its way into the planet's oceans and beaches through many avenues, such as being blown in by winds, being deliberately abandoned in the water, pumped in as sewage, and as river trash carried oceanward by stormwater. Natural events like hurricanes or tornados contribute to loads of marine litter ending up in the oceans. About 80% of ocean plastic pollution is from land-based sources, while the remaining 20% is from water-based sources, including offshore industrial operations, offshore drilling, and aquaculture, as well as shipping containers or vessels themselves. The three major sources of marine debris are, therefore, land, water-based sources, or a natural disaster, such as a major weather or geological event. The biggest type of marine debris is plastics, which account for 85% of all marine waste, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 2021 report. About 80% of ocean plastic pollution is from land-based sources, while the remaining 20% is from water-based sources, including offshore industrial operations, offshore drilling, and aquaculture, as well as shipping containers or vessels themselves. Debris arising from seagoing activities can include large shipping containers that fall or get blown off seagoing cargo vessels. Other types of debris are the nets, lines, floats, buoys, and crab pots familiar to fishing enthusiasts, and items also seen with land-based activities, including plastic containers and other common, everyday household items. How Ocean Plastics Can Affect Marine Life Ocean plastics are grouped according to size. Macroplastics float on the surface or sink to the ocean floor. Animals can ingest macroplastics or become tangled up in ropes, fishing lines, and plastic bags. Marine habitats and individual plants suffer, too. Mangroves, the shrubs and trees in coastal, brackish water, and plants from the wetlands edging the oceans can be damaged by debris carried in ocean currents as it brushes up against them. Coral reefs can be broken apart or smothered by plastic sheeting and bags that come to rest on them. Oyster beds, seagrass beds and deep-water habitats are subjected to a similar fate. Plastic debris creates an environment favorable for algae blooms, which can be economically damaging and biologically deadly. Ocean plastics are so pervasive that they have created their own microbial habitat: the plastisphere. Ocean plastics are so pervasive that they have created their own microbial habitat: the plastisphere. Microplastics (typically less than 5 mm (0.2 in) in size) are carried along water currents where they are eaten or absorbed. Some can introduce heavy metals in aquatic environments. Much to the harm of all, plastics break down, releasing the chemicals used to manufacture them. Ocean plastic has become so prevalent that vast amounts have merged and grown into aptly named ocean “garbage patches” —gigantic trash collections. Among these is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), which is mostly composed of microplastics but still can cause entanglement, ghost fishing, ingestion, and transport of non-native species. Neither are people immune from harm. They can ingest phthalates and bisphenol when they eat fish or other sea life that consumed microplastics. Continued exposure to such toxins can damage reproductive systems, promote metabolic diseases like diabetes, harm the thyroid, induce breathing problems, and decrease the body's response to vaccinations. Hope on the Horizon Once it became obvious in the 1980s that marine debris was creating problems, scientists, researchers, environmental advocates, marine and other business owners, and concerned citizens began taking action. For example, a global assessment of solutions was conducted in 2021 to provide recommendations for the prevention, monitoring, and cleanup of marine litter worldwide. New developments in the U.S. include eight programs recently instituted to answer the issues created by marine litter. Several of them are funded in part or whole by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Clean Water Fund with its “ReThink Disposable” program, for example, aims to reduce the single-use packaging waste generated by food and beverage operations. Then there is the Ocean Conservancy's project designed to initiate preventative practices for the food service and convenience outlets in Miami-Dade County in Florida. Another program funds the Parley Foundation so they can organize cleanups along Hawaiian beaches. Other organizational programs cover a range of activities: The U.S. EPA's Trash Free Waters spreads knowledge of marine litter issues. It also supports installing litter capture devices and improved solid waste management globally. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation developed a program to help find local solutions to marine litter. They wrote a guide called “Reducing Marine Litter Through Local Action: A Toolkit for Community Engagement.” It's intended to help North American communities ensure that their trash does not become marine debris. NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, created to manage issues related to ocean pollution, provides a website with emergency response guides, a blog, and newsletters. The site contains booklets, activities, and guides for educators, schoolkids, and the general public. Funding is also available. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, lists 13 private and nonprofit organizations active in solving issues related to marine debris. For example: The Public Benefit Corporation 4Ocean is a Certified B Corp that employs individuals to clean marine litter. (Public benefit corporations exist “to generate social and public good” in a sustainable manner. They include both governmental agencies and corporations operating for profit.) As its name implies, the Coral Reef Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to saving the world's coral reefs. Their work aims to limit threats and promote solutions worldwide. The Ocean Cleanup puts its engineers, researchers, scientists, and others to work on removing plastics from the world's oceans. The previously mentioned Ocean Conservancy also works on programs that cover trash-free seas, encourage sustainable fisheries, protect regional locations such as the Arctic, and address issues like climate change. Everyone Can Help With plastics composing most of marine litter, individuals can take steps to help make a difference, such as those suggested by the Oceanic Society: Reduce the use of single-use plastics, and recycle plastics when possible (See The Earth & I, August 2023) Support legislation that limits the use of plastics Participate in clean-up projects Avoid products containing microbeads Spread awareness of the issue and its causes Support organizations addressing the issue The Problem of Marine Litter Is Not Irreversible People's actions on or around the seas have created many problems that affect marine life and those who live on the land. But while the situation is dire, there are solutions. Become informed, spread the word, and take action before it is too late. *Cassie Journigan is a writer who lives in the north-central region of Florida in the United States. She focuses on issues related to sustainability. She is passionate about numerous topics, including the Earth's changing climate, pollution, social justice, and cross-cultural communications.

A new study of the global presence of landscape-fire air pollution (PM2.5 particles and ozone) in 2000–2019 found that its “population weighted” concentrations were highest in certain African nations. According to the study’s authors, a landscape fire is any fire in “natural and cultural landscapes, for example natural and planted forest, shrub, grass, pastures, agricultural lands and peri-urban areas.” This includes both wildfires and planned or controlled fires. According to the study, the African continent had the highest average number of days exposed to substantial fire-sourced air pollution (SFAP) per person per year (32.5 days per person per year during 2010–2019), “despite a significant decrease since 2000–2009.” Europe, on the other hand, had the lowest average number of days exposed (about 1 day per person per year). Asia had the greatest annual population size exposed to at least 1 day of SFAP (803.1 million people per year during the period 2000–2019, or 36.8% of the global total). The five nations with the highest in population-weighted average fire-sourced concentrations of PM2.5 were the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic, Angola, Congo, and Zambia. The five nations with the highest annual average number of days exposed to SFAP per person were Angola, DRC, Zambia, Congo, and Gabon (each over 115 days per year during the period 2010–2019) Notably, globally, the US rose from eighth in the total number of exposed people in 2000–2009, to second in 2010–2019. The authors concluded that billions of people were exposed to substantial landscape fire smoke (LFS) air pollution, with the exposure levels being highest in several “hotspots” (Central Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Siberia). Sources: https://phys.org/news/2023-09-alarming-results-world-first-decades-global.html https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06398-6

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) uses its Food Price Index (FPI) to measure monthly changes in global prices of food commodities, such as cereals, dairy, and meats. According to the FAO, its Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool can help identify “market imbalances” that might lead to increased food insecurity. August’s FPI declined to 121.4 points from a revised 124.0 for the previous month. This decline reversed a rebound in prices in July, sending the index 24% below its peak in March 2022. The overall drop in prices was due to declines in the price indices for dairy products, vegetable oils, meats, and cereals. In contrast, the sugar price index “increased moderately.” The FAO Cereal Price Index for August stood at 14.1% below its value a year ago. The FAO Dairy Price Index was down for the eighth consecutive month in August, 22.4% below its value last year. Global dairy price declines were led by declines in whole milk powder prices. However, the FAO Sugar Price Index in August was up by 34.1% from a year ago. The increase was mostly triggered by concerns over the impact of El Niño-related weather on global production. The FAO Meat Price Index in August was down by 5.4% from its value a year ago. All global meat types fell in August, led by ovine (sheep) meat, due mostly to a surge in Australian exports and weaker demand from China. Sources: https://www.fao.org/prices/en/ https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/