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The Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences is now part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
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earth matters
science and insights for people who care about Earth, its resources and its environment

Food and Agriculture

rancher applies compost to field
October 5, 2017
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

The land under our feet and the plant matter it contains could offset a significant amount of carbon emissions if managed properly. More research is needed to unlock soil’s potential to mitigate global warming, improve crop yields and increase resilience to extreme weather.

 

rows of oil palm plants
April 4, 2017
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

Multinational companies are increasingly looking to Africa to expand production of in-demand commodity crops such as soy and oil palm. A first-of-its-kind study highlights the real and potential impacts on the continent’s valuable tropical forests.

U.S. map showing Corn Belt
March 10, 2017
Research by Stanford Earth's David Lobell and George Azzari shows how better mapping of farm fields with satellites can lead to new ways to measure and boost crop yields.
sun shines on U.S. grasslands
March 6, 2017

According to 33 years of remote sensing data, productivity of U.S. grasslands is more sensitive to dryness of the atmosphere than precipitation, important information for understanding how ecosystems will respond to climate change.

satellite crop yield estimates
February 13, 2017
By using high-res images taken by the latest generation of compact satellites, Stanford scientists have developed a new capability for estimating crop yields from space. Measuring yields could improve productivity and eventually reduce hunger.
 
Graphic of satellite taking images of Earth from space
January 17, 2017

First year of data from SMAP satellite provides new insights for weather, agriculture, and climate.

 

boats docked at Chinese fishing port
January 17, 2017

Stanford researchers view ocean management as next front for China to compete as global sustainability leaders.

Jon Payne holding whale vertebrae
December 19, 2016

Some of our favorite research stories from Stanford Earth scholars in 2016.

cattle with wind farms in the background
December 11, 2016

Reports co-authored by Stanford Earth scientist show concentrations of methane approaching an internationally recognized worst-case scenario and highlight opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and fossil fuel use.

December 5, 2016

Using remote sensing tools to uncover the environmental impacts of war, researchers introduce novel approaches for hard-to-reach areas.

Ice flow
October 17, 2016

Efforts to adopt effective marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean, a global commons containing the world’s most pristine marine ecosystems, are being thwarted by political infighting and fishing interests.