A Swiss startup has launched a pilot project installing removable solar panels between active railway tracks. The project aims to generate clean energy using infrastructure that already exists, without requiring additional land.
What I find most interesting is the way it rethinks space. Railway networks extend for thousands of kilometers worldwide, and projects like this remind us that the energy transition is not only about developing new technologies, but also about finding smarter ways to use existing infrastructure.
It will be interesting to see how the system performs in terms of maintenance, safety, and energy production over time.
Could railway networks become an untapped source of renewable energy?
Funding opportunI’ve been looking into funding opportunities that could support smallholder and subsistence farming projects in remote communities, especially those already experiencing the impacts of climate change.
Many isolated communities depend on agriculture for their food security, yet they often have limited access to technical assistance, infrastructure, financing, and adaptation tools. As climate variability increases, these farmers are frequently the most exposed and the least equipped to respond.
I recently came across the GAFSP Producer Organizations Call for Proposals, which supports projects that strengthen food systems and climate resilience for smallholder farmers. Unfortunately, the latest call is already closed.
I was wondering if anyone in this community knows of other international funding programs, grants, or competitions focused on:
• Subsistence agriculture
• Climate adaptation
• Community-based resilience
• Smallholder farmers in developing countries
Any recommendations or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I want to share a bit about a project I am participating in on a small island in northern Madagascar. It is a remote island where agriculture is mainly subsistence-based and highly dependent on seasonal rainfall. Rice is cultivated under rainfed conditions, and longer dry seasons are increasingly affecting crop development and food security.
The goal of this project is to study rice crop development through an agrohydrological model based on FAO crop water balance principles and evapotranspiration approaches. The idea is to better understand when water stress occurs during the growing season and explore possible adaptation measures to reduce climate vulnerability.
I will keep sharing updates as the project progresses, and I would love to hear comments or experiences from people working in agriculture, hydrology, or climate adaptation.
One question for the community:
Has anyone worked with rice root development under rainfed conditions? FAO references suggest maximum root depths of around 50 cm, but in one of our fields we are observing roots of only ~8 cm. Any thoughts on what could explain such shallow rooting?
Digital tools are transforming agriculture, but many projects fail because they are designed around technology instead of the real needs of farmers.
In a 2022 study by Steinke et al., researchers explored how ICT4Ag (Information and Communication Technologies for Agriculture) - such as agricultural apps, climate information systems, or digital advisory tools - can become more useful when farmers and local stakeholders actively participate in the design process.
Based on case studies from Africa and Latin America, the study discusses key challenges in developing digital agricultural solutions, including weak infrastructure, top-down decision making, scaling difficulties, and mismatched expectations between donors, researchers, and users. The research highlights the importance of participatory and inclusive design, where technologies are adapted to local realities instead of assuming one solution works everywhere.
The main message is simple: successful digital innovation in agriculture is not only about technology, but about understanding people, context, and real user needs.
In future posts, I will share more about a project I am participating in on a small island in northern Madagascar, where participatory environmental and agricultural monitoring is being developed together with the local community to support crop resilience and climate adaptation strategies.
Source: Steinke, J. et al. (2022). Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice. Agricultural Systems, 195, 103313.
Mulching is often promoted as a simple and effective strategy to improve water efficiency in agriculture - but how strong is the evidence behind it?
A review published in Irrigation Science in 2024 analyzed 58 studies comparing mulched vs. non-mulched crops to better understand the effects on soil evaporation, crop coefficients (Kc) and evapotranspiration.
Some key findings:
- Mulching consistently reduced soil evaporation (30–50%) and crop coefficients (typically 15–40%) especially during early crop stages when the soil is more exposed.
- Plastic films generally showed stronger reductions than organic mulches like straw.
- Black plastic mulch appeared more effective than other colors during early growth stages.
- Seasonal reductions in crop evapotranspiration were more moderate, averaging around 13%.
- Results varied significantly depending on crop type, mulch material, soil coverage and local conditions.
The review also highlights an important issue: many studies lack detailed descriptions of mulch characteristics, making comparisons difficult and limiting the development of robust irrigation management guidelines.
As climate change increases pressure on water resources, improving irrigation efficiency becomes increasingly important. But these findings also remind us that agricultural sustainability solutions should continue to be evaluated carefully under real field conditions and across different production systems.
Source: Ramos, T.B. et al. (2024). Mulching effects on soil evaporation, crop evapotranspiration and crop coefficients. Irrigation Science
Low-cost technology can help small farms improve irrigation management.
A recent study presented at the EGU General Assembly 2026 explored the use of affordable soil moisture sensors in small farms in Piedmont, Italy, as part of the GUARDIANS Project.
The project tested low-cost sensors that measure soil moisture (VWC) and send data remotely, helping farmers better understand when and how much to irrigate. This is especially important as climate change is reducing summer water availability.
The study showed that:
• Sensors reacted well to rainfall and irrigation events
• Similar trends were observed between sensors
• However, differences in absolute moisture values were found between devices
Researchers identified important operational challenges, including:
• Sensor calibration
• Installation in the field
• Long-term data transmission
• Sensor reliability and drift over time
Even with these challenges, the results suggest that low-cost monitoring systems can support more efficient water use and make precision irrigation more accessible for small farmers.
The research was developed by the Polytechnic University of Turin together with partners from Italy, within the framework of the Horizon Europe funded GUARDIANS project.
Citation: Gallia, L. et al. (2026). Low-cost soil moisture monitoring: experiences from a technology transfer project for small farms. EGU General Assembly 2026.
Nuclear technology is not only about energy.
According to the FAO and the IAEA, it is also helping agriculture become more productive, resilient and sustainable. Using isotopes and controlled radiation techniques helps scientists better understand natural biological processes and improve farming practices.
Some applications include:
- Improving soil and water management
- Developing crops more resistant to drought and climate stress
- Reducing pests without increasing pesticide use
- Improving animal health and food safety
One example is the “sterile insect technique”, where insects sterilized with controlled radiation are released to reduce pest populations naturally, lowering the need for chemical pesticides.
Nuclear science is also being used to better understand how plants absorb water and nutrients, helping optimize irrigation and fertilizer use. To this end, isotopes act like tracers that help scientists track how water and nutrients move through soil, plants and animals.
As climate change and food insecurity increase, agriculture will need innovation from many fields, including nuclear science.
Food security is not only about producing more. It is also about producing smarter and more sustainably.
Source: FAO – Five ways nuclear technology is improving agriculture and food security
A recent study shows that croplands emitted about 2.5 GtCO₂e in 2020, which is roughly 4% of total global emissions and around 19% of emissions from the land-use sector.
Just three sources explain most of it:
- Drained peatlands (35%)
- Rice cultivation (35%)
- Synthetic fertilizers (23%)
Four crops - rice, maize, oil palm and wheat - account for 67% of total emissions.
The pattern is clear: the most productive regions are also the highest emitters.
So, how can we reduce emissions without affecting food production?
The study highlights several actions:
- More efficient fertilizer use (right source, rate, time and place)
- Changing water management in rice (less continuous flooding)
- Better crop residue management (reducing burning)
- Rewetting drained peatlands
- Practices such as cover crops, conservation tillage and biochar
These solutions already exist. However, they are not only technical. They also depend on economic conditions, policies and farmer decisions.
Source: Cao et al. (2026), Nature Climate Change
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
