Insect decline threat to food security
Three quarters of the world’s most important crops depend on pollination by insects, according to The Insect Atlas, published by the environmental think-tank Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and campaigning group Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE).
Nine lifetimes of plastic
A review of lifetime estimates of plastics in the environment reveals they often vary enormously for the same plastic item. Styrofoam cups last for 50 years in the environment, for example, according to one official source, whereas another states they will persist for thousands of years.
UK REACH
The UK looks set to break with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) after it departs the EU customs union at the end of 2020.
Animal protein risks
Meat, fish and dairy companies have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and face increased scrutiny and regulation in future, according to a new report.
Ancient enzyme promise
Scientists have resurrected billion-year-old enzymes and reprogrammed them to catalyse an entirely man-made reaction. The approach could be used to develop enzyme bioreactors or degrade environmental toxins such as pesticides.