A thesis by Kristiina Karhu, examined at the University of Helsinki on Friday 20th of August, demonstrates that, over the next few decades, the soil of boreal forests may release more carbon dioxide than previously estimated. Carbon dioxide accelerates climate change. A new method, enabling the analysis of the sensitivity of soil matter of different ages to rising temperatures, has been developed in Finland. Studies have revealed that climate change poses a greater threat to the carbon pools of boreal forest soil than those of forests in warmer climates.

An article in the current issue of Global Change Biology Bioenergy explains that researchers must recognize the importance of including the environmental effects of bioenergy by-products as part of the lifecycle analysis of bioenergy production chains.

On behalf of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers, EurAgEng and of the French Society of Engineers and Technicians in Mechanization and Agricultural Engineering, SitmAFGR, Cemagref organizes the International Conference on Agricultural Engineering AgEng 2010 that will be held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on September 6-8, 2010.

The World Water Week in Stockholm is the annual meeting place for the planet’s most urgent water-related issues. Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), it brings together 2500 experts, practitioners, decision makers and business innovators from around the globe to exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions. The theme for the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm, September 5-11, is “The Water Quality Challenge - Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement”.