Eco wins: A Dutch lab for crops, a climate-ready city, and a beaver comeback

The Netherlands, often dubbed the Silicon Valley of agriculture, is pioneering ways to feed a projected 10 billion people using less land, water, and weather unpredictability. In its greenhouses, scientists are employing cutting-edge technology and vast data to identify crops best equipped to withstand climate change.

In October 2023, the northern German city of Kiel experienced its worst storm surge in over 150 years, leading to the collapse of dikes, coastal cliffs, and marinas. This catastrophe prompted city officials to rethink infrastructure to handle more frequent and severe weather extremes caused by human-induced climate change. Solutions under consideration include creating cool city corridors, utilizing green facades, flooding soccer fields during certain periods, and adjusting daily routines based on heat levels.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, wildlife photography has taken on a conservation role. Tourists are encouraged to take pictures of sea turtles, which have distinct facial markings, akin to human fingerprints. Researchers utilize these unique patterns to identify individual turtles and monitor any injuries. Upon discovering a turtle recovering, authorities can be alerted to reroute boat traffic away from the affected area.

Beavers, once hunted to near extinction for their fur, meat, and scent glands in the early 20th century across Europe, are making a remarkable comeback. Due to extensive long-term rewilding efforts, the population of Eurasian beavers has surged from approximately 1,500 in 1900 to a staggering 1.5 million today. Beavers are often referred to as the engineers of the animal world, as they construct dams that aid in filtering water pollutants, attenuating the effects of flooding, wildfires, and drought, and replenishing underground aquifers.

Moreover, beavers are instrumental in restoring wetlands and rivers across Europe, from Spain to Russia.