Urban agriculture could supply around 28 percent of Europe’s vegetable demand

University of Groningen

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This figure shows vegetable self-sufficiency levels in 840 European cities based on urban agriculture under an optimistic scenario. 

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Credit: Svintsov et al. (2026)

A new study, conducted by researchers from the Netherlands and Germany, estimates that urban agriculture in European cities could produce up to 20 million tons of vegetables annually, representing roughly one-third of the region’s current vegetable production. The study, published in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society, systematically analyzes the potential of urban agriculture for 840 cities across 30 European countries.

By combining high-resolution land-use data, building footprints, population data, and climate classifications, this new study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of the potential for urban agriculture across Europe to date. Its findings offer valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and sustainability advocates seeking to integrate food production into city landscapes. “As cities face increasing pressures from climate change, food supply disruptions, and population growth, urban agriculture can play a meaningful role in building more resilient and sustainable urban food systems”, explains corresponding author Prajal Pradhan, associate professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands

Lead author Stepan Svintsov, a researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), summarizes: “Using a GIS-based analytical approach, we evaluated how underutilized spaces such as rooftops, residential gardens, green areas, and vacant urban land could be converted into productive vegetable-growing areas. Doing so could supply 28% of vegetable demand for 190 million Europeans.”

Improving urban resilience

The study assessed the availability of urban land and rooftop spaces suitable for simple, open-air vegetable cultivation using soil, such as gardens and rooftop beds, without high-tech systems like hydroponics or vertical farming. The findings suggest that between 4,500 and 7,500 square kilometers of urban land could be used for agriculture across European cities, roughly equivalent to the size of one to two islands such as Mallorca.

“Urban agriculture could significantly strengthen local food systems, improve urban resilience, and reduce the environmental impacts associated with long-distance food transportation,” explains Pradhan. However, he adds, despite their promising findings “urban agriculture should be seen as a complementary component of existing food systems rather than a full replacement for traditional agriculture.”

The authors stress that the potential of urban agriculture varies widely depending on factors such as city density, land availability, climate, water availability, and urban planning policies and regulations. For example, Southern European cities may face water scarcity, while Northern European cities may experience shorter growing seasons and lower solar radiation.

Urban planning

The study also connects urban agriculture with emerging urban planning concepts such as the “15-Minute City,” where residents can access essential services, including fresh food, within a short walking or cycling distance.

“By integrating agriculture into urban planning, cities could improve local food accessibility, reduce food transport, strengthen community engagement, and promote healthier diets,” explains coauthor Diego Rybski from the IOER. “With thoughtful planning and policy support, rooftops, green spaces, and unused urban land could become vital components of Europe's future food infrastructure.”

Reference: Stepan Svintsov, Prajal Pradhan, Taylor Smith, Diego Rybski (2026): Integrating agriculture into European urban landscapes matters: A systematic assessment, Sustainable Cities and Society, 22 April 2026

This photo shows a rooftop garden in Berlin. According to the study, urban agriculture could significantly strengthen local food systems, improve urban resilience, and reduce the environmental impacts associated with long-distance food transportation.

Credit

P. Pradhan

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Journal

Sustainable Cities and Society

DOI

10.1016/j.scs.2026.107422 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Integrating agriculture into European urban landscapes matters: A systematic assessment

BUSHMEAT

More people are eating wild meat across Central Africa, raising urgency for sustainable wildlife management

University of Kent

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Bushmeat cooking in Yaselia Village, Tshopo Province - DRC.

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Credit: Photo by Axel Fassio/CIFOR-ICRAF

A study in Nature provides the first quantitative spatial and temporal analysis of wild meat consumption in Central Africa, revealing a sharp increase in demand that is largely driven by urban populations.

The total annual biomass of wild meat consumed across Central Africa has increased from an estimated 0.73 million tonnes in 2000 to 1.10 million tonnes in 2022. This increase is threatening wildlife populations and raising concerns about long-term nutritional security in rural areas.

These findings are the result of a collaboration between the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at University of Kent, the University of Stirling, the Centre for Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) at University of Konstanz, and the Institute for Research on Tropical Ecology (IRET) in Gabon.

Balancing food security and conservation

Meat from wild animals is fundamental for the diets of many rural populations, accounting for 20% of the recommended daily protein intake. However, as wild meat trade continues to increase across the region, the scale of consumption is likely to be unsustainable.

To ensure that this important nutrition source remains available for rural communities, the study recommends reducing demand for wild meat in urban areas and developing domestic food systems to replace wild with domestic meat sources like poultry.

“Wild meat consumption is a major part of Central Africa’s socio-economic fabric,” said lead author, Dr. Mattia Bessone. “Ensuring sustainable consumption of wild meat is critical for countries in the region to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to meet Targets 5 and 9 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aim to attain the sustainable use of wild species under the Convention on Biological Diversity.”

Drivers of wild meat consumption:

• Nutrition and food security: Wild meat is an essential source of protein for many rural communities, accounting for 20% of the recommended daily protein intake.
• Lack of affordable or safe alternatives: There are few sources of domestic meats available across Central Africa. Limited access to veterinary care and medicines makes livestock production risky and can pose human health risks, particularly in rural areas.
• Sociocultural values: Wild meat is perceived as healthier than domestic or imported meats; it is also a status symbol.

A call for investment in sustainable alternatives

The study highlights the need for coordinated investments in national food systems, including the expansion of alternative protein sectors such as poultry and fisheries. It also underscores the importance of creating alternative livelihoods for those currently dependent on the wild meat trade.

The findings draw on the most comprehensive dataset to date, covering more than 12,000 households across 252 locations in Central Africa. However, significant data gaps remain, and the authors call for further field research to improve monitoring and validate predictive models across the region.

QUOTES:

"This study shows how wildlife populations have been threatened in Central Africa, raising awareness among local governments about the actual risks associated with hunting in the region and its role in providing nutritional security for regional populations." - Dr. Donald Midoko Iponga, Director of IRET and PhD in Ecology at the National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CENAREST), Gabon.

“The WILDMEAT database highlights the power of collaboration” said Dr Lauren Coad, Biodiversity Focal Point at CIFOR-ICRAF. “The datasets compiled here represent years of research across more than 250 sites, brought together by governments, NGOs, scientists, and local communities. By working collectively, we have been able to generate a uniquely comprehensive evidence base, revealing critical regional and temporal trends that are essential for informed decision-making.”

"This research is an important first step to understanding the drivers and current status of wild meat consumption across Central Africa," said Dr. Germain Mavah, Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme Coordinator at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Site Coordinator for the Republic of Congo. "Further studies can expand on how citizen science and rural communities contribute to sustainable wildlife management practices, continuing to bridge the gap between tropical conservation and development work." 

"This is an important paper because it highlights both change in consumption over time and at scale across the Congo Basin. Contributing our long-term data to the WILDMEAT database has helped bring together this comprehensive analysis and supports regional solutions to the complex issue of balancing wildlife conservation and human livelihoods.”– Prof. Katharine Abernethy, University of Stirling’s Gabon Programme Lead and Associated Researcher at IRET, Gabon

Acknowledgements

Analysis for this study was supported by the EU-funded Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, which is currently piloting field projects in 16 countries. The initiative is implemented by a dynamic consortium of four partners, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Data was collected through the WILDMEAT project (www.wildmeat.org), which has been supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-026-10422-w 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Increase in wild animal consumption across Central Africa

Article Publication Date

29-Apr-2026

 

Green hydrogen from just sun and water

Photreon, a KIT spin-off, is developing a photoreactor panel for direct solar hydrogen production

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

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Industrial users can economically produce intrinsically green hydrogen on-site with photreon’s photoreactor technology (montage: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT).

 

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Credit: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT

Green hydrogen is considered key to a climate-friendly transformation of our industries and energy systems, but thus far its production has been expensive, complex, and tied to grid infrastructure. This is exactly where photreon, a KIT spin-off, aims to make a difference. It has developed a photoreactor panel that generates hydrogen directly from sunlight and water – without electrolyzers or electrical power. “We avoid the detour through electrically powered electrolysis, producing chemical energy from sunlight and water,” said photreon co-founder Paul Kant from KIT’s Institute for Micro Process Engineering (IMVT). Kant also noted that photreon’s modular panels simplify solar hydrogen production while making it economically scalable.

 

Direct Solar Conversion without Electricity

The approach taken by photreon is based on photocatalysis, a process in which light triggers a chemical reaction directly instead of being used to generate electricity as in photovoltaic systems. Specially designed, light-sensitive materials absorb energy from sunlight, exciting electrons into an activated state. These charge carriers split water molecules (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). “In a single step, we’re replacing photovoltaics and electrolyzers with our photoreactor panel,” said Maren Cordts, who is also a co-founder and a staff member of IMVT. “For the production of green hydrogen, that means much lower complexity and system costs.”

 

KIT has filed a patent application for the photoreactor panel implemented by photreon. With its special design, the panel guides sunlight to its interior for optimal irradiation of the active material inside, which then drives the reaction that splits the water molecules. “We designed the reactor geometry to optimize the interplay of light transport, chemical reaction, and removal of the reaction products, and we’re demonstrating that with our one-square-meter prototype,” Kant said. The modular design is tailored for mass production using standard processes and low-cost materials, and it can be used on a small scale or expanded to larger areas.

 

From Rooftops to Solar Hydrogen Farms

The panels can be used where supplying hydrogen has previously been too expensive or logistically difficult, for instance in medium-sized companies wanting to cover their future needs on-site (e.g. specialty chemicals, food production, or metalworking) or in large-scale solar projects in regions with abundant sunlight. “In places without connections to power grids or a hydrogen network, our technology opens up new possibilities for local production,” Cordts said. Possible applications range from supplying distributed production sites to industrial production in sunny regions for the international market.

The photreon team with the prototype photoreactor panel (one square meter) for the production of pure solar hydrogen. From left: A. Dreher, P. Kant, M. Cordts, M. Rubin (photo: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT)

Credit

Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT)

More information

More about the KIT Energy Center

 

In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique position to drive this transformation. As a University of Excellence, KIT offers its more than 10,000 employees and 22,800 students outstanding opportunities to shape a sustainable and resilient future. KIT – Science for Impact.

 

Scientists uncover new ‘in-between’ materials for solar fuels and batteries

University of Warwick

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Researchers have identified previously unknown materials, including a new form of a widely studied clean-energy material, by carefully controlling and tracking how molecular precursors break down during heating. 

Published in Nature Communications, the study uncovers a series of hidden intermediate stages that appear when molecules are heated to become materials. Capturing these intermediates opens a new way to discover and design materials that aren’t accessible through typical synthetic methods. 

Dr Sebastian Pike, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick said: “When materials are made by heating, scientists usually focus on the final product, the ‘B’ that results from ‘A.’ But this study shows that there are many fascinating stages in between ‘A’ and ‘B,’ and these hidden steps, could be just as important. 

“We didn’t know exactly what we would find going in, but we were confident there would be something interesting and unknown in the intermediate phases. We were thrilled to discover that some of these could have practical uses, even from the very first experiments.” 

Starting with specially designed ‘single-source precursors’, molecules containing all the elements needed to create a material, the team tracked how they transformed during heating. This revealed several new material phases, including a previously unknown, kinetically stabilised form of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) named β-BiVO₄. 

BiVO₄ is a valuable clean energy material because it has a “band gap” (the energy it needs to absorb sunlight and drive chemical reactions) that hits a sweet spot: it absorbs sunlight efficiently while still providing enough energy to split water and produce clean hydrogen fuel. 

The newly discovered β-BiVO₄ has a different atomic structure from previously known forms of the material. The new variant has a significantly larger band gap, meaning it interacts with light differently. This could offer new opportunities for tuning the performance of materials used in solar fuel generation, catalysis, and electronics. 

The potential applications were not limited to solar fuels. Another of these hidden intermediate materials was found to store large amounts of lithium, suggesting it could be useful for next-generation battery technologies. 

Dr Dominik Kubicki, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham said: “What’s exciting is that these ‘in-between’ materials aren’t just stepping stones — they can have useful properties in their own right. By understanding and controlling how they form, we can start to design better materials for batteries, catalysis, and solar energy.” 

The researchers were able to observe these normally hidden intermediate states by combining state of the art techniques - including solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis.  

They also found that the choice of precursor, and how it breaks down, can be used as a powerful tool to control material formation, allowing the team to access structures that are difficult to produce using conventional heating methods. 

Dr. Pike concluded: “We only studied a few precursors here, but this work points to a broader opportunity in materials science. By carefully controlling temperature, precursor chemistry and reaction pathways, there may be many more “hidden” but extremely useful materials to be found.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

The paper, “Amorphous intermediates and discovery of a kinetic polymorph of BiVO4 from heating V+Bi+Zn single-source precursors”, is published by Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71702-7 

For more information please contact:  

Matt Higgs, PhD | Media & Communications Officer (Warwick Press Office) 

Email: Matt.Higgs@warwick.ac.uk | Phone: +44(0)7880 175403 

About the University of Warwick 

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment, and challenge convention to create a better world. 

About the University of Birmingham 

As well as being ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions, the University of Birmingham is the most targeted UK university by top graduate employers. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators, and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.   

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-026-71702-7 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Amorphous intermediates and discovery of a kinetic polymorph of BiVO4 from heating V+Bi+Zn single-source precursors

Article Publication Date

30-Apr-2026

 

Ancient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery

McMaster University

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In every backyard, park, and playground on Earth, the ground is teeming with a type of bacteria called Streptomyces — one of the most abundant organisms on the planet. While these dirt-dwelling microbes are known for producing that earthy odor that fills the air after rainfall, that familiar scent is only the tip of their chemical-producing iceberg. 

Streptomyces are, in effect, natural pharmaceutical factories, responsible for producing many of the anticancer compounds, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics used in clinics worldwide. But a new study published in the journal Nature Microbiology suggests that their chemical repertoire is even more complex than previously understood. 

Researchers at McMaster University, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, with collaborators from Stockholm University in Sweden and Yale University, have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.  

Despite their structural similarities to the diphtheria toxin, though, these newly discovered toxic proteins do not cause human disease. They do, however, kill a broad range of insects.  

“These toxins, which we’ve called Streptomyces antiquus insecticidal proteins, or SAIPs, only affect insect cells,” explains Cameron Currie, a professor in McMaster’s Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and co-lead on the new study. 

To understand exactly why SAIPs are only toxic to insects, researchers used a genome-editing technology called CRISPR to identify the host factors required for toxicity. By systematically knocking out the genes of insect cells, they pinpointed a surface protein called ‘Flower.’ While versions of this gene exist in other organisms, the insect-specific version is the only known receptor for SAIPs. These toxins cannot enter cells without it, which is why they have no effect on humans. 

Through bioinformatic, genomic, and evolutionary analyses, the research team then traced the emergence of these previously unknown toxins through time, to determine when Streptomyces evolved the ability to produce them. They found that SAIPs are in fact ancient, dating back more than 100 million years. 

For Currie, a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and McMaster’s Jarislowsky Chair in Pandemic Research, the toxins’ ancient history suggests a possibility that they have potentially played a role in shaping human disease, although he notes that remains speculative.  

“We know that the bacteria that causes diphtheria acquired its toxin from another species of bacteria long ago, so it’s possible that these Streptomyces toxins were the crucible for the eventual emergence of the diphtheria toxin,” he says.   

Crucially, not all species of Streptomyces produce these toxins — in fact, the vast majority of species live harmoniously in, on, and around insects. The capability, researchers say, appears to be restricted to a few specific lineages within the massive genus. 

“Streptomyces have primarily been known to have mutualistic relationships with insects, but we have discovered a clade of strains that are likely insect pathogens,” explains Min Dong, a researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and co-lead on the new study.  

These strains, researchers say, have evolved a highly specialized role in nature.  

“They don’t just kill insects — they are also remarkably efficient at consuming them, using their dead hosts as a source of critical nutrients,” says Currie, who also collaborated with Harvard’s Norbert Perrimon on the study.  

As these specialized Streptomyces strains break down insect tissue, they simultaneously produce potent antimicrobial chemicals — likely to ward off competing microbes drawn to the same resource. As such, the research team believes that these insect-associated strains of Streptomyces could be a largely untapped source of new antibiotics or other medically useful molecules. Already, in past research, the Currie Lab has identified a number of promising antibiotics produced by other Streptomyces strains, which makes him optimistic about the clinical relevance of these new chemicals.  

Beyond that, Currie notes that the discovery of a SAIPs is significant because bacterial toxins can have implications well outside of their role in disease. He notes that botulinum toxin — commonly known as botox — has several medical and cosmetic applications, while other bacterial toxins have been harnessed for uses in immunology, agriculture, and biotechnology. 

“Right now, this is a basic science discovery, but a discovery that may have some really practical applications in the future,” he says. “A toxin like this could potentially help control vectors of human disease, like mosquitos, which can transmit malaria and West Nile virus, or perhaps be used to protect crops from insect pests. It’s possible it could be used in a number of different ways.” 

Currie and his collaborators have already patented their discovery and are now beginning to explore potential commercialization pathways for the toxin — particularly in agriculture, where insect toxins are typically in high demand. 

In the meantime, the research team is investigating how SAIPs behave in more complex biological settings, including in experimental systems involving crickets and mealworms — organisms that serve as tractable models for studying infection and toxicity. These studies are also allowing researchers to isolate the antimicrobials secreted by toxin-producing strains of Streptomyces, which will help them better understand their clinical potential.  

But regardless of how that follow-on work transpires, Currie says the discovery alone is a significant research achievement, and one that signals just how much there is left to learn about bacteria. 

“That we have found something so novel in one of the world’s most abundant and well-studied groups of bacteria underscores how little we actually know about them,” he says. “This toxin stands as a powerful reminder that bacteria are incredibly diverse organisms, with capabilities that continue to surprise us.” 

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For interviews, contact Cameron Currie, a professor in McMaster’s Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and co-lead on the new study, at curric7@mcmaster.ca.

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Journal

Nature Microbiology

DOI

10.1038/s41564-026-02315-5 

Article Publication Date

30-Apr-2026