Happy Wednesday 👋

Did you know that over the years, biodiversity has decreased so much that 95% of our food-energy needs are now met by only 30 crops?

And the less agricultural diversity we have, the more susceptible our food supply becomes to disease and drought. Eventually, our food supply could even be wiped out entirely…

But now for the good news!

In Norway, deep inside a mountain, we have a massive safety deposit box aimed at preventing that exact scenario from happening. 

And after many years, their creators are finally getting some recognition.

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Global seed vault creators awarded World Food Prize 🌱
• Developing a battery for low-income countries 🔋
• Which European country has the most environmentally friendly economy 🌎 
• And more… 💚

🌱 Seed Vault Creators Awarded 2024 World Food Prize 

1️⃣ The big picture: Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin, key figures in the creation of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, have been awarded the 2024 World Food Prize for their efforts in preserving global crop diversity. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located on a Norwegian island in the Arctic Circle, now holds 1.25 million seed samples from nearly every country, safeguarding a wide variety of crops against threats like climate change, political instability, and natural disasters. 

2️⃣ Why is this good news: The initiative began in 2004 and culminated in the vault’s opening in 2008. The vault helps to ensure that vital crop diversity is preserved and contributes to global food security. According to Fowler, the seed vault acts as an “insurance policy” for feeding the world in the coming decades.

3️⃣ What’s next: Fowler and Hawtin hope that their recognition will lead to increased funding for seed banks worldwide, highlighting the relatively low cost and high importance of these facilities in ensuring a stable food supply for the future. But for right now, this recognition underscores the importance of maintaining agricultural biodiversity in the face of increasing challenges posed by climate change, pests, diseases, and land degradation.

You can also consider donating to one or more charities that fight hunger and protect food security, such as: 

• Best Charities That Fight Hunger Globally
• Best Charities That Fight Child Hunger
• Best Charities That Fight to Reduce Food Waste
• Simple Ways to Make Ethical Food Choices

📢 More Good News…

🦬 How bison can enhance carbon sequestration:

• A herd of 170 European bison were recently reintroduced to Romania’s Țarcu mountains, an initiative which could significantly aid in carbon sequestration.
• Bison contribute to the carbon sequestration process by grazing evenly, recycling nutrients to fertilize the soil, dispersing seeds, and compacting the soil, which helps prevent stored carbon from being released.
• Reintroducing bison and other large mammals presents a promising strategy for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, offering a synergistic approach to addressing climate change and environmental degradation.

🔋 Developing a battery for low-income countries:

• Researchers at Linköping University have developed a sustainable and cost-effective battery made from zinc and lignin, capable of enduring over 8000 charge cycles while retaining approximately 80% of its performance. 
• This battery technology holds significant potential for providing reliable electricity storage solutions, particularly in low-income countries where access to electricity is limited.
• By combining cost-effectiveness, durability, and environmental friendliness, this innovation has the potential to provide a viable solution for energy storage in low-income countries, enhancing the reliability of solar power and contributing to global sustainability efforts.

🌎 Which European country has the most environmentally friendly economy:

• Italy is currently leading the European Union in terms of having the most environmentally friendly economy, according to a report by the Circular Economy Network and ENEA. This report assessed various sustainability metrics across five major EU countries: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Poland. 
• Italy excels in urban waste management and recycling rates, with an urban waste recycling rate reaching 49.2% in 2022, close to the EU’s target of 50%.
• Italy’s leadership in the circular economy highlights the effectiveness of integrating sustainable practices in waste management and material reuse. This achievement serves as a model for other EU nations striving to enhance their environmental sustainability.

🤝 Important Awareness Events At a Glance

🤗 World Bee Day:

• World Bee Day was founded in 2017 by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development. 
• Today, the event is celebrated around the world through awareness events, education initiatives, and fundraising activities. 

🧠 May 20-26, Action for Brain Injury Awareness Week:

• Action for Brain Injury Awareness Week educates people on the true dangers of brain injuries. 
• Brain injuries can result in fatalities as well as lifelong disabilities and so raising awareness for them is crucial. 

🌵 May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity:

• International Day for Biological Diversity is a UN-designated day which advocates for biological conservation all over the globe. 
• With many species and habitats under threat, it is more important than ever to protect the rich biodiversity of the Earth.

Related: You can discover all the 158 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for May 2024!

📜 These Days in History

🚀 May 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy announced that the US space program would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. This promise would come true and become the defining moment of the space age. 

🇬🇾 May 26, 1966: Guyana gained independence from France. This was the beginning of their status as an independent sovereign nation.

💭 Quote of the Day

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

― John F. Kennedy; American politician, former US President

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!

Stay impactful 💚