The American corn industry and its 94 million acres of crops all use phosphorus as a fertiliser, but phosphorus supplies are running dangerously low; it’s estimated that global phosphorus reserves could be depleted in as little as 50 years, with forecasted increases in crop prices being the first on a list of concerns. With only 20% of America’s corn yield set for human consumption and the other 80% split evenly between ethanol production and animal feed, this simple chemical element directly ties to three of the most prominent American industries. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here