Mycorrhizal symbioses and tree diversity in global forest communities

Unraveling the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of species diversity is a central pursuit in ecology. It has been hypothesized that ectomycorrhizal (EcM) in contrast to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can reduce tree species diversity in local communities, which remains to be tested at the global scale. To address this gap, we analyzed global forest inventory data and revealed that the relationship between tree species richness and EcM tree proportion varied along environmental gradients. Specifically, the relationship is more negative at low latitudes and in moist conditions but is unimodal at high latitudes and in arid conditions. The negative association of EcM tree proportion on species diversity at low latitudes and in humid conditions is likely due to more negative plant-soil microbial interactions in these regions. These findings extend our knowledge on the mechanisms shaping global patterns in plant species diversity from a belowground view

Multifunctionality of livestock grazing systems, a lever to envision its possible futures

On April 19th 2024, the Action Network “Restoring value to grassland” of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock organized in Montpellier, France, following a four days internal workshop, a oneday hybrid conference entitled "Multifunctionality of livestock grazing systems, a lever to envision its possible futures", hosted in Montpellier by Agropolis International, and supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture, CIRAD and INRAE and Agropolis Fondation. Watch the full video recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyhr91stBCs The conference gathered a large community interested in the future of livestock grazing systems, with more than 160 participants from diverse parts of the world and representative from public and private sectors, academia, NGOs, civil society and international organizations. A diversity of presentations from the network and external invitees, and interesting debates including livestock actors at farm scale and institutional actors that followed, highlighted how the multifunctionality concept and approach can help overcoming the threats of financialization, monodisciplinary and mono-indicator assessment of the livestock sector for sustainable development. The need for more evidence-based information and tools to facilitate the implementation was mentioned. These conclusions will help driving the work of the Action Network and GASL globally for more interactions with committed multiple stakeholders, further development of diverse evidence-based documents, guidelines and tools and to design its future action plan 2025-2027, as well as contributing to the dynamics preparing the IYRP for 2026

The effect of shade and full-sun coffee plantation on coffee berry borer, Hyphothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) population dynamics

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), is a significant pest impacting coffee-producing regions globally, causing substantial yield and economic losses. Various factors, including the host plant, environmental conditions, and farm management practices, influence CBB infestation. In particular, smallholder farmers often employ different shade management techniques, creating distinct biotic and abiotic conditions that affect CBB damage, distribution, and reproduction. This study aims to assess CBB populations in coffee berries across different locations within the plots, specifically on branches during harvest, post-harvest, and on the ground. The study was conducted in Pangalengan District, Bandung Regency, West Java. The study indicated that both shade and full-sun areas had a significant effect on CBB population dynamics. Coffee has significantly increased infestation rates in full-sun areas, and rapid populations were established, especially adult CBB. However, the shaded area was not suitable for CBB breeding. Nevertheless, though the populations of adult stages decreased markedly, the number of larval CBB with these two periods was still quite appreciable. Based on these findings, the shaded areas are suggested as an effective ecological strategy for managing CBB populations and reducing crop losses in coffee farming

Historias para tomar café - Antología

Probablemente tomar café - la bebida más consumida en el mundo después del agua - no supone un gran acontecimiento para la mayoría de la gente; sin embargo, las historias narra- das en esta obra muestran que una taza de este humeante y aromático producto es mucho más de lo que nuestros sentidos captan. ¿Qué hay detrás de una taza de café?, ¿quiénes se involucraron y qué acontecimientos se sortearon para que llegara a nuestras manos? Varios investigadores desde las ciencias agronómicas y la sanidad vegetal se dan a la tarea de responder a estas preguntas a través de relatos de divulgación científica cuyos hechos transcurren en territorios del sur de Chiapas, México. Si bien los testimonios se sitúan geográficamente de modo puntual, las historias no son ajenas a otras regiones cafetaleras del país y del mundo. Historias para tomar café describe la lucha ancestral y actual de mujeres y hombres entregados a la producción, así como sus trayectorias y peripecias para hacer frente a distintas circunstancias. El libro enfatiza una situación adversa al relatar los problemas causados por insectos y patógenos plaga, organismos capaces de reducir el rendimiento y la calidad del grano, que también disminuyen los ingresos y el bienestar de la gente en el campo

Lost in navigation? Ensuring living lab frameworks stay on course with local needs

Participatory modeling approaches, particularly those rooted in Companion Modeling (ComMod), are often credited with initiating socio-environmental transformations. Examples from Zimbabwe (Perrotton et al. 2017) and Burkina Faso (Daré et Venot, 2016) illustrate how these methods have facilitated engagement between stakeholders, sometimes leading to institutional changes over extended periods. However, the effectiveness of such approaches is contingent on their alignment with local realities and pressing challenges. The question remains: who holds the compass in these participatory frameworks? Do researchers, institutions and players succeed in abandoning their agenda? A case study from the Lake Guiers region in Senegal highlights the tensions between knowledge production, local agency, and transformative action. After several years of engagement with local communities through participatory workshops, a pivotal moment occurred in different arena : when a doctoral student presented her findings on hazardous chemical pollutants in the lake's water, when allochtone populations spoke out against their refusal to respect fishing restrictions face to face with native fishermen (Delay et al. 2023). Unlike previous discussions on ecosystem management, which were perceived as peripheral to daily survival, this revelation directly impacted livelihoods, exposing communities to immediate and invisible risks. The local response—calls for awareness campaigns and regulatory interventions—raised deeper questions about the adequacy of conventional participatory approaches. How can living lab models move beyond knowledge dissemination towards tangible systemic transformation? How can scientific findings generate experiential urgency rather than passive information? Recent scholarship suggests that for knowledge to trigger action, it must engage stakeholders not just intellectually/abstract, but affectively — a concept referred to as "affective knowing" (Hertz et Bousquet 2025). This perspective challenges traditional scientific detachment and underscores the need for transformative science that actively catalyzes change rather than merely observing it. A more reflexive and adaptive governance model is necessary—one that situates knowledge within local dispositifs (assemblages of discourses, institutions, and power structures). Rather than assuming that participatory models inherently lead to transformation, they must be reconfigured to align with the strategic urgencies of a given territory. This shift demands a reconsideration of the role of scientists in participatory governance: are they facilitators, guides, or interveners? By embedding participatory models within affective and political landscapes, living labs in Senegal and beyond can become true engines of systemic change rather than passive spaces for stakeholder dialogue