The desert locust is an important pest that causes serious agricultural damage in Africa and Asia. Because there are many unknowns about its ecology in the field, inefficient and environmentally damaging pest control measures have to be used after an outbreak of desert locusts has occurred and the problem has become apparent. To address this problem, JIRCAS has been developing efficient pest control techniques based on desert locust ecology to reduce the damage to agriculture. In this issue, we present the results of research on the collective behavior of desert locust nymphs, in particular the avoidance of cannibalism during molting, which is essential for the establishment of pest control methods that lead to a reduction in the use of pesticides.

JIRCAS conducted research on the preparation of silage using mulberry branches and leaves, which are also used as fodder trees worldwide, and showed that the silage fermentation quality and synergistic effects were improved by adding lactic acid bacteria inoculant and cellulase. Using the latest DNA sequencing technology, the dynamic variation of the bacterial flora in silage fermentation and the correlations among bacterial species were also clarified. Lactic acid bacteria and cellulase promoted the succession of dominant bacteria from Gram-negative to Gram-positive in anaerobic fermentation, forming a microbial network centered on lactic acid bacteria. These results are expected to be applied in the future as a silage preparation method using local natural fodder tree resources to improve livestock nutrition, which is deficient during the dry season in semi-arid areas, and to increase livestock productivity and farmers' income.

Soils have a unique property called "phosphorus (P) retention capacity," which refers to their ability to bind with phosphates. When soil has a high P retention capacity, the P fertilizer applied in a cropland may bind to the soil before being absorbed by crops. This reduces the efficiency of fertilization. Therefore, P retention capacity is used for fertilization management. Recent studies have shown a close relationship between P retention capacity and soil moisture content. A research team from JIRCAS and the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar used this relationship to develop a method that accurately and easily estimates P retention capacity from soil moisture content, including a clever use of table salt (sodium chloride).

During this summer holiday, reports of extreme wildfires and typhoon-related flooding have come from many parts of the world. As global warming continues, the likelihood of such extreme events affecting people's lives is expected to increase, and there is an urgent need for accurate information for preparedness on the one hand, and a commitment by all stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With the world's population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, humanity's demands for food, timber, and urbanization are increasing, and competition for land use with climate change and biodiversity conservation goals is accelerating. A recent report from the World Resources Institute describes this situation as a "global land squeeze" and proposes a "produce, protect, reduce, restore" approach to sustainable management of finite land resources.

On August 4, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its World Food Price Index for July 2023, which averaged 123.9 points, up 1.5 points (1.3%) from the previous month, but 16.6 points (11.8%) below the level recorded in the same month last year. The combination of events that increased uncertainty in the global food market in July, including Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grains Initiative and India's restrictions on certain rice exports, continues to raise concerns about food security.

The Anthropocene is a hypothetical geological epoch proposed as the starting point for humanity's significant impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems. While researchers have not yet agreed on a definition of the Anthropocene, it was announced in mid-July that the sedimentary layers at the bottom of Crawford Lake in Ontario, Canada, have been selected as a candidate site for the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) representing the Anthropocene.

In September 2021, the UN Food System Summit was held based on the idea of UN Secretary-General Guterres that the transition to a sustainable food system is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The follow-up meeting, the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), was held this week at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

On July 27, the United Nations announced that July 2023 is likely to set a record for the hottest month on record, signaling the end of the global warming era and the arrival of global boiling. On the same day, the World Meteorological Organization released the State of the Climate in Asia 2022, which noted that the impact of extreme events and climate change has increased in recent years. The report also mentioned that agriculture will continue to be significantly affected, emphasizing the urgency of climate change adaptation to build a resilient food system.