Olivier Honnay
@olivierhonnay.bsky.social
Conservation biology | Agronomic ecology | Trade-offs | Professor KU Leuven | KU Leuven Plant Institute | Non-utopian
https://bio.kuleuven.be/faculty/00012061
https://bio.kuleuven.be/faculty/00012061
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
NEW: Biofuels globally emit more than the fossil fuels they replace, our latest study shows.
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
October 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
NEW: Biofuels globally emit more than the fossil fuels they replace, our latest study shows.
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
📢 Vacancy: I am urgently recruiting a PhD candidate to join a project on selection processes in pedunculate oak.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
October 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM
📢 Vacancy: I am urgently recruiting a PhD candidate to join a project on selection processes in pedunculate oak.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Pissed off at that bonkers press conference confusing correlation and causation, and warning women off Tylenol?
Yeah me too.
But think of that next time a nutrition study makes headlines because, say, artificial sweeteners are associated with cognitive decline - to pick an example at random.
Yeah me too.
But think of that next time a nutrition study makes headlines because, say, artificial sweeteners are associated with cognitive decline - to pick an example at random.
7/ The previous studies were observational studies, which can detect patterns, but they can’t prove causation. Confounding factors—why someone took Tylenol in the first place, genetics, other exposures—can explain apparent links. This is why the sibling study was so important.
September 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Pissed off at that bonkers press conference confusing correlation and causation, and warning women off Tylenol?
Yeah me too.
But think of that next time a nutrition study makes headlines because, say, artificial sweeteners are associated with cognitive decline - to pick an example at random.
Yeah me too.
But think of that next time a nutrition study makes headlines because, say, artificial sweeteners are associated with cognitive decline - to pick an example at random.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Fertilizer DOES NOT burn up soil organic matter.
Long-term study finds "NP fertilization substantially augments both the quantity and stability of soil organic carbon stocks."
scienmag.com/long-term-n...
Long-term study finds "NP fertilization substantially augments both the quantity and stability of soil organic carbon stocks."
scienmag.com/long-term-n...
Long-Term N and P Boost Soil Carbon Storage
In the unrelenting battle against climate change, soil organic carbon (SOC) stands as a pivotal ally, intimately linking terrestrial ecosystems to global carbon cycles. Despite its vital role in climate mitigation and agroecosystem productivity, the persistent decline of SOC
scienmag.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Fertilizer DOES NOT burn up soil organic matter.
Long-term study finds "NP fertilization substantially augments both the quantity and stability of soil organic carbon stocks."
scienmag.com/long-term-n...
Long-term study finds "NP fertilization substantially augments both the quantity and stability of soil organic carbon stocks."
scienmag.com/long-term-n...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Waarom moeten we zo nodig wolven hebben in de Lage Landen? Opinie in De Standaard 3/9/25
September 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Waarom moeten we zo nodig wolven hebben in de Lage Landen? Opinie in De Standaard 3/9/25
Just found out that ChatGPT effortlessly converts every thinkable old Flemish measure into English ones and the metric system 🙂.
1 Bruges hoet of wheat = 172 l ≈ 4.88 Winchester bushels.
1 Bruges hoet of wheat = 172 l ≈ 4.88 Winchester bushels.
September 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Just found out that ChatGPT effortlessly converts every thinkable old Flemish measure into English ones and the metric system 🙂.
1 Bruges hoet of wheat = 172 l ≈ 4.88 Winchester bushels.
1 Bruges hoet of wheat = 172 l ≈ 4.88 Winchester bushels.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Grime's CSR theory revisited: A whole-plant view of vascular plant functioning across contrasting environments besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Grime's CSR theory revisited: A whole‐plant view of vascular plant functioning across contrasting environments
The findings presented provide strong empirical validation of the competitor, stress-tolerator and ruderal (CSR) theory using an extensive species dataset and expand the number and types of traits th....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 30, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Grime's CSR theory revisited: A whole-plant view of vascular plant functioning across contrasting environments besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Fascinating list of the scientists who have saved the most lives, via @maxroser.bsky.social at @ourworldindata.org ,
2 of the top 3 are food related:
#1 - Haber & Bosch, for synthetic nitrogen (2.3 billion)
#3 - Norman Borlaug, for high-yield crops (245 million)
Data source:
www.scienceheroes.com
2 of the top 3 are food related:
#1 - Haber & Bosch, for synthetic nitrogen (2.3 billion)
#3 - Norman Borlaug, for high-yield crops (245 million)
Data source:
www.scienceheroes.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Fascinating list of the scientists who have saved the most lives, via @maxroser.bsky.social at @ourworldindata.org ,
2 of the top 3 are food related:
#1 - Haber & Bosch, for synthetic nitrogen (2.3 billion)
#3 - Norman Borlaug, for high-yield crops (245 million)
Data source:
www.scienceheroes.com
2 of the top 3 are food related:
#1 - Haber & Bosch, for synthetic nitrogen (2.3 billion)
#3 - Norman Borlaug, for high-yield crops (245 million)
Data source:
www.scienceheroes.com
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Gezocht: lector #natuurbeheer #ecologie #wetenschappen bij @odiseehogeschool.bsky.social Agro- en biotechnologie in Sint-Niklaas.
www.odisee.be/lector-agro-...
Start: het nieuwe academiejaar
Solliciteren: asap!
Diverse opdracht, 50-100% ifv invulling.
www.odisee.be/lector-agro-...
Start: het nieuwe academiejaar
Solliciteren: asap!
Diverse opdracht, 50-100% ifv invulling.
August 22, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Gezocht: lector #natuurbeheer #ecologie #wetenschappen bij @odiseehogeschool.bsky.social Agro- en biotechnologie in Sint-Niklaas.
www.odisee.be/lector-agro-...
Start: het nieuwe academiejaar
Solliciteren: asap!
Diverse opdracht, 50-100% ifv invulling.
www.odisee.be/lector-agro-...
Start: het nieuwe academiejaar
Solliciteren: asap!
Diverse opdracht, 50-100% ifv invulling.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
“We’re clear-cutting and broiling the planet to stuff our faces.” @theguardian.com did a deep dive into WE ARE EATING THE EARTH!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Why our broken food system remains a climate disaster: ‘broiling the planet to stuff our faces’
Author Michael Grunwald reckons with the challenge of food-based climate emissions in his new book We Are Eating the Earth
www.theguardian.com
August 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
“We’re clear-cutting and broiling the planet to stuff our faces.” @theguardian.com did a deep dive into WE ARE EATING THE EARTH!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
To grow food you need two things: some land and some of your time.
Land and labor are two of agriculture’s primary inputs. To build a food system that works for people and the planet, humanity needs to achieve high productivity in both of them.
Land and labor are two of agriculture’s primary inputs. To build a food system that works for people and the planet, humanity needs to achieve high productivity in both of them.
August 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
To grow food you need two things: some land and some of your time.
Land and labor are two of agriculture’s primary inputs. To build a food system that works for people and the planet, humanity needs to achieve high productivity in both of them.
Land and labor are two of agriculture’s primary inputs. To build a food system that works for people and the planet, humanity needs to achieve high productivity in both of them.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
@hannahritchie.bsky.social explains why increasing agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the world’s most pressing problems: ourworldindata.org/africa-yield...
Increasing agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most important problems this century
Agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa needs to improve to reduce hunger, poverty, and the destruction of biodiversity.
ourworldindata.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
@hannahritchie.bsky.social explains why increasing agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the world’s most pressing problems: ourworldindata.org/africa-yield...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
“Probing how and why the atomic bombs were deployed against Japan has become a cottage industry all of its own.” The War Room, our defence newsletter, recommends seven of the best books about the country’s defeat in the second world war
The War Room newsletter: Seven of the best books on the Pacific war
Richard Cockett, a news editor, recommends seven books about the defeat of Japan in the second world war
econ.st
August 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“Probing how and why the atomic bombs were deployed against Japan has become a cottage industry all of its own.” The War Room, our defence newsletter, recommends seven of the best books about the country’s defeat in the second world war
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
How Ethiopia avoided colonization in the late 19th century but then lagged behind in the 20th century: www.africanistperspective.com/p/how-ethiop...
How Ethiopia avoided colonization in the late 19th century but then lagged behind in the 20th century
Lessons in stateness, (failed) modernization, and economic (under)development
www.africanistperspective.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
How Ethiopia avoided colonization in the late 19th century but then lagged behind in the 20th century: www.africanistperspective.com/p/how-ethiop...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
'Cows just replaced the methane from wild bison'
Not even close.
At their peak, wild ruminants incl. bison emitted ~15 Tg CH₄/yr
Today’s 4+ billion farmed ruminants emit over 100 Tg CH₄/yr
That’s nearly 7x more methane.
essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Not even close.
At their peak, wild ruminants incl. bison emitted ~15 Tg CH₄/yr
Today’s 4+ billion farmed ruminants emit over 100 Tg CH₄/yr
That’s nearly 7x more methane.
essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Global Methane Budget 2000–2020
Abstract. Understanding and quantifying the global methane (CH4) budget is important for assessing realistic pathways to mitigate climate change. CH4 is the second most important human-influenced gree...
essd.copernicus.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
'Cows just replaced the methane from wild bison'
Not even close.
At their peak, wild ruminants incl. bison emitted ~15 Tg CH₄/yr
Today’s 4+ billion farmed ruminants emit over 100 Tg CH₄/yr
That’s nearly 7x more methane.
essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Not even close.
At their peak, wild ruminants incl. bison emitted ~15 Tg CH₄/yr
Today’s 4+ billion farmed ruminants emit over 100 Tg CH₄/yr
That’s nearly 7x more methane.
essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Op vakantie in het hol van de leeuw.
July 7, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Op vakantie in het hol van de leeuw.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
6. Then other people say, "we must rewild the world".
Yes. But it's not going to happen without major dietary change.
Eg we can't have grass-fed beef (the most land-hungry of all products) and rewilding. In fact, it drives a massive de-wilding.
At this point, half the enthusiasts shuffle away.
Yes. But it's not going to happen without major dietary change.
Eg we can't have grass-fed beef (the most land-hungry of all products) and rewilding. In fact, it drives a massive de-wilding.
At this point, half the enthusiasts shuffle away.
July 3, 2025 at 6:10 AM
6. Then other people say, "we must rewild the world".
Yes. But it's not going to happen without major dietary change.
Eg we can't have grass-fed beef (the most land-hungry of all products) and rewilding. In fact, it drives a massive de-wilding.
At this point, half the enthusiasts shuffle away.
Yes. But it's not going to happen without major dietary change.
Eg we can't have grass-fed beef (the most land-hungry of all products) and rewilding. In fact, it drives a massive de-wilding.
At this point, half the enthusiasts shuffle away.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Totally agree. There seems to be the idea that regen ag will do the trick. See our response to a BES report
July 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Totally agree. There seems to be the idea that regen ag will do the trick. See our response to a BES report
Can Africa feed itself without further expansion of its agricultural land at a high C and biodiversity cost?
=> Would require *tripling* current annual yield increase to achieve cereal self-sufficiency.
=> Big differences between E & W Africa due to differences in nitrogen fertilization regime.
=> Would require *tripling* current annual yield increase to achieve cereal self-sufficiency.
=> Big differences between E & W Africa due to differences in nitrogen fertilization regime.
June 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Can Africa feed itself without further expansion of its agricultural land at a high C and biodiversity cost?
=> Would require *tripling* current annual yield increase to achieve cereal self-sufficiency.
=> Big differences between E & W Africa due to differences in nitrogen fertilization regime.
=> Would require *tripling* current annual yield increase to achieve cereal self-sufficiency.
=> Big differences between E & W Africa due to differences in nitrogen fertilization regime.
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
New research from my colleagues out today looking at the environmental and social impacts of food crop-based biofuels in the US, where we now use >30% of the corn supply and >40% of the soybean oil supply (on tens of millions of acres of prime cropland) to produce only ~6% of US transport fuel. 🧪
Increased Biofuel Production in the US Midwest May Harm Farmers and the Climate
The expansion of biofuel production as an alternative fuel source not only raises questions about sustainability, but about economic inequities among Midwestern small farmers.
www.wri.org
June 10, 2025 at 11:48 PM
New research from my colleagues out today looking at the environmental and social impacts of food crop-based biofuels in the US, where we now use >30% of the corn supply and >40% of the soybean oil supply (on tens of millions of acres of prime cropland) to produce only ~6% of US transport fuel. 🧪
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Fascinating study. For every 1000 bears in an area, there is an associated 4% increased likelihood of a bigfoot sighting. 🧪
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
June 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Fascinating study. For every 1000 bears in an area, there is an associated 4% increased likelihood of a bigfoot sighting. 🧪
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Olivier Honnay
Many "ultra-processed foods" are basically a trojan horse for getting more fat, sugar, and meat into diets in hyper-palatable form. But the political discourse around "ultra-processed food" and health is a trojan horse for mainstreaming disinfo and junk science and bad policy. Important distinction.
May 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Many "ultra-processed foods" are basically a trojan horse for getting more fat, sugar, and meat into diets in hyper-palatable form. But the political discourse around "ultra-processed food" and health is a trojan horse for mainstreaming disinfo and junk science and bad policy. Important distinction.