Erosion, salinization and shrinking numbers of organisms such as worms and beneficial fungi can have a devastating effect on soil fertility, and so many parts of the world have passed laws to curb these processes. A study by the University of Bonn has now shown that these measures have improved soil quality in many countries. Their impact, however, is heavily dependent on the political and institutional environment in which they are implemented. The researchers’ findings have been published in the journal “Nature Food.”

Migration and asylum policy have long been among the most debated issues in the European Union (EU), exposing divisions among member states over responsibility-sharing and border management. A new study found that the 2024 Migration Pact transformed EU migration governance from expert-led coordination to political bargaining among national leaders. The findings reveal how migration has become a central arena of intra-EU diplomacy and suggest a shift in how political consensus is built across the EU.