A recent webinar gathered banana value chain experts to discuss the critical role of genetic diversity beyond Cavendish. Varietal diversification builds resilient, sustainable production and

A recent webinar gathered banana value chain experts to discuss the critical role of genetic diversity beyond Cavendish. Varietal diversification builds resilient, sustainable production and market systems, reducing vulnerability to pests, diseases, climate, and market shocks. Non-Cavendish varieties offer significant agronomic, nutritional, and cultural value, enhancing food security and biodiversity.

The event highlighted barriers like Cavendish-based market standards and insufficient incentives. It underscored the need for coordinated efforts, improved market recognition, and shared learning to promote banana diversification and ensure the global sector's long-term resilience. Organizers included Victor Prada, Matheus Lima, and Adriele Benedetto. More information: FAO TR4GN and World Banana Forum.

The San Xavier talussnail, one of the world's rarest, lives exclusively on a single Sonoran Desert hill. These hermaphroditic snails can live up to 10 years, estivating for three and active only

The San Xavier talussnail, one of the world's rarest, lives exclusively on a single Sonoran Desert hill. These hermaphroditic snails can live up to 10 years, estivating for three and active only 3-4 days annually. Monsoon rains prompt their emergence from rock crevices to feed on lichen.

These unique snails are central to a major lawsuit filed by the Center against the Trump administration. The suit challenges the administration's failure to protect 241 endangered species, many facing imminent extinction.

Arizona's Santa Rita Mountains, ancestral land of the Tohono O'odham (who call it Ce: wi Duag, or "Long Mountain"), are renowned for their natural beauty and rare wildlife, including ocelots and

Arizona's Santa Rita Mountains, ancestral land of the Tohono O'odham (who call it Ce: wi Duag, or "Long Mountain"), are renowned for their natural beauty and rare wildlife, including ocelots and jaguars. Despite this, a Canadian company seeks to blast a mile-wide, open-pit copper mine in this invaluable area.

For over a decade, a coalition of organizations and local governments has successfully resisted this project. A video, directed by Leslie Ann Epperson, features Austin Nuñez, Chairman of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O'odham Nation, and allies recounting their tale of resistance.

Nature's Genius, a Bioneers podcast, explores how nature's wisdom offers solutions for human civilization and living systems. It posits an "Age of Nature," urging a radical shift in our

Nature's Genius, a Bioneers podcast, explores how nature's wisdom offers solutions for human civilization and living systems. It posits an "Age of Nature," urging a radical shift in our relationship with the natural world for healing ourselves and the planet.

The series blends Indigenous wisdom and modern science, revealing interconnectedness and time-tested principles from 3.8 billion years of evolution that allow living systems to flourish.

It features scientists, ecologists, Indigenous practitioners, and authors like Brett KenCairn (naturebasedclimate.solutions) and Toby Kiers (spun.earth). They explore nature's inherent intelligence to model sustainable human organization.

Fungi, though often unseen, are a massively diverse kingdom vital for nearly all living systems. Their symbiotic mycorrhizal networks form an ancient life-support system. However, climate change

Fungi, though often unseen, are a massively diverse kingdom vital for nearly all living systems. Their symbiotic mycorrhizal networks form an ancient life-support system. However, climate change strategies and conservation efforts largely overlook fungi, focusing instead on animals and plants. This is a critical oversight, as the destruction of underground fungal networks accelerates climate change, biodiversity loss, and disrupts global nutrient cycles.

Biologist Merlin Sheldrake, author of “Entangled Life,” emphasizes fungi's importance. He discusses the visionary work of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) in mapping and protecting the planet's mycorrhizal communities. Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRFmCXBv5R4

Fungi, a diverse and largely unseen kingdom, sustain nearly all living systems through ancient mycorrhizal networks. Despite their critical role, climate change and conservation efforts largely

Fungi, a diverse and largely unseen kingdom, sustain nearly all living systems through ancient mycorrhizal networks. Despite their critical role, climate change and conservation efforts largely overlook them, focusing on plants and animals. This oversight is detrimental, as destroying fungal networks accelerates climate change, biodiversity loss, and disrupts vital global nutrient cycles.

Biologist Merlin Sheldrake, author of *Entangled Life*, emphasizes fungi's critical importance. He discusses the visionary work of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) in mapping and protecting global mycorrhizal communities, alongside research on carbon and nutrient flow within these networks. This keynote was delivered at the 2024 Bioneers Conference.

An interview was conducted with Xavier Merlin, Board Member of ARCEP, France.

This took place at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from August

An interview was conducted with Xavier Merlin, Board Member of ARCEP, France.

This took place at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from August 31 to September 3, 2025, as part of ITU Interviews 2025.

For further information, please visit: http://www.itu.int/gsr.

Fungi form a complex, vital underground network of mycorrhizal threads, exchanging nutrients and forming symbiotic partnerships essential for life on Earth. Visionary biologists Toby Kiers and

Fungi form a complex, vital underground network of mycorrhizal threads, exchanging nutrients and forming symbiotic partnerships essential for life on Earth. Visionary biologists Toby Kiers and Merlin Sheldrake explore these wonders in an episode of Bioneers' *Nature's Genius* series.

Dr. Kiers is Executive Director and Chief Scientist of SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks) and a Professor at VU Amsterdam. Dr. Sheldrake, a biologist and writer, is a research associate at Vrije University Amsterdam, works with SPUN, and advises the Fungi Foundation.