Year in Review: 5 Solutions Stories That See a Way Forward

Increasingly, news outlets are discovering something interesting: their audiences are tired of gloom and doom stories. Instead of only covering what’s not working, readers want the media to cover what is working: ideas, solutions and actions that are making positive change in the world.

Here at Modern Farmer, we’ve noticed this phenomenon for ourselves. When we publish a story that explains how people are solving a problem, we often get a big response from readers. So, we’re going to be doing more of it. Starting in 2024, you can expect to see more stories about how people are fixing the food system in their own communities, as well as more actionable ways that readers can get involved.

For now, we invite you to revisit some of our favorite solutions-focused stories from the year that was.

‘Waste Wool’ is a Burden for Farmers. What if it Could be a Solution Instead?

Sheep farmers across the US and Canada often end up burning, burying or stockpiling wool. Entrepreneurs, researchers and community groups are working to flip the script by transforming discarded wool into a different kind of fertilizer. [Read more]

Plastic Mulch is Problematic—and Everywhere. Can We Do Better?

Plastic is used abundantly in agriculture, but it’s nearly impossible to dispose of sustainably. Researchers and growers are searching for solutions, and they’re using strawberries to do it. [Read more]

To Reverse a Troubling Trend, Farmers Are Adding Rocks to Their Fields

Across the country, farmers are taking a chance on a new method: adding crushed volcanic rock to fields to improve soil health (and sequester carbon in the process). [Read more]

Stopping Aquaculture Rope Pollution at the Source

When pieces of yellow rope kept washing ashore, industry and community got together to turn the tide and address the problem of marine microplastics pollution. [Read more]

Squeezing the Most Out of California’s Water Supply

As agriculture withers amid an ever-warming climate, a flexible approach to water management can help cushion the blow. [Read more]