For centuries, farmers have been isolated—geographically, economically, technologically. Big Data has the potential to transform agriculture in the 21st century and create a new global commons for agricultural knowledge that could allow farmers from Missouri to Myanmar to learn from one another.
Bigger Data, Smaller Farms: The Role of Big Data in Sustainable Intensification
Sustainable intensification is one of the areas of agricultural research that is being transformed by Big Data. Through initiatives like the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture, researchers are helping farmers create complex accounting systems for their farms and increase productivity while decreasing the environmental impact of farming.
Agricultural Intelligence: What AI Can Do for Smallholder Farmers
Farmers have always been natural data scientists, conducting experiments and collecting data in their fields. Now, with the advent of Big Data, there are new opportunities to create information systems like the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture that can make farming more efficient, profitable, and sustainable.
Building a Big Data Platform for Agriculture
The tools of Big Data hold a lot of promise for many industries including agriculture. But the expertise required to build a data management platform are still emerging. Dr. Medha Devare is an agronomist and data architect who is helping to lead the new CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture.
Decoding Agriculture: Creating the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture
The launch of the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture is an important milestone for the project of achieving global food security. Brian King, the Coordinator for the Platform, and Andy Jarvis, one of the founders of the Platform, discuss the ideas behind this initiative and their vision for the future of research in agricultural development.
Is There an Algorithm to End World Hunger?
The tools of Big Data analytics have led to transformations in many sectors—from finance to politics to professional sports. What could these new approaches to data science do for agriculture? The new CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture is leading the way for these innovations in agricultural development, with over 8,000 researchers working to incorporate Big Data into farming research.
World Bee Day 2018: Protecting the Pollinators
For the first time, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is observing May 20 as World Bee Day. The day is a celebration of the role of bees as pollinators in food systems as well as a call to action for the serious threats that bee populations face.
Celebrating Food that Tastes Good and Does Good
The Food Sustainability Media Awards honors journalists whose work raises awareness around sustainable food, agriculture, and nutrition. At a special evening event, eco-chef Tom Hunt shared his experience as a chef and activist and his food philosophy.
20 Good Food Reads for Spring
Now that spring is here, Food Tank has selected 20 great new books for you to read this season—from food politics to personal memoirs by iconic chefs and more.
World Water Day 2018: Working with Nature to Improve Global Water Management
The theme for this year’s World Water Day is “Nature for Water.” Read more about the annual UNESCO World Water Development Report and opportunities to combine traditional water infrastructure projects with nature-based solutions.
Leveraging Big Data for Women in Agricultural Development
Women play a critical role in agricultural development around the world while facing significant barriers from gender inequality. Researchers at CGIAR are working to dismantle these barriers, using the Platform for Big Data in Agriculture to incorporate new tools for data collection and big data analytics.
Seed-to-Farm-to-Table: Dan Barber Introduces His New Enterprise, Row 7
Ten years ago, Dan Barber was having a conversation in his kitchen with Michael Mazourek, a Cornell University seed breeder, about growing a more flavorful butternut squash. This collaboration is the starting point for Barber’s new company, Row 7, which will bring together chefs and seed breeders from around the country to develop new varieties of vegetables.
Turning a Restaurant Into a Social Movement: A Conversation with Dan Simons of Founding Farmers
Dan Simons of Founding Farmers talks about the importance of responsible, sustainable practices in his business and why supporting independent farmers should matter to everyone.
