At the intersection of climate change, agriculture, and economy, strategic foresight modeling looks ahead to inform better decisionmaking in agriculture.
Agriculture
Grabbing Land: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
Land grabbing occurs when private investors, often encouraged by governments, purchase and take over control of farmland. This escalates food price volatility, food insecurity, and poverty, which is most burdensome on rural and developing areas.
“Agriculture Must Be Inclusive In Its Diversity,” for Food System Change
Karen Washington wants people to imagine a new face for American farmers: the workers on farms who produce the world’s food yet often face discrimination and food insecurity.
Helping Refugees Become Sustainable Farmers
New Roots for Refugees works with refugees to build independence through farming. Empowering graduates of the program to acquire their own land, they hope farmers will expand their businesses and continue selling produce at local markets.
Vote With Your Wallet and Change the Food System
Dr. Gunars Platais discusses the complexity of economics in the food system. He shows how every decision in the food system has both intended and unintended consequences and that an integrated approach can increase public interest in the food system.
The Obesity Paradox: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
The coexistence of hunger and obesity has created a disturbing paradox worldwide. Hunger cannot be solved simply through increasing food production. Nourished Planet examines the underlying structural issues causing these imbalances and explores solutions.
Tech Startup Changing Food Aid in Liberia
Taylor Quinn is the Emerging Markets Director for the US food-tech startup, JUST. Initially, JUST sent him to Liberia to start an educational project. Quinn soon found an opportunity to approach food aid in a totally new way. Now they are selling JUST Power Gari.
Cultivating Resilience to Climate Change
Crop Trust’s Crop Wild Relatives program is bringing together top research institutions, farmers, and eaters to find the best way to boost crop resilience: the genetic material of their ancient relatives.
Opinion | Getting Creative – How City Farmers Find Space to Do Their Jobs
Urban farmers are reclaiming empty lots, yards, abandoned parks, and even the patches of grass between sidewalks and roads in order to grow food — here’s why.
Going Forward By Going Back: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
Plant biodiversity is rapidly declining and little research has been invested in sustainable and nutritious indigenous crops, which can lead to improved health outcomes and increased food security.
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.
Gotham Greens Expands to Baltimore
Gotham Greens is opening a 100,000 square feet hydroponic greenhouse early next year in Baltimore. Food Tank talked to CEO and co-founder, Viraj Puri, about the joys and challenges with Gotham Greens and its expansion.
Tackling Food Insecurity Through Sustainable Gardens
BCFN YES! research grant winner Okon Archibong Ukeme discusses his Eco-Sustainable Gardens project addressing food insecurity among minority women in Cameroon.
Buzzing for British Honey: Emily Abbott Stresses the Importance of Local Products
Emily Abbott, founder of Hive & Keeper Ltd celebrates the rich variety of local British bees, beekeepers, and honey.
You can Farm Anywhere, Even Inside a Shopping Mall
Startup company BeGreen is reducing food waste and creating access to healthy food by farming inside a shopping center in Brazil
From Rural Farmers to Food Entrepreneurs: A Conversation with the Founder and CEO of Javara
Working with more than 50,000 farmers and 2,000 food artisans, Helianti Hilman, Founder and CEO of Javara Indigenous Indonesia, shares how her social enterprise empowers farmers and promotes indigenous, biodiverse food.
This is the Story of a Soap Company that is Changing the World
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is creating new markets for Fair Trade Organic products, and practicing dynamic agroforestry.
Opinion | Why Mexican Farmers Are Hopeful About López Obrador’s Win
López Obrador’s victory in Mexico brings hope for Mexican farmers expecting more self-sufficiency through a reduction in dependence on imports, chemical-intensive production methods, and GMOs. Promises of support for sustainable practices on small and medium-scale farms are on the horizon.
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.
Farmland Trust Warns About Vanishing U.S. Farmland
The most comprehensive report on U.S. farmland reveals an unexpected reduction in agricultural land at the expense of residential development. One-third of the lost farmland represents the best land for intensive food and crop production, essential for feeding the increasing American population.
