Over the last twenty years, an spike in immigration from Somalia has had a surprising outcome for the American food system: an increased market for camel meat. This article explores the intricate connections for food economics that underlie this new market.
Crops and Commodities
Dr. Rafael Latorre on Illegal Crops, Deforestation, and Medical Marijuana
La Finca Interacviva hopes to bring about the change in socio-economic, environmental lives of Colombian Indigenous People and those suffering from debilitating medical conditions through medical hemp.
The Bitter and Sweet: Dispatch from the 2018 World Cocoa Conference
The cocoa and chocolate sector convened at the World Cocoa Conference to discuss the future of the crop we love. Learn key insights on sustainability in the sector from conference moderator, Simran Sethi.
Making Rural Mexico Great Again: Leading Candidate Endorses Farmers’ Reform Program
Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the National Regeneration Movement leads the political race to be the next President of Mexico and has endorsed a far-reaching set of reforms to improve Mexico’s rural sector. The program centers on the idea of “food sovereignty” and is sharply critical of NAFTA.
Fusarium Wilt Disease Threatens Worldwide Banana Supply
Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits and more than 400 million people depend on banana crops for their livelihood. But a new strain of a destructive disease, Fusarium wilt, threatens the global banana supply.
Food System Framework “Forces you to avoid silo thinking”
Dr. Hussain’s work focuses on the economics of ecosystems and the environment. In this interview, he discusses a new, ground-breaking report from TEEBAgriFood that outlines a novel, holistic approach to examining our food system.
Using Blockchain Technology to Bring Transparency to Food
Initially thought of as a tool for banking, blockchain technology has continued to develop and new research shows it can increase sustainability, efficiency, and transparency in the food system.
The Small Seed Changing West Africa
Groceries for a good cause? Fonio may be the answer. Food industry veteran Philip Teverow’s newest initiative, Yolélé Foods, makes it easy to try this new super-grain and make a difference in the lives of West African farmers.
GREEN Foundation is Reversing Negative Effects of the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution promoted industrialized growing of high-yield crops to prevent hunger. In India, though, this destroyed biodiversity. Now, the GREEN Foundation is working to restore indigenous farming there.
Millets and Sorghum: Forgotten Foods for the Future
The international crop research group, ICRISAT, is finding new and innovative ways to re-popularize millets and sorghum—traditional, nutritious, low-impact, and drought-friendly crops—in the semi-arid tropical regions of Africa and India.
Zhang: “Systems thinking empowers us”
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on ecosystem services, agriculture, and the environment. In the new TEEB AgriFood report, she makes the case for why systems thinking is needed to understand our food system.
It’s e-Farmony: Suzanna Denison Pairs Landless Farmers with Landowners
Suzanna Denison is passionate about linking landless, aspiring farmers with non-farming landowners and retiring farmers.
Op-ed: Can Food Retailers Develop Policies That Drive Sustainable Agriculture?
While U.S. retailers have struggled to create policies that drive sustainability on the farm, a recent Stanford study reports on the success of one South African retailer.
Katie Rains: “Grow healthy food, people and community”
GRuB Executive Director Katie Rains spoke with Food Tank about her work to promote access to healthy foods, her dreams for the 2018 Farm Bill, and innovations to foster interest in nutrition and agriculture.
Melony Edwards: “Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality”
Farm Manager Melony Edwards sat down with Food Tank to discuss food system challenges such as racial disparities in land access and unequal crop subsidies.
Nancy Tosta: Food Connects Us to Our Health
Nancy Tosta, a Board Member of Tilth Alliance, encourages everyone to seek out local produce and the need to connect our food to our health.
Anne-Teresa Birthwright: Improving Jamaica’s Food System, Agriculture, and Farmer Practices
Check out Anne-Teresa Birthwright, a female in the food industry who is working towards addressing farmers’ concerns in one of Jamaica’s primary agricultural areas – the coffee industry.
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.
The Future of Coffee Depends on You(th)
Farmers around the world are aging, and there are few young people prepared to take their place. Global food security will depend on cultivating the next generation of farmers.
Fall Armyworm : A Threat to Africa’s Food Security
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization promotes awareness and provides resources to smallholders to help mitigate Fall Armyworm infestation in Africa.
