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.
People
The Water Economy: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
Water is a basic human right and yet it is becoming increasingly scarce. The global water footprint, including water used for drinking, agriculture, and virtual water (water used to grow crops for international trade), is mismanaged and can lead to social conflict.
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.
The European Union aims to halve food waste by 2030
On April 18, 2018 the European Union passed the first ever European-wide legislation on food waste.
A Ghanaian Chef Feeding His Country and Combating Food Waste
In a nation with millions of children going hungry, one Ghanaian chef is working tirelessly to stop food waste by redistributing food to those in need.
Opinion | From Child Labor to the Future of Food: The Voices of Young People Change Agriculture for the Better
Young people are changing the face of agriculture; their voices may be the key to protect the 108 million children trapped in forced agricultural labor, says Anita Sheth.
World’s First International Oyster Festival Showcases Maine Delicacy
The Damariscotta Oyster Celebration brings chefs, scientists, and oyster farmers together to highlight the region, the people, and the aquaculture innovations that make Damariscotta oysters the best in the world.
The Culinary Explorer
An advocate for preserving India’s culinary traditions and local, sustainable fishing, top chef and culinary explorer, Manjit Gill, calls on chefs to take the lead in the good food movement.
Revealing Food’s Hidden Costs: New Framework for Food and Agriculture
Culminating over a decade of research by dozens of experts, the TEEB for Agriculture & Food (TEEBAgriFood) Scientific and Economic Foundations report evaluates the impacts of the value chain, from farm to fork to disposal, including effects on livelihoods, the environment, and health.
Diabetes is on the Rise in India: Is Fast Food to Blame?
The fast-food industry in India is rapidly growing while 73 million Indians have diabetes, and this number is set to nearly double by 2045. How can the Indian government turn the tide on this public health crisis?
Preserving Africa’s Cultural Heritage at the Dinner Table
Changing lifestyles and a reliance on imported food is eroding traditional cuisine in Ghana. Through food across the continent, this Ghanaian chef is celebrating and preserving Africa’s culinary heritage, one yassa, maboke, or fonio jollof at a time.
Nourished Planet: Sustainability in the Global Food System
Nourished Planet offers a hopeful but practical global plan for feeding ourselves sustainably. Edited by leading food advocate and Food Tank co-founder Danielle Nierenberg, the book assembles a diverse group of internationally renowned experts to chart a bold path forward.
Opinion | Global Agriculture Fund that is Reducing Hunger, Threatened by Trump
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program has a proven track record for reducing poverty in Nepal and other countries where food security is a critical issue. Now, the future of this program is in danger as the Trump administration reconsiders the commitment of the United States to multilateral policies.
Senegalese Chef Champions the Benefits of Smart Food through Social Media
The Paris-based Senegalese chef, culinary blogger, Aissatou M’Baye, became a Smart Food Ambassador, using social media as a tool to expand awareness of healthy Smart Food recipes.
Camel Meat: From the Australian Outback to the American Midwest
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.
Cultivate a Sustainable Future with Seeds & Chips Global Food Innovation Summit
The Seeds&Chips Global Food Innovation Summit is incorporating a new voice in the continued search for solutions to climate change and feeding the increasing population.
Reality TV for a Cause – Bringing back Smart Food
The Smart Food TV Show was launched in Nairobi, Kenya, challenging contestants to make delicious and creative dishes from millets, sorghum, and grain legumes.
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.
