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.
![“No country has a monopoly on the problem [of malnutrition], so no country has a monopoly on the solution: we all have to work together,” says Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.](https://foodtank.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Haddad1-640x450.jpg)
Malnutrition: A Global Problem That Requires a Global Solution
“No country has a monopoly on the problem [of malnutrition], so no country has a monopoly on the solution: we all have to work together,” says Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
Confronting Gender Bias in Agriculture Takes Daily Work, Says Maiga of CORAF
Mariame Maiga of WECARD/CORAF talks about how confronting gender inequity in Africa is a daily obligation for anyone working in agricultural research and sustainable development.
Dariush Mozaffarian: Academic Institutions Need to Act for the Food System
The future of the food system requires training new experts to treat the industry differently, says Dean of Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Dariush Mozaffarian.
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.
Is the Future of Meat Slaughter-Free?
Dutch startup Mosa Meat secured US$8.8 million funding to mass-produce slaughter-free meat by 2021. The startup produced the world’s first hamburger in 2013 made by growing cow cells in a laboratory instead of slaughtering an animal.
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.
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.
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.
18 Organizations Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Around the Globe
Food Tank has created a list of 18 organizations dedicated to progressively improving agro-ecosystems and livelihoods all over the world.
Join the Young Champions of the Earth! Apply Now!
U.N. Environment Programme invites young adults with ideas for environmental sustainability to apply for 2018 Young Champions of the Earth award.
Sustainable Soil Initiatives Making an Impact
Soils are the foundation for sustainable agricultural development and a key component of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. These innovative soil initiatives are leading the way in sustainable soil management.
New Endowment To Help Sustain Organic Grain Research
Clif Bar & Company and the King Arthur Flour Company just announced a US$1.5 million endowment to sustain organic grains research at Washington State University’s Bread Lab.
BCFN YES! 2018 Research Grant Competition Now Open for Submissions
The 2018 BCFN YES! Research Grant Competition encourages collaborative investigations and research projects from early-career scientists in food, agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability.
Demand-driven Innovation for the Drylands to “deliver better nutrition for you and economic opportunity for smallholder farmers”
ICRISAT’s goals are to improve food availability and rural livelihoods in drought-prone areas by combining crop commodity research with natural resource management practices. Bergvinson leads its strategic development and is an expert in international agriculture research for development.
More Investment in Small-Scale Agriculture Needed
A new report by international network More and Better provides an overview of global investments in agriculture, stating that more investment in sustainable small-scale agriculture in needed.
Study Unearths Baltimore’s Vibrant Urban Foraging Community
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future details an active urban foraging community in Baltimore that collect more than 140 different kinds of fruits, nuts, leafy greens, and fungi.
Future-Focused Policies Target Desertification
This year’s Future Policy Award, a joint initiative between the World Future Council and U.N. Convention on Combating Desertification, is honoring the world’s best policy solutions combating desertification and land degradation.
13 Soil Scientists to Watch
To celebrate World Soil Day, Food Tank is highlighting 13 soil scientists from around the globe working to better understand soils and promote practices for maintaining healthy, fertile lands.
BCFN Eighth International Forum On Food and Nutrition
The BCFN Forum is an international platform bringing together policymakers, the scientific community, the private sector, and civil society to share knowledge, analysis, and best practices in sustainable food and agriculture.
