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☆ Opinion: Seaweed is nutritious, not slimy. Eating it could save the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Opinion Vincent Doumeizel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It can be a nutritious food, an alternative to plastic, restore our oceans and could even help tackle climate change. UliU/iStockphoto/Getty Images Seaweed has become popular in Western baking in recent years. James MacDonald/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBut just as we are recognizing its untapped potential, seaweed is becoming increasingly vulnerable. California, Norway and Tasmania have all lost more than 80% of their kelp in recent years, the result of climate change, pollution and overfishing. If we learn to sustainably cultivate our ocean, we can contribute to feeding the entire global population while mitigating climate change and restoring biodiversity.

Persons: Vincent Doumeizel, Derek Davis, Dixie, Prannie Rhatigan, Rhatigan, Kate Waters, Natasha Breen, Jun Lee, Jonas Gratzer, James MacDonald Organizations: United Nations, Food, Lloyd’s Register, CNN, Southside Bakery, Portland Press Herald, Washington Post, University of Queensland, Bloomberg, Legend Press Locations: Portland, US, Washington , DC, Asia, Seoul, South Korea, Australia, Jakarta, British Columbia, Canada, California, Norway, Tasmania

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

☆ What Happens When Global Human Population Peaks? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Dean Spears | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Over the past 100 years, the global population quadrupled, from two billion to eight billion. Some will inexcusably claim that restricting reproductive choice is a way to curb long-run population decline. If an inclusive, compassionate response to population decline emerges someday, it need not be in conflict with those values. It’s in no one’s hands to change global population trajectories alone. Six decades from now is when the U.N. projects the size of the world population will peak.

Persons: demographers, Wittgenstein, Spears, Grandma, humanity’s, They’ve, birthrates, everyone’s, It’s, it’s Organizations: Human, The Institute for Health Metrics, University of Washington, University of Texas, Population Research, New York Times, White, won’t Locations: Vienna, Austin, United States, Europe, East Asia, Latin America, Guinea, Africa, China, Brazil, India, birthrates, Chile, Thailand, Canada, Germany, Japan, Saharan Africa, Israel

☆ Earth's deep blue oceans are fading and changing color — and scientists aren't sure why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Two decades of satellite images have revealed that more than 56% of the world's oceans have seen significant changes in color. Scientists fear these color changes could be harbingers of yet another global crisis in ocean food chains as the planet warms. Greener oceans mean more life — and that's not necessarily goodThe color of the oceans can tell us a lot about their health. The ocean's color depends on what's in the upper layer of the water column. In the latest study, scientists used imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite, which has been monitoring ocean color changes for more than two decades.

Persons: It's, it's, Cael, that's, Stephanie Dutkiewicz, Dutkiewicz, I've, Michael J Behrenfeld Organizations: Service, Nature, National Oceanography Center, Guardian, MIT's Department of, Planetary Sciences, Center for Global Change Science, CNN, Oregon State University Locations: Southampton

☆ Fact Check-Headline that 13 nations commit to abolish farming is false
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Leaders and ministers from 13 countries committed to addressing methane emissions in their respective agricultural sectors during a meeting in Chile on April 14, contrary to a claim made online that they agreed to abolish farming to save the planet. At no point does the publication state a plan to abolish farming or agriculture or detail any specific changes the signatories will make to curb methane emissions. Marcelo Mena, CEO of GMH, told Reuters via email that claims the declaration would abolish farming “are entirely inaccurate”. The 13 nations committed to mitigating methane emissions in their respective agricultural sectors. They did not agree to abolish farming.

Persons: Uruguay –, Marcelo Mena, ”, Read Organizations: Conservative …, European Union Times, Facebook, Global, Clean Air Coalition, Inter, American Institute for Cooperation, Agriculture, Reuters Locations: Chile, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Panama, Peru, Spain, United States, Uruguay

☆ Pig cooling pads and weather forecasts for cows are high-tech ways to make meat in a warming world
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

More intense summer heat resulting from emissions-driven climate change means animal heat stress that can result in billions of dollars in lost revenue for farmers and ranchers if not properly managed. But technology often insulates livestock in richer countries — another way global warming exacerbates the gap between wealthy and poor nations. Their cows are already showing signs of improved welfare, like chewing more cud, and there's more heat ahead this summer. "We're going to do what's best by our cows no matter what is or isn't going on with climate change," said Megan McAllister, a sixth-generation dairy farmer. As part of his work with Kansas State, Redmond gives presentations to producers and the general public, and he said that climate change has come up in conversations.

Persons: Farmer Ken Ries, Atul Jain, Mario Herrero, McAllister, Megan McAllister, Michelle Schack, they've, let's, Schack, Gerald Nelson, Nelson, Chip Redmond, Redmond, Jackie Boerman, Boerman Organizations: Livestock, The University of Illinois, Cornell University, University of Illinois, USDA, Kansas State University, Kansas State, Purdue University Locations: Ryan , Iowa, U.S, The University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, United States, New Vienna , Iowa, Arizona, University of Illinois Urbana

☆ UN chief urges Russia to return to Black Sea deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia quit the agreement a week ago, saying that demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports had not been met, and that not enough Ukraine grain had reached the poorest countries under the Black Sea deal. "With the termination of the Black Sea Initiative, the most vulnerable will pay the highest price," Guterres told the U.N. Food Systems summit in Rome on Monday. Since Russia quit the deal and began attacking Ukrainian food-exporting ports on the Black Sea and Danube river, global wheat and corn futures have risen sharply. "I call on the Russian Federation to return to the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, in line with my latest proposal," Guterres said. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey a year ago to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Guterres, Putin, SWIFT, Russia's, Michelle Nichols, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Black Sea Initiative, . Food Systems, Russia's Agricultural Bank, Russian Federation, Thomson Locations: Russia, Rome, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Moscow, Turkey

☆ Project Wild Earth: This family of four has just embarked on a 5-year adventure around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

They instantly connected and maintained a long-distance relationship for a year after his road trip ended before moving to Hong Kong to start a life together. During the project, dubbed “Project Wild Earth,” they will also share stories on their website and social media accounts about inspiring rangers, support organizations, government officials and entrepreneurs they work or come in contact with. Leah, an American, worked as a primary school teacher and helped establish a Sudbury school in Hong Kong that empowers children to direct their own education. The Priors found themselves stuck in Hong Kong, which had some of the strictest pandemic restrictions in the world due to its “zero-Covid” approach. “When these things unfolded in Hong Kong, we had to reconsider everything.

Persons: we’re, Matt, Leah Prior, Leah, Zapp, Graham, Paige, “ Leah, ” Matt, ”, “, AdventureX, Jack, Matt couldn’t, “ Jack, Sai Kung, “ It’s, Dr, Jane Goodall, Tompkins, Allen, –, Reinhard Dirscherl, Charlotte, they’ll Organizations: CNN, The Explorers Club, Sumy Sadurni, Getty, Allen Coral Atlas, Jane, Jane Goodall Institute and, Bank Locations: Charlotte, Laos, London, South Korea, Hong Kong, Europe, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Asia, Pacific, Africa, Americas, American, Sudbury, British, Indonesia, Hong, New Territories, AFP, Patagonia, agroforestry

☆ SNAP could close the food insecurity gap between Black and white households, study finds. But researchers say there's so much more that could be done.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A new study shows that access to SNAP benefits reduces the racial gap in food insecurity. Black and multiracial households have had higher food insecurity rates than white households over the last 20 years. While Black households had 20% higher food insecurity rates, they were 46% more likely to participate in SNAP than white households. For those not enrolled in SNAP, Black and multiracial households respectively had a 52% and 42% higher risk of food insecurity than white households. When accounting for household characteristics, Black households enrolled in SNAP had a lower rate of food insecurity than white households.

Persons: —, Laura Samuel, Samuel, that's, Gina Plata, Heather Taylor, ., Nino Organizations: SNAP, Service, Black, Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Social, Nino, Food Research, Action Center Locations: . Plata, Plata

☆ Opinion | America Has a Chance to Make Farming More Climate Friendly
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Robert B. Semple Jr. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

Why, when we think of climate change, do we think of big oil, not big ag; Exxon and not Tyson? It’s time you met the big ag lobby, one of the most powerful influences on policy in America. But when we started digging into the big ag lobby, we discovered it’s basically — “The most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. So the big ag lobby has one key aim — block environmental regulation. I absolutely envy how good these lobbyists are at their job.” It’s outrageous what the big ag lobby has gotten away with.

Persons: “, Peter Lehner, He’s, I’m, It’s, Tyson, Jennifer Jacquet, She’s, Peter, she’s, ”, Zippy Duvall, “ —, John Boehner, —, You’ve, Waxman, Markey, Obama, American Farm Bureau Federation didn’t, ” —, JBS, don’t, they’re, Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, I’ve, they’ve Organizations: Agriculture, ExxonMobil, Shell, Exxon, Washington , D.C, American Farm Bureau Federation, Capitol, U.S . Farmers, Tyson, New York Times, Republican, Senate’s Agriculture, pharma Locations: America, United States, Lake Erie, U.S, China, Washington ,, Kyoto, Senate’s

☆ The Venice Architecture Biennale puts Africa center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Venice, Italy CNN —Until recently, the Venice Architecture Biennale — arguably the world’s largest architecture exhibition — has drawn crowds for its (mainly Western) star appeal. In a May 20 Facebook post titled “Venice Biennale Blues,” Zaha Hadid Architects’ principal, Patrik Schumacher, wrote that “the ‘Architecture’ Biennale is mislabeled and should stop laying claim to the title of architecture. The German pavilion, which is displaying construction waste produced by 2022’s Venice Art Biennale is a case in point. The German Pavilion at the 18th Architecture Biennale is displaying and repurposing constuction waste from the city's Art Biennale last year. The British Pavilion curators Meneesha Kellay, Joseph Henry, Jayden Ali and Sumitra Upham, with commissioner Sevra Davis, photographed in London.

☆ Here are 3 themes to invest in now as artificial intelligence and technological innovation transform the global food system — and 14 key players leading the evolution, according to PGIM's director of
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Antia shared 3 major themes to invest in — and 14 key players driving this evolution. And according to Antia, right now there's no secular trend more exciting than the transformation of the world's food system. On the food supply side, Antia listed climate change and technological innovation as two additional drivers for the evolution of the global food system. This two-way impact between food production and the environment has revealed the necessity for greater sustainability in the world's food system, Antia explained. As global demand for local products increases, so does the demand for refrigerated frozen storage facilities and transportation.

☆ Looking for a Climate Career? They Might Have the Answer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

She became intrigued by land use changes, and then, gradually, by the links between climate change and sustainable food systems. Kolman, who grew up in Savannah, Ga., majored in physics and political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “I spent my time in undergrad searching for a career where I could use my analytical skills to improve society,” he told me. A trip to South Africa, which has dealt with successive droughts exacerbated by climate change, brought home “the impacts of water insecurity.”He considered working in public policy but those plans changed after the 2016 election. Kossoff, who calls herself the “most recent climate convert,” grew up mostly in southwest Florida and studied business and chemistry at Emory University.

☆ The steps that could help address biodiversity loss could also help fix the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Biodiversity loss doesn't always get as much attention as the climate but the crises are linked. The animal, named Sudan, was the last male northern white rhino. The loss of biodiversity doesn't always get as much attention as the climate crisis but the two challenges are linked. "Anybody who's working with these issues — biodiversity, climate change, and the underlying drivers of it — realize the interconnectedness of it," Chomba said. Nachmany said some parts of the financial world are recognizing that biodiversity loss and the climate crisis are two parts of the same problem.

☆ Ukraine’s corn and wheat exports are set to plummet. Here’s what that means for the world's food supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Both Ukraine and Russia were among the world's top producers of commodities such as wheat and barley before the war broke out in February 2022. But the conflict saw the price of U.S. wheat and corn futures hit decade highs (with one benchmark wheat contract hitting an all-time high) and sparked volatility in global wheat prices throughout the year. 2023/24 Ukraine grains exports (corn + wheat) might be 27-30mmt, down 15-18mmt from 2021/22," he added. Global food tradeThe war in Ukraine has contributed to rising food prices, with inflation above 5% in more than 80% of low-income countries, according to World Bank figures. Climate change causing extreme weather is already damaging the food system, according to Alexander, a senior lecturer at Edinburgh University's Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems.

☆ How moving food from farm to table puts global supply chain logistics to extreme tests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Cargill With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Regional conflicts like the invasion of Ukraine have had far-reaching global consequences, impacting global food supply and food security. Prior to the war, Ukraine could produce enough food to feed 400 million people per year. To keep food growing and moving in the region, operators like Cargill must rely on critical data, partnerships, and dedicated employees. Farmer livelihoods and the rebuilding of Ukraine's agriculture economy are also critical to ensure ongoing global food systems and security. Click here for more information about Cargill's efforts to address needs of the food supply chain in Ukraine and around the world.

☆ The 'mammoth meatball' grown in a lab probably doesn't taste like woolly mammoth at all
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It probably doesn't taste like woolly mammoth, a meat specialist and mammoth DNA researcher said. The Belgian startup Paleo says it added woolly mammoth myoglobin to a plant-based burger. The mammoth meatball doesn't have either of those elements from woolly mammoth. Mammoth myoglobin doesn't necessarily bring mammoth flavorThough he didn't taste it, Ryall said everyone could smell the meatball while it was cooking. So why make a mammoth meatball that doesn't taste like mammoth?

☆ The Next Frontier in Farming? The Ocean.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

For centuries, it’s been treasured in kitchens in Asia and neglected almost everywhere else: Those glistening ribbons of seaweed that bend and bloom in cold ocean waves. Far beyond South Korea, new farms have cropped up in Maine, the Faroe Islands, Australia, even the North Sea. But even as its champions see it as a miracle crop for a hotter planet, others worry that the zeal to farm the ocean could replicate some of the same damages of farming on land. “Seaweed is not going to replace all plastic, but seaweed combined with other things can tackle single use plastic,” he said. Seaweed farms are a far cry from the rows of corn and wheat that make up monoculture farming on land.

☆ Bill Gates: Asking people to stop eating meat won't fix climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Climate change is an urgent issue, but it won't be solved by asking everyone to become vegetarians, Bill Gates said at a recent event in India. "I don't think we can count on people living an impoverished lifestyle as a solution to climate," Gates said. But, climate change is creating more need for energy used in air conditioning, he said, and that's only going to keep increasing. "As India gets warmer and warmer, I am betting demand for air conditioning is going to skyrocket," Gates said. Currently, the United States "has the most air conditioning by far," also surpassing what is demanded in Europe, Gates said.

☆ To survive nuclear apocalypse, you may have to eat nothing but mushrooms, rats, and insects
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Survivors could farm mushrooms on dead trees, or eat rats and insects. In order to survive, he says, people would need to adopt sunlight-free agriculture — cultivating mushrooms, rats, and insects. Vincent Kessler/ReutersWhile we're using the wood to grow mushrooms, we could use the dead trees' leaves, too, he said. Dead trees can feed other life forms, like rats and insectsRats, much like mushrooms, can digest cellulose, the sugar that makes up 50% of wood. So anything the mushrooms leave behind could be fed to the rats, Walsh suggests.

☆ Orca whales were discovered with a toilet paper chemical in their livers and skeletal muscles. It's just the 'tip of the iceberg' for one of the most contaminated marine mammals in the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The scientists also discovered PFAS — known as forever chemicals — in the bodies of the killer whales. The amount of 4NP found in the killer whales, which tended to be higher in the blood-rich liver tissues, reached exceptionally higher in one calf. "So we are here talking about contamination that is harmful to the environment and harmful to this species of killer whales." "And those females that are losing their calves are nutritionally deprived which of course works to increase the impacts of chemicals," Giles said. And scientists like Giles are continuing to pay attention to what other unknown chemicals killer whales may be holding in their bodies.

☆ This startup turning human waste into fertilizer just raised $7.5 million. Here's the 17-slide pitch deck Wasted used to raise the fresh funds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Wasted is making fertilizer out of urine and just raised $7.5 million in fresh funding. Wasted, which he created alongside Taylor Zehren and Thor Retzlaff, is redesigning the porta-potty to ultimately turn human waste into agriculture fertilizer. At least 40 wastewater treatment plants were damaged as a result of the 2017 hurricane Harvey, which saw raw sewage spill out onto streets. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are common fertilizers found in human waste but are typically extracted from the earth for use. There is a long history of some countries using untreated or partially-treated human waste as fertilizer.

☆ Biden welcomes African leaders for summit as China and Russia expand influence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden welcomes nearly 50 leaders from Africa on Wednesday for a summit intended to reset Washington’s commitment to a region where China and Russia are also working to expand their influence. Four nations’ leaders were excluded from the summit invite list following recent coups. It’s not the first time African leaders have heard a similar message from an American president. President Barack Obama held his own US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2014, complete with gala dinner under a tent on the White House South Lawn. China has worked to grow trade relations with African nations and has developed major infrastructure projects there.

☆ Factbox: Conservation targets proposed for halting nature loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Gloria Dickie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

REUTERS/Dan Koeck/File PhotoMONTREAL, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Countries negotiating a global deal to halt nature loss are considering 24 potential conservation targets during this month's U.N. biodiversity summit in Montreal. TARGET 3 - PROTECTED AREASUnder this central goal known as the "30-by-30" target, countries would agree to protect at least 30% of their land and sea territories by 2030. TARGET 14 - POLICYThis target proposes including biodiversity and conservation in national policies, regulations, planning, and poverty eradication strategies, as well in environmental impact assessments. TARGET 16 - SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTIONHere, negotiators seek to suggest or require national policies, laws or regulations that would encourage consumers to make sustainable choices. TARGET 21 - EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSIONThis settled target aims to make sure that conservation strategies represent all genders and indigenous communities.

☆ In wake of baby formula crisis, critical report recommends major food safety changes at FDA
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It enforces food safety regulations, works with local governments on food safety information, promotes dietary guidelines, and develops food safety information and education, as well as overseeing nutrition labels on most food and being responsible for promoting good nutrition practices to the US public. Another would have the FDA develop a strategy to increase funding for the Human Foods Program, with help from Congress. “The current culture of the FDA Human Foods Program is inhibiting its ability to effectively accomplish this goal” of protecting public health,” the report says. “The work of these independent evaluators will help to inform a new vision for the FDA Human Foods Program,” Califf said in a news release. Some critics have suggested that food safety takes a back seat to the FDA’s regulations of drugs and medical devices.

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