(A man walks before a rainstorm in Kogelo village, Kenya. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)
Another Milestone Toward Making Cell Phones the Future of Weather Observations
Scientists have found that it is possible to monitor global rainfall using the telephone antenna network. With the lack of weather data in many technology-poor locations, this could prove be a game-changer in the future of global weather observations and forecasting. A new study details how simple measurement of the loss in signal between telephone antennae can predict whether it’s raining.
5 Futuristic Food Wrappers That You Don’t Have to Throw Away
Swedish design group Tomorrow Machine has a novel approach to sustainable packaging: food wrappers that are meant to be composted or washed down the drain. It hints of a Jetsonian pantry-of-the-future, but the inspirations behind Tomorrow Machine’s designs are very, very, old: fruit and eggs.
Cool Planet: Can Biochar Fertilize Soil and Help Fight Climate Change?
Napa Valley grower Eckhard Kaesekamp believes his grapevines have achieved a 5% higher yield than expected thanks to a soil treatment called CoolTerra—a product made from a carbon-rich substance called “biochar.” Biochar results from the carbonization from plant matter, which is supposed to improve soil fertility and increase water and nutrient retention.
Exploring a Tree One Cell at a Time
Michael Knoblauch, a plant cell biologist, is seeking to prove the longstanding hypothesis that what drives the flow of nutrients in the phloem of plants is pressure differential. Proving the hypothesis is more than an academic exercise. Fully understanding how plants function could lead to improvements in crop yields or resistance to pests and disease.
About
The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.
The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.
Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ new report, Growing Food for Growing Cities: Transforming Food Systems in an Urbanizing World, was released today at the Global Food Security Symposium 2016.
As part of the "Growing Food for Growing Cities" series, Tony O. Elumelu discusses ways in which to increase the competitiveness of Africa's agricultural entrepreneurs.
As part of the "Growing Food for Growing Cities" series, Joe Stone of Cargill describes how ensuring smallholder farmers have strong, sustainable supply chains is critical to their resilience and our collective success.
As part of the "Growing Food for Growing Cities" series, David Hong of One Acre Fund discusses the importance of helping smallholder farmers increase production and gain access to domestic markets.
The final post in our "Growing Food for Growing Cities" series discusses the need to support off-farm industry alongside agricultural development to alleviate poverty.
David Auerbach of Sanergy, speaker at the upcoming Global Food Security Symposium 2016, details innovative solutions to improve sanitation alongside food security in Kenya.
