(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.
Chris Policinski, President and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc. writes that we need a generation that helps grow, produce and distribute more food, in an increasingly productive and sustainable way, in order to feed a growing global population.
Paul E. Weisenfeld of RTI International explains: what will it take to implement programs on the ground to actually achieve the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals?
Shawn Baker, Director, Nutrition at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation outlines their strategy to build on evidence to scale up success in nutrition and create broader impact.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack writes that feeding a growing population will require food systems that can feed hundreds of millions of new global citizens, maintain a healthy planet and grow healthy economies.
Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., president of Purdue University, explains that research universities and their investments in students will be essential in order to feed 9 billion by 2050.
Malô Cofounder Salif Romano Niang writes that in order to achieve Africa’s food production potential, its youth and in particular, those willing to learn and become entrepreneurs need to be supported.
Dr. David Fleming of PATH explains how the private sector and global health sector can together develop the innovations needed to address global malnutrition.
Sunny Verghese of Olam International Limited writes that, while the challenges surrounding food security can seem insurmountable, in practice, real world solutions are possible.
GAIN Executive Director Marc Van Ameringen highlights that urban food systems must now become an international development priority if we are to feed growing city populations.
