Global Food and Security Symposium 2018: Mark Your Calendars and Engage the Next Generation
Mark your calendars for the 2018 Global Food Security Symposium to be held March 21 and 22, 2018 in Washington, DC!
Do you know of a student who is interested in shaping new ideas for food security and agricultural development? Encourage them to apply now to join the 2018 Next Generation Student Delegation. Applications are due on or before Sunday, November 5.
The OECD issued a report pushing for wealthier nations to target more of their aid to improving statistical systems in developing countries. The agency believes that the lack of reliable data makes it difficult to measure the impact of development cooperation and where to focus future investments.
Ripe.io, a start-up at the forefront of creating a blockchain solution for our food system, was a recent participant at The Mixing Bowl’s FOOD IT: Fork to Farm. According to Raja, their CEO, the blockchain of food simplifies the challenging task of aggregating information from a multitude of actors by providing for one-to-many data integration and process orchestration among participants.
Scientists have used a new gene-editing technique to create pigs that can keep their bodies warmer, burning more fat to produce leaner meat. These pigs would be less expensive to raise and would suffer less in cold weather. This could save farmers millions of dollars in heating and feeding costs, as well as prevent millions of piglets from suffering and dying in cold weather.
Scientists attempt to isolate which chemical compounds contribute to specific flavors, and connect those to how the cattle were raised. Knowing why these distinct flavours exist should eventually have practical benefits for both producers and consumers. Many consumers already express a preference for mild, ultratender Canadian beef or tougher, stronger-flavoured European-style beef.
Centroamericano, a new variety of coffee plant, may be the coolest thing in brewing: a tree that can withstand the effects of climate change. Shifting climates could spell disaster for coffee so scientists are racing to develop more tenacious strains of one of the world’s most beloved beverages. To cope with the effects of climate change, farmers may need to also adopt other agricultural practices.