Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Food 2.0: The Future of What We Eat
It was perhaps inevitable that food would become the next industry to face the bright heat of Silicon Valley disruption. The innovation driving the latest wave of food start-ups rests less on the discovery of a brand-new magic ingredient and more on a combination of data science, marketing, and sheer ambition.
Biogas, a Low-Tech Fuel with a Big Payoff
Around the world, household-run operations and industrial-scale facilities are using centuries-old technology to extract a fuel known as biogas from crop waste, manure, kitchen scraps, and even sewage. Proponents cite the benefits of harnessing biogas, such as reducing emissions, cutting waste streams, and saving the lungs of those in poor countries who would otherwise burn wood indoors.
Thirty Percent of World's Food Wasted, New Online Platform Seeks Savings
The Global Community of Practice of Food Loss Reduction web portal allows users to get information about ways of reducing waste. In developed countries, food waste usually occurs in homes or restaurants. Most of the developing world's spoilage happens during storage or transport, as infrastructure for refrigeration and preservation is often inadequate.
Nestlé Milk Factory Shake-up Aims to End Drain on Water Resources
Nestlé’s milk plant in central Mexico is the first of its kind in the world not to rely on external water sources, instead, it runs on “cow water”. By recycling the waste fluid extracted from milk when it is powdered, the company has already slashed its global water use by a third since 2005. Nestlé aims to roll out the zero-water technology in other plants worldwide.
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.
Blogroll
1,000 Days Blog, 1,000 Days
Africa Can End Poverty, World Bank
Agrilinks Blog
Bread Blog, Bread for the World
Can We Feed the World Blog, Agriculture for Impact
Concern Blogs, Concern Worldwide
Institute Insights, Bread for the World Institute
End Poverty in South Asia, World Bank
Global Development Blog, Center for Global Development
The Global Food Banking Network
Harvest 2050, Global Harvest Initiative
The Hunger and Undernutrition Blog, Humanitas Global Development
International Food Policy Research Institute News, IFPRI
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Blog, CIMMYT
ONE Blog, ONE Campaign
One Acre Fund Blog, One Acre Fund
Overseas Development Institute Blog, Overseas Development Institute
Oxfam America Blog, Oxfam America
Preventing Postharvest Loss, ADM Institute
Sense & Sustainability Blog, Sense & Sustainability
WFP USA Blog, World Food Program USA
Archive
Growing Food for Growing Cities: Incentivizing Private Sector Investment
The next installment in the Growing Food for Growing Cities recommendation series outlines opportunities for the U.S. government to enable private sector investment in agricultural development.Guest Commentary – Ending Global Malnutrition: Opportunities for American Leadership
In the latest from the Agri-Pulse and Council column series, Shawn Baker of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation discusses opportunities for US engagement to address global malnutrition.Guest Commentary – Precision Agriculture: Can Smallholders Participate?
Robert Paarlberg of the Harvard Kennedy School discusses applications for precision agriculture in developing countries.Global Data, Global Agriculture, and the Universal Age of Information
Research Associate Marcus Glassman discusses the big data revolution that is transforming agricultural development.Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance global food security.Guest Commentary – Helping Africa’s Youth Find Opportunity in a Changing Climate
Esther Ngumbi of Auburn University discusses measures to help African youth find innovative ways to feed growing urban populations.Guest Commentary – How Trade and Infrastructure Will Help Feed Tomorrow’s Cities
Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund discusses key innovations in trade and infrastructure necessary to feed growing cities.Growing Food for Growing Cities: US Leadership Essential to Feed an Increasingly Urban World
Beginning this week, the Council will highlight the recommendations from the new report, Growing Food for Growing Cities: Transforming Food Systems in an Urbanizing World, in a weekly blog series.
