Gene Sequencing Helps Track Food Pathogens
Advances in gene-sequencing technology are giving authorities a new tool to investigate food-safety cases, enabling them to effectively create biological fingerprints to track pathogens. Recent applications of whole genome sequencing can now link seemingly unrelated cases of foodborne illness, and thereby help guide investigators to the sources of outbreaks.
 
What Do We Need to Fight Climate Change? More Worms
Worms do a lot more than just serve as fishbait or kid-sister torture devices. According to a new study, these slimy, soft-bodied soil-dwellers could help slow global warming. Worms feast upon tiny microbes that themselves eat decomposing organic matter. These microbes also happen to release boatloads of planet-wrecking carbon dioxide in the process of munching. To summarize: More worms, fewer microbes, less doomsday.
 
Farming Data Continues to Be Hot in Silicon Valley
Startups are using data tools, social networking services, drones, sensors, robotics and other cutting edge computing technologies to help farmers produce more food with less energy, water, and land. In 2014, 151 startups focused on agriculture and food were funded to the tune of $976 million. Why do the Valley’s biggest venture firms see farming as such a hot sector? Well, there are a few reasons.

Genetic Engineering: A Tool to Strengthen Global Food Security
Despite their complexity, the products of genetic engineering are in fact everywhere in our society. Genetic engineering is just one of the many tools available to help achieve global food security. We need to actively secure this profound scientific advancement a place in the global food security toolbox.