New Initiative Looks to Bring Soils into Classrooms around the Globe
A new series of educational materials is teaching children the importance of healthy soils for our food, environment, livelihoods and well-being. Developed by FAO and the National Association of Conservation Districts as part of the 2015 International Year of Soils, the materials target children aged 5 to 14, using word games, puzzles, drawing activities and other interactive elements.
How Microsoft and the USDA Are Trying to Solve the Sustainable Food Problem
It’s clear by now that, given the demand for sustainable food sources, agriculture is becoming a high-tech enterprise. In that vein, the USDA and Microsoft launched the USDA Innovation Challenge, a contest designed to help researchers look into how climate change will affect the food system in this country. The goal is to come up with ways to make food sources more resilient to climate change.
Grow Better Veggies with LED Lights
What’s the secret to growing fantastically flavorful or even extra nutrient-dense fruits and veggies? According to the Netherlands’ GrowWise Center urban farming research lab, it’s all about light. GrowWise’s vertical farming methods have practical applications, too, such as cutting back on water usage and minimizing the use of pesticides.
Reality TV Hooks Tanzania as Women Win Fame, Fortune and Farm Tools
More than 3,000 women vied to star in the fourth series of Mama Shujaa wa Chakula, or Female Food Heroes in Swahili. The 18 women who are selected will live together for three weeks on a specially constructed farm, their every move scrutinized by more than 20 million viewers in the east African country. The audience will vote for their favorite, who wins $9,525, as well as farming and fishing tools. The ultimate goal is to promote new agricultural practices and give greater voice to Tanzania's women farmers.