REUTERS/Joe Brock

Meet a Tractor That Can Plow Fields and Talk to the Cloud
There's a new, low-cost (but pretty smart) mini-tractor that's part of a business start-up in Abuja, Nigeria, called "Hello Tractor." Each one comes with a GPS antenna, so when the tractor needs maintenance, Hello Tractor will alert the owner. If a certain farmer needs a tractor, the company can contact the nearest tractor owner, who'll ride over and, for a fee, perform the services needed on the neighboring farm.
 
The Enormous Carbon Footprint of Food That We Never Even Eat
An aspect of the food waste issue that has perhaps received less attention is its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. In the same report, the FAO estimated that in 2007, the global carbon footprint of all of this wasted food was about 3.3 billion tons of carbon-dioxide equivalents, that’s 7% of all global emissions. To put that into perspective, this is more carbon than most countries emit in a year.

India's Edible Cutlery Paves the Way for Asia to Dream of Zero Waste
To reduce plastic waste, edible cutlery, created by blending and baking millet, rice, and wheat flours, can help keep plastic out of landfills. The cutlery has a shelf life of three years and can decompose within 4-5 days if not used.
 
This Groundbreaking Technology Will Soon Let Us See Exactly What's in Our Food
Target and two collaborators have developed a handheld scanner that’s designed to scan and “read” foods instantly. A Target executive says the device promises “better freshness, quality and shelf life” for its products. You go to the grocery store and point it at something. If it’s an apple, the scanner will tell you what variety it is, how much vitamin C it has, and how long it has been in cold storage.