
Free-range chickens gather indoors at Grassington Farm near Lewes in southern England. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Farmers Enlist Chickens and Bugs to Battle against Pests
In an effort to turn away from chemical pesticides, which have the potential to damage the environment, some farmers are looking in a new direction in the age-old struggle against pests. They're warding off intruding insects and noxious weeds with bugs and chickens. They also use "trap crops," sacrificial plants not raised for harvest but that are extra tasty to pesky insects like squash bugs.
The Real Junk Food Project: Revolutionizing How We Tackle Food Waste
The Real Junk Food Project is a network of independent cafes that serves food made from supermarket waste food on a pay-what-you-feel basis. The only rule is that the cafes must feed everyone, not just the poor, as the project is more about tackling food waste than poverty. Food waste cafes have even popped up at a few schools located in food deserts to help feed children and improve their school performance.
This Organic Seed Company Wants to Help Feed the Hungry
Mauro Seed is a company with a social mission—to empower everyone on the planet to feed themselves. For every packet of seed they sell, they donate one packet to someone in need. In addition, the company works with giving partners who distribute seed and teach sustainable agriculture.
Open Data Can Help #EndHunger
Increasing the use of open data to solve the major challenges of food insecurity is one key reason the US became a founding member of the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) network. The GODAN network seeks to support global efforts to make agricultural and nutrition data available, accessible, and usable for unrestricted use worldwide. This initiative focuses on building high-level policy as well as public and private institutional support for open data.
