Transforming food systems for a sustainable future – POLITICO

Transforming food systems for a sustainable future – POLITICO

Rebalancing climate finance to increase and ‘ring fence’ investment and incentives across the full agri-food value chain – including in the hidden middle – is critical to stimulate momentum in food systems transformation and to simultaneously strengthen food security. This is particularly true for small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for most of the sector’s businesses.[7] … Read more

Want food security? Eat less meat, major report says. – POLITICO

Want food security? Eat less meat, major report says. – POLITICO

“The hesitation to intervene in our food choices stands in stark contrast to the commonly accepted use of pricing strategies to reduce demand for [fossil] fuels, as well as tobacco and alcohol,” the Wageningen paper observes. “Interventions are needed to support consumer behavior toward more healthy and sustainable diets.” Action should be targeted and nonintrusive, … Read more

EU-Turkish border exposes hell of animal transport – POLITICO

EU-Turkish border exposes hell of animal transport – POLITICO

“I consider it a top priority to launch the work on the Commission proposal for the animal transport regulation as soon as possible,” she told POLITICO, adding that there’s already “sufficient data to start digging into the proposal, so there is no need to delay the process further with yet another EPRS study.” While the … Read more

First pig infected with H5N1 bird flu recorded in the US – POLITICO

First pig infected with H5N1 bird flu recorded in the US – POLITICO

U.S. officials sequenced the genome of the virus found in poultry on the farm in Oregon and did not identify any changes to the virus that indicate it’s more transmissible to humans. The risk to the public remains low, they said on Wednesday. The livestock shared water sources, housing and equipment with infected poultry on … Read more

EU scrambles to prepare for a Trump return  – POLITICO

EU scrambles to prepare for a Trump return  – POLITICO

The meetings, first reported by POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook, come as the fear of former U.S. President Trump returning to the White House permeates the highest echelons of power in Europe’s capital. Small groups of the 27 EU countries’ ambassadors met Thursday and Friday with Brussels’ top officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s … Read more

Can global leaders agree on a tough AMR plan? – POLITICO

Can global leaders agree on a tough AMR plan? – POLITICO

Another key target is promoting innovation and access. The pipeline of novel antibiotics is severely limited and existing therapies are difficult to access, especially in lower- and middle- income countries — which are already bearing a heavier burden of antimicrobial resistant infections. Anand Anandkumar, co-founder and CEO of Indian pharmaceutical company Bugworks, said he believes the … Read more

Turning wool into pellets could keep fibre from going to waste — and help farmers weather a changing climate

Turning wool into pellets could keep fibre from going to waste — and help farmers weather a changing climate

In a former juice processing plant in Port Williams, a cluster of machines whir and hum as they process piles of wool. For now, the wool processed in this cavernous facility — home of Taproot Fibre Lab — goes into making yarn, either from Taproot’s flock of sheep or from people who want their own wool spun. But in Nova Scotia, much … Read more

Why your coffee got so damn expensive – POLITICO

Why your coffee got so damn expensive – POLITICO

The coffee bush likes tropical climates and elevation, and grows in a belt around the equator. It is the cherries of the plant, which turns bright red when ripe, that are used to make the hot drink. They’re gathered, stripped, dried, roasted and finally ground and ready to use.  Sounds like hard work, doesn’t it? … Read more

build, baby, build – POLITICO

build, baby, build – POLITICO

The idea is that GBE, which has been backed with £8.3 billion of taxpayer cash over the next five years to invest in green technology, will team up with the king’s estate to attract between £30 billion and £60 billion of private investment, and bring online enough power by the end of the decade to … Read more

Scientists researching wasps that may protect B.C. berries

Scientists researching wasps that may protect B.C. berries

Every year, invasive insects gnaw away at Canadian farms, gardens and wild plants, spreading disease and disturbing ecosystems.  But tiny wasps that lay body-bursting eggs in invasive insects may be able to help B.C. berry growers protect their crops. “It’s like a free service nature is providing us to help control crop pests,” said Paul Abram, an … Read more