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

How extreme weather affects food prices in Canada

How extreme weather affects food prices in Canada

Extreme weather events like fires, floods, heat waves and droughts pose an increasing risk to Canada’s food supply chain, putting pressure on prices all the way to the grocery store shelf, say experts. “Anytime you have major weather-related events, it tends to increase costs,” said Frank Scali, vice-president of industry affairs at Food, Health & … Read more

Nigeria can’t depend on rainy-season farming to achieve food security — Minister

Nigeria can’t depend on rainy-season farming to achieve food security — Minister

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Sabi, has said the country cannot depend solely on rain-fed agricultural practices to achieve sustainable food production. The minister said this while speaking on Monday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme. “We realised that in the past years, we have not been taking our dry season farming seriously, … Read more

Flies as pet food? Sask. team wants to boost insect’s potential as sustainable protein source

Flies as pet food? Sask. team wants to boost insect’s potential as sustainable protein source

Is your pet chasing flies? That could mean more protein, and perhaps someday a full meal. A Saskatoon-based company is domesticating black soldier flies because it says their larvae could be used in pet food or aquaculture.  NRGene Canada was started in 2020, with a fairly unique proposition — make food out of flies. The … Read more

Can a diet that’s good for the planet reduce your risk of dying from disease?

Can a diet that’s good for the planet reduce your risk of dying from disease?

A diet promoting plant-based protein to help the environment now has a more human argument: It may lower your risk of dying from several major diseases.  “It wasn’t just one cause of death. It was right across the board,” said Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public … Read more