From Identifying Pests to Picking Fruit, AI Is Making Farming Smarter
A sophisticated form of artificial intelligence known as deep learning could help make agriculture more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Articles by Guest Authors
Why Reducing Post-Harvest Losses is a Priority for Africa
According to the FAO, 30% of food is lost or wasted along the supply chain every year. This is a whopping 1.3 billion metric tons of food that doesn’t ever reach the consumer. This lost or wasted food could be used to feed 1.6 billion people every year. In Africa, the losses are even higher: between 30% and 50%.
When Genetic Engineering is the Environmentally Friendly Choice
Three examples of genetic engineering of crops show that extremely modest engineered changes in plant genetics can result in very important benefits. These three examples involve engineered changes that trigger the natural defenses of the plant without introducing novel defense mechanisms.
President Yoweri Museveni Challenged Uganda’s GMO Bill
Uganda’s president wants to integrate protections for Uganda’s genetic heritage and resources into his country’s desperately needed biosafety law.
What We Can Do About Nitrogen Emissions and Air Pollution
Nitrogen emissions from agriculture can exacerbate particulate pollution, endangering human health. There has been a lot of progress in addressing that, but much still needs to be done.
The Wonder of Christmas Food Past
Food historian Rachel Laudan recounts the Christmas meals of her childhood in 1950’s England and ponders whether children today can summon the same sense of wonder.
Well Managed Feedlots: More Eco-Friendly Than You Might Think
Although grass-fed is touted as the environmentally and ethically best choice for beef eaters, feedlots often outperform on both fronts.
Guiding Principles for Teaching Farming and Food Systems
UVM horticulture professor Terence Bradshaw lays out his principles for teaching farming and food systems.
How to Make Sure We All Benefit When Nonprofits Patent Technologies Like CRISPR
GUEST AUTHOR Shobita Parthasarathy:The public partially underwrites nonprofit discoveries via tax breaks and isn’t seeing a lot of benefit in return. Non-profit patent licenses are one place where reforms can be made to put the public interest at the center.
A Food Historian Steps Into the Minefield of Cultural Appropriation
Food historian Rachel Laudan looks at the cultural appropriation of food through a historical lens, providing crucial context for a thorny set of issues.
Nitrogen Efficient Crops: Can We Grow More and Cut Emissions?
Breeding nitrogen-efficient plants could boost crop productivity and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions while reducing fertilizer use.
Why the Documentary “Food Evolution” Speaks to Science Moms
The Science Moms wade into the controversy over “ Food Evolution ” a new documentary about GMOs that anti-GMO activists are calling propaganda.
New Study Finds Neonicotinoids May Have Harmful, Beneficial, or No Effects on Bee Health
Reporting on two new papers on neocotinoids and bee health single out the pesticides, but a closer look at the data doesn’t support that angle.
In the Depths of the Oceans, Mining, Overfishing Takes a Toll
Once seen as too remote to harm, the deep sea is facing new pressures from mining, pollution, overfishing and more.
Soil Salinity Threatens California Farms
The water that made the San Joaquin Valley an agricultural powerhouse also spelled its doom. Because most water contains salt, irrigating adds salt to soil over time.
The Protein Gap: Nutritional Science’s Biggest Error
Despite the fact that the protein gap theory has been thoroughly debunked, the focus on protein deficiency still persists in many minds.
Six Ways to Improve Meal Times With Your Children
Meal times with young children can be stressful, especially after a day at work or a day caring for them. And if they refuse to eat the nutritious dinner you’ve cooked, this can easily lead to frustration.
Here are six things you could do to make meal times a bit less stressful.
Food as a Political Weapon
If Bittman, et.al., truly believe that “farming should happen in harmony with the environment,” then why are they fighting genetic engineering, which offers tools for growing food in a more environmentally sustainable manner, with fewer pesticides, less nitrogen fertilizer, less tilling, less water and higher yields?
Agvocates: It’s Your Turn to Stop the Mud Slinging
Lets’ start this by saying I deplore the use of fear-based imagery in marketing and education. That’s represented in the aforementioned post. But I have also recently called out ‘agvocate’ voices for using hyperbole or bad reasoning in their arguments. When we take sides first and ask questions later, we risk falling on sloppy arguments ourselves. Painting any issue as black or white is a dangerous proposition.
Monsanto Gas Mask Man: Activist imagery and its meaning to farmers
Terence Bradshaw, Director of the UVM Horticulture Research and Education Center tries to bring some sanity and context to the use of protective gear when applying pesticides in both organic and conventional systems.