We may live wit…

We may live without poetry, music and art; We may live without conscience and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may live without books; But civilized man can not live without cooks. He may live without books, what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hope, what is hope but deceiving? … Continue reading We may live wit…

Vietnam: Where Land-Grabbing goes Local

Recently, whenever you hear about land grabbing, it’s almost automatically linked to foreign direct investment of either big companies or foreign government  enterprises that want to secure their own food security. Over the condemnation of the “neo-colonial” foreigners, it’s easy to forget that land grabbing can happen just as easily within countries, setting up urban … Continue reading Vietnam: Where Land-Grabbing goes Local

Reclaiming the Land in The Gambia

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U5e2NB6U9dw] This is a really enjoyable clip describing how successful development work can work: these women in The Gambia traditionally only had access to unproductive, degraded land, since the men were working in the more fertile areas. Yet, the women are the ones that bear the responsibility to feed their families and provide extra income … Continue reading Reclaiming the Land in The Gambia

CAP Voting in the European Parliament – A Mixed Bag

Remember when I posted about the upcoming European Parliament’s vote on its position on the Common Agricultural Policy reform 2014 – 2020? Well, the voting happened yesterday and the results are in – it seems like the Parliament walked a middle way between the proposals of its Agricultural Committee and environmentalists’ demands.

New York's Soda Ban Overruled – Defeat of the "Nanny State" or Public Health Setback?

Yesterday, a New York State Supreme Court Judge struck down the first attempt in the U.S. to fight against obesity by legally regulating portion sizes. A day before a law was due to take effect that would limit the allowed size of sugary drinks sold in restaurants, food courts and movie theatres to 16 ounces, … Continue reading New York's Soda Ban Overruled – Defeat of the "Nanny State" or Public Health Setback?

'Shared Value' in Cocoa – The Way Forward?

In preparation for my Ethics in Food Production exam today, I went over the ‘Shared Value Approach‘, a new concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pioneered in 2011. It has been hugely successful with multinational companies, since it highlights the business perspective while acknowledging the linkages between corporate practices, social conditions and environmental concerns. According … Continue reading 'Shared Value' in Cocoa – The Way Forward?