October 2013 – Food (Policy) For Thought

October 30, 2013

An Apple A Day Is Worth $11 Trillion? An Economist's Concern about the Union of Concerned Scientists' Math

Ok, first watch this video: What’s your first reaction? “Wow, that’s quite a good investment. Just increasing fruit and veg consumption would save $11 trillion? Let’s fund fruit and vegetable growers!” Want to know my first reaction? “How the hell did they come up with those numbers?!” See, I’m all about eating healthier and supporting … Continue reading An Apple A Day Is Worth $11 Trillion? An Economist's Concern about the Union of Concerned Scientists' Math

October 27, 2013

I'm Addicted To Oreos – No, Really.

I remember my childhood excitement when we would go to the United States for holidays – this was before globalization, before you could get any of your favorite big-brand foods anywhere in the world – because it meant that I could finally get my fingers onto those iconic cookies again. Oreos are one of the … Continue reading I'm Addicted To Oreos – No, Really.

October 26, 2013

A Life In the Day of a Ugandan Woman Farmer

What does a day in your life look like? Getting up, brushing your teeth, breakfast, off to work, maybe go to the gym on your way home to justify the indulgences at the dinner party this weekend? What do you worry about? I’m sure about important things, but let me hazard a guess that it … Continue reading A Life In the Day of a Ugandan Woman Farmer

October 24, 2013

US Food Day – How Food Literate Are You?

Since World Food Day happened recently, I was surprised to learn that the USA celebrate their own Food Day today! Maybe it’s similar to the difference between the Canadian and American Thanksgiving, or between European and North American daylight savings time? I guess globalization has its limits. 🙂 Still, why not celebrate twice? Happy Food Day! … Continue reading US Food Day – How Food Literate Are You?

October 21, 2013

The Opportunities of Rewilding

Following up on yesterday’s post – having to deal with an overpopulation of deer through culling, and the question whether to sell that meat or not -, this TED talk is an interesting alternative approach. This thought came to me after a friend responded to my post that one of the reasons that there are … Continue reading The Opportunities of Rewilding

October 19, 2013

Open Minds for Sustainable Meats?

This Wall Street journal article raised an interesting point about what Michael Pollan called “the most sustainable meat” – venison or wild such as deer. Apparently, until now it is prohibited for American wild game hunters to sell the meat of the animals they shoot on the commercial market. Instead, they use it themselves, donate … Continue reading Open Minds for Sustainable Meats?

October 18, 2013

The Regulatory Revolving Door

When the line between business and policy-makers blurs so much, can we still trust politicians to make decisions purely motivated by the public good?

October 16, 2013

Happy World Food Day!

… And if you want to think about food specifically today, check out this food photography project that has made its rounds round the Internet for a while and which pictures what an average weekly grocery trip looks like for families around the world. Definitely a case where a picture says more than a thousand … Continue reading Happy World Food Day!