Musings on sustainable food systems, agriculture vs. agroecology, and more!
Yesterday, as I was closing my computer for the end of the workday, I was convinced (CONVINCED) it was already Friday. Maybe it has something to do with the tradition of Thursday night happy hour in Brussels. Or all the pretty lights that guide you into the weekend… Nevertheless, the weekend is around the corner and … Continue reading Fun Links Friday V!
Wow, has it only been a bit more than a week since I started work? It feels like I’ve always been roaming the streets of Brussels. Today I even got to sneak a peek into the Council of Ministers, woot! Let’s see what has been interesting otherwise in the last little while: – The WWF … Continue reading Fun Links Friday II!
Hi y’all, welcome to a new ‘what I’ve been reading!’ So much good information out on the internet these days… First up, National Geographic (my love) has an awesome article on The Evolution of Diet. It talks about scientists trying to analyze what the last hunter-gatherer societies on the planet are eating, in order to … Continue reading Of Water and of Meat
I wrote my bachelor’s thesis about Russia’s obsession with attaining food independence; i.e. that Russian demand should be able to be satisfied by Russian food production, and the non-rationality of such a policy goal in a world food market characterized by specialization and globalization. Turns out, Russia has good reason to pursue this goal after … Continue reading Russia's New Food Diplomacy
… is the new idea of the Swiss company Urban Farmers. All you need is an empty, flat rooftop of an industrial building, and you are in business – the company delivers all you need for a fully-fledged aquaponic farm. You can buy a ‘kit’ that includes enough material for a commercial-size farm, ranging from … Continue reading Like IKEA, Just for a Rooftop Farm…
On Friday, I was a participant in a seminar hosted by the Royal Swedish Academy of Forestry and Agriculture. The topic was the interlinkages between the newest scientific insights related to climate change and the future of agricultural and ‘green’ growth in general. My take-away thinking back with a bit of distance? We are great … Continue reading Review: "A changing climate – How does it affect Swedish possibilities of green growth?"
Would you have guessed that Iceland grows bananas? I certainly wouldn’t have, but as I was told by a knowledgeable Icelander on my plane ride back, the geothermal heat allows greenhouses to grow almost anything on the island – including the golden plant. The massive geothermal field at Hveragerði was used in the early 2000s in … Continue reading Iceland – A Banana Republic?
I know we have talked about this before, but I found this infographic made by Yes! Magazine a great means to dig down into what differences exist between food safety laws on both sides of the Atlantic. Especially since many of these laws could be on the table during international trade negotiations soon. Americans, Europeans, join … Continue reading Food Safety Law Face-Off
It’s nice to see that, once challenges are identified, sometimes we do take steps forward to address them. This is at least the purpose of the European food-waste prevention project FUSIONS (Food Use for Social Innovation by Optimizing Waste-Prevention Strategies) that was launched in 2012 and will run until 2016. Along with UK partner WRAP (Waste … Continue reading Tackling Food Waste – One Strategy at a Time
Every year, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) presents a report on what happened in the previous 12 months in the global food policy arena. Of course, it is nearly impossible to shed light on every development, but the full report, spanning more than 120 pages, does a great job at attempting it! You … Continue reading IFPRI 2013 Global Food Policy Report – What You Need to Know
