Risk low for human infection from U.S. avian flu
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that a genetic analysis of the two avian influenza viruses wreaking havoc on the U.S. poultry industry reveals that they are different …
UC Food Observer chooses a handful of important stories for you to read as you finish your work week. On the menu, in no particular order: a Q & A …
Zimbabwe takes tobacco road to ag recovery
Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector is making a comeback, fifteen years after a collapse catalyzed by the nation’s move into nationalizing farmland to improve racial, social and economic equity. The resurgence is …
Retired Lt. General: childhood obesity is a serious national security issue
An important opinion piece linking the school lunch program and childhood obesity to national security appears in Reuters. It was written by Retired Army Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen, a …
On the menu: test tube chicken?
Global demand for meat is expected to nearly double by 2050, and some think the only way to meet demand without destroying the environment is via another approach: growing meat. …
Tyson removes key antibiotic from chicken hatcheries
Reuters has reported that Tyson Foods has stopped using Gentamicin, an antibiotic considered “highly important” for human use, at its 35 company hatcheries. Hatcheries are where chicks are born and …
Strains in U.S. grain sector become more evident in Midwest
Strains in America’s grain farming sector are becoming more evident. Plunging grain prices in the Midwest are creating financial tensions between landowners and the tenant farmers they lease land to. …
Small farmers hold the seeds to food diversity in their hands
Researchers say that small farmers hold the key to food diversity. After reviewing international census data, the team concluded that up to 75% of the seeds needed to produce the …
Hershey’s to use simpler ingredients in products
The Hershey Company has announced that it will start using “simpler ingredients” in its chocolate, as well as using locally sourced milk. The company becomes the latest chocolate maker to …
Build better roads to reduce food waste
According to some studies, a quarter of all food is now wasted for a variety of reasons, including a lack of post-harvest cold storage, inefficient distribution and waste by consumers. …