Nutrient-dense aquatic food systems could play a role in providing nutritious and accessible food to food-insecure communities. A focus on nourishment gives scope to look beyond staple foods by considering the diversity of people and the benefits they derive from food, said Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, WildFish’s global lead for nutrition and public health, during […] Read more
Seeing food as nourishment can help feed people better
Aquatic foods could deliver healthier people and healthier planet, says food summit speaker
Supplementing — not replacing — large tractors with autonomy
There are opportunities for small robots on small grain farms
There is ample opportunity for robots on small farms if prices can fit with lower economies of scale. That philosophy is the driving force behind Maryland-based ag-tech start-up Easton Robotics. According to founder and chief executive officer Jeff Chandler, however, the idea that small farmers will replace their big tractors with autonomous vehicles, or use […] Read more
U.S. senator calls for probe of soaring poultry prices
Reuters – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on the Justice Department to open a broad investigation on the impact of price-fixing and consolidation in the poultry sector on U.S. consumers and farmers. The former Democratic presidential candidate also urged the department’s Antitrust Division to review “with suspicion” any large mergers in the industry, after […] Read more
Debating carbon decrease priorities
There’s debate among agriculture organizations on how to measure the sector’s contributions
Should agriculture’s decreases in carbon emissions be based on intensity of use per unit of food, or measured in the total volume of reductions? That’s the crux of a philosophical discussion happening in agriculture and showcased by competing reports on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Why it matters: How farmers are required […] Read more
Livestock antibiotics, rising temperatures disrupt soil microbial communities
Science Notes: Conditions see soil bacteria collapse, microbial efficiency reduced
Soils are home to diverse microbial communities that cycle nutrients, support agriculture and trap carbon, an important service for climate mitigation. Globally, around 80 per cent of Earth’s terrestrial carbon stores are found in soils. A new study led by Jane Lucas, a community ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, investigated the interactive effects […] Read more
Farmers say COP26 targets can be met
Summit delegates were told that governments must make sure producers receive the support they need to help reduce climate change impact
Glacier FarmMedia – The United Nations says significant progress was made at COP26 as countries agreed to reduce the impact of climate change on agriculture and lower the sector’s contributions. However, the Glasgow climate change conference was also criticized for not emphasizing agriculture enough. For example, agricultural discussions were included in nature and land use […] Read more
Subtle signs can show mental health strain in employees
Employees often don’t reach out because they fear they could lose their job
How easy is it to recognize when an employee is having an off-day or dealing with mental health issues? Not that easy, as pandemic times have shown. Twenty-one months into a global pandemic, some behaviours seem almost normal because everyone has felt the strain. However, there are tell-tale signs of deeper issues, said Beverly Beuermann-King […] Read more
Ag-sector at high risk of cyber attacks, espionage
Digital security must keep pace with increasing vulnerability, advise experts
The risk of cyber attacks on agricultural businesses is ever-present and that risk might be increasing. According to Andrew Rose, digital security expert and executive director for CyberAg, an American cybersecurity organization, companies across the farm and food sector should take a more proactive approach to protecting vital electronic systems and all the information they […] Read more
2020 and 2021 honourees inducted in Canadian hall of fame
Nine outstanding Canadians were officially inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Nov. 21 at a ceremony in Winnipeg to showcase 2020 and 2021 recipients. The 2020 inductees are Jay Bradshaw, James Halford, Dr. Bryan Harvey and Dr. Douglas Hedley. The 2021 inductees are Gordon Bacon, Dr. Don Buckingham, Stan Eby, Johanne Ross and […] Read more
Comment: Interprovincial trade barriers like ‘hidden GST’
Easing trade barriers domestically would be beneficial to industry
Glacier FarmMedia – We spend a lot of time complaining about foreign trade barriers and defending our own barriers to foreign imports. But maybe there’s a closer way to liberalize agriculture trade. “It almost feels like we’ve forgotten to take care of business here at home,” said Jared Carlberg, a University of Manitoba agricultural economist […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
