nutrition
As climate change worsens, junk food companies exploit the crisis for profit
As droughts and extreme heat become more common, communities in vulnerable regions are turning to ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks, with junk food companies capitalizing on the dire situation to boost sales.
In short:
- Droughts and extreme weather are making fresh food and clean water scarce, driving poor communities to rely on junk food.
- Companies are aggressively marketing sugary drinks and snacks, particularly to children, under the guise of combating malnutrition.
- Governments need to take stronger action to ensure access to healthy food and water to counter these predatory practices.
Key quote:
"There’s no better time to rein the sales of these foods in — the hotter future will only make us further dependent on them."
— Lindsey Smith Taillie, director of the Global Food Research Program
Why this matters:
With fresh produce becoming scarcer and more expensive, junk food companies are seizing the opportunity to push their products aggressively, exacerbating public health crises, particularly in poor and vulnerable communities. Read more: The outsized role processed food plays in our health and environment.
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Credit: Ian Hutchinson/Unsplash
House Agriculture Committee faces challenges in passing new farm bill
A new farm bill faces partisan hurdles as the House Agriculture Committee begins markup this week.
In short:
- The proposed bill includes increased conservation funding but removes climate change focus from programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- The bill proposes changes to nutrition assistance, aiming to reduce costs and promote healthier diets, which Democrats argue will harm those in need.
- Senate Democrats have a competing framework that retains climate-focused funding, contrasting with the House version.
Key quote:
“We urge the committee to avoid nutrition program provisions that would harm the most vulnerable among us and to build upon popular climate-focused conservation tools that help farmers mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
— Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union
Why this matters:
The reallocation of funds away from climate-focused programs has sparked concern among environmentalists and scientists. These initiatives, initially designed to address climate resilience in agriculture, aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable farming practices in the face of a changing climate. By removing this focus, critics argue, the bill undermines efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, potentially leaving farmers less equipped to handle extreme weather patterns and long-term climate shifts.
Be sure to read Daniel Imhoff’s 2018 piece: It’s time for a climate resilient Farm Bill
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Credit: jean wimmerlin/Unsplash
Exploring the potential of genetically engineered crops in agriculture and the environment
Researchers argue that genetically engineered crops could significantly reduce carbon emissions, despite widespread skepticism and regulatory challenges.
In short:
- Golden rice, engineered to combat childhood blindness, faces significant opposition and regulatory barriers in the Philippines.
- Genetically engineered crops like the herbicide-resistant corn reduce the need for land tilling, potentially lowering carbon emissions.
- The public remains divided on GMO safety, influencing market trends and regulatory policies.
Key quote:
“We see GMOs as a tool of the major corporations that already have a stranglehold on our food system.”
— Amanda Starbuck, research director at Food and Water Watch
Why this matters:
Proponents say genetically modified crops offer a dual benefit: enhancing nutritional value and mitigating climate change impacts. Skeptics question the long-term impacts on biodiversity and the possibility of unforeseen consequences in modified crops. Moreover, regulatory frameworks in many countries are rigorous and slow to adapt, often reflecting public wariness and ethical concerns over genetic modifications.
Be sure to read Charles Benbrook’s article on the mistakes made in the approval of the first genetically engineered crops—and what we can learn from them
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Credit: UN Women Africa/Flickr
A ‘revolutionary’ way to feed the world that’s very old
The U.S. global food security envoy is pushing to bring back traditional African crops that American policies helped to sideline.
The world’s broken food system costs $12.7 trillion a year
The hidden costs of the global food system are equivalent to 10 percent of global GDP, according to new analysis from the United Nations.
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Province of British Columbia/Flickr
First Nations fight to bring traditional foods back to the table
Skeena River sockeye have declined 75% since 1913. Woodland caribou have declined by more than half in the past century. But with the right resources, First Nations are bringing ancestral foods back from the brink.
Mark Yokoyama/Flickr
Why huge masses of sargassum are floating to Florida and the Gulf
The great Atlantic Sargassum belt is a collection of sargassum patches that collectively weighs about 13 million tons and is large enough to be seen from space.
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