Food Security
Entries for the 2021 Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security are now open
Olam International, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation, is targeting ground-breaking scientific research that can deliver transformational impacts within global agriculture. Entries for the 2021 Prize are now open and the winner will receive an unrestricted US$75,000 grant for the scaling up of proven research. Applications are welcomed from academic or research institutions, civil societies and […]
MoreESG set aside over S$55 million to develop a vibrant agri-food tech ecosystem
Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has set aside over S$55 million to accelerate the growth of promising local agriculture and aquaculture companies. ESG’s ongoing efforts will catalyse innovation and scalable solutions to meet evolving needs. ESG has put in place various initiatives to support the growth of the agri-food tech startup ecosystem and drive deep tech commercialisation. […]
MoreCombating climate change with AgTech and FoodTech
SHAKE Climate Change is a consortium-based programme led by Rothamsted Research. SHAKE helps entrepreneurs and start-ups who are combating climate change with science or tech-based ideas in the areas of agriculture and food production The £3.5m SHAKE Climate Change Programme has announced its first three ventures to invest in. Energy from manure, a yield boosting […]
MoreGovernment of Canada announced $100 million financing for Merit Functional Foods plant
The Government of Canada announced the financing of close to $100 million for the new Merit Functional Foods plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Merit Functional Foods will construct a commercial-scale protein extraction facility that will produce plant proteins superior in solubility, flavour and purity. This plant, scheduled to be fully operational in December 2020 will create […]
MoreBounce back plan for food and agriculture industry launched in UK
The measures introduced today will support producers, manufacturers and agri-tech companies across the food supply chain, from farm to fork. The new strategic interventions jointly announced by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will offer immediate support to help businesses in the industry grow their trade […]
MoreSoil scientist Dr. Rattan Lal has been selected as this year’s World Food Prize Laureate
Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Dr. Rattan Lal has been selected as this year’s World Food Prize Laureate and will receive a $250,000 award for his work in promoting soils for sustainable development. Dr Lal, 75, is named as the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production […]
MoreFoodTech startup Cambridge Crops develops an edible coating from silk
Cambridge Crops, Inc. a food tech company based in Somerville, Massachusetts develops an edible, imperceptible coating that might replace plastic packaging to preserve meats and produce. Benedetto Marelli, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT, was a postdoc at Tufts University’s Omenetto Lab when he stumbled upon a novel use for silk. Marelli […]
MoreAgri-Food Pilot to ensure Food Security in Canada
The Agri-Food Pilot is conceptualised to build resilience in the agriculture sector, which sees thousands of jobs go unfilled each year. It helps address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector. The pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations. It will run until May 2023. […]
MoreSingapore Food Bowl aims to help regional agri-food tech startups
GROW’s Singapore Food Bowl program aims to help regional agri-food tech startups fast track their growth trajectory and commercialise novel technologies specifically relevant to Singapore’s food security agenda. The 12-week virtual accelerator allows for the local ecosystem to make a change together, by forming a cohort of local and regional startups to address the challenges […]
MoreADQ’s strategy to support the UAE’s agri-food ecosystem
Abu Dhabi’s, ADQ has agreed to acquire a 50 per cent stake to buy 50% stake in agri-food specialist Al Dahra Holding. Al Dahra is a prominent multinational leader in agribusiness, specializing in the cultivation, production and trading of animal feed and essential food commodities and end-to-end supply chain management. Serving a large customer base […]
MoreNational Environment Agency, Singapore, launched a S$1.76 million food waste fund
The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched a S$1.76 million (US$1.26 million) food waste fund as part of its efforts to tackle climate change. The fund aims to help organisations subsidise the cost of installing food waste treatments solutions. Capped at S$100,000 (US$70,000) per applicant, it will cover the capital cost of waste treatment systems, accompanying […]
MoreThe Radicle Protein Challenge by Syngenta to Invest $1.25m
Radicle Growth, an acceleration fund, and Syngenta, a leading agriculture company announced the launch of The Radicle Protein Challenge by Syngenta to support the future of protein. Innovative protein sources are increasingly important for a growing population. Companies with novel solutions in protein industry like new protein sources or protein conversion technologies can apply. A […]
MoreWorld Changing Ideas 2020 included Full Harvest and Food Rescue Hero
Full Harvest is the winner of the food category in Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards. It’s a B2B company, with a tech platform that allows buyers—online retailers, cafes and juice bars, and sellers—farmers—to connect over the imperfect foods that are “surplus” or “ugly”. Full Harvest’s method has increased some farms’ yields by up […]
MoreWashington growers have a billion pounds of potatoes that they can’t sell
Washington growers have a billion pounds of potatoes sitting around that they can’t get rid of because restaurants don’t need them. Ninety percent of Washington potatoes go to processors. Due to this lockdown, processors and restaurants are closed. This lead growers to the brink of financial collapse. When all of that shuts down, it has a […]
MoreEuropean Commission warns against shift towards protectionism in agri-food sector
Uncertainty about food availability sparked a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market. Countries across the EU are increasingly considering protectionist measures, promoting national agri-food products and discouraging imported products. There has been a sequel of instances across the EU, particularly in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Austria, Greece, where concerned […]
MoreBeing rich is no longer a guarantee that you will be able to get the food supply you want
From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring, price rises and food shortages have fueled conflict, toppled leaders and overthrown regimes. In this COVID-19 pandemic, countries may face an excruciating trade-off between saving lives or livelihoods or, in a worst-case scenario, saving people from the corona virus to have them die from hunger. Small Island […]
MoreFarmer forced to dump 17,000 gallons of milk
Farmers in North Carolina are dumping fresh milk they can’t sell during the coronavirus pandemic. Homeland Creamery supplies milk to restaurants and coffee shops. Many of those establishments are closed. There is a 65-percent decrease in total milk sales. Because there’s no one to buy milk in bulk, Bowman said he has no choice but […]
MoreU.S. to Buy Milk and Meat as Part of $15.5 Billion Aid
The Trump administration would like to make purchases of milk and meat products as part of a $15.5 billion initial aid package to farmers rattled by the coronavirus, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. We want to purchase as much of this milk, or other protein products, hams and pork products, and move them into where […]
MoreThe Supply Chain for Food Is Stressed
The spread of the virus through the food and grocery industry is expected to cause disruptions in production and distribution of certain products as panicked shoppers test supply networks as never before. Industry leaders acknowledge shortages could increase, but they insist it is more of an inconvenience than a major problem. People will have enough […]
MoreU.S. invests in Kenyans building a reliable food supply
A startup food-distribution company based in Kenya is getting help from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as the company makes more food available for Kenyans while reducing waste. The DFC brings private-sector investment to developing countries. It recently announced a $5 million loan to Twiga Foods Ltd. The company, which just received its […]
MoreDumped Milk, Smashed Eggs, Plowed Vegetables: Food Waste of the Pandemic
With restaurants, hotels and schools closed, many of the nation’s largest farms are destroying millions of pounds of fresh goods that they can no longer sell. The waste has become especially severe in the dairy industry, where cows need to be milked multiple times a day, regardless of whether there are buyers. The nation’s largest […]
MoreCoronavirus causing more issues for people in food deserts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a food desert as an area lacking assess to healthy-food options measured by distance to one or more grocery stores, as well as a person’s ability to access those food options, transportation and the average income of an area. According to 2015 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, […]
MoreIn the wake of lockdowns, a potential food crisis looms
On March 31, the heads of three global agencies warned of a potential worldwide food shortage if countries failed to ensure food security while enacting measures to control the spread of Covid-19. “Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market,” said the joint text signed […]
MoreSingapore announces SGD 30 million investment in agri-food industry
Singapore on Wednesday announced a 30-million Singapore dollar investment in the agri-food industry to speed up the production of commonly consumed food items like eggs, vegetables and fish during the coronavirus crisis. Called the 30×30 Express grant, it aims to strengthen Singapore’s food security, as part of its goal of meeting 30 per cent of […]
MoreGlobal Report on Food Crises
The Global Report on Food Crises is accepted as the reference document on the latest estimates of acute hunger in the world. More than 113 million people across 53 countries experienced acute hunger requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihoods assistance (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) in 2018. This report illustrates in stark terms the hunger […]
MoreGrow local: Singapore’s ’30 by 30′ goal to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030
With global panic buying, some countries moving towards food protectionism and more nations going into lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, food security has been thrust into the spotlight. Local production helps mitigate reliance on imports and serves as a buffer during supply disruptions to import sources, which contributes to our food security. According to the […]
More