‘Chinese food is so entrenched in our lives; COVID-19 can’t change that’
Down To Earth talks to Miranda Brown, historian of premodern Chinese food and medicine and University of Michigan professor, about Chinese …
As climate changes, Himalayan farmers return to traditional crops
Traditional crops and new innovations are offering farmers in the Himalayan region a way to deal with the challenges of climate change, but there …
Boom in farm produce not reason enough to celebrate
Farmers are in distress owing to low farm prices, poor logistics for transport and government-assured purchases
FAO focuses on heat stress protection measures for agriculture, forestry workers
Emphasising that dehydration leads to productivity declines, a report urges workers and employers to drink several litres of water throughout the day
‘Millets can solve our food needs as climate changes’
Experts and policy makers say millets are what we need to adapt to climate change as they can even grow in drought conditions
We can no longer outrun antibiotic resistance. So, here’s what we need to do instead
Researchers are tackling the problem of antibiotic resistance head on — by hunting for the genes that enable bacteria to become resistant …
New database finds 960 new ‘druggable’ components in Indian medicinal plants
The database was created by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, to facilitate drug discovery
CSE slams Indian poultry industry for using its name to misrepresent facts
Industry is misguiding the nation on antibiotic misuse in the sector and its contribution to the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance in India,…
Global Leaders Group call for action to tackle antimicrobial waste
Discharge management from food systems, manufacturing facilities and human health systems into the environment is key, says document
A history of Easter feasts and why the English breakfast might be medieval
Medieval European history gives us an idea as to how modern Easter feasts in Western culture may have evolved
What is Panama disease? Are bananas at risk?
The disease and conditions regarding its spread show that depending on monoculture crops is not sustainable for our food and nutritional security
Easy access, longer shelf life, promotion: ICRISAT finds reasons why rural India shifted to sugars & carbs
Healthy fruits, cereals & vegetables are also becoming difficult to source, finds research
India’s ultra food-processing sector growing: WHO calls for nutrient-based tax model
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India needs to clearly define high fat sugar salt food, scientists recommend
These new sorghum varieties might help sub-Saharan Africa meet nutritional needs
Sorghum is a significant crop cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa, with 300 million people depending on it
Fruit flies develop specific defences against common bacteria; may explain human susceptibility to infections
Bacteria in their food and environment mould the immune systems of fruit flies, notes study
UN plans to double farmers’ income in Africa in three years
Combating climate shocks and food insecurity with the help of climate-smart agriculture has been identified as a priority
A flower which can treat skin cancer and prevent greying of hair
Used for worship and hair colouring, modern entrepreneurs have found new uses for the hibiscus flower
World lost 2.3 million sq km of forested land to drought in last three decades
Successive droughts lead to a substantial and unsustainable expansion of cropland at the expense of forested lands
Vanishing breeds
While debating the ways to attain global food security, national governments ignore the most pertinent issue: rapidly disappearing agro-biodiversity
As told to Parliament (December 7, 2022): 71% Indians can’t afford nutritious food, member of Parliament cites DTE report
More than 1.7 million people die every year due to diseases caused by poor diet, DTE reported
WHO launches new strategy to tackle antimalarial drug resistance in Africa
Some 96% malaria infections and fatalities worldwide in 2020 were from sub-Saharan Africa
Over half the antibiotic formulations India used in 2019 were unapproved
Despite being the largest antibiotic consumer in absolute volume globally, India lacks a formal system of antibiotic use surveillance
Agrifood companies’ efforts to become carbon neutral uneven, says report
Both, farmers and agribusinesses face barriers to carbon neutrality; also, consumers are often unwilling to pay a premium for carbon-neutral …
Sub-Saharan Africa’s food security has turned out better than feared. But risks remain
Widespread job losses led to rise in food insecurity, most pronounced in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi
FDA approves marketing of 8 smokeless tobacco products in US
Using General Snus instead of tobacco cigarettes can cut risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic …