As Chinese New Year draws near, not only is the festive background music returning to supermarkets, but the ‘holiday weight gain’ hashtags are once again flooding social media feeds. In the past, people often assumed that gaining weight during the holidays was due to rich, festive feasts. In recent years,…
I. Returning to 2011 The reserve’s shuttle stopped by the side of a narrow concrete road, flanked by karst limestone mountains that seemed strangely familiar. We passed through a sugarcane grove; in fact, countless bare stone peaks in the area are surrounded by sugarcane. Unlike the black-purple skin of fruit…
Foodthink Perspectives Slowly but surely, the eating habits of the Chinese people—long a source of national pride—are being profoundly reshaped by digital technologies driven by the internet, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. The most apparent change is in how people consume food. According to media reports, 275 million people rely on…
From China’s delivery riders and France’s foie gras to Inner Mongolian herders, seed conservation, Monsanto’s GM disputes and fungal networks, 2024’s books trace how food, land and nature shape everyday life.
In this episode, Food Talk host Tianle joins Sijia from “100 Ways of Living” for a special crossover conversation. This marks the first time Tianle discusses her journey on the podcast—how she transitioned from a media professional with a degree in international journalism to a public interest worker dedicated to…
Starting with the 2,282-hectare community forest in Cambodia guarded by Bunong villager Long Heng, the report surveys global debates over REDD+, the voluntary carbon market and indigenous land rights, and asks whether emissions-reduction promises are credible.
Foodthink Says How many people can commit to a single endeavour for a decade? The Nanning Urban Farmers’ Market is one such example. Since its inception in 2013, it has now entered its eleventh year. Held every two months, each market attracts dozens of vendors selling ecological produce from Guangxi—the…
Foodthink’s Perspective Some media outlets have dubbed 2024 the “inaugural year of GMO commercialisation” in China. In 2023, 37 varieties of genetically modified maize and 14 varieties of genetically modified soy passed variety certification, and 26 companies were granted permits for the production and operation of GM maize and soy…
Foodthink’s Take “Fungi are ubiquitous, yet easily overlooked.” These life forms, distinct from plants and animals, exist as a mysterious and powerful yet often ignored presence, offering clues on the path towards human exploration and coexistence with nature. How do fungi and plants prosper together? As the link between plants…
This year, whether in the city or the countryside, the rising cost of vegetables is on everyone’s lips. Yet, while we complain about inflation, the farmers in the fields are facing unprecedented challenges. Few stop to ask: why are prices rising like this, and are the farmers actually making…
