Organic production, sustainable farming methods, and agroecological practices.
A while ago, news about oil tankers mixing different types of edible oils was everywhere, leaving many of us wondering if we had also fallen victim to it. Getting enough to eat has long ceased to be an issue, but eating safely and healthily is another matter entirely. I recalled…
I. Returning to the Countryside: Connecting with Pengcheng Natural Farm I grew up in a Hakka village in eastern Guangdong, and as a child, I often longed for the world beyond. In 2015, I finally made it to the big city of Guangzhou for my studies; I have lived, worked,…
A Beijing discussion of the book Empire of Seeds, with Foodthink and the Farmers’ Seed Network, examines how seed standards, crop diversity and industrial agriculture shape the flavour of tomatoes, rice and wheat.
Foodthink’s Perspective 15 August is National Ecology Day. When we speak of ecology and biodiversity, our thoughts immediately turn to wildlife or the Amazon rainforest; few consider the mutual influence between agriculture and ecosystems. In fact, over the last 70 years, the expansion and intensification of agriculture have increasingly degraded…
Editor’s Note In the previous instalment of this column, Sister Yiguo showed us how she uses her ‘Little Dining Table’ in the city to provide her friends with wholesome, delicious meals. Even more dedicated than her is the producer of the rice served at that table—Chen Ying, the owner of…
I. Devastating Yield Loss: The ‘Super Lean Year’ for Lychees Conghua District in Guangzhou is one of the primary lychee-producing regions in Guangdong. July is the peak harvest season, but some sights that were once commonplace are vanishing. Where branches used to bow under the weight of fruit, there are…
“These oats were sown in mid-October last year; we’ve found that the ‘Eagle’ variety performs best. If we use dense planting, the yield per unit will be higher.” “Have you tried sparse planting?” On 12 June, at Gut Wilmersdorf, an organic farm an hour’s drive from Berlin, a group of…
Foodthink Says The rainfall in the south this year has been distressing; we have not only seen the devastation in the news but have also received a steady stream of bad news from our farming friends about reduced yields. Our old friend Kouzi, based in Fujian, has seen almost total…
From the 1844 Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers to food and farming practices in Chengdu, Beijing and Taiwan, readers can see how consumer co-operatives and farmers’ co-operatives connect producers and consumers, and explore healthy, fair and sustainable food pathways.
Our guest for this episode of Food Talk, Huang Guoliang, is a veteran rural development worker. Like many of our friends in the field, we are more accustomed to calling him “Lao Liu”. Since dedicating himself to rural reconstruction in 2005, Lao Liu has worked in the countryside for nearly…
