Digital technology, agricultural technology, AI, and biotechnology applications in food and farming.
Foodthink’s Take In August this year, the film *Another Hopeful Day* was released. It is not only the most profound exploration of delivery work and algorithms in cinema, but also a rare and exceptional work of realism in recent years. On 4 September, Foodthink invited the film’s director, Liu Taifeng,…
In August 2024, two feature films about the food delivery industry were released. Simultaneously, Hangzhou saw two sudden incidents involving delivery riders: in August, a clash between a rider and a security guard sparked collective protests among nearby riders; in September, a “top-tier” rider died suddenly on his e-bike, triggering…
From saccharin and Agent Orange to Roundup and genetically modified seeds, its 115-year history shows how new agribusiness products created fresh problems while US regulation arrived only after harm.
Is a future where artificial intelligence replaces humans still far off? While some have already begun to fear for their livelihoods, the widespread adoption of algorithms in sectors such as food delivery and retail has already transformed the way ordinary people eat. But does new technology necessarily herald a progressive…
The suffering of this person shocks me, for it was unnecessary. — Bertolt Brecht The film *Upstream*, which focuses on food delivery riders, has been showing for over a week. Few films have sparked such widespread and intense debate prior to their release. Within these debates, two starkly opposing viewpoints…
When we think of Monsanto, it is easy to associate the company with the health risks of genetically modified (GM) foods. However, “Empire of Seeds” by Bart J. Elmore, a US scholar of environmental history, shows that the influence of agricultural capital—epitomised by Monsanto—on the human food system is actually…
“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…
I.“You have been penalised and demoted to shop assistant” “You have been penalised and demoted to store clerk.” A few months ago, Ms L, a store manager at a Convenience Bee branch in Beijing, suddenly received this message on her handheld terminal. In her daily routine, she had to keep…
Is genetically modified (GM) rice actually safe? Why can it not be easily brought to market? On 18 April, a Philippine court ruled that the commercial promotion of Golden Rice was unconstitutional, highlighting once again the cautious attitude of various sectors of society towards GM staple crops. The court also…
“Save our rice!” “IRRI, get out!” In October 2023, these angry chants echoed across multiple farmers’ protests in the Philippines. The protests targeted the 6th International Rice Congress, hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (hereafter IRRI). Against the backdrop of climate change and the push for agricultural emission reductions,…
