Technologies or projects promoted as sustainable solutions but ineffective in practice.
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…
Tian Le, founding editor of Foodthink, and other Chinese food and agriculture experts argue that Monsanto’s GM crops have not cut pesticide use or increased yields, and that public breeding systems, seed saving and consumer choice may better support farmers.
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,…
Imagine the vegetables on your plate didn’t come from a farmer with mud-stained hands working in a field, but were instead a technological marvel grown inside a vertical farming tower made of metal and plastic. How would you react? While in Berlin in 2018, I was captivated by the vertical…
Power generated above, crops grown below—one piece of land yielding two streams of income. “Agrivoltaics” claims to deliver multiple benefits, including clean electricity, efficient land use, agricultural modernisation, and rural development; it is often viewed as a win-win technological innovation to simultaneously address food, energy, and climate issues. According to…
