How did an organisation focused on insect ecology come to care about farmers’ livelihoods? And how did an organisation focused on farmers’ livelihoods end up composing ‘The Fly Song‘ for flies? How did a man from Shanxi become a village ‘male women’s director’ (a humorous term for a man holding…
Every year on 315 Consumer Rights Day, food safety takes centre stage. Yet, the impact of “digital mealtime content”—this virtual sustenance—on dietary health has not yet garnered sufficient attention. Short-form videos, TV dramas, variety shows, podcasts… content dubbed “digital mealtime content” has quietly become a daily staple for many. Why…
Have you ever fantasised about escaping the city, returning to your roots to farm, and embracing a pastoral life? Have you ever held romantic notions of a “self-sufficient” existence? But life on the land is far more complex and demanding than we imagine—yet it is also far more moving. Wen…
Foodthink’s Perspective Today, fresh produce e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba’s Hema, Meituan’s Xiaoxiang, JD’s 7Fresh, and Dingdong Maicai are increasingly popular. On these platforms, you can buy everything you need for daily life without leaving your home; with just a few taps of a finger, your order can arrive in…
On an ordinary day, you decide to cook a meal at home, so you open a fresh grocery app. After picking out your ingredients, you decide to add a few snacks and a 4.5-litre bottle of mineral water. The moment you pay, the words ’30-minute delivery’ stand out on the…
The north has seen an unusual amount of rain this year, stretching from the torrential downpours of summer to the persistent drizzles of autumn. In this episode of *Food Talk*, we begin with the rains of late. We are joined by Yuyang, a former delivery rider and current editor at…
Would you be willing to pay a premium at a restaurant for a side of frozen broccoli that might actually be older than your child? As it turns out, this absurd-sounding scenario is a very real possibility. Pre-prepared meals are quietly taking over our tables; they are everywhere, from sit-down…
Many view craft beer as a niche culture centred on individuality and a quest for unique taste. However, before the rise of industrial beers—with their singular and bland profiles—brewing methods and flavours were naturally diverse. Beyond the loss of flavour, industrial beer has depleted the microbial diversity that should be…
Since early June, a video titled “From Waste Siege to Not Enough Waste to Burn: China’s Speed Leaves the West Baffled” has been spreading rapidly across the internet. The idea of simply tossing unsightly rubbish into a furnace to be burned away, while using the resulting energy for electricity, has…
This episode of Food Talk is a casual conversation recorded at “Ji Shi”, the physical store of the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market in Sanyuanqiao. We are joined by two old friends: Kang Li and Jin Peng. One is an Yi woman from Chuxiong, Yunnan, who funded her education through the…
