Food & Agriculture

• [New] Despite the ongoing investment in high rise pig farms we are seeing in the media, China's production is still challenged and is predicted to reach 80% of pre ASF levels in 2021.
• [New] Nearly 50 million people, including 17 million children, could face food insecurity due to the ongoing economic fallout from COVID-19.
• [New] To feed a predictable world population of 9.9 billion by 2050, an increase of more than 25% from the current 2020 population of 7.8 billion, food production will need to be increased significantly.
• [New] The Central Valley of California is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world due to its fertile soils, Mediterranean climate and water distribution infrastructure, but long-term sustainability of irrigated agriculture in the Central Valley is threatened by several factors.
• [New] Antarctic krill represent a virtually untapped new food source in the years to come, as global food suppliers seek answers to feed a world population expected to increase by two billion within the next century.
• [New] Enel's 350 MW wind farm in Texas, coupled with some 137 MW of battery storage, is the Italian utility's third hybrid project in the United States and will start operation in the first half of 2022.
• [New] The Mexican irrigation infrastructure has additional opportunities to improve water-use inefficiency and improve soil health.
• [New] Going forward, Beyond Meat will be the preferred supplier of the plant-based patty in McDonald's new McPlant burger, and will work with the fast food giant on plant-based chicken, pork and egg menu items.
• [New] Together with increased investment in food and agricultural research, strengthened multidisciplinary nutrition science could better support the long-term economic vibrancy of US farmers and rural communities.
• [New] Contrary to all other interventions, workplace interventions targeting sedentary behaviour has the greatest impact on new colorectal cancer cases over years 2020-2050].
• [New] Kroger's growth was propelled by an epic shift of customers' food consumption habits amid the COVID-19 pandemic: nearly $1 of every $4 that Americans used to spend going out to eat has shifted away to food consumed at home - so that's $162 billion extra mostly going into supermarket coffers.
• [New] The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned people against drinking MMS, warning it could cause acute liver failure.
• [New] By 2050, dietary changes could free several million km 2 (medium confidence) of land and provide a technical mitigation potential of 0.7 to 8.0 GtCO 2 eq yr -1, relative to business as usual projections (high confidence).
• [New] Widespread use at the scale of several millions of km 2 globally could increase risks for desertification, land degradation, food security and sustainable development (medium confidence).
• [New] The forecast decline in discretionary incomes over 2020-21 is expected to slow revenue growth for the Online Food Ordering and Delivery Platforms industry in the current year, compared with the previous years.
• A priority is transforming the global food system, which is a major driver of nature loss and a major threat to the stability of the climate and Earth systems.
• While the food system in the U.S. could adapt overall, particular rural and marginalized groups there could face severe shocks; while in places where suitable alternatives are lacking, such as Madagascar, people may simply refuse to comply.
• Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. are estimated to face the greatest threats to natural habitats and biodiversity from expanding animal agriculture to replace wild meat.
• Animal agriculture is currently the greatest threat to natural habitats and biodiversity, and also the most significant driver of emerging infectious diseases globally.

Last updated: 07 March 2021