Global use of phosphorus is currently unsustainable, as we are not only depleting the Earth’s natural reserve at an exponential rate but over half of the phosphorus applied will end up in our waterways, contributing to the harmful algal blooms. Currently, the US is spending almost $5B each year to clean up phosphorus pollution in …
China has risen from a severely impoverished nation just a little more than 40 years ago to the second-largest economy in the world today. With the world’s largest population, it is also the world’s largest consumer of agricultural products. The country’s agricultural imports surpassed both the U.S. and the EU last year, topping more than …
How U.S. Ag Exports Must Evolve to Meet China’s Changing Consumer Read More »
For the first time in humankind’s history of space exploration, one of the most critical components of our planet will make the trip beyond our atmosphere – dirt. Soil from Earth just hitched a ride to the International Space Station, making it the first time natural, unmodified dirt has been to space. Growing plants in …
A new report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service takes a deep dive into the role of Brazil’s macroeconomic policies in its emergence as one of the world’s top agricultural products exporter. In particular, the study focuses on the currency depreciation those policies have driven and the potential impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have on …
How Currency Depreciation Contributes to Brazil’s Increasing Competitiveness Read More »
CRISPR scientists continue to find new applications for the gene-editing technology in agriculture. One of the latest breakthroughs that could completely transform precision breeding is the use of “surrogate sires” — male animals that produce sperm carrying only the genetic traits of donor males. The researchers behind the project say the advance could speed the …
Food and energy production have benefited greatly from widespread applications of conventional fertilizers. However, as demand for agriculture output accelerates so too does our understanding of inefficiency in the delivery of crop nutrition in production systems and related environmental impacts. It’s worth mentioning, data is showing that inefficient fertilizer use is responsible for billions of …
The recently introduced “Next Generation Fuels Act” is drawing praise from a wide range of stakeholders, including the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) which called it “the beginning of an exciting new era in transportation fuels policy.” Introduced by Illinois Representative Cheri Bustos, the bill would establish a high-octane, low-carbon fuel requirement that aims to boost …
Consumer trends were thrown a curveball this spring when the pandemic upended the whole world. One food trend that was expected to gain a greater hold in 2020 was the overall shift toward more healthy eating and Covid-19 appears to have only reinforced consumers’ interest. Recent ADM OutsideVoice research showed that 77% of consumers intend …
Emerging Consumer Behavior Trends Shaping the Food Industry’s Future Read More »
Global demand for fish has risen at twice the rate of the world’s population, in fact, we’re now eating twice as much fish as we did 50 years ago, with per capita intake increasing from 21 pounds to just under 42 pounds annually. I’m told the output needed to fulfill the future demand is expected …
America’s feral hog population is approaching 9 million and rising fast in what some call a “feral swine bomb.” The invasive beasts are present in at least 39 states and responsible for some $2.5 billion in damage each year. Not only that, they are a breeding ground for dozens of parasites and diseases. That includes …
