Positive Future News #892 (Feature Photo– Fruits – CCA SA 3.0 unported) Fruits and Vegetables are at high risk in terms of broad based access due to the high level of attention needed for cultivation, harvest and dealing with their perishability. That said, it simply makes more sense to have fruits and vegetables produced as…
Author: Organic Mechanic
Urban Farming – Contributing to a Nation’s Productivity
Touch the Soil News #1775 (Feature Photo– Kitchen Garden – CCA SA 4.0 International) Modern Farmer journalist Dan Nosowitz, brings the story of urban farming productivity. The message that folks can make a difference in their efforts at growing food is encouraging. You can read the story here: https://modernfarmer.com/2022/01/urban-farming-productive/
Global Food Price Index – Steady for December 2021
Touch the Soil News #1774 (Feature Photo– Food Price Index Chart – data courtesy of FAO) The year 2021 made history in that global food prices escalated by 19 percent, sending food price jitters around the world. Fortunately, the food price index for December 2021 when down slightly. The chart above shows how the food…
John Deere – Fully Automated Tractor
Positive Future News #891 (Feature Photo– New John Deere Fully Automated Tractor – Photo courtesy of John Deere) CNET news brings us the story of John Deere’s new fully automated tractor. Given the challenges in finding enough farm labor, early testers of the tractor feel it is a real breakthrough. You can read the full…
Now, Real Time Soil Analysis
Positive Future News #890 (Feature Photo–Lettuce Field – CCA SA 2.0 Generic) German company Stenon, has developed a small piece of equipment, that can perform real time soil analysis. This allows you to test your soils as often as you want and receive immediate results, avoiding having to send soil samples to a lab. You…
Cellular Meat – Getting Substantial Financial Backing
Positive Future News #889 (Feature Photo– Cultured Meat – CCA 3.0 Unported, World Economic Forum) News platform Food Ingredients 1st, brings the story of the largest investment ever into the development and commercialization of cultured meat. Interesting is that two of the world’s largest food companies – ADM and Tyson Foods – participated in putting…
Should Governments Subsidize Households to Grow Their Food?
Touch the Soil News #1773 (Feature Photo– Arka Vertical Garden Structure – courtesy Indian Institute of Horticultural Research) The state of Kerala in India, has a population of 35 million people. Now the Kerala government is subsidizing farming at home using vertical gardening structures. While they are starting small, the concept is big, considering the…
Alma Backyard Farms – Learning the Social Skills of Giving to the Community
Touch the Soil News #1772 (Feature Photo– Alma Backyard Farms – courtesy of Alma Backyard Farms) Listening to juvenile offenders and prisoners wanting to transform their lives and give back to the communities they took from, was the starting point for Alma Backyard Farms. Giving back to the community could also apply to other groups…
Farmland Overshoot
Touch the Soil News #1771 (Feature Photo– Deforestation for Farming – courtesy of NASA, Public Domain) The concept of farmland overshoot, is about carving more farmland out of the world’s last natural vegetation and tree cover. The risk is that the natural lands left in the world, are needed to sustain all life, not just…
Malaysia – Growing Food versus Money to Buy Food
Positive Future #888 (Feature photo – Growing Food in Malaysia – GNU Free Doc License) Malaysia is divided into an area of land south of Thailand, and an area of land North of Indonesia. Despite being dissected by the South China Seas, this nation of 33 million people is facing a challenge, that faces all…