Agriculture secretary oversees food production, rural life, and nutrition programs that help millions afford healthy diets
The USDA oversees food production and much more. However, it has little direct power to reduce food prices – a centerpiece of President Trump’s campaign.
Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, Arizona State University •
conversation
Jan. 21, 2025 • ~11 min
Jan. 21, 2025 • ~11 min
Regeneratively farmed is the new buzz label on supermarket shelves – but what does it actually mean?
While regenerative agriculture might seem like a pioneering new approach, this term isn’t new. Here’s how it differs from organic.
Brian Reid, Professor of Soil Science, University of East Anglia •
conversation
Jan. 21, 2025 • ~9 min
Jan. 21, 2025 • ~9 min
What if every pet was vegan? Here’s how much it would help the planet
If every dog ate a vegan diet, it would prevent the equivalent of the UK’s annual CO₂ emissions.
Andrew Knight, Adjunct Professor (Animal Welfare), Murdoch University and Griffith University, Visiting Lecturer, University of Winchester •
conversation
Dec. 30, 2024 • ~7 min
Dec. 30, 2024 • ~7 min
What if you could rank food by ‘healthiness’ as you shopped? Nutrient profiling systems use algorithms to simplify picking healthy groceries
Nutrition Facts labels provide useful information about how nutritious a food is, but can be overwhelming. A single score could help make healthy grocery shopping more approachable.
Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington
• conversation
Dec. 26, 2024 • ~10 min
Dec. 26, 2024 • ~10 min
Climate change is making plants less nutritious − that could already be hurting animals that are grazers
Rising carbon dioxide levels in the air are making plants grow larger and faster, but diluting their nutritional content. This could threaten the health of herbivores worldwide.
Ellen Welti, Research Ecologist, Great Plains Science Program, Smithsonian Institution •
conversation
Dec. 20, 2024 • ~9 min
Dec. 20, 2024 • ~9 min
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