Gov. Evers, DATCP announce $30M in funding to fight food insecurity

Good News Notes: “Gov. Tony Evers and other state leaders announced Thursday an additional $30 million in funding for statewide hunger relief efforts, bringing the state’s total investment in the cause to $55 million over the course of the pandemic. Evers, alongside the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) said the new…

Ingredient upcycling – finding the value in unused food

Good News Notes:  “The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) assessment of global food losses and waste estimated that each year, one-third of all food produced in the world for human consumption never reached the consumer’s table. This not only means a missed opportunity for the economy and food security, but also a waste of…

Utah tech company may hold the key to solving the world’s food problems and cutting water use while also fighting climate change

Good News Notes: “Before Utah’s searing, mega-drought summer, came the winter storm of 2021. In February tornadoes and ice storms swept across the nation causing massive damage. Hardest hit was Texas, where millions lost power, over 200 people died and economic damage exceeded $195 billion. Agriculture saw devastated crops and livestock killed in massive numbers….

Hydroponic farming startup Just Vertical cultivates growth at home

Good News Notes: “The indoor growing industry is starting to scale. Farms that utilize hydroponics (grow produce without soil, usually in large warehouses) and traditional greenhouses have started to become integral parts of our food supply chain, mainly for leafy greens like lettuce, spinach and arugula.    Vertical hydroponic farming is often seen as a sustainable…

China Harvests First Crop of ‘Space Rice’ in Food Security Push

Good News Notes: “China harvested its first batch of “space rice” from seeds that returned from a lunar voyage last year, with scientists hoping it could help create new plant varieties and safeguard the country’s food security. The crop was grown from the 40 grams of seeds that traveled with the Chang’e-5 lunar probe in…

Global reforestation drive grows fast as governments grasp benefits

Good News Notes:  “The world’s largest reforestation push, now almost a decade old, has beaten its 2020 target, as countries use their pledges to tackle national priorities including job creation, food security and climate change, researchers said on Wednesday. The Bonn Challenge – launched in 2011 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and…

Seattle allocates $13 million to help homeless residents amid pandemic

Good News Notes: “Seattle is allocating $13 million from a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to help people experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic. The funds, from the Washington State Department of Commerce COVID-19 Emergency Housing Grant, will go toward a number of resources in the city, including sustaining hygiene services, reducing crowding in shelters…

When it comes to sustainability, “blue foods” may be the answer

Good News Notes: “Climate change is accelerating, and a livestock-based food system is a huge part of the problem. Experts agree that eating less meat (and even just eating less in general) could have tremendous positive impacts on our planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which means we ought to seek out alternative protein sources. There are…