Food & Agriculture

• [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] While the volume of agricultural exports is projected to expand during 2021-30, U.S. exports of major crop and livestock commodities are expected to face stiff competition from other exporters, particularly Brazil and the European Union.
• [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] 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.
• [New] 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.
• [New] Animal agriculture is currently the greatest threat to natural habitats and biodiversity, and also the most significant driver of emerging infectious diseases globally.
• [New] In 2015 about one in every two humans was fed by food that was cultivated using nitrogen-based fertilizer, a proportion that is expected to increase over the coming years.
• [New] The Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisers have officially recommended that Johnson & Johnson's Janssen single-shot COVID-19 vaccine receive an Emergency Use Authorization, which will make it the first single-shot vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in the US.
• [New] Specific threshold levels associated with the level of disease will become available, guiding growers on specific control strategies that they can implement on farm.
• [New] With more restaurants and revenue than any other food chains on the planet, McDonald's and Yum Brands will bring plant-based meat onto the mainstream menus of millions of people.
• [New] Farming insects could provide an elegant solution to the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, hunger and malnutrition.
• [New] The Department of Agriculture said it expects farm income will total $111.4 billion in 2021.
• [New] The opportunity for renewed U.S. leadership to transform food systems has never been greater.
• [New] Treasury seems to be taking Waldron's warning about Beijing's food security concerns to heart and looking at making wine from Chinese grapes after experimenting with a red grape/rice wine blend a few years ago.
• [New] O&M jobs, meanwhile, driven by the installed capacity of wind farms, have contributed about 7% of the total job count in 2020 and will make up about 12% in 2025.
• [New] American leadership on getting food systems right will inspire and embolden others to join forces to end hunger, counter climate change, generate jobs, and promote responsible stewardship of the environment.
• [New] As California looks to strengthen its food system and create green jobs, AB 1289 will provide a critical tool to ensure opportunities for farmers and options for consumers.
• [New] Sales of plant-based meat, eggs, and dairy products are predicted to soar in 2021 - powered by investments in production and technology from private and public entities who see alternative protein as a safe, sustainable bet.
• [New] The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon grant an emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson's covid-19 vaccine, possibly as early as this weekend.
• [New] While groundwater depletion is becoming a global threat to food security, and the extent of current and projected groundwater depletion are well documented, the potential impacts on food production remain poorly quantified.
• [New] Some turbines and other components will be made in the U.S. as the first wind farms are built, and the amount of domestically produced equipment will increase as the U.S. supply chain responds to growing demand.
• [New] Adversaries from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be motivated to enhance cyber operations in 2021 due to COVID-19 and a resulting food shortage.
• [New] Mobility restrictions have caused global food chain disruptions with farmers and producers unable to access markets and logistics causing millions of people to fall into food insecurity.

Last updated: 02 March 2021