Analysis of agricultural product prices, supply chains, corporate behavior, and industry trends.
Foodthink Says Another Double 11 is upon us. Have you joined the shopping frenzy this year? Paying with a clear conscience, or spending to back the ethics and ideals you believe in, constitutes a form of ethical consumption that stands apart from the conventional shopping rush. It reflects how consumers…
Not long after settling in Kunming, I added one eatery to my list of spots I simply have to share with friends: Tusheng Eatery. This year marks its fourteenth anniversary, and it has cultivated a dedicated following in the city. Nestled in a creative quarter on a steep hillside, the…
Foodthink Says Since the 1950s, a global “Fairtrade” movement has gained momentum. Cheap agricultural products from developing countries have flowed steadily into developed nations, yet the vast majority of profits embedded in commodity prices have been extracted by large capitals within the trade chain, while farmers and labourers see only…
This summer, relentless rain across North China has made farming feel like opening a blind box. Vegetable prices have also surged. Summer is traditionally the harvest season for fruits and vegetables, yet this year there is little to reap. Sowing, normally carried out in August, was postponed until early September.…
Do we truly understand today’s agriculture and food? When it comes to farming, the first image that springs to mind for many is still that age-old picture of farmers toiling in the fields. Yet in reality, propelled by technology and capital, the landscape of modern agriculture has been transformed beyond…
Is the future where artificial intelligence replaces humans still a long way off? Some have already begun to worry about having their jobs snatched from under them. Meanwhile, the widespread deployment of algorithms in sectors such as food delivery and retail has already transformed the way ordinary people eat. Yet…
From foraging and hunting to slash-and-burn agriculture, from generations of field labour, to GMOs, drones, cultivated meat and even artificial intelligence, and from home cooking to relying on delivery services, humanity’s agricultural and food systems have undergone a complete revolution. The dramatic shifts within our farmland reflect the impact of…
When we think of Monsanto, it is easy to associate the company with the health risks of genetically modified (GM) foods. However, “Empire of Seeds” by Bart J. Elmore, a US scholar of environmental history, shows that the influence of agricultural capital—epitomised by Monsanto—on the human food system is actually…
On 17 July, on the eve of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening in Paris, a coalition of international organisations launched the “Kick Big Soda Out of Sport” campaign, taking on the world’s largest soft drink manufacturers, including Coca-Cola. The initiative contends that “Big Soda” – soft drink industry giants epitomised…
In this episode of *Food Talk*, we focus on the recent tanker truck incident that has captured widespread attention, exploring how food safety concerns impact our everyday lives. Despite numerous past food safety scandals, consumers still feel largely powerless in the face of our current food environment. This sense of…
