Policy, institutional, economic, and technology trends shaping food and farming systems.
On 4 February, the Thai Department of Fisheries announced the successful development of a genetically modified Blackchin tilapia. The offspring resulting from crosses between this modified tetraploid tilapia and naturally occurring diploid tilapia are sterile. The government hopes this approach will help curb the spread of this African invasive species…
Foodthink says On 25 January, Foodthink Lianhe Creative Project-funded 《“Fake Meat” Ousts Real Meat: Tables, Herders, and the Amazon》 premiered on Jiesheng Zhi, garnering significant attention. We thank our readers for sharing and engaging with it. In this long-form piece, grounded in multi-site fieldwork and interviews, you will read an…
With the Spring Festival drawing near, supermarkets are not only slowly filling the air with their festive playlists, but the familiar ‘holiday weight gain’ adage is also dominating social media feeds. In the past, many assumed festive weight gain was simply down to indulging in rich, meat-heavy meals. In recent…
Foodthink Says Unbeknownst to many, the dining habits of Chinese people, long proud of their rich food culture, are being profoundly reshaped by digital technologies driven by the internet, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. This transformation is most evident in the way food is consumed. According to media reports, 275 million…
In 2024, we received a wealth of books spanning food, agriculture, ecology, sustainability, and culture, each capturing the complexities and possibilities of our world in its own way. From hurried workers to contemporary grassland pastoralists, from the food politics behind foie gras to the diverse efforts safeguarding seeds, from the…
Foodthink Says In response to the climate crisis, many advocate harnessing capitalist market mechanisms to cut carbon emissions. The model discussed here operates on one such premise: companies pay for carbon credits, with the proceeds directed towards reducing deforestation and fostering alternative livelihoods in a given region, thereby offsetting their…
Foodthink Commentary Some media outlets have dubbed 2024 “the inaugural year of GMO commercialisation” in China. In 2023, 37 genetically modified maize varieties and 14 GM soybean varieties passed varietal approval, while 26 companies were granted production and operation licences for GM maize and soybean seeds. In 2024, regional roll-outs…
Foodthink Says “Fungi are everywhere, yet remarkably easy to overlook.” Distinct from plants and animals, these life forms exist as mysterious, powerful, and often overlooked presences, quietly guiding humanity’s quest to live in harmony with nature. How do fungi and plants flourish together? What crucial role do mycorrhizal fungi play…
This year, whether in town or in the countryside, everyone agrees that vegetable prices have soared. Yet as we complain about rising food prices, those working the land face challenges like never before. Few stop to ask: why have prices climbed so sharply, and are the farmers growing them…
Foodthink says As delivery riders face exploitation and gruelling workloads, merchants struggle with exorbitant commissions, and consumers are served food without proper health safeguards, a growing number of people have begun to critique and scrutinise platform enterprises. Beyond mere criticism, however, can we envision an alternative platform model? What would…
