This month, Foodthink’s article regarding the revision of pesticide residue standards for chives sparked significant discussion. Through this, many readers gained insight into the reasoning and evidence used by the government and legislative bodies in food safety regulation. While the relaxation of pesticide residue standards for chives is now a…

A note from Foodthink Our memories of our mothers always seem intertwined with food and care. Some may have been exceptional cooks, knowing every family member’s preferences and bringing comfort through delicious meals. Others may not have been skilled in the kitchen, yet they were often consumed by the endless…

On 8–9 April 2023, the 10th Annual Meeting of the Farmer’s Seed Network was held at the Institute of Organic Cycling, China Agricultural University (Suzhou). As a co-organiser, Foodthink was on-site and deeply involved in the planning and moderation of the meeting’s agenda. Four community partners funded by the third…

When we talk about consumer rights, what are we actually talking about? International consumer movements typically approach rights from four perspectives: the right to safety, the right to information, the right to choose, and the right to be heard. Today, Foodthink will start with food consumption—something no one can live…

During the summer and autumn of 2021, Beijing experienced an exceptionally long flood season lasting 122 days, while precipitation across six northern provinces and municipalities—including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Henan and Shaanxi—reached its highest level since 1961. That same autumn, I began an online master’s programme in natural resources and…

Foodthink’s Perspective As the commercial seed industry continues to grow, heirloom seeds and ancestral varieties are becoming increasingly marginalised. Their disappearance is not only a loss of biodiversity but also signals the gradual decay of diverse local culinary traditions and cultures. However, a growing number of seed savers are now…

The theme of today’s Central Document No. 1 is, unsurprisingly, rural revitalisation once again. With rural affairs having been the focus of this document for twenty consecutive years, the media, the public, and the government are all under pressure to innovate and ‘find some highlights’. In recent years, the involvement…

For most people, 2022 felt like a rollercoaster, full of highs and lows. The team at Foodthink felt much the same; our ambitions, which in 2021 had been to venture far and wide, shifted towards a state of constant apprehension and anxiety.

In 2022, Foodthink launched its podcast, “Food Talk”, broadcasting 12 episodes over the course of the year. Beyond our usual writing and events, we can finally connect with friends from all over through the medium of sound. We are most delighted that over 1,400 listeners have subscribed to us on…

Having felt cooped up during the pandemic, people are longing to reconnect with nature. On the fringes of our cities, picnicking, camping, and nature education are growing in popularity. In such a rapidly changing world, are ‘the countryside’ and ‘nature’ merely passing fads for today’s Chinese families and children, or…