Raghavan Sampathkumar’s Post

With Beijing’s increasing emphasis on food security, a new era for China’s seed industry began last year when regulators made a major push for the use of genetically modified (GM) food by approving large-scale, commercial planting of two staple crops. After over a decade of debate and prudent trial planting, China is accelerating commercialisation of higher-yielding GM crops as part of its efforts to improve agricultural efficiency in response to President Xi Jinping’s call for greater self-sufficiency to feed its 1.4 billion people.

Nutrition smart agriculture (NSmartAg) is the collection of agricultural and agro-processing technologies and methodologies that enhance nutrition while boosting productivity and income at the farm and agribusiness levels. Four Steps to Promote nutrition-smart agriculture Step 1: Identification of local malnutrition problems from existing sources. Step 2: An Analysis to extract nutrient consumption levels for a set of nutrients associated with the identified malnutrition problems that pose considerable health burdens Step 3: Using the data and analysis from Step 2 to pinpoint food groups for further investigation. Step: Identification of a sample menu of validated nutrition-smart agriculture practices and technologies. World Food Programme, World Health Organization, FAO

Discover how Agrosahas International PVT LTD integrates nutrition considerations into its agriculture programs to improve health outcomes. Learn about the benefits and concepts of nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

Only 7 of the 57 OIC countries are meeting the food security goals while the rest of the countries are facing food insecurity...in 2019, the OIC countries were facing a food deficit of 65 billion dollars, while low hanging food worth 300 billion dollars go waste due to unavailability of food processing and other factors. FAISALABAD Feb 19: Agricultural scientists at an international conference have stressed upon the need for collaborated and enhanced work on climate resilient, high yielding and fortified varieties in order to ensure food and nutrition security amid the challenges of changing climate, ever-increasing population and productivity. They addressed the inaugural session of two-day conference titled emerging technologies for crop improvement jointly arranged by Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics; and Center for Advanced Studies, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that there was a huge gap between the productivity of progressive farmers and traditional farmers. We have to promote the latest trends in order to raise per acre productivity. He said that the country import wheat whereas ten percent in the average productivity will make us self-sufficient. He said UAF was developing the climate resilient wheat varieties in collaboration with Washington State University that will bring tangible results. https://lnkd.in/dd5Y9CWf

"Imagine a world where the history of hunger is only taught in books." Have you ever wondered how people on Earth will eat tomorrow? 🌱 Genetically engineered crops could be the solution. These crops are revolutionizing agriculture with traits such as pest resistance in Bt cotton and higher nutritional content in golden rice. 🌾Why do GM crops matter? We must devise novel approaches to feeding the world's billions of people. Scientists have created genetically modified crops to combat pests, such as Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and vitamin A-rich golden rice. These crops enable farmers to produce more food using less land and chemicals. According to field tests, genetically modified crops can boost yields by 22% while reducing pesticide use by 37%. 👉Safety and Benefits: GM crops provide advantages outside of the farm. They provide better food safety, better nutritional value, and less food waste. Furthermore, they are rigorously tested for safety, ensuring they are as safe to consume as any other food. Farmers benefit from disease, weed, and pest resistance because it generates more affordable seeds and lowers production costs. As we face global climate change, GM crops improve climate resilience, including drought tolerance. 👉 we make demands for change? Yes, in my opinion. Now is the moment to welcome a fresh viewpoint. We must put the debates aside and concentrate only on the facts. Eminent agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan advocates for a smoother approval process for GM crop field trials in India. Why? Because it is more than just food; it is about our future. 👉Understanding the other side. I appreciate that some people are against genetically modified crops. These concerns are relevant to the environment and our health, so we should discuss them. But let us meet them with open hearts and minds, grounded in science and compassion. 👉 Let us talk about a key idea: 🌱 Using science to create food that is good for us and the environment. We can find solutions to feed everyone in the future by using your ideas. 👉Collectively for an Improved Future I see a world where innovative farming practices result in an abundance of nutritious food available to everyone. It is a big objective, but if we work together, we can succeed. What’s your take? 👉Could special crops be the answer we’re looking for? Share your ideas in the comment section below!

Did you know? In agriculture, to maximize the results in relation to the quality and total production of your crops, it is necessary to consider even the smallest aspect of the functioning of our plants. Knowing each phase of the growth of our crops, from how they grow their roots, shoots and fruits allows us to enhance and maximize the results, through a correct nutrition according to their nutritional requirements in each of their phenological phases. Discover more information and details at sqmnutrition.com #sqmnutrition

Cracking lupin wide open. 🌱 There is archaeological evidence that lupin beans have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. Western Australia grows over 80 per cent of the world’s lupins. Lupin is rich in protein and fibre and has a low (or no recordable) glycaemic index. The legume is traditionally a common livestock feed. We helped Wide Open Agriculture harness the protein power of lupin. New food manufacturing research from Curtin University means the structure of the lupin protein can be modified to form a gel. This 'gelation' can make lupin a suitable ingredient in a wide range of previously unexplored food products. Here's how lupin can unlock opportunities for the Australian food industry. 👇

Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa The Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa is a comprehensive collection of 100 African forgotten food crops and their botanical classification, agroecological suitability, agronomic requirements, traditional and medicinal uses, value-added prospects and nutritional content. Among the entries are: African locust beans, African nightshade, baobab, Bambara nut, bush mango, cassava, fonio, marula, moringa, teff and tigernut. Also referred to as neglected, underutilized or orphan crops, these species offer valuable benefits, including nutrition and diet diversification, while supporting resilient, climate-smart agriculture. Produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s Regional Office for Africa with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Compendium is a direct response to the UN Food Systems Summit and the Call for Collective Action in the Global Manifesto on Forgotten Foods. Intended as a sourcebook to enhance the knowledge of users working on various aspects of forgotten foods, the compendium is aimed at researchers, nutritionists, policy makers, development practitioners and anyone with an interest in food and agriculture in Africa. The Compendium is a companion to the new publication Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition which explains the methodologies and analysis used to compile the Compendium.

In a landmark development challenging traditional meat production, a team of South Korean researchers has pioneered the creation of 'beef rice'. By successfully growing beef cells in rice grains, these scientists from Yonsei University are catalyzing our march towards accessible, sustainable, and environmental-friendly protein sources. This breakthrough advancement has a tremendous potential to offer a novel alternative to livestock farming. Moreover, beef rice’s superior allergy-safety profile, compared to soy or nuts, lends it a strategic edge. While the concept continues to elicit mixed reactions concerning its ability to replicate the texture and taste of real beef, its clocking at an appealingly low $2 per kg and significantly reduced carbon footprint, instills optimism for its future incorporation into our diets. Interested in knowing more about this game-changing innovation in lab-grown meat? Check out the complete story here: [https://lnkd.in/dcY9d5TN) #LabGrownMeat #FoodInnovation #SustainableFarming #ProteinSource #BeefRice #EnvironmentFriendly #YonseiUniversity

Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) is a US State Department program aiming to accelerate concerted actions on underutilized crops and maintaining healthy soils. An online workshop was convened by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the US State Department in February, 2024 where imminent researchers, development organizations, and implementing stakeholders in agriculture and nutrition sectors came together to discuss the role of consumer demand and value chain development in the success of VACS. https://lnkd.in/gQbg4Nrq