The Ground Beneath Us is Moving: A 2025 Global Status Report and Manifesto for World Soil Day
As we mark World Soil Day 2025 under the banner of “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” the irony is stark. We are celebrating the vital link between urban resilience and soil health while staring down a barrel of data that suggests we are failing on both fronts. I see this year not just as a celebration, but as a…
ICAR Servers Breached Twice: Concerns Over Data Wipeout and Potential Cover-up
India’s premier agricultural research body, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and its recruitment wing, the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), have faced a serious data breach. In February and March this year, sensitive information vanished from ICAR’s main server in New Delhi. Shockingly, the backup server in Hyderabad also suffered a data wipeout…
Ensuring Food Safety: A Growing Concern for Indian Consumers
Food safety is a topic that touches everyone’s lives. From the food we buy at the local market to what’s served in restaurants, ensuring it’s safe to eat is crucial. However, in India, the system meant to guarantee this safety often faces challenges. This article explores the issues surrounding food safety in India and why…
Farming’s Future: More Food, Less Land and Water Needed
Feeding the world’s growing population is a major challenge. Experts warn that we can no longer rely on expanding farmland to produce enough food. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has released a report highlighting the need for smarter, more efficient farming methods. The world needs to produce about 50 per…
India’s Cooking Oil Imports Soar on China’s Soya Surplus
India’s demand for cooking oil has seen a significant rise, with imports from China increasing sharply. This surge is linked to a large supply of soybeans in China, leading to a surplus. China, a major global player in soybean production, has experienced a bumper crop this year. This abundance has resulted in a glut of…
Louis Dreyfus Company Becomes India’s Second-Largest Pulse Exporter, Plans Processing Mills
French agri-trading giant Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has rapidly become India’s second-largest exporter of pulses, just a year after launching its dedicated global pulses business unit. Sumeet Mittal, CEO of LDC India, shared this news during an online interaction, highlighting the company’s significant growth and future plans in the Indian market. LDC, with a history…
Farmers’ Body Warns Against Global Seed Treaty Expansion, Citing Sovereignty Risks
A prominent farmers’ organisation in India has voiced serious concerns about proposed changes to an international treaty on plant genetic resources. The Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM) is urging the Indian government to reject amendments to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). They believe these changes could seriously harm India’s…
Stricter Rules for Pesticides: New Bill to Enhance Safety and Traceability
The Indian government is set to introduce a new Pesticide Management Bill to replace old laws and bring in modern regulations. Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi announced that a draft of this bill will soon be shared for public feedback. The current laws for seeds and pesticides date back to the 1960s. Since then, the agricultural…
India Advances Gene Editing in Agriculture Amidst Internal Debate
India is making significant strides in gene editing (GE) technology, aiming to improve crops and tackle challenges like climate change. The government has actively supported GE research and development over the past few years. This push has led to the release of two gene-edited rice varieties, DRR Rice 100 and Pusa DST Rice 1. These…
Junk Food Industry’s Influence Undermines Public Health Policies
Leading medical journal The Lancet has highlighted a serious global health concern: the rising consumption of ultra-processed foods, often called junk food. These foods are linked to chronic diseases and growing health inequalities. While some food processing is normal, like turning wheat into flour, ultra-processing involves chemically altering food and adding substances to make products…
