TABLE interviews Tom Heap about his new book Land Smart in which he explores many difficult tensions and trade-offs in land use, from biofuels versus solar panels and regenerative farming to biotechnology, and tiptoes into the emotionally-laden debate of dietary change – revealing his penchant for pragmatism. 

The story from Vox Media investigates the relationship between environmental groups such as the WWF and the meat industry like McDonald’s and Cargill. It argues that companies use environmental groups to help greenwash their operations without having to commit to significant changes in practice. 

Historians and sociologists explore the influence of CGIAR, a consortium of national governments, foreign aid agencies, philanthropies, United Nations agencies, and international financial institutions, and its affiliated international research centres. It examines whether and how science-led development has changed the practices of farmers, researchers, and policymakers in five continents. 

It provides a comprehensive coverage of subjects related to food and addiction, from how the brain processes food reward and the role of the gut-microbiome in addictive eating, the contribution of industry tactics to the creation of addictive foods, and behavioural, neurological, and pharmacologic interventions, as well as the clinical, public health, legal, and policy implications of recognizing the validity of food addiction

Journalist and author Roger Thurow travels to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, India, Guatemala, Peru, and the United States highlighting innovative farming systems, from agroforestry to indigenous grains, where he explores the tensions and conflicts involved in farming and feeding communities. 

The report by Rockefeller Foundation, Pollination Group and Transformational Investing in Food Systems makes the case for more investment in regenerative agriculture, arguing that investors underestimate and mischaracterize the risks involved in conventional agriculture. It suggests that a transition to regenerative food systems will not only create positive social and environmental benefits but also significant financial returns. 

This report by the Breakthrough Institute argues for a more interventionist approach to decarbonising the food system by the US government, making up for the shortfall in private investment. In order for new food and agricultural innovations to provide climate benefits, the federal government must invest, the report says. 

Can farmers and the cultured meat industry find common cause? This report explores what UK farmers think about cultured meat and how the technology could affect them. Although cultured meat and animal agriculture industries are cast as opponents, interviews with farmers found potential synergies that could underpin a new and more productive debate. 

This paper argues that AI could transform the way we produce, distribute and manage food in a more resilient and food-secure manner. It outlines the current uses of AI in agriculture and discusses the potential uses in sectors such as crop breeding, water resource management and food waste.