Podcasts about agricultural research

In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, the team sits down with Dr. Jayson Lusk, Vice President and Dean of Agricultural Programs at Oklahoma State University, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of agriculture and leadership in higher education. Dr. Lusk reflects on his journey from researcher to administrator, the challenges of guiding a land-grant institution, and how he stays grounded in the needs of Oklahoma's producers. The discussion explores the evolving role of faculty engagement, the value of public communication, and how Extension can remain impactful in an increasingly digital world.The episode also covers Dr. Lusk's strategic vision for OSU agriculture, including plans to revitalize off-campus facilities, launch a beef center of excellence, and leverage big data and AI to support producer decision-making. With insights into the delicate balance of university leadership and the importance of staying connected with faculty and stakeholders, this conversation offers practical value for anyone invested in the future of agricultural research and outreach.Key Takeaways Leadership Through Service: Dr. Lusk's path to administration was driven by a desire to amplify impact, not personal ambition.Extension Still Matters: Public-facing efforts like podcasts and producer engagement remain central to OSU's land-grant mission.Strategic, Not Micromanaged: Dr. Lusk emphasizes empowering faculty and fostering collaboration over top-down control.From Data to Decisions: OSU aims to invest in tools that help producers turn data into practical, on-farm choices.Modernizing Infrastructure: Upgrading aging research farms and facilities is a top priority to support future ag innovation.Beef and Wheat Focus: Strategic investment is centered on Oklahoma's two leading ag sectors—cattle and wheat.Funding Realities: OSU's ag programs benefit from strong state support, offering resilience amid federal funding uncertainty.Collaboration Counts: Lusk believes faculty success drives college success—and that includes interdisciplinary teamwork.Measuring Impact, Not Just Output: Dr. Lusk calls for better ways to reward high-impact work that goes beyond publication metrics.Producers as Stakeholders: Oklahoma taxpayers fund OSU's ag work, and deserve results they can see in the field.Timestamps:00:04 - Welcome and episode intro03:16 - Dr. Lusk's path from faculty to administration07:08 - Strategic decisions in leadership roles13:33 - Navigating university structure and transitions18:42 - Measuring impact in research and extension30:56 - Challenges and strategy behind the new OSU Ag Hall34:28 - Dr. Lusk's strategic vision for OSU Agriculture38:24 - The future of ag data, decision tools, and AI RedDirtAgronomy.com

IFPRI Policy Seminar Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events Organized by IFPRI, Food Policy, and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations June 11, 2025 Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, and economic shocks in various agricultural systems. Governments around the world have long implemented policies to enhance agricultural productivity through inorganic fertilizer application and soil management, yet recent global disruptions, from the 2020–2022 food, fuel, and fertilizer price crisis to ongoing climatic uncertainties, have challenged the effectiveness of these interventions. Authors and editors of the special issue will present evidence on the medium-term effects of rising fertilizer prices and their implications for global demand, highlighting the disproportionate effects on smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. The discussion will also cover issues related to the role of targeted subsidy programs, integrated soil fertility management, and site-specific nutrient approaches. A panel of fertilizer experts will discuss how these insights can support policymakers seeking to mitigate price volatility, strengthen soil health, and ensure resilience in agricultural production, particularly during adverse weather events and economic shocks. This seminar offers critical perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders working to build more sustainable and equitable food systems in an increasingly uncertain world. Introduction and Opening Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Christopher Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY A synthesis of recent evidence on the policy dimensions of fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Country and cross-country policy experience: A conversation with the authors Moderated by David J. Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling, IFPRI Akuffo Amankwah, Senior Economist, World Bank Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Jaweriah Hazrana, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Arizona State University Pauline Chivenge, Senior Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Panel Discussion: How do we build resilience to future shocks in international and domestic fertilizer markets? Moderated by Charlotte Hebebrand, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Peter Odhiambo Owoko, Head, Policy Coordination, Directorate of Agricultural Policy Research and Regulations, State Department for Crop Development & Agricultural Research, Kenya Latha Nagarajan, Director, Sustainable Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods with Soils (SOILS) Consortium, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Shamie Zingore, Director of Research and Development, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Avinash Kishore, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Closing Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/fertilizer-soil-health-and-economic-shocks-policy-lessons-learned-from-recent-events/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Barry Broome, President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. Dane and Barry explore Sacramento's remarkable economic transformation. Barry highlights how Sacramento has leveraged its strategic location 72 miles east of San Francisco to become one of America's premier second-tier markets, emerging as a semiconductor hub while diversifying into clean tech and agricultural research sectors. Throughout the conversation, Barry shares his data-driven approach to economic development, his passion for working with underdog cities, and the challenges he overcame to build community trust and create a thriving economic ecosystem in California's capital region. Barry shares insights on economic development, leadership, and the importance of data-driven decisions in driving regional growth. The episode also covers his personal background, emphasizing Barry's passion for economic development in underdog cities and his experiences in navigating and overcoming initial challenges to build a thriving community. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:20 Discovering Sacramento 02:40 Sacramento's Economic Growth 04:40 Semiconductor Hub Vision 09:44 Infrastructure and Utilities 11:41 Target Sectors Beyond Semiconductors 14:08 Barry Broome's Journey 21:16 Challenges and Achievements 25:20 Building a Strong Board 29:05 Barry's Background and Philosophy 34:55 Conclusion and Contact Information Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Leverage your geographic proximity to major economic centers; Sacramento's 72-mile distance from San Francisco became a strategic advantage rather than a limitation. Diversify your economic base beyond traditional anchors; Sacramento moved beyond government dependence to semiconductors, clean tech, and agricultural research. Position your community as a second-tier market alternative to expensive primary markets, offering similar talent and infrastructure at better cost basis. Use data-driven decision making to guide your economic development strategy and demonstrate measurable results to stakeholders. Build strong board governance early; invest time in assembling committed leaders who can provide stability and strategic direction. Target emerging sectors where your region has natural advantages; Sacramento capitalized on its research universities and proximity to Silicon Valley for semiconductor development. Develop compelling narratives around your community's diversity and quality of life as competitive advantages for business attraction. Address infrastructure and utilities proactively as foundational elements for sector-specific development strategies. Embrace your role as an "underdog city champion"; sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are in communities others overlook. Focus on long-term relationship building and community trust, understanding that transformational economic development takes years to achieve and sustain. Special Guest: Barry Broome.

In case you missed it, one of Dom's picks of the week is this chat with Scott Lawson, Organics Aotearoa board member and organic grower and exporter, about why OANZ believes the proposed Gene Technology Bill will have devastating impacts on the organic sector, his reaction to a recent article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research looking at the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries and why organic producers will likely bear the financial burden of adapting to the risks posed by GMO expansion. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Scott Lawson, Organics Aotearoa board member and organic grower and exporter, about why OANZ believes the proposed Gene Technology Bill will have devastating impacts on the organic sector, his reaction to a recent article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research looking at the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries and why organic producers will likely bear the financial burden of adapting to the risks posed by GMO expansion... And he talks with Repost founders Greg and Dansy Coppell about its new collaboration with Kaituna Mill, the origins of the business and approaching the million-post milestone. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Scott Lawson, Organics Aotearoa board member and organic grower and exporter, about why OANZ believes the proposed Gene Technology Bill will have devastating impacts on the organic sector, his reaction to a recent article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research looking at the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries and why organic producers will likely bear the financial burden of adapting to the risks posed by GMO expansion. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

In case you missed it, one of Dom's picks of the week is this chat with Grasslanz Chief Technical Officer John Caradus about a new article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research examining the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries, why it's challenging but achievable and why NZ needs to learn from past mistakes and determine effective methods for ensuring co-existence of GM, non-GM and organic farming systems. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Grasslanz Chief Technical Officer John Caradus about a new article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research examining the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries, why it's challenging but achievable and why NZ needs to learn from past mistakes and determine effective methods for ensuring co-existence of GM, non-GM and organic farming systems... He talks with Molesworth Station Farm Manager Jim Ward about the extraordinary decades-long effort to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from NZ's largest station, what it took to get there and the sense of achievement at having finally reached the milestone... And he talks with WeatherWatch CEO Phil Duncan about the severe weather expected this week, what's causing it and which parts of the country are likely to be hit the hardest. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Grasslanz Chief Technical Officer John Caradus about a new article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research examining the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries, why it's challenging but achievable and why NZ needs to learn from past mistakes and determine effective methods for ensuring co-existence of GM, non-GM and organic farming systems. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Antony Chapoto, Executive Director of the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) Secretariat. They discuss the importance of localization and capacity building to improve food and agriculture systems across Africa, the effect that soil degradation has had on farmers' productivity, and the importance of providing a pathway for young people to retain talent in Africa. Plus, hear how farmers are responding to the U.S. government's recent funding decisions, how Mexico is taking a stand against genetically modified corn to protect biodiversity and the country's cultural heritage, and recent steps in the United Kingtom to protect pollinators.  While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jean Noblet, a consultant in monogastric nutrition, explores the evolution of energy evaluation in poultry feeds. He discusses the shift from metabolizable energy to net energy systems, the impact of ingredient variability, and key factors affecting feed efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!"Feed cost is the biggest production expense, and energy makes up nearly three-quarters of that cost. Optimizing energy efficiency is critical."Meet the guest: Dr. Jean Noblet is a retired researcher from INRAE (National Institute for Agricultural Research) in France. He holds an Agronomist Engineer degree and a Ph.D. in Nutrition. His research focused on energy and protein nutrition in swine, poultry, and calves, with major contributions to calorimetry methods, feed energy evaluation, and modeling energy requirements. He has authored over 220 reviewed papers and co-developed the InraPorc and EvaPig software. Since retiring, he has continued consulting in monogastric nutrition.Click here to read the full research article!What you'll learn:(00:00) Highlight(00:55) Introduction(02:36) Transition from swine to poultry(04:46) Importance of energy evaluation(07:20) Feed energy systems advancements(09:59) Net energy vs. metabolizable energy(11:50) Future of poultry nutrition(14:40) Closing thoughtsThe Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Kerry- BASF- Zinpro- Anitox- Poultry Science Association

There's another casualty from the Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development: Funding for agriculture research at 17 labs at U.S. universities is now frozen. We’ll discuss some of the impacts. Plus, the health of the manufacturing sector improved for the second month in a row. And, how are markets responding to government firings and a government-wide deregulation campaign?

There's another casualty from the Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development: Funding for agriculture research at 17 labs at U.S. universities is now frozen. We’ll discuss some of the impacts. Plus, the health of the manufacturing sector improved for the second month in a row. And, how are markets responding to government firings and a government-wide deregulation campaign?

In this episode of Two Bees in a Podcast, released on February 11th, 2025, Dr. Jamie Ellis and Amy Vu welcome Dr. Cecilia Costa—a Senior Researcher with the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), based in Italy—to talk about an EU funded project called BeeGuards. This episode concludes with a Q&A segment. Check out our website: www.ufhoneybee.com, for additional resources from today's episode. 

In recent years, rapid advancements in techniques for genetic analysis and manipulation have enhanced our potential to understand and improve crop diversity. An innovative project led by Dr. Pasquale Tripodi of the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Economics and Dr Sandra Goritschnig of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources marks a significant advance in the study of lettuce genetics. Their recently published research platforms a highly sophisticated technique to analyse genetic diversity within lettuces called Single Primer Enrichment Technology, or SPET for short. This approach provides a highly detailed view of lettuce genetics and also has significant implications for agricultural resilience and crop selection and breeding.

You have probably noticed that I keep coming back to the subject of agriculture on this podcast – for very good reasons – it is critical to the U.S. export economy.  And then it occurred to me – here, practically in my own backyard, in Shelby County, TN, we have the most amazing not-for-profit organization – Agricenter International. So, it is our good fortune that the President and CEO, John Butler, agreed to be my guest and enlighten us all about the Agricenter.  John's background is both unique and fascinating.  I hope you enjoy our conversation.After you've listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

What is actually occurring within a sheep with worm resistance? This week on the podcast we have a fascinating discussion with Dr Kelsey Bentley who has spent her career so far looking into the immune mechanisms of Katahdin sheep in the US. Kelsey runs us through what happens biologically within the sheep to make it ‘resistant'. She has also researched the importance of the role of colostrum in lamb immunity. Kelsey explains how it provides essential immunological benefits - particularly through IgG and IgA antibodies - and that colostrum quality varies between sheep and therefore is under genetic influence. Highlights:- The make-up of the Katahdin breed- The biology of parasite resistance- The genetics of parasite resistance- The effect of worm resistance on other traits like growth- The importance of good quality colostrum - Behavioral responses to illnessesHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: info@nextgenagri.com.Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

By 2030, Africa will account for 53 per cent of the world's population living in hunger, primarily due to climate change and worsening food shortages, the UN warns.In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki investigates how scientists are tackling the region's food crisis by exploring gene editing to develop climate-resilient crops, particularly wheat. Cristobal Uauy, a project leader in crop genetics at the John Innes Centre in the UK, tells us how gene editing can be used to strengthen wheat's resistance to diseases and increase its nutritional value.Godwin Macharia, centre director for the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), says gene editing can improve yields amid a 16 per cent decline in wheat production between 2022 and 2023.Anna Backhaus, a cereal pre-breeder at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), says gene editing requires robust policies to prevent exploitation.And Richard Shaw, director of the UK-CGIAR Centre, stresses the importance of international collaboration among organisations and countries to advance gene editing.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This episode was supported by the UK-CGIAR Centre. The UK-CGIAR Centre, hosted at CABI (CAB International, the parent organization of SciDev.Net), aims to support global food security by bringing together scientists from the UK and CGIAR to form impact-focused research collaborations. This project is funded by UK International Development.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.netDo you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Stephen Grootes talks to Johann Kirsten, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University, about South Africa's alarming underinvestment in agricultural research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Lorrie Boyer talks with Saharah Moon Chapotin, Ph.D., executive director of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), about the focus of that agency, the opportunities it gives farmers, ranchers, scientists and the full food system, and some the industry-changing research it is currently working on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Agronomy and Policy Solutions for Effective Implementation of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan Co-organized by IFPRI, CGIAR, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) September 10, 2024 CGIAR is pleased to support our regional and national partners in their implementation of the action plan emerging from the May 2024 African Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit. As the seventh policy seminar in the CGIAR series on Strengthening Food Systems Resilience, this event will examine the outcomes of the AFSH Summit and consider how to achieve the goals of the 10-year AFSH Action Plan. Bringing together diverse set of speakers, it will provide a platform for expertise exchange, collaboration, and actionable progress in advancing soil health and agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Featured speakers from the research, policy, nongovernmental, and private sectors will highlight agronomy solutions and policy frameworks that can bolster stakeholder resilience. These experts will draw on the work of two CGIAR research initiatives, Excellence in Agronomy and National Policies and Strategies, to explore the potential of agronomy at scale solutions and present strategies for developing effective policy frameworks in support of soil health, balanced plant nutrition, and increased agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Opening Remarks Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Antony Chapoto, Executive Director, Secretariat, Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) Outcome of the AFSH and Next Steps Wole Fatunbi, Ag. Director of Research and Innovation, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) Oumou Camara, Vice President of Programs, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Bernard Vanlauwe, Deputy Director General, Research for Development, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, Division “Agriculture, rural development”, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Habiba Mouttaki, Chief Commercial Officer, Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) Africa Supporting Agronomic Solutions at Scale and Enabling Policy Frameworks for Sustainable Fertilizer Management and Soil Health Job Kihara, Agronomist, Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT; Excellence in Agronomy (EiA), CGIAR John Olwande, Research Fellow, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development; National Policies and Strategies, CGIAR Claudia Ringler, Director, Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR), IFPRI Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Madhur Gautam, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Discussion Richard Mkandawire, Africa Director, Alliance for African Partnership, Michigan State University (MSU); National Planning Commissioner, Malawi Maria Wanzala, Vice President, Policy Services, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Links: More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/agronomy-and-policy-solutions-for-effective-implementation-of-the-african-fertilizer-and-soil-health-action-plan/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Why doesn't more agricultural research at the university level lead to commercialized products?

For our May conversation, brought to you by the North Dakota Soybean Council, we discuss spring planting tips for soybean farmers in North Dakota. Sarah Lovas, ND agronomist & ND State Board of Agricultural Research & Education (SBARE) Chair, joins us to share tips to get your crop off to a good start this planting season.

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by independent journalist Rahul Singh.Rahul talks about his report on the shortcomings of the public distribution system in Jharkhand. He says despite the online mechanism, food security is poor in rural areas, and instead of helping, the system “is emerging as a hurdle” for the Adivasis.Basant reported on people falsely named as beneficiaries of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in a report by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which also claimed their farm incomes doubled in 2022. He shares how he found out the factual errors in the government body's book. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:14 - Lok Sabha Election00:07:57 - Issues in getting Ration in Jharkhand00:25:21 - Farmers' income00:36:45 - RecommendationsRecommendationsRahulJawanBasantScoopMedia Ka LoktantraProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today my guests are M. Krishnan and Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan. M. Krishnan is an economist based in Chennai and Singapore, and specializes in agriculture education systems, fisheries, and aquaculture research. He is currently an advisor at Infinite-Sum Modeling Inc and was a distinguished scientist of the Agricultural Research Service of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan is an economist specializing in trade and international policy. He is a Fellow at the (NITI) Aayog, Government of India, where he formerly led the institution's sections on Trade and Commerce, Strategic Economic Dialogue, International Cooperation, and Vision India@2047. Today we are discussing their recent coauthored paper titled Indian Fisheries in the Context of WTO Regulations, published by the Mercatus Center in collaboration with Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh. We spoke about the big issues concerning fisheres, in particular, India's interests in at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently held in Abu Dhabi. Recorded March 13th, 2024. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:50) - Fisheries in India (00:13:46) - Overfishing and Illegal Fishing in India (00:19:59) - Overfishing Negotiations   (00:22:01) - Subsidies (00:26:27) - At the Negotiating Table (00:28:24) - IUUs (00:33:01) - Seasonal Fishing Ban (00:37:33) - Leading the Global South (00:45:17) - Measurement (00:48:47) - Domestic Politics (00:53:35) - The Future (00:59:38) - Outro Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Badri on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

CGIAR SEMINAR SERIES Post COP28 Priorities for Advancing Food Systems Transformation Co-organized by IFPRI, CGIAR, and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) MAR 27, 2024 - 9:30 TO 11:00AM EDT / 14:30 TO 16:00 CET Held in 2023, the planet's hottest year on record, COP28 has been heralded for its strong focus on food systems, which are simultaneously threatened by and contribute to climate change. The COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, albeit non-binding, but endorsed by almost 160 countries, emphasizes the transformative potential of agriculture and food systems in responding to climate change and ensuring global food security. Insufficient climate finance represents a significant barrier to achieving climate-resilient and low-emission food systems. Given that smallholders produce the majority of the global food supply, special attention to their finance needs is critical. As the fifth policy seminar in the CGIAR series on Strengthening Food Systems Resilience, this virtual event will take stock of food systems–related outcomes from COP28 and outline priorities for advancing them at both the international and country level in a concrete and meaningful manner. Please join a distinguished set of speakers from CGIAR, international organizations, and the policy community for this discussion on advancing both adaptation and mitigation of food systems, which will place a particular focus on climate finance and policy priorities. Taking Stock of COP28 Outcomes Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Aditi Mukerji, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Action Platform of the CGIAR Kristofer Hamel, Head, Food Systems, COP28 Presidency; UAE Climate Change Special Envoy Advancing on Climate Change Finance Geeta Sethi, Advisor and Global Lead for Food Systems, World Bank Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR; Director General, IFPRI Country level Policy Priorities and Needs Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) - Represented by Boaz Keizire, Head of Policy & Advocacy, AGRA Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank Preparing for COP29 and COP30 Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan; Member of Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan Eduardo Brito Bastos, Agronomic Engineer (ESALQ/USP) Juan Lucas Restrepo, Global Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, CGIAR; Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Moderator Roula Majdalani, Climate Change Advisor, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/post-cop28-priorities-advancing-food-systems-transformation Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

LAUNCH EVENT Global Food 50/50 Launch Event Co-organized by Global Health 50/50, IFPRI, and UN Women MAR 7, 2024 - 9:00 TO 10:30AM EST / 1:00 TO 2:30pm BST The Global Food 50/50 initiative monitors progress and holds food system organizations accountable for advancing gender-just and equitable food systems. This event marks the launch of the third annual Global Food 50/50 Report, which reviews the gender- and equity-related policies and practices of 51 global food system organizations to assess two interlinked dimensions of inequality: inequality of opportunity in careers within organizations and inequality in who benefits from the global food system. For the first time, the 2023/2024 Report expands its focus to address a policy area that plays a decisive role in promoting equality of opportunity in the workplace: the extent to which workplace policies recognize and support employees' care responsibilities. The data reveal policy attention to parental leave, but other policies related to family needs, such as child care and elder care, remain scarce. This launch event seminar will present key findings from the report and explore how this new accountability mechanism can empower a broader movement to demand more equitable and inclusive organizations across the global food system. Introductory Remarks Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI Keynote Address Jamille Bigio, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Results of 2022 Global Food 50/50 Report Jemimah Njuki, Chief, Economic Empowerment, UN Women Sonja Tanaka, Deputy Director, Global Health 50/50 Panelists Ananda Uvl, Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, East-West Seed Juan Echanove, Associate Vice President, Food and Water Systems, CARE Susan Kaaria, Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Santiago Alba-Corral, Director, Climate-Resilient Food Systems, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Closing Remarks Sarah Hawkes, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Global Health 50/50 Moderator Hazel Malapit, Senior Research Coordinator, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/global-food-5050-launch-event-0 Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Copenhagen Consensus Center's best investment papers for the sustainable development goals, published by Vasco Grilo on January 10, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum. This is a linkpost to Copenhagen Consensus Center's 12 best investment papers for the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which were published in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis in 2023. Some notes: Each paper does a cost-benefit analysis which accounts for health and economic benefits. The benefit-to-cost ratios across the 12 papers range from 18 (nutrition) to 125 (e-Government procurement). All 12 ratios are much higher than the 2.4 estimated for GiveDirectly's cash transfers to poor households in Kenya. 4 are similar to and 8 are higher than GiveWell's cost-effectiveness bar of around 24 (= 10*2.4), equal to 10 times the above. Cash transfers are often preferred due to being highly scalable, but the 12 papers deal with large investments too. As can be seen in the table below, taken from a companion post, all 12 interventions together have: An annual cost of 41 G 2020-$ (41 billion 2020 USD). Annual benefits of 2.14 T 2020-$ (2.14 trillion 2020 USD), of which 1.12 T 2020-$ are economic benefits corresponding to 14.6 % (= 1.12*1.13/(8.17 + 0.528)) of the gross domestic product (GDP) of low and lower-middle income countries in 2022. A benefit-to-cost ratio of 52.2 (= 2.14/0.041), 21.8 (= 52.2/2.4) times that of GiveDirectly's cash transfers to poor households in Kenya. I expect the benefit-to-cost ratios of the papers to be overestimates: The paper on malaria estimates a ratio of 48, whereas I infer GiveWell's is: 35.5 (= 14.8*2.4) for the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF), considering the mean cost-effectiveness across 8 countries of 14.8 times that of cash transfers. 40.8 (= 17.0*2.4) for the Malaria Consortium, considering the mean cost-effectiveness across 13 countries of 17.0 times that of cash transfers. The paper on malaria studies an annual investment of 1.1 G 2020-$, whereas GiveWell's estimates respect marginal donations. Consequently, assuming diminishing marginal returns, and that GiveWell's estimates are more accurate, that of the paper on malaria is a significant overestimate. I guess the same reasoning applies to other areas. I think 3 of the papers focus on areas which have not been funded by GiveWell nor Open Philanthropy[2]: e-Government procurement (benefit-to-cost ratio of 125). Trade (95). Land tenure security (21). As a side note, I wonder why GiveWell's (marginal) cost-effectiveness estimates do not roughly match its bar of 10 times that of cash transfers. Agricultural research and development Paper: Benefit-Cost Analysis of Increased Funding for Agricultural Research and Development in the Global South. Benefit-to-cost ratio: 33. Investment: Basic research and development, including capacity building, and technical and policy support with special focus on Low- and Lower Middle-Income countries. Research outcomes are difficult to predict, but an example could be crop yield increases using precision genetic technologies. Childhood immunization Paper: SDG Halftime Project: Benefit-Cost Analysis using Methods from the Decade of Vaccine Economics (DOVE) Model. Benefit-to-cost ratio: 101. Investment: Raise immunization coverage from 2022 levels to 2030 target for pentavalent vaccine, HPV, Japanese encephalitis, measles, measles-rubella, Men A, PCV, rotavirus, and yellow fever. Maternal and newborn health Paper: Achieving maternal and neonatal mortality development goals effectively: A cost-benefit analysis. Benefit-to-cost ratio: 87. Investment: Sufficient staff and resources at all birth facilities to deliver a package of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care and family planning services, including bag and mask for neonatal resuscitation, removal of retained products of...

With numerous questions over the EU's upcoming cut in the upper nitrates limit for 2,000 to 3,000 Irish farmers in January, Philip speaks to Eimear Cotter from the Environmental Protection Agency and Laurence Shalloo from Agricultural Research agency, Teagasc.

How does a person become the Managing Director (MD) of one of the biggest Agricultural Research & Development Corporations in the country? Well, Jason Strong accredits a lot of his success and career progression to judging livestock. For him, that's just about where it all began!With an arguably unrivalled love for cattle, livestock and agriculture more broadly, Jason is the current MD of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Oli had the opportunity to sit down with him for this episode. They cover a lot... What brings Jason joy, what he's seen in the evolution of agriculture over the years, how mindset of the industry can sure us forward in approaching challenges, the different stages of his journey and career, industry targets for carbon neutrality, communication... It's a jam-packed episode. 

In which two non-scientists discuss agricultural research and the philosophy of science. Reading: Chapters 8-11 of The Dialectical Biologist (1985) by Richard Lewontin and Richard Levins Send us a question, comment or valid concern: auxiliarystatements(at)gmail.com DISCORD: https://discord.gg/KQGJNY3G LINKTREE: linktr.ee/AuxiliaryStatementsPodcast

he future of farming lies with young farmers and rural youth. But how do we go about engaging young people in agriculture to enhance productivity and empower individuals. That's the question we want answers to in this podcast. First we talk to IFAD's lead youth expert, Rahul Antao. We also hear from Mollie Brennan about the Decent Work for Equitable Livelihoods Coalition. And then we speak to Emma Federica about the effects the “Grassroots Approach” has on projects. Following that, we'll have Genna Tesdall, director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, guiding us through the opportunities that food systems present for young farmers. Also Jaron Porciello, Co-Director of Hesat2030, discusses the future of AI in food systems. The latest Recipes for Change Chef - Chef Colonna - tells us about combining farm fresh food with gourmet tastes as joins us from his home in Labico, Rome. And to end this episode we hear from The Agricultural Research for Development Unit. A team dedicated to bringing agricultural research from the lab to the field. This is Farms.Food.Future – a podcast that's Good for You, Good for the Planet and Good for Farmers brought to you by the International Fund for Agricultural Development. For more information: https://www.ifad.org/en/podcasts/episode47 https://www.ifad.org/recipes-for-change https://www.ifad.org/en/youth https://decentworkinfoodsystems.org/ https://www.donorplatform.org http://antonellocolonna.it/resort-spa/ https://www.ifad.org/en/agricultural-research-for-development

Listen in as we engage in a riveting conversation with two remarkable experts, Dr. Megan Hall and Dr. Mizuho Nita, about sour rot, a challenging disease that can significantly impact winegrapes. Through this discussion, we gain a deeper understanding of sour rot, exploring how to identify it, why and how it occurs, and the various organisms and insects involved. Megan shares her unique insights and invaluable experience in managing sour rot in grapes. We also delve into her ground-breaking research on the disease and offer practical advice on how to prevent it in vineyards. We also discuss control strategies for sour rot disease, highlighting the importance of timely spraying before symptom development. Megan and Mizuho share their collective wisdom on the three primary contributors to sour rot. They then shed light on their research findings regarding the best combination of antimicrobial plus insecticide sprays. Additionally, Mizuho shares his expertise on alternative options to oxidate, such as bio fungicides, which could potentially reduce the impact on fermentation. As always, we ensure to wrap up the conversation by sharing valuable resources for our listeners, equipping grape growers with the knowledge needed to manage this challenging disease. In this episode, you will hear: Why and how sour rot occurs. The signs and symptoms of sour rot. The role that insects & microorganisms play in causing and spreading sour rot. What cultural practices play a role in prevention. Alternative products for preventing and treating sour rot. The importance of proper spray timing and planning to prevent resistance development from over-spraying. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Resources: If you have questions about today's episode or other grape growing questions, use the Ask Fritz button at VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com. Access free Virtual Viticulture Academy Grower Guide videos and how-to-guides.  Or take your grape growing knowledge to the next level with an annual Virtual Viticulture Academy membership – use the code Underground to save $75 on your first year of membership. Today's Guest: Dr. Megan Hall holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology from Cornell University and an M.A. from York University in Sociology and Law.  Megan spent seven years on a groundbreaking research project focused on the causes of sour rot. Prior to this research, growers' tools for managing sour rot were limited because the causal organisms of the disease were unknown. Following this research, Megan served as an Assistant Research Professor and Viticulture Program Leader at the University of Missouri before joining E. & J. Gallo Winery as a Research Scientist in the Winegrowing Research division. She now works as an independent research-based scientific consultant specializing in agriculture and fermentation with Terroir Consulting Group. Connect with Megan: Email: megan@terroirconsultinggroup.com  Terroir Consulting Group: https://www.terroirconsultinggroup.com  Dr. Mizuho Nita holds both a Ph.D. and M.S. in Plant Pathology from Ohio State.  He is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist of grape pathology at Virginia Tech's Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, VA. He also serves as a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at Shinshu University in Japan.  His academic interest is in the areas of applied plant pathology and plant disease epidemiology. His current research projects include:  Use of a biological control agent for grapevine crown gall Management of grape-ripe rot Epidemiological studies of grapevine leafroll-associated virus and its vectors  Grape disease management tool (GrapeIPM.org) Trunk diseases Organic and alternative fungicides Mizuho provides loads of helpful information and research data via his blog, including the Sour Rot Trial he mentions during the podcast. Learn more about GRAPEIPM.ORG - An online system to help you keep track of fungicide inventory, spray scheduling, share the schedule, and keep and print records of actual spray application. Connect with Mizuho: Email: nita24@vt.edu  Website: https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/alson-h-smith/people/nita-bio.html  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrapePathVATech  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In Episode 20 of This is Ag Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha C. Taylor, the talented assistant winemaker for Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles. Samantha's remarkable journey into the world of winemaking began with a strong desire to pursue her passion for wine. Little did she know that this decision would lead her down a rewarding and inspiring path. Samantha's story serves as a powerful reminder of the opportunities that arise when one follows their heart and embraces their true calling.Over thirteen harvests, she has become an integral part of the winemaking team, working alongside winemaker Austin Hope. Samantha's enthusiasm and dedication shine through as she oversees the daily operations of winemaking, ensuring the production of award-winning wines that set the standard for Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. Working for Hope Family Wines, she has learned the importance of teamwork, creativity, and being humble in the face of nature's uncertainties. This particular winery has allowed Samantha to excel and grow as a winemaker. As a testament to her hard work and the winery's commitment to excellence, Hope Family Wines was named the American Winery of the Year.Throughout the podcast, we delved into the intricacies of winemaking, from vineyard decisions to blending wines and considering consumer expectations. Samantha also shared her experiences as a participant in the WomenAg Leadership Academy, which offers an inspiring space for ambitious women to foster personal and professional growth while exploring and honing their leadership talents. During the episode, she highlights the camaraderie and personal growth the academy offers. Overall, this episode provided an insightful and inspiring look into the world of winemaking, the power of teamwork, and the potential for personal growth. Samantha Taylor's journey serves as a testament to the rewards of passion and hard work in the wine industry, and her story resonates with wine enthusiasts and aspiring winemakers alike. Listeners are sure to gain valuable insights into the creative and dynamic world of winemaking, leaving them eager to uncork new opportunities in their own pursuits.Hope Family Wines website - https://hopefamilywines.com/This episode is sponsored by UnitedAg,  one of the largest association health plans to offer healthcare to the agriculture industry of California and Arizona.  Kirti Mutatkar, President and CEO of UnitedAg. Reach me at kmutatkar@unitedag.org, www.linkedin.com/in/kirtimutatkarUnitedAg website - www.unitedag.orgEpisode Contributors - Samantha Taylor, Kirti Mutatkar, Paul Lecrone, Melanie LarsenThe episode is also sponsored by Brent Eastman Insurance Services Inc. - https://brenteastman.com/BlueShield of California - https://www.blueshieldca.com/EliteMedical - https://www.elitecorpmed.com/Gallagherhttps://www.ajg.com/SAINMedical https://sainmedical.com/

Join us as we talk to Ashish Jhina, the Co-founder  Jumbotail  about their story. In 2005, Ashish earned a dual degree in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from IIT Delhi. He later pursued an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an MS in Environment and Resources—Freshwater from Stanford University in 2011. During his time at IIT Delhi, Ashish gained valuable experience interning at the Technical University of Denmark and the French National Institute of Agricultural Research. Subsequently, he worked with prominent companies such as Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Moutain Hazelnuts. In 2009, he co-founded a company named NextDrop before co-founding Jumbotail in 2015. Ashish's dedication to excellence and his commitment to empowering retailers have resulted in Jumbotail being recognized as a transformative force within the industry. Apart from his contributions to Jumbotail, Ashish is highly regarded as a leading figure in the entrepreneurial community. For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/

(0:40) - Tackling counterfeit seeds with "unclonable" labels

Join Frank Carey, Field Research Development Team Leader, and Ron Estes, Manager of the Midwest Agricultural Research Center (MWARC), as they introduce you to the MWARC, the technologically advanced research center located just outside of Champaign, Illinois. Frank and Ron explain how their research benefits growers across the Midwest and beyond. 

Join Pat Clay, Field Development Manager, and Matt Griffin, Senior Manager at the Mid-South Agricultural Research Center (MSARC) as they introduce MSARC in Leland, Mississippi. Pat and Matt discuss MSARC's ongoing research projects and explain how this research is unique to conditions in the mid-south where irrigation, disease, weed and insect resistance are common.

On "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" Dani speaks with Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF (the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development). They discuss how CORAF is taking an integrated approach to tackle agricultural issues in 23 countries across the African continent, the benefits and limitations of international humanitarian aid, and moving away from buzzwords to respond to the expressed needs of communities. This conversation was part of a live, virtual event available only to Food Tank members, which featured a special Q&A session not included in the episode. To access these discussions and have the chance to pose your own questions to changemakers transforming our food and agriculture systems, head to foodtank.com/join and find a membership level that works for you. New members also receive a special gift from Food Tank when they sign up.  While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

In the Bekaa Valley region of Lebanon, there is a giant walk-in fridge housing tens of thousands of seeds. They belong to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Scientists from around the world use the seeds for research. ICARDA seeds have improved food security in several countries. They've transformed Ethiopian agriculture to use more drought-resistant crops. A new chickpea can be planted in winter. And now, NPR's Middle East correspondent Ruth Sherlock has found that some scientists are turning to the seed bank for answers to a hotter, drier planet. They're hoping ICARDA seeds will lead to breakthroughs in certain crops' resilience to the effects of climate change. Read more of Ruth's reporting: https://n.pr/3IZB2OdCurious about other potential climate solutions scientists are researching? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

The pace of the world continues to quicken, and patience is sometimes tossed aside. However, agricultural research remains an area where a lot of time is needed to get the best results.Whether on our research farm in Burley, Idaho, or through third parties, the process of quantifying benefits from Redox Bio-Nutrients products can take several years. Dozens of trials are underway or planned at farms across the U.S., with commodities ranging from melons in the Arizona Desert to sugar cane in Florida.The hard work has a payoff, as research has identified hundreds of successful results from Redox products that ultimately help farmers do their job.Redox Bio-Nutrients Head of Science, Gifford Gillette, was raised on a farm and has a passion for making a tangible difference to assist farmers and, ultimately, consumers. He said agricultural research is exciting – and vital.“Down the road and now, we're providing access to technology that isn't 50 years old,” he remarked. “What that means is we can provide greater efficiency in what is delivered, and that's always going to be better for the grower. Buying less, transporting less, delivering less to the field. We do the work to make sure they continue to bring in the yield that they're used to, if not better.”

In today's deep dive, we’ll look at the decline in funding for agricultural research and some possible consequences.

Antibiotics can be wonder drugs. Not only do they save lives, but they can also make farm animals fatten up more quickly. But their overuse hurts everyone as the germs they are designed to kill evolve more and more defenses, giving rise to superbugs that infect people and animals alike.The ROADMAP project aims to find better ways to help farmers and food producers use fewer antibiotics. In this episode of One World, One Health, we're chatting with Dr. Nicolas Fortané, a senior researcher in sociology at the French Institute for Agricultural Research, part of Paris-Dauphine University.He's working to understand the relationships that lead to the continued overuse of antibiotics. It's one thing to ask farmers and veterinarians to lay off these useful drugs but quite another to expect them to lose their livelihoods if they try.Listen as Dr. Nicolas Fortané explains what he has learned about what works.

Agricultural productivity has benefitted from public investment into ag R&D, but the US is falling behind.

Videos: Society is going to COLLAPSE -Neil Oliver ( 5:24) Fear Psychosis and the Cult of Safety – Why are People so Afraid?  – Academy of Ideas (13:25) The Great Reset and Transhumanism | Beyond the Cover (17:50) We can be Brainwashed if allowed (Macdonald) MEP Clare Daly calls out EU on wanting to supply arms to Ukraine but not Palestine or Yemen Antioxidants may reduce oxidative stress in men with prostate cancer Universities of Connecticut, Louisiana State, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California , November 3, 2022 This latest paper – which looked at men with prostate cancer from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project – came in light of a growing body of evidence suggesting oxidative stress plays a role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. The researchers looked at biomarkers of oxidative stress in the blood, urine and prostate tissue.  They found a greater antioxidant intake was associated with lower urinary 8-isoprostane concentrations.  A 10% increase in antioxidant intake saw an unadjusted 1.1% decrease in urinary 8-isoprostane levels.  8-Isoprostane has been described as a “reliable marker”  and recognised  “gold standard” for lipid peroxidation – the oxidative degradation of lipids.  “This study demonstrated that intake of antioxidants was associated with less oxidative stress among men with incident prostate cancer,” the researchers concluded in the British Journal of Nutrition.    “The results of this study and others warrant additional research in humans on the mechanisms underlying the relationship between dietary antioxidants and prostate tissue redox status and carcinogenesis, as well as determining whether this relationship may influence disease severity, progression and recurrence.”  High-intensity exercise changes how muscle cells manage calcium  Karolinska Institute (Sweden) November 2, 2022 Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered a cellular mechanism behind the surprising benefits of short, high-intensity interval exercise. Their findings, which are published in the scientific journal PNAS, also provide clues to why antioxidants undermine the effect of endurance training.  A few minutes of high-intensity interval exercise is enough to produce an effect at least equivalent to that achieved with traditional much more time-consuming endurance training. High-intensity exercise has become popular with sportspeople and recreational joggers alike, as well as with patients with impaired muscle function. However, one question has so far remained unanswered: how can a few minutes' high-intensity exercise be so effective? To investigate what happens in muscle cells during high-intensity exercise, the researchers asked male recreational exercisers to do 30 seconds of maximum exertion cycling followed by four minutes of rest, and to repeat the procedure six times. They then took muscle tissue samples from their thighs. “Our study shows that three minutes of high-intensity exercise breaks down calcium channels in the muscle cells,” says Professor Håkan Westerblad, principal investigator at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. “This causes a lasting change in how the cells handle calcium, and is an excellent signal for adaptation, such as the formation of new mitochondria.” Mitochondria are like the cell's power plants, and changes that stimulate the formation of new mitochondria increase muscle endurance. What the researchers found was that the breakdown of calcium channels that was triggered by the high-intensity exercise was caused by an increase in free radicals, which are very reactive and oxidise cellular proteins. The cells therefore have antioxidative systems for trapping and neutralising the radicals. Antioxidants, like vitamins E and C, are also present in food and are common ingredients in dietary supplements. In the present study, the researchers examined what happens when isolated mouse muscles are treated with an antioxidant before and after simulated high-intensity interval exercise. “Our study shows that antioxidants remove the effect on the calcium channels, which might explain why they can weaken muscular response to endurance training,” says Professor Westerblad. “Our results also show that the calcium channels aren't affected by the three minutes of high-intensity interval exercise in elite endurance athletes, who have built up more effective antioxidative systems.”  8 Weeks Of Mindfulness Training Can Lower Blood Pressure For Months Brown University, November 8, 2022 A custom mindfulness program which teaches people how to have healthy relationships with their diet, physical activity, alcohol use, and stress can help lower blood pressure for at least six months, a new study finds. A team with the American Heart Association found that eight weeks of mindfulness training significantly lowers systolic blood pressure readings — the top number in a blood pressure measurement. The training focused on attention control, meditation, self-awareness, and emotion regulation, using weekly group sessions and daily mindfulness exercises. “Mindfulness is non-judgmental, present-moment awareness of physical sensations, emotions and thoughts,” says lead study author Eric Loucks, Ph.D., an associate professor of epidemiology and director of the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, in a media release. “It is almost like a scientist curiously and objectively observing the information coming in through the sense organs and the mind, and then responding skillfully to that information. Mindfulness also involves the concept of remembering, or in other words, remembering to bring one's wisdom (wherever it was gained, such as from health care professionals or public health messages) into the present moment. Wisdom in the context of elevated blood pressure levels may include knowledge that evidence-based practices, such as physical activity, diet, limited alcohol consumption and antihypertensive medication adherence, can improve well-being.”The participant group included over 200 adults from the Providence, Rhode Island area who all had high blood pressure, meaning their readings were higher than 120 mm Hg systolic or 80 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). Nearly six in 10 were women (59%) and had an average age of 59. Results show the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction group saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 5.9 mm Hg. Those using enhanced usual care only saw their blood pressure drop by 1.4 mm Hg. While systolic blood pressure changed, neither group saw their diastolic blood pressure drop. In addition to improving their blood pressure, the mindfulness group also engaged in far fewer sedentary activities over the six months. Those in mindfulness training reduced their sedentary sitting by an average of 351 minutes each week. Those doing mindfulness training were also more likely to eat a heart-healthy diet and experienced less stress during the course of the study. Grapefruit Juice Supports Healthy Arteries  French National Institute for Agricultural Research, November 2022 Want to hydrate your way toward a healthier heart? Then you may want to consider adding grapefruit juice into your diet. Because a recent study found that grapefruit juice enriched with the flavonoid naringenin actually improved a marker associated with arterial function. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Previous research shows citrus bioflavonoids support blood vessel function. They strengthen blood vessel walls, decrease bruising, prevent bleeding, and heal hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids are swollen veins). Of the group of citrus bioflavonoids, naringenin stands out. For the current study, 48 healthy post-menopausal women were recruited and assigned to drink grapefruit juice or a drink without flavonoids for 6 months. The grapefruit juice contained 210 mg of naringenin glycosides. According to the results of the study, the women drinking the grapefruit juice showed a lower carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, indicating a reduction in arterial stiffening. Naringenin is also found in oranges and tomatoes. It's also available as a dietary supplement and is usually found in citrus bioflavonoid formulas. Low levels of air pollution deadlier than previously thought McGill University, November 7, 2022 The World Health Organization's most recent estimates (2016) are that over 4.2 million people die prematurely each year due to long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution (often referred to as PM2.5). A recent study involving McGill researchers now suggests that the annual global death toll from outdoor PM2.5 may be significantly higher than previously thought. That's because the researchers found that mortality risk was increased even at very low levels of outdoor PM2.5, ones which had not previously been recognized as being potentially deadly. These microscopic toxins cause a range of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancers. “We found that outdoor PM2.5 may be responsible for as many as 1.5 million additional deaths around the globe each year because of effects at very-low concentrations that were not previously appreciated,” said Scott Weichenthal, an Associate Professor at McGill University and the lead author on the recent paper in Science Advances. The researchers arrived at this conclusion by combining health and mortality data for seven million Canadians gathered over a twenty-five-year period with information about the levels of outdoor PM2.5 concentrations across the country. The WHO recently set out ambitious new guidelines for annual average outdoor fine particulate air pollution, cutting its earlier recommendations in half, from concentrations of 10 to concentrations of 5 micrograms (ug) per cubic meter. The current United States Environmental Protection Agency standard of 12 (ug) per cubic meter is now more than double the value recommended by the WHO. Highly processed foods can be considered addictive like tobacco products, study claims University of Michigan & Virginia Tech University, November 9, 2022 Can highly processed foods be addictive? A new University of Michigan and Virginia Tech analysis took the criteria used in a 1988 U.S. Surgeon General's report that established that tobacco was addictive and applied it to food.  Based on the criteria set for tobacco, the findings indicate that highly processed foods can be addictive, said lead author Ashley Gearhardt, U-M associate professor of psychology, and Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, assistant professor at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech.  In fact, the addictive potential for food such as potato chips, cookies, ice cream and French fries may be a key factor contributing to the high public health costs associated with a food environment dominated by cheap, accessible and heavily marketed highly processed foods, the researchers said.  The research, published in the current issue of Addiction, offers evidence that highly processed foods meet the same criteria used to identify cigarettes as an addictive substance:  They trigger compulsive use where people are unable to quit or cut down (even in the face of life-threatening diseases like diabetes and heart disease) They can change the way we feel and cause changes in the brain that are of a similar magnitude as the nicotine in tobacco products They are highly reinforcing They trigger intense urges and cravings  DiFeliceantonio said the ability of highly processed foods to rapidly deliver unnaturally high doses of refined carbohydrates and fat appear key to their addictive potential. Highly processed foods contain complex substances that cannot be simplified to a single chemical agent acting through a specific central mechanism. The same can be said for industrial tobacco products, which contain thousands of chemicals including nicotine, Gearhardt said. Poor diets dominated by highly processed foods now contribute to preventable deaths on par with cigarettes. Similar to tobacco products, the food industry designs their highly processed foods to be intensely rewarding and hard to resist, the researchers said. 

Agricultural research at land-grant universities is an important part of the story of the success of U.S. agriculture of the past century. One university researcher working on mitigating the livestock industry's role in climate change came under attack this week for the sin of… working with the livestock industry?This week the New York Times and the environmental activist group Greenpeace targeted the CLEAR Center at the University of California-Davis, and the efforts of the Center and its founder to reduce the footprint of animal agriculture by calling to question the Center's source of funding and its close ties to animal agriculture groups. Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the Center and a University of California-Davis faculty member, joined us Thursday on the Feedstuffs 365 livestream channel to share his thoughts on why it's important that animal agriculture works together to address the issue of sustainability, and to respond to the attacks on his credibility.Watch the full interview with Dr. Mitloehner at Feedstuffs 365; he discusses sources of funding in agricultural research and what the attacks on his work say about the broader effort of activist groups to put animal agriculture out of business. You can also read more of our coverage of the impacts of climate change on the livestock industry in the pages of Feedstuffs. You can find our latest issue and past editions by visiting Feedstuffs.com and clicking on “Digital Editions.”

The use of chickens in agricultural research: an eye-opening look at unspeakable cruelty. By Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns at UPC-Online.org. Original post:  https://upc-online.org/pp/summer2022/use_of_chickens_in_agricultural_research_an_eye-opening_look_at_unspeakable_cruelty.html   Latest AVMA Petition: https://hsvma.memberclicks.net/vsdpetition?servId=8576#!/ Petition for Non-AVMA Veterinarians and non-veterinarians: https://www.ourhonor.org/stopvsd United Poultry Concerns, founded by Karen Davis, is a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl including a sanctuary for chickens in Virginia. Karen is the author of numerous books, essays, articles and campaigns advocating for these birds. Her latest book is For the Birds: From Exploitation to Liberation: Essays on Chickens, Turkeys, and Other Domesticated Fowl.  Also please check out their excellent podcast called "Hope for the Animals", hosted by longtime animal advocate and author Hope Bohanec. She has great conversations with expert guests, and definitely check out the ‘Reason for Vegan' series, and the ‘microsanctuary' series. I highly recommend it, and you can find it all at UPC-online.org.    How to support the podcast: Share with others. Recommend the podcast on your social media. Follow/subscribe to the show wherever you listen. Buy some vegan/plant based merch: https://www.plantbasedbriefing.com/shop  Follow Plant Based Briefing on social media: Twitter: @PlantBasedBrief YouTube: YouTube.com/PlantBasedBriefing  Facebook: Facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing  LinkedIn: Plant Based Briefing Podcast Instagram: @PlantBasedBriefing   #vegan #plantbased #veganpodcast #plantbasedpodcast #plantbasedbriefing #unitedpoultryconcerns #karendavis #animalcruelty #chickens #hens #eggs #factoryfarm #avianflu #ventilationshutdown #vsd #depopulation #usda #AVMA #veterinarian  

Even if improving hypothyroidism is not currently a concern for you, stick around and listen to this episode. This “expert” came to her expertise naturally and she's sharing her health journey with you. She echoes recent podcast guests and stories of health concerns, health issues and solutions of women and how they've taken control back. They've realized not just that your health is your responsibility but that thankfully it is your choice. Your mind, and your lifestyle have so much influence on the way you feel, you look, and you thrive or simply live … and that makes this an exciting time to be alive and over 50.  00:00 My Guest:  Adalgiza Arango was told to give up. She was told to settle for 50%.  For 10 years she was glued to her pillow, napping in the parking lot of the grocery store after a routine trip to stock up, sneaking off at dinner parties to lie down, and couldn't remember where she was driving. After 10 years she reversed her Hypothyroidism. Not only that she fully recovered her knee flexibility after a motorcycle accident when doctors told her 50% would be her limit.   She's a terrible bedmaker, badass cupcake baker, and she's the microgreens lady.  Ada got her degree in Veterinary Medicine and later studied Animal Nutrition at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in France. She immigrated from Columbia to Canada and worked for biotech companies including the BC Cancer Agency. She's also studied Acupuncture at the International College of Traditional Medicine of Vancouver.  Questions we answer in this episode:   03:37 A lot of women listening can relate. Diagnosed at 40, put on Synthroid and sent home, still not feeling well. What made you keep searching? And looking for alternatives?  05:31 What was the process of creating your personal healing strategy? 09:40 What are those steps?  11:09 What would you tell a woman right now who has a thyroid issue, who's on medication whether Armour or Synthroid?  You've made more of a purpose out of your healing journey and you are  hosting a summit. What do you hope attendees will come away with?  28:37 What would be 3 tips you'd tell a woman who feels she's settling but doesn't know what else to do?  So, there is proof some can resolve hypothyroidism naturally. Could you?  Connect with Ada's Fabulous Forties and Beyond summit:  https://thefabulousfortiesandbeyond.com/debraatkinson Details: Starts Oct 24 with 1 interview per day Other Episodes You Might Like:  You, Iodine, and Thyroid Health: https://www.flippingfifty.com/iodine-and-thyroid/ Reverse Thyroid Disease: https://www.flippingfifty.com/reverse-thyroid-disease/

Today, we talk about the food matrix, ultra-processed food, and preventive nutrition with Anthony Fardet, PhD, a senior research scientist with the National Institute for Agricultural Research in France and the author of "Stop ultra-processed foods! Let's Eat True!" His main research interest is the link between the food matrix, food processing, and health potential within the context of sustainability. A food matrix, as defined by USDA, is "the nutrient and non-nutrient components of foods and their molecular relationships, i.e., chemical bonds, to each other." Dr. Fardet is a leader in preventive nutrition–a branch of nutrition that consists of producing data to define the best way to nourish oneself in order to live as long as possible in good health. Preventive nutrition includes both physiological, behavioral, technological, environmental, economic, social, cultural, and religious dimensions. He is particularly involved in promoting a more holistic view of preventive nutrition to lower diet-related chronic diseases, and to increase what he calls “the healthy life years.” He believes that human nutrition should not be explored via a pharmacological approach because food compounds are not drugs. ◘ Related Links Dr. Fardet's website https://bit.ly/3KvFenC Dr. Fardet's Researchgate page https://bit.ly/3pT1uON Harvard Health: What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for our health? https://bit.ly/3R7C1wE Ultra-Processed Foods and Food System Sustainability: What Are the Links? https://bit.ly/3QOkASa ◘ Transcript https://bit.ly/3TtD2Bc ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.