Food Politics

Five years ago, DuPont commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to develop the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). While the Index seeks to answer a simple question – how food secure is a country? – in reality, it presents a clarion call to action for governments, farmers, non-governmental organizations and agricultural companies alike.

Hundreds of students and professionals answered the call to help fix our broken food system by looking to nature to create design solutions. Now, after receiving 86 submissions from 18 countries, the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge judges have chosen ten winning teams.

On June 9th, 2016 the Economist Intelligence Unit released its 2016 Global Food Security Index (GFSI). The GFSI, sponsored by DuPont, is an annual benchmarking index that provides a common framework for understanding the root causes of food insecurity by examining the dynamics of food systems around the world. Through this framework, the GFSI has created a unique country-level food-security measurement tool that addresses the issues of affordability, availability and utilization in 113 countries.

A recently released white paper from the DuPont Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity, “The Urban Transition: Implications for Global Food Security,” explores the urban growth landscape, the opportunities and challenges of global urbanization, and the implications of urbanization on food and nutrition security.

Is there another profession in our society that is, or perhaps should be, treated with the same respect and appreciation that we usually afford our religious ministers? I say yes, and it is another ancient profession: the farmer.

Members of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) – representing the nation’s grocers, food manufacturers and restaurants – briefed staff from the U.S. House of Representatives on the alliance’s mission and progress to mitigate food waste in the U.S.

On climate change: Urgency. Not panic, but a healthy sense of urgency. That’s what we need.

For the past five weeks, I’ve been pointing out the scary side of food waste. But guess what folks? We can do this!

Everyone seems to be trying to live a healthier lifestyle. From increasing physical activity, to practicing meditation, to consuming more mindful and sustainable foods – people are seeking information and making positive lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being, as well as the environment.

“If food waste were a country by itself, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China and the United States.”