Environment

Innovators Tackling Humanity's Biggest Problems Seek Solutions by Studying Nature

Alessandro Bianciardi wanted to help get fresh water to communities that needed it the most -- rural farmers in areas that were hardest hit by climate change-induced drought. So when he and his team of engineers and designers at the company Planet set out to create a more affordable, scalable and radically sustainable solar still, they went right to the source of the most effective R&D process they knew of -- nature itself.

We Can’t Afford Simplistic, Binary Thinking When It Comes to Food Production
As head of R&D for a major vegetable seed company, I get to travel around the world to meet with farmers and many other veggie-loving stakeholders from across the food chain. Thanks to events hosted by our seed brands, De Ruiter and Seminis, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with vegetable suppliers, grocery retailers, restaurateurs, renowned chefs, food writers/bloggers, and other stakeholders. I have also had wonderful opportunities to speak at many culinary or “foodie” events.
Farming Up: Modern Biology Will Maximize the Potential of Vertical Controlled-Environment Agriculture
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a workshop on Vertical Farming as a pre-summit event at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco. I had the pleasure of joining key leaders from this promising new industry to discuss the role that plant science and technological innovations may play in optimizing yields and delivering valuable products. My message was simple: Partnerships between seed companies and vertical controlled-environment producers, and the application of modern biology tools to create custom germplasm, will be key to enabling these new and exciting production systems, just as they are in today’s most commonly-used fruit and vegetable production systems.
PNC Foundation Supports Cool Globes Exhibit in Pittsburgh
Today, Mayor William Peduto is excited to announce the grand opening of Cool Globes in Pittsburgh. The nearly 30 large globe sculptures - described as “public art with a purpose”- will be on display in Market Square, PPG Plaza and Gateway Center through early October. Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet aims to raise awareness of and inspire viewers to take actions on climate change.
Bring Back the Native Bees
A 2007 study examined agriculture data from 200 countries and found that fruit, vegetable, or seed production from 87 of the leading global food crops is dependent upon animal pollination—more than 75 percent.

When the scientists looked at global food production from these crops, they found that 35 percent of the world’s food production comes from crops that depend on pollinators.
Ecocentricity Blog: The Placebo Effect
A placebo is contributing to the critical endangerment of an animal that has roamed the planet for tens of millions of years – the rhinoceros.
Hormel Foods, Albertsons, Vons Donate SKIPPY® Peanut Butter to Thousands of Children in Need This Summer
Hormel Foods Corporation, in partnership with Albertsons and Vons stores, donated 24,840 units of SKIPPY® peanut butter to the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to support its School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive.

The Schools’ Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive targets children living in poverty that stop receiving free meals at school when school is out for summer and often face hunger at home. In many cases, families are forced to rely on the food bank to feed their children over the summer months.

Diversity & Inclusion

USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education Announce 2018 IWitness Video Challenge Winners

In an effort to spark a social movement against hatred in all forms, USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced the winners of the 2018 IWitness Video Challenge.

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