How a new way of thinking about soil sparked a national movement in agriculture

It's a simple fact, but it sends a powerful message: soil is alive. It can be healthy or not healthy. And when it's healthy, it can do some amazing things. The soil health movement, which centers around a few core principles including no tillage and maximizing diversity of plants and animals, has taken off in recent years as farmers have faced increasing costs for inputs; stagnant or even falling commodity prices; and environmental concerns. Now government agencies, universities, environmental groups, growers and more are devoting resources and brainpower to support a paradigm shift in agriculture. Read more at Ensia...

Oregon Tilth, university release organic transition report

Oregon State University's Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems and Oregon Tilth worked together on a new report that examines barriers farmers face when they transition to organic growing. The majority of the farmers surveyed for the report who had made the transition to organic said they were motivated by personal values, environmental concerns and sustainability. Weed management and cost of certification were the biggest obstacle they reported. Read more at The Packer...

How founders can ensure their companies are world-positive from the start

While term sheets often detail the technical terms of an investment, at least one investor thinks more entrepreneurs should use them to also lay out their values and commitments to sustainability, philanthropy and diversity, as well as establish how the founder-investor relationship will work. Read more at Fast Company...

This edible water bottle is how you'll drink in the future

A team of UK-based design students have created what they think could eventually become an alternative to plastic bottles. Their design uses a technique called spherification to form a food-grade membrane around a ball of ice, which eventually melts back into water. The membrane could either be eaten or composted after use. Read more at Fast Company...

This farm in a shipping container is more than just a source of local produce

Meet Zeponic Farms, a hydroponic farm that grows lettuce in an old shipping container. It partners with a George Mason University program for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and sells its produce to Sodexo, the company that operates the campus's dining services. Read more at The Washington Post...