A new row-cropping system in Iowa offers some reasons for optimism

An experimental farming system that involves having livestock and plants exist in the same fields at the same time in a manner can help Iowa's farmers rebuild soil health, promote biodiversity and become more economically resilient. Called the "Stock Cropper," the system allows farmers to retain more money at the end of the day while also adding jobs to the community. It consists of alternating strips of 12 rows of corn and 20 feet of annual pasture; the livestock roam in a mobile pen that prevents them from damaging the corn. Read more at Civil Eats…

For the food industry, a difficult juggle with real-world consequences: Uphold food safety standards while protecting your employees from COVID-19

Dozens of U.S. food facility workers have died from COVID-19 thus far, yet an industry-specific worker safety checklist for farms and food processors was only released by the Food and Drug Administration this week. In the checklist, FDA recommends that farms and food plants reengineer their processing lines or fields, designate a COVID-19 point person and if applicable provide housing that is appropriately socially distanced.But once again, none of these guidelines are enforceable by law. Read more at The Counter…

Nestle launches vegan alternative to tuna

As part of Nestle's far-reaching investment in plant-based food, the company is launching a new plant-based tuna under its Garden Gourmet brand. This development comes after at-home food consumption boosted drove sales for the brand's other plant-based meat alternatives in the first half of 2020. Read more at Reuters...

Sprouts grows a new brand identity

Sprouts Farmers Market has unveiled a new logo, slogan and messaging heavily influenced by its Chief Marketing Officer Gil Phipps, the architect of Kroger's Simple Truth private brand. CEO Jack Sinclair hopes the new branding message will help the retailer become recognized for elevated quality and distinction of fresh foods. Read more at Winsight Grocery Business.…

Gates 'failing green revolution in Africa'

A new white paper from the Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute shows that a Gates Foundation spinoff program that has spent billions of dollars over 14 years in an attempt to lift African farmers out of poverty and alleviate hunger across Africa has failed to fulfill its mission. The program, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has seen slow productivity growth and worsening hunger in most of the countries in which it is currently being implemented. Read more at The Ecologist…