Scientists have ‘hacked photosynthesis’ in search of more productive crops

A new version of scientist-engineered photosynthesis will likely be implemented in future crops, potentially increasing plant productivity by a huge margin to feed our exponentially growing population. After finding major success with the tobacco plant, scientists have turned their gaze to major crops such as tomatoes, black-eyed peas and soybeans. Getting government regulators to approve the method’s safety, though, is a whole other ball game. Read more at NPR …

U.S. judge limits evidence in trial over Roundup cancer claims

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria will allow for Bayer-owned Monsanto’s request to keep internal company documents showcasing company misconduct from being introduced in court. Bayer still denies that glyphosate causes human cancer, though it the company is faced with more than 9,300 countrywide lawsuits over Roundup’s damaging effects. Read more at Reuters …

How Whole Foods competitor Thrive Market plans to beat Amazon

Online grocery store Thrive Market is expanding its assortment of discounted all-natural products, offering new member perks and promoting supply chain and sourcing transparency to compete with Amazon’s Whole Foods. The brand also plans to implement offline pickups and retail store integrations to boost its omnichannel presence. Read this interview with CEO Nick Green to learn more about his plan to “seize on the weaknesses Amazon’s grocery business has demonstrated." Read more at Digiday …

Mongolia, cheese and the future of dairy in the era of climate change

30 percent of Mongolian residents are nomads who depend on yak, cow, sheep, goat, horse and camel products for both their food and livelihood. However, these small farms are being crowded out of the market by large-scale producers and political upheaval, much like small-scale dairy businesses in the U.S. are. Compounded with this are the increasingly frightening effects of climate change, which make battling extreme whether the norm for Mongolian nomads living on the steppes, a reality that is closer to home than many have yet to realize.  Read more at Civil Eats  ...

Less-heralded parts of the 2018 Farm Bill will significantly help black Americans

The new Farm Bill’s Fair Access for Farmers and Ranchers Act will allow black farmers to hold onto land, as well as obtain USDA funding and assistance, without needing a title after the original owner dies without an official will. Additionally, 19 land-grant historically black colleges and universities will receive significantly more funding, correcting a long-held bias in federal funds against these institutions in favor of whiter land-grant universities. Read more at Modern Farmer  …