Four new reports highlight importance of the microbiome for food safety

FAO experts call for more systematic research into dynamic ecosystems that impact human health as well as food safety and planetary health. All evidence suggests that the microbiome, an emerging concept referring to the complex ecosystems made up of and by bacteria and other microorganisms, has powerful explanatory value for matters related to human, plant […]

Climate change could heighten risk of global food production shocks

Climate change will heighten the risk of production shocks across the world’s biggest crop producers, a new study finds. The 1972-74 food price crisis is the stuff of policy legend. At a time when grain prices had been declining for decades, the global price of wheat tripled in the space of just three years. The […]

EU countries refuse to renew glyphosate’s license

EU nations have refused to back a limited extension of the pesticide glyphosate’s use, threatening withdrawal of Monsanto’s Roundup and other weedkillers from shelves if no decision is reached by the end of the month. Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of the chemical have thrust it into the centre of a dispute among EU […]

Increasing Food Safety to boost sustainable Tourism

Part of the tourism strategy for more sustainable tourism in South Africa is the increasing of food safety and training of chefs. New jobs and enterprises are essential for securing a sustainable growth in the tourism sector. Part of the program is further training and skills development which is provided to 100 rural tourism businesses […]