G7 nations pledge additional $4.5 billion for food aid
Up to 323 million people worldwide are at risk of starvation due to the pandemic, climate change, global economic woes and warfare including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said the leaders of the world’s leading democracies. The Group of Seven committed an additional $4.5 billion on Tuesday “to protect the most vulnerable from hunger and malnutrition.”
Dead zone in Chesapeake Bay forecast to be smaller this year
The low-oxygen “dead zone” in the Chesapeake Bay will be markedly smaller this summer than its long-term average size, said a team of researchers on Tuesday. The scientists said the forecast was the latest sign that efforts to reduce nutrient runoff into the bay were paying off.
Miller defeats fellow House Ag member Davis in Illinois district
First-term Rep. Mary Miller easily won the Republican nomination to the House over veteran Rep. Rodney Davis in an Illinois primary election that she framed as a test of loyalty to Donald Trump. The former president endorsed Miller. Davis was one of 35 House Republicans to vote for creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Funding for biobased products: Applications will be accepted until Aug. 31 for a $10 million pilot program to develop biobased products that have a lower carbon footprint and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials. (USDA)
U.S. aims at illegal fishing: The Biden administration is cracking down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the source of 11 percent of U.S. seafood imports; while China is the biggest target, it is not mentioned by name in the national security memo. (Associated Press)
‘Faux chicken fooled me’: One in five American consumers in a national survey said they accidentally purchased a plant-based protein alternative while believing it was chicken. (National Chicken Council)
Agrivoltaics for rural vehicles: Solar panels that share space with field crops could provide the electricity to power electric vehicles in rural areas, where there is little infrastructure at present for charging the vehicles, said Oregon State University researchers. (Daily Yonder)
Trade aids food security: A resilient food system could help nations withstand unprecedented stresses by making efficient use of resources, said a new report on the value of international trade. (FAO)
