GOODBYE PALM OIL, HELLO METSCHNIKOWIA PULCHERRIMA

The University of Bath is conducting come exciting research which could halt much rainforest destruction.

Green do-gooders are getting very excited about a little known yeast called Metschnikowia pulcherrima, which when put in the right growth conditions can produce an oil with almost identical properties to palm oil. 

Palm oil seems to be everywhere. It is a common ingredient in food and cosmetic products worldwide, and can be found lurking in products ranging from lipstick to cookies and shampoo to instant noodles. Even the hardline environmentalist would struggle to avoid it. 

But why has this seemingly innocent oil stirred up such a controversy? 

Palm oil is a basic source of income for many farmers in South East Asia, Central and West Africa, and Central America. It is so popular because it produces up to 10 times more oil per unit area than soyabeans, rapeseed or sunflower. 

Worryingly large areas of tropical forests and other ecosystems with high conservation values have been, and are still being, cleared to make room for vast monoculture oil palm plantations. This is destroying critical habitat for many endangered species, including rhinos,  elephants and tigers, and has resulted in large scale soil erosion and pollution. 

As if this wasn't disturbing enough, the expansion of palm oil plantations has lead to the eviction of many forest-dwelling peoples.

So lets hope that palm oil has met its match, and soon such a socially and environmentally dangerous oil will be a horror of the past. 

A DECEPTIVE CHEERIO TO GMO'S

BREAKING NEWS: General Mills now only use GMO-free oats in Cheerio's. 

As opposed to the non-existent GMO oats.

General Mills latest marketing ploy loudly declares their use of 'GMO-free' oats in an attempt to  attract the less astute but nevertheless good-willed environmentalists and health foodies. 

But the truth behind their newly plastered anti-GMO cereal boxes is that oats have managed to stay clear of Monsanto's meddling, mainly due to money.

Despite the much-loved oat packing in an impressive load of nutrients, they are an unproductive crop to harvest when compared to corn or soybeans. According to the USDA, the average revenue per acre of oats was a mere $245. Whereas corn and soybeans steam ahead with a revenue of $1,073 and $596.

This, amongst other reasons, makes oats an unattractive victim/subject for genetic engineer's. Developing genetically engineered seeds is expensive business, and there simply are not enough oat farmers or farmed oats to make this endeavour profitable.

Such empty anti-GMO claims made from General Mills divert attention away from the steps they could be taking to be true environmental custodians, such as sourcing their ingredients organically.

WOMEN DIGGING FOR VICTORY

Fighting gender inequality will have far reaching positive consequences, even helping to feed the world's hungry.

When asked to envisage a 'farmer', most of our minds seem to conjure up images of a round-bellied tweed-wearing man with a Welsh accent, or else a cowboy-booted Texan rancher sporting a disproportionately wide-rimmed hat.

So it may come as a surprise that ladies in fact make up 43% of the world's agricultural labour force. Our stereotypes clearly need some re-tinkering.

Yet women don't have equal access to agricultural resources to make their work more productive, and this is causing the agricultural sector to be inefficient According to Oxfam 66% of the world’s work falls on women’s shoulders, yet they only earn 10% of the world’s income.

The FAO estimates that closing the gender inequality gap could increase women's yields by 20-30%, lifting 100-150 million people out of hunger.

Empowering women is a necessary step towards solving poverty and food insecurity. Lets make it happen!