Four-fifths of all antibiotics are consumed by the meat industry

Livestock consumption of antibiotics reached a record nearly 29.9 billion pounds in 2011.

The Food and Drug Administration, last year,  proposed a set of voluntary “guidelines”designed to nudge the meat industry to curb its antibiotics habit.  Since then, the agency has been mulling whether and how to implement the new program. Meanwhile, the meat industry has been merrily gorging away on antibiotics—and churning out meat rife with antibiotic-resistant pathogens—if the latest data from the FDA itself is any indication.

 

 

Continue reading… “Four-fifths of all antibiotics are consumed by the meat industry”

Virtual fences will transform rural America

Virtual fencing promises radical transformation by removing the mile upon mile of barbed wire stretched across the landscape.

European farmers claimed North America with fences when they first arrived.  Fences were the physical manifestation of a belief in private ownership and the proper use of land — enclosed, utilized, defended — that continues to shape the American way of life, its economic aspirations, and even its form of government. (Videos)

 

 

Continue reading… “Virtual fences will transform rural America”

Saving the Planet by Eating Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies

Chinese woman selling scorpions on a stick

A Chinese woman selling scorpions on stick in Beijing, where the delicacy is fried in cooking oil.

Saving the planet one plateful at a time does not mean cutting back on meat, according to new research: the trick may be to switch our diet to insects and other creepy-crawlies.

 

Continue reading… “Saving the Planet by Eating Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies”

CartaSense Helps Monitor Swine Health For Potential Viral Outbreaks

cartasense-chip-swine-flu

CartaSense chip

Cartasense is monitoring animals at home and on the range
It won’t help this time around alleviating the swine flu outbreak, but the Israeli company CartaSense has invented a chip to monitor swine health to nab potential viral outbreaks early.

 

Continue reading… “CartaSense Helps Monitor Swine Health For Potential Viral Outbreaks”

Amazing Vertical Farm For Vancouver

Amazing Vertical Farm For Vancouver

Vertical farm for Vancouver’s 2030 Challenge 

Vertical farms are one of our favorite future-forward concepts for creating sustainable cities. Providing locally-grown produce and food will not only help us reduce our carbon emissions significantly, but also help us become healthier. Romses Architects recently came up with an amazing concept for a vertical farm in Vancouver as part of the City’s 2030 Challenge. Complete with a tower for growing fruits and vegetables, a livestock grazing plane, a boutique dairy farm, commercial space, transit lines, renewable energy and more, the Harvest Green Tower has the potential to be a food growing, energy producing, living, breathing sustainable transit hub. (Pics)

Continue reading… “Amazing Vertical Farm For Vancouver”

Pedigree Dogs Are Becoming Stupid

mop-dog.jpg

I just yelled “BANG”and look what happened!

Pedigree dogs have become increasingly stupid as they are now bred for their looks, not their brains, according to new research.

Their mental and physical agility of many breeds is being eroded as owners now look for docile, pretty pets to live in their homes.

In the 19th century dogs were more likely to be selected for their strength and skills, so they were able to earn their keep guarding homes and livestock and fetching the quarry on a hunting trip.

But a significant change in breeding trends has meant the ancestors of these proud working dogs are now less responsive to commands and not as alert or attentive.

Scientists in Sweden have found strong evidence that breeding for appearance has led to a decline in intelligence.

Continue reading… “Pedigree Dogs Are Becoming Stupid”

Study Implicates Climate As A Major Driver Of Wildfires

Study Implicates Climate As A Major Driver Of Wildfires 

Climate has been implicated by a new study as a major driver of wildfires in the last 2,000 years. But human activities, such as land clearance and fire suppression during the industrial era (since 1750) have created large swings in burning, first increasing fires until the late 1800s, and then dramatically reducing burning in the 20th century.

Continue reading… “Study Implicates Climate As A Major Driver Of Wildfires”

Nanotechnology Applied To Dairy Farm Monitoring

Nanotechnology Applied To Dairy Farm Monitoring

 Cowbell Monitoring Device

Nanotechnology is among the most rapidly growing fields of science. It finds application in the most peculiar, yet logical, of places. For instance, dairy farm monitoring may not sound complex enough for nanotechnology application.

Continue reading… “Nanotechnology Applied To Dairy Farm Monitoring”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.