Public agricultural #R&D has high economic returns. The #EU & #China are now the largest investors, each spending ~$9 billion annually vs $5 billion by the US; #India also increased their spending and narrowed the gap with the US: doi.org/10.1002/aepp... #Agriculture #Research #Investment #Funding

Some vegetarian & #vegan men frame their lifestyle through traditional masculine norms: #independent thought (even a rebellious act that demonstrates they don't just go along with the crowd), rationality, discipline, #health, or alignment between their values & behavior: www.vox.com/future-perfe...

New shooting in Brussels: One person was wounded by gunfire on Tuesday around 23:15 on Rue de la Clinique in Anderlecht: www.7sur7.be/faits-divers... #Shooting #GunViolence #Violence #Brussels #Bruxelles #Brussel

Germany's role in the world: Humanitarian & development needs are rising worldwide, yet Germany's development assistance falls below 0.5% of its GDP in 2025—missing the target of 0.7%: venro-org.translate.goog/publikatione... #Germany #HumanitarianAid #DevelopmentAid #DevelopmentAssistance #ODA >>

A new #MetaAnalysis finds that vegetarian and vegan diets are linked to lower cancer risk (-13% and -23% for total cancer), adds to the evidence supporting much more plant-based dietary patterns in the general population: doi.org/10.1007/s106... #Review #Vegan #PlantBased #Diets #Cancer #Health

#Biotech: The EU has strong biomanufacturing capacity, but regulatory processes are complex, slow, inflexible, fragmented, costly and lack dialogue compared with the US. #Regulation is a key bottleneck for scaling biotech solutions in Europe: doi.org/10.1787/1ec2... #Innovation

Does the updated Nutri-Score better capture diet quality? Worse #nutrition – measured in a new study by the revised score – was linked to an increase in #BMI, and to an elevated risk of overweight & #obesity. These results support the use of #NutriScore as public health tool: doi.org/10.1007/s003...

Food or not? – Although total calorie production increased by 24% from 2010 to 2020, the available calories in the food system for human consumption increased by only 17% as more calories were used for livestock feed & biofuel production: doi.org/10.1088/2976... >>

A new #Review covering studies with almost 500k adults from multiple countries suggests that #PlantBased diets are linked to lower odds of #Hypertension and may also benefit type 2 #Diabetes, supporting plant-forward dietary guidance: doi.org/10.1016/j.ds... #Diets #Nutrition #PublicHealth

"Just Egg," the #PlantBased alternative to chicken #Eggs, has finally arrived on the German market. You can even use it to make choux #Pastry, and of course #ScrambledEggs etc. However, a pack (~6 eggs) costs €4.80 while a 6-pack of free-range eggs is only €2.40—this price difference may also be…

Can dietary change to reduce food-related GHG emissions worsen other environmental impacts? A new study found that such trade-offs are possible if similar products are substituted within narrow food categories (e.g. different eggs). However, for more systemic shifts… doi.org/10.1016/j.sp... >>

Dietary change requires policy support as consumer choices are largely shaped by industry & government actions. The modeling shows that… doi.org/10.1038/s430... #Consumers #Diets #FoodPolicy >>

Fortification—the addition of essential micronutrients during food processing—reduces mortality & malnutrition. Related programs are likely cost-effective in most contexts, e.g. over half the reviewed programs cost less than $150 per DALY averted. doi.org/10.1016/j.tj... >>

Of all human activities, few have as big an impact on the planet as agriculture. Globally, the agri-food system—everything that’s produced & consumed, from farm to fork to landfill—is the largest consumer of water & user of land, and one of the largest GHG emitters: drawdown.org/news/only-ha... >>

What would happen if countries aimed for food self-sufficiency? Global trade could fall by ~60% under current (BAU) diets and ~80% under the Planetary Health Diet: doi.org/10.1016/j.gf... >>

Front-of-pack warning labels on food products were introduced in Mexico in 2020. Overall sales volume remained stable, but calories, added #sugar, saturated fat, and #salt in packaged food & beverages were reduced—likely due to product reformulations: doi.org/10.1016/j.so... #Nutrition #Labeling

No negative stereotyping of #vegans or #vegetarians in a Finnish survey suggest relatively open attitudes among omnivores. This could support more positive approaches to #meat reduction in a changing cultural environment: doi.org/10.1016/j.fo... #PlantBased #Diets

Cities account for a disproportionate share of food-related environmental impacts and diet-related #health burdens, as well as associated costs—linked to higher intake of #meat, fish, dairy & eggs: doi.org/10.5194/egus...

US: Pathogens were detected in meat & poultry sold at farmers' markets—vendors often lack adequate handwashing & cross-contamination prevention practices, as well as knowledge & awareness of proper food safety measures: doi.org/10.1016/j.jf... #Meat #Poultry #FarmersMarkets #LocalFood #FoodSafety

Grocery bill too high? Shifting to #plantbased foods can be more sustainable and cut costs—by 16% for a Mediterranean diet in Spain, mainly due to replacing #meat, #fish, #eggs & dairy with legumes, nuts & some plant-based alternatives: doi.org/10.1007/s003... #groceries #costs #sustainable #legumes

In a cohort study of 1.2 m infants, those from #vegan households showed minimal differences in growth vs #infants from omnivorous households; their growth trajectories were broadly reassuring. Vegan #diets may support healthy growth in infancy: doi.org/10.1001/jama... #PlantBased #Nutrition #Health

There is strong scientific & medical consensus that homeopathy lacks reliable evidence of efficacy. Many of the strongest rejections come—after independent evaluations of the evidence—from national & international scientific bodies: edzardernst.com/2026/03/if-a... #Homeopathy #SCAM #Medicine #Health

Three shootings in one evening in Brussels: a man is fighting for his life. Another shooting took place Wednesday, bringing the total number of incidents to four in just over 24 hours: www-lesoir-be.translate.goog/735827/artic... #shootings #gunviolence #violence #Brussels #Bruxelles #Brussel

Food products with a better #NutriScore are not necessarily more expensive than those with a worse score, according to an analysis of 28k products in France = Better nutrition can be accessible also to lower income households: www-santepubliquefrance-fr.translate.goog/presse/2026/... #labeling >>

Producing protein by raising, feeding & slaughtering animals can consume 10x more land than getting the protein directly from crops. Cell cultivation & precision fermentation could produce the same quality & quantity of protein on 100x less land: theconversation.com/how-a-new-pl... #protein #landuse

Industry-aligned researchers shape the debate on livestock & climate by using selective evidence and building supportive coalitions to set the agenda. This can increase public uncertainty and delay policy action on meat & dairy: doi.org/10.1007/s104... #Livestock #Meat #Dairy #PR #ClimateChange

The livestock industry frames any conversation around meat & dairy reduction as an attack on choice, health & farmers to sow divisions & delay reform, presenting itself as already ‘doing its bit’ based on a few pilot projects: changingmarkets.org/report/dange... #Livestock #Meat #Dairy #Lobbying #PR

#Plantbased and fungi-based foods offer an alternative to animal-sourced foods with similar sensory experience. Substituting processed #meat, #milk or #yogurt with such alternatives can lead to meaningful #environment gains without compromising overall #nutrition adequacy: doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

Adherence to plant-based diets, incl. the environmentally-friendly EAT-Lancet diet, is linked to lower risk of mortality and to longer life expectancy, according to a new study of two nationwide cohorts with +150k participants: doi.org/10.1007/s113... #PlantBased #Diets #Mortality #LifeExpectancy

Adding a label "contains animal-based ingredients" to all such food products significantly increased the selection of plant-based options in a new study simulating an online shopping environment: doi.org/10.1016/j.ap... >>

Global food supplies could be badly hit if the #Iran war drags on. The cost of raw materials in #fertilizer already rocketed and not all countries can afford higher #prices. Yet, for key crops, if they don't get fertiliser, #yields can be much lower: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m... #foodsecurity

Plant-based meat dishes help the #hospitality industry progress toward net zero, yet most guests order traditional #meat dishes. Watching a video about the manufacturing of #plantbased meat simulated ordering of a plant-based meat dish by increasing curiosity: doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... #catering

Replacing red meat with plant-sourced products may lead to a more favorable metabolic risk profile: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #Health #Nutrition #PlantBased #Diets #Meat

Genes capable of creating antibiotic-resistant superbugs have been detected in UK’s largest lake, which supplies drinking water. Testing found genes resistant to many antibiotics, incl. drugs reserved for life-threatening infections when everything else failed: www.theguardian.com/environment/... >>

The transition toward alternative proteins is no longer a niche phenomenon but rather a systemic & multi-actor process involving consumers, producers, retailers, policymakers & civil society: doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-...

Grain zinc, iron & protein concentrations in new wheat varieties have declined since the 1960s. Combining agronomic & genetic #Biofortification is key for improving grain nutrient concentrations and addressing micronutrient deficiencies: doi.org/10.1038/s430... #Nutrition #PlantBreeding #Fertilizer

EU Scientific Advisors: #Agriculture must step up action on #climate mitigation. Reform subsidies, make GHG emitters pay, promote climate-friendly (i.e. plant-based) diets, and fund support for farmers & the transition: climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/reports-and-... #Subsidies #PlantBased #Farmers

Adult male Pacific walruses are 220-350 cm long and weigh 800-1700 kg, i.e. their BMI is around 150! 🫣 #Walrus #Walruses #Weight #BMI #TIL #FunFact

Meat marketing relies on the pastoral myth: Packaging shows small barns, green fields & smiling animals—imagery far removed from modern industrial livestock production. Cheerful pigs outside butcher shops wield knives to slaughter their kin… www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... >>

A cross-country survey of 10,000 respondents examined public attitudes toward policy instruments to reduce meat consumption: Subsidies face less resistance than taxes, and health arguments tend to be more accepted than climate arguments: doi.org/10.1038/s444... >>

Meat-eaters may be more likely to pick plant-based meals when they aren't framed as direct #meat substitutes (e.g. falafel vs chicken pie rather than burger vs burger). Offering more #plantbased options may also increase plant-based choices. An online study in the UK found: doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...

#Review: Plant-based meat products will likely play a key role in the transition to #diets conducive to both human & environmental health—given improvements in #nutrition profiles, reductions in costs & changes in the narrative surrounding meat reduction: doi.org/10.1017/S002... #PlantBased #Meat

The attack on #Iran disrupted shipping in the Gulf, affecting 20-30% of global fertilizer #exports. A prolonged conflict would likely raise #fertilizer prices globally, threaten #foodsecurity in the region, and affect food production & #prices elsewhere as well: www.ifpri.org/blog/the-ira... #trade

Yield gains up to 24% were seen in field trials of rice plants with an improved version of a newly identified regulator. The discovery could help boost crop yields while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-02... #Rice #Yields #PlantBreeding #Nitrogen #NUE #Fertilizer

Lower risk of cognitive impairment & dementia linked to adherence to plant-based diets, particularly those rich in healthful plant foods, a new meta-analysis suggests: doi.org/10.1016/j.tj... #Dementia #Health #Nutrition #PlantBased #Diets #MetaAnalysis

How to use AI: Learn to work with AI critically. Treat it like a bright, enthusiastic intern that needs to be managed & supported. Experiment, get things wrong, and figure out what AI is actually good at. Provide clear goals & context… (1/2) www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

#Cancer: Nutrition can help manage treatment-related side effects, improve #nutrition status, reduce cancer recurrence risk & improve quality of life. An integrative #oncology approach focuses on balanced, nutrient-dense & predominantly plant-based diets: doi.org/10.1016/B978... #PlantBased #Health

Plant-based diets (PBDs) are often seen as expensive. Yet, a new #review finds that whole-food PBDs are linked to lower food expenditures than omnivorous diets because dropping expensive animal products drives costs down: www.doi.org/10.20935/Aca... #PlantBased #Diets #Costs #Expenditures #Meat >>

High adherence to a vegan diet may be beneficial for cardiovascular health. A study with ~1,700 participants highlights the potential role of dietary interventions (with a focus on plant-based diets) in reducing risks for heart health: doi.org/10.1371/jour... #Vegan #PlantBased #Diets #Health

Plant-based protein sales are growing in parts of Europe—helped by supermarkets. As much of retailers’ climate footprint comes from their supply chains (especially meat & dairy), many promote plant-based options: www.fastcompany.com/91492651/why... >>