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At a recent event addressing a New York State farming community, Lucy Stitzer speaks about the evolving landscape of agriculture, emphasizing the crucial relationships between farmers, governments, and consumers.
Lucy highlights the remarkable growth in agricultural output alongside a surging global population and the imperative for increased production. She also discusses the impact of governmental policies, particularly concerning trade, tariffs and biofuels, on the profitability of American farms. Lucy also digs into the transformative role of technology, such as precision agriculture and autonomous robotics, in enhancing efficiency and sustainability, and ends with the need for consumer education to understand food production and supporting informed choices.
To visit the related post on our site, visit "Digging In: The Future of Food" and you can click here for the transcript. Also you can visit our D2D podcast page to listen in on our other episodes. Happy listening!
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Recent social media concerns have arisen regarding the presence of pesticides, specifically glyphosate, and heavy metals in Girl Scout Cookies.
In this podcast, we're explaining how trace amounts of glyphosate can end up in food through agricultural practices. However, these particulates are significantly below safety limits set by the EPA.
The key to minimizing exposure is dietary variety. Ultimately, we're encouraging consumers to rely on scientific sources like the FDA and EPA for accurate information and emphasizes that the trace levels found in cookies do not pose a health risk when consumed in moderation as part of a varied diet.
For the original post, visit "Are Girl Scout Cookies Safe?" and you can click here for the transcript. Also you can visit our D2D podcast page to listen in on our other episodes. Happy listening!
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In this episode of "Digging In", Lucy speaks with Aaron Wetzel, Vice President at John Deere for Production and Precision Ag Production Systems. A key theme throughout their discussion is John Deere's enduring success. This is largely attributed to its commitment to customers, focus on quality and innovation, and doing things the right way by creating value for the customer, addressing labor challenges, and promoting sustainability through technology. In this way, Wetzel details how John Deere has transformed itself from a machinery manufacturer to a customer-centric technology company. With proprietary technologies like See & Spray for precise weed control and advancements in automation across agriculture, turf, and construction, John Deere leverages machine learning across its strong dealer network.
Looking forward, John Deere aims to remain customer-focused and utilize AI to improve operations and help feed a growing population.
For the podcast's transcript, click here. And for more information on sustainable ag and our global food system, visit Dirt to Dinner.
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This podcast episode of Digging In explores the FDA's ban on Red Dye No. 3, prompted by the Delaney Clause, a decades-old law that mandates banning any food additive causing cancer in animals.
The discussion highlights the complex interplay between regulation, public perception, and scientific evidence, questioning whether the ban truly benefits public health given potentially larger nutritional issues like excessive sugar consumption.
While watchdog groups see this as a victory and a push towards stricter regulations as seen in Europe, the hosts ponder if this focus on a single ingredient distracts from broader dietary concerns and emphasizes the need for critical thinking and a balanced perspective on nutritional threats.
Read the Dirt to Dinner article here and access the transcript here.
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This week's podcast delves into the intricate relationship between tariffs, ocean freight, and the future of the US food system. It highlights the US's significant role in global agricultural trade, both in exports and imports, while noting a considerable trade deficit.
We also emphasize the importance of ocean freight in moving these goods, particularly through major ports like New Orleans. The podcast also explores potential disruptions from new tariffs on key trading partners like Mexico, drawing parallels with past trade wars and their impact on American farmers.
We close with examining the industry's push for sustainability and other factors outside of tariffs that complicate the landscape, including fuels and technologies. We encourage listeners to support local and sustainable food options during the turbulent times ahead.
Read our article for more information. And read the transcript here.
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This week, we're digging into the upcoming front-of-package labeling requirement to help customers quickly determine how nutritious these food products are. For the full article and more details, read our post: Can a Small Food Label be a Big Deal?
The FDA is proposing simplified black-and-white front-of-package nutrition labels for food products in the U.S., aiming to combat chronic diseases by increasing consumer awareness of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar content.
The new labels will likely affect most packaged foods, although exemptions exist, and will impose significant costs and potential market shifts on food manufacturers. Despite these economic implications for the food industry, the FDA hopes these changes will lead to improved public health and reduced healthcare cost.
Prefer to read this podcast? You can find the transcript here.
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We're looking into the significant problem of food waste, exploring its scale and environmental consequences. By highlighting the recent documentary, "Buy Now!", we're providing practical steps we can take to reduce waste at home, such as meal planning and proper food storage.
Furthermore, we examine initiatives undertaken by consumer packaged goods companies to improve sustainability in their supply chains and operations. We all play a crucial role in the collaboration between consumers, corporations, and governments in achieving meaningful reductions in food waste.
To read the full post and cehck out other sources of additional information, click here.
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American health has been a topic of conversation since the potential nomination of Robert F. Kennedy as Secretary of HHS, who has put a spotlight on our health. Whether he gets confirmed or not, the question we are asking at D2D is, “What is the definition of health?”
In this podcast, we're exploring the multifaceted definition of health, challenging conventional views and emphasizing a holistic approach. We highlight three simple physical tests as indicators of overall health and longevity, when coupled with a diet emphasizing whole foods while limiting sugar.
We have the chance every day to make small, consistent healthy habits to achieve long-term well-being.
For our full article, read our post: What Does it Mean to be "Healthy"? at Dirt to Dinner. And for the transcript for this episode, click here.
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Dirt to Dinner's article "Here’s How to Combat Winter Illnesses" discusses the unusually high rates of flu, norovirus, and respiratory illnesses during winter 2025. It emphasizes the importance of preventative measures, specifically proper handwashing and a healthy diet rich in immune-boosting foods like salmon, citrus fruits, and yogurt.
The piece also recommends additional strategies such as cleaning surfaces, avoiding touching one's face, and getting enough sleep and exercise to support a strong immune system. The overall message promotes proactive steps to mitigate illness and emphasizes the importance of community health.
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Transcript:
In today's podcast, we talk to Greg Putnam, co-founder, operator, and rancher of Little Belt Cattle Company. This beautiful ranch is a veteran-owned and operated first-generation business dedicated to raising high-quality cattle. The company uses regenerative ranching practices to protect our natural resources and reduce any environmental impact.Former Navy Seal Greg Putnam talks to us about the challenges and excitement of taking care
of approximately 8,000 head of cattle. He speaks to the hard work and dedication of multi-generation ranches, as well as similarities between the military and cattle ranching. -
Dirt to Dinner welcomes Colin Murphy, Deputy Director of the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy, and co-director of the ITS-Davis Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative. He helps guide research and outreach on issues relating to transportation, energy, air quality, and carbon markets, with a primary focus on sustainable fuel policies like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. His work bridges the gap between cutting-edge academic science, and the day-to-day challenges of real-world policy making. Prior to joining the Policy Institute, Colin was a Science Policy Fellow with the California Council on Science and Technology, and an advocate for sustainable transportation and energy policy with the NextGen Policy Center, where he helped extend California's climate programs through 2030. He has a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from UC Davis, a M.S. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Transportation Technology and Policy from UC Davis.
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Scientists work every day to unlock more value in the staples we've relied upon for literally hundreds of years. We get better, more nutritious food and innovative new uses that meet real market needs, and we get smarter consumers to boot. Our food system does more than ever before to provide a steady stream of information so we can all make better, smarter food decisions.
None of that happens by chance. It takes money and lots of it. It takes work by thousands of researchers all pointed toward finding answers to some of the toughest issues we still wrestle with in our food system. It takes a concerted effort to get the word out to people.
But who's in charge of this endeavor? Not the government, not fancy think tanks, not big business or big universities. All those folks play a role in important roles, but we often overlook what hardworking, financially-challenged farmers who drive research and better consumer understanding of our food.
In this episode of Digging In, we're turning to the peanut industry to provide a stellar example of these organizations that work on behalf of its farmers. The National Peanut Board, a research, marketing and promotion organization for peanut farmers in the U.S., is headed up by Bob Parker, current CEO; and Ryan Lepicier, current Chief Marketing Officer and next CEO. Together, Bob & Ryan have worked for more than a dozen years to turn the commitment of peanut producers across the United States into something really, really important to the interests of consumers everywhere.
Here's who we're speaking with in this episode:
Bob Parker joined the National Peanut Board, a farmer-funded research, marketing and promotion organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, as its president and CEO in 2012. At the National Peanut Board, he has focused on the mission of improving the economic condition of America’s peanut farmers and their families. Those efforts have centered around promoting the increased consumption of U.S.-grown peanuts domestically and internationally, addressing barriers to consumption such as peanut allergy and supporting production research to make peanut farmers more productive, efficient and sustainable.
The 2023 peanut crop is the 47th of Parker’s professional career, although he has been around peanuts his entire life. He has a broad range of experience in peanuts and agriculture, both domestically and internationally, from growing, processing, public policy and marketing. Parker is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in agricultural economics.
Ryan Lepicier serves as senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the National Peanut Board with a passion for fueling peanut demand and consumption. He will begin his role as NPB president and CEO on January 1, 2024. He and his team are working to make peanuts the most relevant nut among millennial consumers by ensuring people are thinking about peanuts differently, talking about peanuts positively, engaging with peanuts more often, and buying more peanuts.
Lepicier has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Auburn University. He likes his peanut butter straight from the jar on a spoon. Crunchy, please.
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Lynn Dornblaser is a seasoned expert with over 35 years of valuable product trend knowledge and experience at Mintel since 1998. She brings a unique perspective to her work, applying it to tailored client research and engaging in extensive public speaking engagements. She has been recognized and quoted by esteemed U.S. news organizations, like The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, and CNN. Lynn has also had the honor of serving as a keynote lecturer and speaker for numerous industry groups and sales forums. Prior to joining Mintel, Lynn's expertise in new product trends was showcased as the editor and editorial director of New Product News at various trade magazine publishing companies. We had the pleasure of tapping into Lynn's vast expertise in our lively discussion about everything food-related! From understanding consumer desires to the evolution of functional and alternative food markets, and even analyzing what brands are getting right and wrong, Lynn provided us with invaluable insights.
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Julie Holmstrom is a distinguished Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Packaged Goods Consultant with over three decades of international experience in driving opportunities through comprehensive strategy implementation and Research and Development (R&D) expertise.
Formerly serving as Innovation Technology & Quality Director, Nutrition and Technology Solutions at General Mills, her extensive career spans across the globe, where she has consistently excelled in steering product, process, and packaging development and renovation across diverse categories.
As a technical strategist, Julie possesses a remarkable ability to bridge the gap between technical possibilities and consumer demands, aligning these aspects seamlessly with business objectives.
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Christine Daugherty has both a PhD in plant physiology and a law degree. She is widely recognized as both a deep thinker and active agent of sustainability, working with a wide number of companies and other organizations deeply committed to the idea of sustainability.
Christine will talk to us about the business community’s commitment to sustainability. She will weigh in on the continuing debate on carbon sequestration. And she will help us understand the parallels between sustainability and regenerative agriculture, including soil management practices.
If you believe sustainability is one of the most important topics in today’s world of food and agriculture, you definitely want to hear what Christine has to say.
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It’s no secret that many consumers are integrating a plant-based option into their diets. And, although increasing your vegetable intake is never a bad idea, it’s imperative to know what nutrients you may be lacking without eating meat. Read more about this here.
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Welcome back to Dirt to Dinner: Digging In, where we dig into what's going on in the food and ag world. In this episode, we spoke with Ahmed 'Eddie' Qureshi about synthetic biology.
Ahmed is currently a founder of Valorant Health, which provides virtual care resources to over 67 million Americans living in rural and underserved areas. Ahmed started in Synthetic Biology wanting to apply its promise of scaling and iterating for maximum impact in healthcare. He was also a co-founder at DNAWorks, a spinout of the University of Washington's Molecular Engineering and Sciences department. You can read more about Ahmed here.
Synthetic biology could be the future not only of healthcare, but of our food. This fascinating topic, which is a combination of genetic engineering and computer science, is changing the way we think about food and agriculture. Simply put, synthetic biology is taking what we know in nature and making it better.
Scientists utilizing synthetic biology can change the DNA in viruses, bacteria, yeasts, plants, or even animals to improve human health, the environment, agriculture, and industrial processes. For instance, it is being used to reduce fertilizer usage on crops, enhance milk protein fermentation for use in non-dairy products, to create a plant-based coating to extend the shelf life of produce, and even to turn mushrooms into leather.
In our conversation with Ahmed, we talk about the definition of synthetic biology, as well as the impact artificial intelligence will have on re-designing living organisms into new products. We hope you enjoy this podcast and learn a few new things along the way.
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The frequency and intensity of wildfires are on the rise, posing significant consequences for an ever-growing number of people and our agricultural system. But what about the impact on our food system? We had the opportunity to speak with Jay Walter from Greenridge Farming in Oregon; Dave Cameron, the operator of C6 Agri Farms in Omaha, Nebraska; and Don Wysocki, an extension soil scientist at Oregon State University, to gauge their level of concern. Their answer? Well, it's a bit more complex than a simple yes or no...
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Many of us use glyphosate, or RoundUp, as a weed killer on our lawns and in our gardens. This product also has applications in agriculture, forestry, and commercial uses. Despite its efficacy, there are big questions regarding its potentially harmful side effects on the environment and human health.
Thankfully, Dr. Novy takes the time to educate us on how glyphosate works so we can better understand its pros and cons. And he shares some evidence-based reasons why glyphosate can be used as one tool of many in a toolbox for land and crop management when used judiciously.
Dr. Novy runs the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, CA, a 37-acre facility with extensive collections of Mediterranean climate plants as well as award-winning children’s gardens. He previously served as an environmental consultant on infrastructure projects in the northeastern United States. Dr. Novy completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at New York University and his doctorate at Rutgers University.
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