Building Cultures on Wheat
Wheat remains a central part of national identity in Tajikistan despite the mechanization of agriculture and decades of hostile Soviet policies.
Plant of the Month: Black-eyed Pea
Human relationships to this global crop have been shaped by both violence and resilience.
Algae: The Food of the Future of the Past
In the years following World War II, American and European food scientists hoped to feed the world with common pond scum supplemented with plastics.
Food Waste: A Persistent Problem
Even when people think wasting food is bad, they tend to toss out as much (or more) food than they eat. Can that behavior be changed?
COVID-19 and Justice for Food Workers
The COVID-19 pandemic put food workers in danger of contracting infections, with few, if any, consequences for the industries' failures to protect them.
The Surprising Answer to Who Eats Kosher in Prison
24,000 incarcerated people in the U.S. eat kosher meals. Even some neonazis. Why?
A Food Desert in an Urban Neighborhood
Food deserts have complex causes, and require multiple solutions.
Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities
Deforestation in areas where residents hunt and gather food can lead to malnutrition, food insecurity, and greater forest loss.
Plant of the Month: Cassava
Cassava can grow in hot climates with little rainfall. It may be the "root crop of the century."
Food and Culture
Food is complicated. That creation you love from The Great British Baking Show? It's been the subject of arguments over culture, identity, and copyright.