The return of food fashions that have gone out of style is only one of the trends turning the industry on its ear
Consumers are confusing unprocessed with fresh when it comes to food, said a registered dietitian, author and blogger. “I think they have this romantic idea that they want things fresh and as unprocessed as possible,” Carolyn O’Neil of Atlanta, Georgia, told the Farms at the Table conference, which Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan organized in […] Read more
William DeKay
Stories by William DeKay
Marijuana holds few opportunities for farmers
Intensive management requirements and potential contamination from hemp crops will be formidable challenges: expert
With the clock ticking down toward legalization of marijuana, a green rush scenario fuelled by dreams of big profits has some people contemplating whether to grow a crop. Not so fast, say people connected to the cannabis industry. “We’ve seen it in the U.S. where people said, ‘we’re going to become marijuana growers,’ and things […] Read more
Supply chain becoming more transparent
Sustainability continues to be a major focus for Cargill, says a company official who spoke at the Farms at the Table conference hosted by Farm and Food Care in Saskatoon last month. “Sustainability is important to Cargill’s strategic direction. It’s a key focus of our organization,” Jeff Wildeman said. “Here’s the thing: other large consumer […] Read more
Fungus could aid plant growth, reclaim oil sites
A natural fungus is showing remarkable abilities to promote plant growth under stressful conditions while nursing polluted soils back to health. Researchers are finding the multitalented fungus called TSTh20-1 (TSTh), short for Trichoderma harzianum 20-1, could increase agricultural yields and decontaminate some of the most polluted petrochemical places on the planet. “I think this is […] Read more
As big data comes to the farm, are policy makers keeping up?
As innovative agricultural technologies speed forward, researchers are exploring gaps in existing policies or laying the groundwork for new guidelines that will affect farmers, stakeholders and the public for years to come. “We’re on a path and farming is increasingly going to look different. It’s going to keep on getting more efficient and more things […] Read more
Grow your own clothes
The BioCouture project uses living organisms like bacteria to make fibre, creating material that can be cut and sewn or formed around a three-dimensional shape to create clothes and perhaps one day, objects such as lamps or furniture
Fashion designers and biologists are weaving together their talents to create a new sustainable fibre that is biodegradable and wearable. Using synthetic biology, they can engineer organisms for growing consumer products. One process creates a gel-like film made from a byproduct of kombucha tea to make clothing, shoes and handbags. The recipe is a symbiotic […] Read more
Sask. farmers take flight of a lifetime as fundraiser
While some vacationers head to sandy beaches this winter, three Saskatchewan farmers are taking to the skies to raise money for charity. Harold Fast of Spiritwood, Colin Rosengren of Midale and Woodrow Stewart of Rockglen are participating in the fundraising project Give Hope Wings, which kicks off Jan. 2. That’s when two high performance experimental […] Read more
A&W donates millions to livestock research centre
A&W’s donation of $5 million to the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is a good long-term investment for the Canadian beef industry, said academic and industry representatives. “The research that’s going to happen there will solve the challenges of today and tomorrow for producers for a long time to come,” said […] Read more
Salinity solutions begin with water management
Very saline (>8 dS/m):
Farmers who want to manage their soil salinity must first manage their water, a land management specialist told participants at a farm stewardship meeting. “If you do anything to manage your soil salinity, you have to think about your water table. And if you’re managing your water table, you’re managing your salinity,” said Marla Riekman […] Read more
Who’s your daddy? Find the answers via sire parentage verification
LANIGAN, Sask. — A sire parentage verification study is beginning to bear fruit for researchers and ranchers. “The producers co-operating in this study have learned as much as we’ve learned,” said Bart Lardner from the Western Beef Development Centre in Lanigan. Year two of the three-year study just wrapped up, which is evaluating the use […] Read more
