#smart agriculture methods

[naturalintelligence]

Benefits of Vertical Farming: Efficiency, Conservation, and Quality

Vertical farming is a revolutionary approach to agriculture that combines modern technology with sustainable practices. It allows crops to be grown in vertical layers, making it highly efficient and suitable for urban areas where space is limited. Let’s dive deeper into this innovative farming technique, its methods, benefits, and the potential it holds for the future of food production. What is…

[farmerstrend]

How Big Should Your Farm Be to Make a Profit?

Many new agripreneurs believe that the size of their farm will determine how profitable they’ll be. However, you can be profitable whether you’re farming 1 hectare or 100 hectares; it all depends on how you farm. When it comes to land, the most important thing to consider is not the number of hectares at your disposal, but rather the commodity that you farm and how you manage and control costs.…

[gorinichserpant]

I appreciate all the post-canon romantic fanfic of dungeon meshi, but what I really want to see is all the politics and administrative bullshit the revived Kingdom has to deal with. There is so much potential there.

Falin probably spends some time a wandering exorcist and healer, becouse she doesn't have many responsibilites and those are her skills. She's slightly a dragon, sister of the new and already legendary king, and probably doesn't take any money for the serves becouse she doesn't need it. Unless the right precautions are taken, she's going to be considerd a saint, demigod or some other religiously segnificant figure. Cults venerating Falin will be a problem for Marcille specifically for the rest of her life.

Since we know that Laios gets really invested into agriculture, and since he knows that's bad for PR if he discusses his monster hyperfixation, he's going to come off (perhaps not entirely inaccuratly) as a country bumpkin to visiting royalty when he starts info-dumping about crop cycles. Much to the frustration of Kabru, but he's a smart cookie he can work this to the Kingdom's advantage which would be an intresting thing to watch.

We know Leed will probably attempt to become Laios's consort, despite not wanting it. There is so much possibility for comedy and drama there. By what methods does Leed attempt to seduce Laios? Does Laios romantically like her? Does she grow to like him? Does Leed work with or against Kabru to secure her people's citizenship? Laios isn't going to throw the orcs to the wolves, but there are any number of ways they can gain a secured position in the Golden Kingdom.

As far as I can tell there are three main demographics of people that the new Golden Kingdom will have. The people who have been living on the surface on the island, the people stuck in the dungeon and the minority group of orcs. How do you keep all of these people from being at odds with each other? Kabru will have the most fun and stress in the world trying to figure that one out.

Marcille trying to figure out if Laios's curse will hold after he's death, becouse if it does not then the anti-monster field around him will vanish with him requiring the Kingdom to setup a military.

Speaking of which, how the fuck are they going to prevent a succession crisis?

This is just the surface, there is so many other things that would happen.

[oglyndwr]

I have so many head canons and a dormant tumblr account let’s fix that

What I think the raven boys would major in in university also I go to the uni that Maggie Stiefvater went to so that means I’m right duh (warning I acknowledge canon but also do with it as I please. This is not by choice it just happens in my brain.):

Gansey: Two possibilities here,, I mean… History is one of the obvious ones but I think he’d do Historic Preservation then work in museum curation. This is if he follows his own whims. More likely he’d follow after his dad but he would absolutely not be doing poli sci I see that everywhere it’s wrong everyone knows they make no money and if he’s following his dad then he’d listen to his dad who would be saying no absolutely not poli sci majors are liberals. He’d be doing pre-law then go into politics. Probably go to law school also. Honestly he’s smart enough to ace law school while also doing his nerd glyndower shit ‘on the side’ so I lean more pre law. Sometimes.

Adam: honestly I think it depends where he goes. Definitely Ivy duh (although let’s be so fr even with a scholarship realistically he would never be able to afford that… fantasy to the max American higher education is fucked up). He’d do something conventionally difficult and lucrative because duh, and he’d choose whichever one of those programs the college he chooses is known for. I can see him doing pre law with gansey, biomed, applied math, or Econ. I despise Econ myself but surprisingly find myself imaging him in that program more so than the others (except maybe pre law with gansey) because of his history with money; I think it would make sense that he’d go into that field since he’s been financially conscious from such a young age. Plus it might make him feel like he has more control over his own financial situation (trauma symptom or trauma coping? Who knows)

Ronan: pretty sure Ronan canonically does not go to college. For these purposes I throw this fact to the wind. Obvious choice might be agricultural science but I also throw that in an incinerator this time. Ronan would feel like he learned everything there is to know about farming from Niall and refuse to listen to his professors if they say anything contradictory to what Niall’s taught him (but really he just doesn’t want to taint Niall’s memory. Bittersweet so Ronan). On the test he’d circle the answer the professor is looking for then write in “wrong.” With a lengthy description of some Blackwood method his dad taught him (that probably actually is more environmentally conscious and efficient) with every other word being an insult to the professor or profanities. Also if this is a world where his magic is still valid… absolutely no way he’s majoring in a hard science he doesn’t need it he has fucking magic. He can dream a forest he can dream a harvest he doesn’t need to know slash and burn or whatever the fuck. Other obvious choice would be classics or Latin (is Latin even a major?) and like… yeah but too duh to be interesting to me. There are a few options I like to entertain. I feel like when his parents were alive they all played trad Irish instruments/music together, and Ronan might major in music performance. This seems most realistic to me because he wouldn’t have to study all that much and since it correlates with his love for Niall he’d be less likely to refuse to practice/study/go to class out of spite if a professor pissed him off (which I feel like he’d do in any other discipline). I also think he’d have started really young so he might not even have to practice that much, but he’d still practice a lot bc like I said, his love for Niall would be translated into his love for the instrument. As for the instrument itself, I’d like to say Irish bagpipes but secretly I imagine it’s fiddle (def ooc tho). I also think he’d be well versed in all of the instruments like at least know the notes even if he would need sheets (I imagine he’d be able to play virtually anything by ear on his primary instrument) like Concertina, accordion, whistle (god imagine squash song on a fucking tin whistle… he’d do that bit so much and it would be 100x more insufferable), maybe flute, DEF spoons but mostly for bits, etc. I think he’d also learn banjo but he’d play more folksy Appalachian music on that. Another major might be civil/environmental engineering or some other applied science but like.. I just do not see him caring about learning the foundational stuff,, especially in a classroom setting. He’d want to know the stuff you need to know to do the actual work and none of the other foundational math, theory, conceptual shit. He’d fail the physics pre req because he wouldn’t open a textbook with a gun to his head and wouldn’t be able to recite the fundamental theorem of calculus. He’d probably even know it or at least how to apply it practically, he just wouldn’t have it memorized in those terms yk?? Anyway, final decision music performance.

Blue: I also don’t think blue went to college in canon and this makes sense to me. However, let’s say she did. I’m not very concrete in these headcanons but I’m thinking studio art, fashion design, or maybe poetry/creative writing as my primary inclinations. Secondary: sociology? I think she’d be into that and have a lot to say in those classes. She cares a lot. Maybe gender/sexuality studies but I just personally don’t like that one so even though I see it in her I choose not to acknowledge or engage. I can see journalism, she’s got a quick tongue and is very passionate about social issues buuuut I think she might be too adversarial to do interviews. Like as soon as the person she’s interviewing or whatever says something she doesn’t agree with she wouldn’t be able to wait to write the scathing piece she’d just flame them right then and there boom interview over not enough content for an article. Also maybe environmental science (I can see her doing research in this field like knee deep in a river collecting samples to measure turbidity or some shit but it’s so interdisciplinary I don’t think she’d major in it.. but also I can see her being vegan and like one of those crazy British climate activists DISCLAIMER I’m absolutely not hating on this in fact I am an environmental science/physics double major who is also a vegan knee deep in rivers doing research on mineral accumulation in VA lmfao). I can sooooort of see her doing poli sci but also like no absolutely not she’s too anarchistic like she’d be fucking the system left and right then get kicked out or something (but also most poli sci majors I know are extreme leftists in the way I imagine she’d be… so…) Overall I think studio art or fashion design would be her thing and she’d also be a cool ass barista on campus that everyone is in love with

Noah: yeah yeah he’s dead but not in my heart he’s not. He’d be alive and doing aerospace engineering. Yes I know your eyes just bulged out of your head but hear me out. He’s so precious I feel like he was a dinosaur kid but like the kind where literally everything about his life was dinosaurs his pjs his books his room his birthday parties like you know the type. Then when he grew out of that at like 5 or 6 he became a space/planes kid. He’d make models of planes and there would be a bunch hanging from strings on his ceiling with a model of the solar system in the corner. He would never have grown out of this. In elementary and middle school he’d be in the gifted program and from my experience in the VA public school gifted program we did soooo many building projects that in hindsight were just fun engineering challenges for kids. I also headcanon him being good with numbers but don’t have an explanation for this.. maybe it’s because his first sentence had a number in it. Maybe I’m thinking of how he has to calculate dates or something? Whatever anyway he’d be the first kind in third grade to master their multiplication tables and teachers would love him because even though he’s hyperactive (ALIVE AND HYPERACTIVE THANK YOU) all of his special interests are sciencey and maybe he’s not paying attention to the class material but he’s explaining something he read in an astrophysics book to his seatmate so they wouldn’t be mad (this is me projecting because I was hyperactive but I would explain the entire plot of warrior cats to my seatmates and neither the teachers nor my classemates appreciated that ever… didn’t matter if I was first at multiplication warrior cats freak was immediate social isolation so I choose to live vicariously through my own fictional Noah czerny thank you very much). At Monmouth he’d make rockets and Ronan would paint them crudely and they’d fuck around launching them in fields coming up with dumb experiments and betting on them. Ronan would sometimes cheat by dreaming ones that don’t obey the laws of physics and Noah would secretly inspect them for hours in his room later trying to figure it out (but Ronan would only do this very rarely so Noah wouldn’t catch on). Then he’d go to college and obviously do aerospace engineering AND he’d excel because he already knows all there is to know about aerodynamics, propulsion, and flight mechanics. I am so sure of this I don’t even have alternate hypotheses. Also super random but I headcanon that Noah is Jewish and he him and Ronan lovingly rib a lot about catholic jew shit (guys as im writing this im realizing that I just want to be my fictional version of Noah someone be my sassy catholic Irish emo bestie please)

Ok that’s all thanks for listening

[cognitivejustice]

Self-sufficient organic Finnish farm grows its own fuel and a greener future

An award-winning farm has teamed up with Helsinki University to create a symbiotic food production system that is self-sufficient in energy and nutrients. It’s a trailblazer in sustainable agriculture.

Photo above: Farmer Markus Eerola shows visitors the biogas plant that helps make his farm an energy producer rather than an energy consumer.Photo: Wif Stenger

Organic Knehtilä Farm provides its own nutrients and energy, thanks to careful long-term planning and a small onsite biogas plant operated by energy utility Nivos.

The biogas powers his tractor, pickup truck and cars, and is available to others at a commercial filling station on the edge of the farm, although vehicles that can use biogas are still relatively rare. It offers a valuable alternative to meet the growing need for affordable, clean domestic energy.

Demand for organic food continues to grow. “The price gap between organic and standard production is narrowing, partly because we don’t need fertiliser. Our farm has its own product line of oat and buckwheat products, which are produced here using a proven cultivation method known as agroecological symbiosis, where nutrients and energy are efficiently recycled.”

The sprawling 380-hectare farm’s carefully balanced circular economy has developed over a decade and a half, earning a WWF award in 2015 as a model of nature-friendly agriculture. In 2021, the Finnish Organic Association chose Knehtilä for the honour of Organic Business of the Year.

“Biogas production can convert farms from being energy consumers to energy producers, and play an important role in the transition away from fossil fuels. When it’s done in a smart way, it’s also possible to increase biodiversity in farming systems.”

Knehtilä forms part of the Global Network of Lighthouse Farms, a project led by Wageningen University in the Netherlands, involving commercially viable farms that offer “radical solutions to address sustainability challenges.” International visitors frequently come to Knehtilä to learn about unique system.

The rich, vibrant cycle of life at Knehtilä is visible in not only the lush fields, but also in the insects and frogs that frequent them, and in a few animals such as horses, sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits. The farm is also a lively event venue; a high-ceilinged, 80-year-old barn has been converted to a space for up to 100 people for weddings, theatre performances and concerts.

[wachinyeya]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced today an investment of $70 million in seven creative and visionary agricultural projects to transform the U.S. food and agricultural system and sustainably increase agricultural production in ways that also reduce its environmental footprint.

This Fiscal Year 2023 investment is part of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences.

The innovative program focuses on a broad range of needed research, education and Extension solutions – from addressing agricultural workforce challenges and promoting land stewardship to addressing climate change impacts in agriculture and filling critical needs in food and nutrition.

“Agriculture is facing a multitude of complex challenges,” said Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. “We need all hands on deck developing creative, sustainable and strategic ways to feed, clothe and fuel future generations.”

The $10 million awards are for coordinated agricultural projects (CAPs), which are larger-scale and longer-term investments that integrate research, education and Extension efforts. These projects promote collaboration, open communication, information exchange and reduce duplication efforts by coordinating activities among individuals, institutions, states and regions.

“These research investments support exciting projects that integrate innovative systems-based thinking, methods and technologies to establish robust, resilient, and climate-smart food and agricultural systems,” said NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra. “These visionary projects will improve the local and regional supply of affordable, safe, nutritious and accessible food and agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America.”

Explore the seven projects, which include the following:

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Erin Silva is leading a collaboration with the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition, the Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council, and the Menominee Nation on a transdisciplinary project that aims to scale up traditional Indigenous food production practices — practices that for generations have already been climate-smart and sustainable — by expanding production, processing, storage, and distribution systems, as well as education and Extension programs, that are needed to support integrated crop-livestock systems, cover crops, and rotationally-grazed cattle and pastured chickens.

At the University of Maine, Dr. Hemant Pendse is leading an integrated research, education and Extension effort to advance the bioeconomy by developing biorefinery technologies that will make the millions of tons of available low-grade woody biomass – which currently has a very limited market – more commercially viable in both the sustainable aviation fuel and fish feed sectors.

At Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Dr. Muthu Bagavathiannan is leading a project that seeks to transform cotton production in the southern United States into a more sustainable, climate-smart enterprise by applying improved precision management practices to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; enhance pest control, and nutrient and water management; and address labor challenges while creating new market opportunities.

AFRI, which also makes grants in the Foundational and Applied Sciences and Education and Workforce Development program areas, is designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability, and human and environmental health. Grants are available to eligible colleges, universities, and other research organizations.

[ilminnestrone]

Apple Juice and suspension of disbelief

I have seen a single user's theory on the Banora White Juice issue parroted as canon an unimaginable number of times, and frankly, I find it rather problematic that we as a fandom need exegetes to interface with a fantasy work that, rich as it is in symbolism, is a story that does not need to undergo constant autopsies in order to be appreciated. Despite its dieselpunk elements, Final Fantasy VII is a fantasy story, and I believe that when the fantasy fandom begins to lose its suspension of disbelief, we are faced with a human tragedy.

We can easily believe the story of a telepathic alien virus and an army recruiting thirteen-year-olds, soldiers injected with sentient oil, and the birth of three human-alien mummy hybrids about a year after its discovery without a trial period. And yet we decide a kid juicing fantasy fruit is just too much: something doesn't add up, we need to investigate further.

Most fandom exegetes stress the importance of engaging with the source material before coming up with headcanons that have nothing to do with the authorial intent, and I mostly agree.

So here’s the source material: Genesis won a National Agricultural Award for inventing Banora White Juice. That’s canon. Nomura said it. Nowhere in Crisis Core is it mentioned that Genesis revolutionised the food industry as a whole. He did not invent the concept of juicing apples or a revolutionary method of preserving them (because that's something I can't suspend my disbelief on, a supertechnological capitalist society where the large distribuition doesn't have a reliable preservation method). He simply invented Banora White Juice. He created something that was a commercial success, which is pretty impressive for a kid around 12.

That’s a basic Occam’s razor -a philosophical principle that basically states “the simplest explanation is usually the best one”; more in depth, when presented with different hypotheses, one should prefer the hypothesis that requires the fewest assumptions. In this case (again, a fantasy world case) we don’t need a single hypothesis: we are presented with a fact. A fact way easier to accept than magical crystals that make you summon deities or disappearing temples.

But if you really need an explanation, here’s your occam-razored explanation.

Banora was a puppet town created by Shinra; it wasn’t more real than nuclear test sites, or the Truman Show set: they just needed a controlled environment to observe their test subjects. Every single resident was a Shinra person, that’s why Genesis killed them all, and that’s why it wasn’t a Nibelheim situation.

It was also the only place on Gaia where Banora Whites grow. No one ever lived there before Project G. Probably nobody cared about Banora Whites before the Rhapsodos family started their business. So yeah, no one has ever sold them and shipped them to the continent, and no one ever processed them. And no one ever juiced them.

Apple plants from seed take around 4-6 years to bear fruit. They probably started by selling them as they were, because they turned out a pretty colour and it was a good marketing strategy. So yeah, nobody ever thought about juicing a completely new and probably overpriced (real life purple apples, Black Diamonds, cost 7-20$ for a single apple) cultivar because nobody ever grew Banora Whites before Genesis was born.

What else do we know? That the Rhapsodos were a rich family, with enough funds and means of production to process and commercialise a common product on a much larger scale than your average farmer (thank you @rottenpumpkin13 for the suggestion). And that Genesis is smart and good with words, so he probably came up with a great marketing strategy that made Banora White Juice an unprecedented commercial success for a simple fruit juice. Worthy of an award.

Last but not least. Gaia’s Banora Whites are not the exact equivalent of Earth’s apples: they grow with a bent trunk, they have a white bark, they taste like berries and they ripen at random times during the year: in the end, they are a fantasy fruit inspired by apples that symbolise the tree of the knowledge of good and evil fruit, a fruit that is commonly represented as an apple but that’s never explicitly named in the book of Genesis. So it’s perfectly plausible that apple juice was a common thing by the time Genesis won his awards, but not dumbapple juice.

Fun fact In Italy a lot of Valtellina and Trentino producers sell unpasteurised apple juice anyway: it’s sold in vacuum-sealed boxes with a tap that prevents oxygen from getting inside. It has a 2 year expiration date and once opened can be safely consumed for two months.

[djuvlipen]

https://nordicmodelnow.org/2020/03/02/the-cost-of-western-europes-rampant-prostitution-the-genocide-of-romanian-women/?amp=1

Sorry for the triggering article. Not romani but ty for your bravery and support of women 💚

God, that was a good article, thank you for sharing, Anon. I recommend reading the whole thing but I want to highlight some specific parts:

For the last eight months or so, the entire country has been in turmoil and living a nightmare. I do not say ‘nightmare’ lightly. I wish it had just been a bad dream that we’d woken from. If only… But the reality is we can’t shake off the nightmarish situation that’s been stewing since about the time my country was accepted into the European Union and the borders were opened. While it was a fantastic opportunity for the development of the country, it was also the beginning of a horrifying new reality – rampant human trafficking. In an effort to provide for themselves and/or their families, people started to go abroad in search of work opportunities they couldn’t find at home. But it was also a huge opportunity for interlopers and human traffickers, because the opening of the borders made it easier for them to do what they had previously been doing with a lot more difficulty. Now their activity is widespread and unchecked. They have no qualms. They brazenly state that it’s a certified way of making a living. Given the legal status of prostitution in many EU countries, trafficking women and children has become in Romania a legitimate way of making a fortune for the ‘smarter’ people. They declare that dirty money is easier and faster to make with little to no effort on their part. That’s ‘smart’ to them. They announce this unapologetically, and with a superior smirk, on every medium, official and unofficial. For the ordinary, hardworking population, this is unbelievable, unbearable, terrifying.

This points at something I've been thinking about: the European Union is not our friend, it is explicitly anti-women. It doesn't simply tolerate the sex trade, it institutionalizes it to make profit out of it. It is antifeminist at its core and the first victims of it are women from impoverished Eastern European countries, with Romani (not simply Romanian) women being particularly vulnerable.

There are over 500 known trafficking rings in Romania, their areas of influence are well mapped and the leaders well known. They cover pretty much every inch of the country. Not a corner has been left unexploited by them. Prostitution is illegal in Romania, but it is flourishing anyway. As we all know, it produces enormous amounts of money for the ‘clans’ – as the interlopers call themselves with pride. But the biggest source of money is outside the country. In the beginning, they promised a job abroad in agriculture, in restaurants and as babysitters, and the women who fell prey found themselves in prostitution. When word got out and that tactic didn’t work anymore, they resorted to the ‘lover boy’ method. When that didn’t work so well, they started to steal children and young women from the street and even from their own homes. Thousands of other cases similar to Alexandra’s and Luiza’s have surfaced – including one where all six children – two boys and four girls – of a single mother were abducted by force, from their house. None of this – on this scale – would have been possible without the tacit agreement and practical protection of the authorities – police, the justice system, and politicians. The clans have grown so powerful that they even boast of having installed their own politicians, policemen, judges, and prosecutors. They continually escape justice. If some rogue policemen catch them and somehow manage to bring them to court, they use their money and influence to get off. The money that comes, as I said, not so much from the internal ‘market’, but from other European countries to which they traffic the children and women they get their hands on by any means. The most important destination are the countries where prostitution is legalized, like Germany and the Netherlands, but also the countries (including the UK) where laws against pimping and buying women in prostitution are not enforced. Romania has become the number one European source country of children and women in the brothels in Germany and Holland, and also Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece and the UK. Even though the total population of Romania is only about 19 million, there are thousands[*] of Romanian women and children forced into street prostitution in Italy alone – and that’s not counting those in strip clubs, brothels and ‘escort’ prostitution. It’s estimated that there are similar numbers in Spain, the UK, Germany, and Holland – and that’s not considering those in the Arab world and on other continents. Romania has haemorrhaged more than a million children (girls and boys) and women into the prostitution trade in these countries. In countries where prostitution is legal, like Germany, only a small percentage of the women involved are locals. German women do not take up this kind of ‘work’ en masse. (Should we wonder why it’s so off-putting?). But the demand is huge – so they outsource to countries like mine.

This part is also very important. I only wish she had mentioned that Romani women make up a large % of trafficked women from Romania; one of the reasons I started making posts about it is because many people don't think race is relevant when talking about the sex trade in Eastern Europe, because they think all of Eastern Europe is white. The vast majority of articles and studies therefore erasing the large % of trafficked Romani women by painting the general sex-trafficked victim as a white woman, which is not the case as race is relevant here.

And all this because of the participation of our men in power, men who served the parents of the two still missing girls who want their children back with the sentence (pun intended), “I’m hitting a wall.” Yes. That’s what the attorney general said to them when asked why they aren’t looking for the girls: “I can’t look for them because there’s a wall stopping me.” People started rallying for the girls. It is awful to see the two mothers in tears and on their knees in front of the Police Department building, begging the authorities to find their children and bring them home. So what is that wall? Might it be the needs of ‘punters’ in Germany? In Italy? All over Europe and elsewhere? The US military base located only five miles away from the town of Caracal? The need of the overpaid and oversexed American ‘heroes’ to have sex in their spare time lest they might die from abstinence? The needs of the ‘heroes’ (read ‘paedophiles’) in the other US military base about 200 miles away near the sea port of Constanta who built a special pavilion INSIDE the base camp where they go and have sex and where they demand to be brought younger and younger girls (children), new ones each time? (In the case of Alexandra Macesanu and Luiza Melencu, even the FBI got involved and ‘recommended’ putting a lid on the whole affair, and over 90 US soldiers were packed and shipped home a few days after the disappearances broke into the news.) Might all that be the WALL?

And that is very interesting too. Even in peace time, the military is harming and raping girls and women. The US military, none the less. That's imperialism right there. The most powerful country in the world establishing military bases in impoverished countries and harming the girls and women living there. Covered up by the State. Just confirms what we all know: the military is a rotten institution and all soldiers are a threat to women, and the US military is the most powerful one.

[imgabysama]

Brazilian ghouls✨ Part 1

(This is more like history and miscegenation lesson)

And this is a very, very long post

I'm really bad at this kind of thing (I'm actually not smart), but I really like my country and ghouls, soo, here we go

• Ok, Let's start with vital points, Brazil was a major distributor of coffee throughout the world for a long time and thanks to colonization our culture is extremely mixed, as most families have several descendants from different nationalities such as: Portugal, Africa, Japan, Italy, Germany, Dutch, Lebanon, between others, and of course a very rich and explored culture and diverse villages of original peoples that to this day are treated as if they did not exist

• Anyway, my main point is that here, it is extremely common to have multiple ethnicities and nationalities mixed in the blood. And this would be no different with ghouls

• I'm almost certain that the population of mixed-race ghouls in Brazil would be higher than anywhere else on the planet.

• First, following @tg-headcanons 's headcanons, before colonization, some indigenous villages which were found far from the coast and more in the center of Brazil (Jes) were able to coexist peacefully with ghouls, and since that time, there were already mixed relationships

• The villages were independent of each other, so there were also ghoul-only villages

• As Brazil greatly developed planting and agriculture, that the original people were capable of making recipes, using feasts from bodies collected in battles with rival villages, and specific recipes that used methods to make tubers edible for ghouls, such as cooking in blood, they also used breast milk, bones, and locks of hair in recipes or in consumption

• Brazil had a subspecies of ghoul "Suú-suúTa-ta" (from Brazilian Tupi, something like "fire chewer", capable of throwing the kagune on fire, which generated countless legends such as "boi tata" (a giant fire snake) and the curupira (the protector of the forest, a boy whose hair catches fire and his feet are inverted, he runs through the woods) These ghouls did not live in communities, but roamed the forests and lived in solitude, which ended up making them extinct.

• The native ghouls' hunting method was very native, hunting ghouls could spend hours or days on top of trees, waiting for prey, they imitated Brazilian animals, such as the jaguar (onça pintada), Attacking with a single bite to the base of the skull and crushing, or like anacondas (sucuri) or boa constrictors (jibóia), wrapping the prey with the help of the kagune and crushing the bones

• I think the bikaku would be the most common kagune in Brazil, the Ukakus in second place, would use the crystals as arrows

• Some ghouls could ingest sugar cane instead coffee

• Ghouls had a less developed language, mostly just sounds and limited words, without advanced grammatical training, the hunting ghouls were even quieter

• The ghouls attacked people from rival tribes, and the mixing of species began with marriages and unions between villages, to establish peace.

• These unions were usually with a female farmer or healer, and a hunting ghoul that was normally integrated into the village

• When a pregnancy occurred in these unions, there were rituals and great expectations, women began to consume meat that previously was only served to their husband and therefore, many of them discovered how to integrate the human and ghoul diet together.

• Crossbreeds between ghouls and humans were usually very strong and respected and were also influenced to procreate, which led to the beginning of miscegenation between humans and ghouls.

• Then, we have colonization, many African ghouls were brought along with others on slave ships, and many European ghouls took the opportunity to escape hunting and burning in the Europe and they came in caravels

• As colonization progressed, native ghouls were burned or drowned, those who did not have ties and families with humans hid in the dense forests of the Amazon

• European ghouls usually looked for ghoul slaves as well, (but they bought human slaves to eat) and were also surprised by the presence of half-ghouls

• African ghouls and native Brazilian ghouls used to always find each other strange, but when they were subjugated together, the ghouls began to learn about each other and the different cultures

• Miscegenation advances with ghouls, mixing not only nationalities, culture, but also subspecies, hunting methods

• Cuisine also advances, European ghouls were able to ingest only coffee, native Brazilian ghouls were able to ingest sugar cane and tubers prepared specifically for ghoul consumption and African ghouls could ingest some types of peppers or beans

• Natural mestizos had even fewer dietary restrictions, however, their kagunes developed less

• When people began to mix, European, native or African ghouls, the characteristics of African mimics became increasingly common, many European ghouls wanted their heirs to inherit the strong jaw and Brazilian bikaku

• However, the European elite stopped, or at least tried, with the mixture, when their heirs did not inherit Brazilian characteristics, at least not the ones they wanted, it just created good old eugenics and didn't stop other ghouls from banding together despite ethnic and genetic differences

• Little by little the ghoul community in the country increased, as the centuries passed, Brazilian culture shaped itself and became increasingly welcoming, ghouls were not just monsters, but part of the community and society

• European ghouls stopped living in the shadows, assuming themselves as ghouls when they achieved great purchasing power, this occurs in the 19th century during Brazilian independence

• Mestizo, African and native ghouls formed a strong alliance and built a culture, along with the enslaved humans at the time

• Many enslaved humans saw ghouls (except European ghouls) as heroes, since many ghouls rebelled and killed the plantation owners

• Ghouls were not excluded from Brazilian culture, but included in its daily life, culture, history, religion, folklore

• As more people immigrated to Brazil and ghouls from all over the world began to learn about the country of coffee and the strong, mixed-race ghouls, many ghouls from different countries started moving to Brazil

• This happened in the 19th century, when Brazil achieved "independence" from Portugal and became a monarchy (with the fucking Portuguese family in charge), It was an important century, Brazil experienced the success of coffee farming, abolished slave labor and received several immigrations

• With all these changes, the ghoul community grew even more and the mestizos had the chance to explore their kagunes, managing to develop them

• Almost every Brazilian has a relative who is a mestizo or ghoul

• Ghouls are common in Brazil, they are part of Brazilian blood, however, like any minority, many of them still suffer from prejudice and stigma

Well, that's the general picture of how ghouls developed in Brazil, there are probably errors and inconsistencies, but I'm refraining

I'm going to do more parts, because I had more fun with it than I imagined, so here are some themes that were still covered in Brazilian ghouls ✨

Creation of preventive vaccine for ROS

Mestizos, kagunes and Brazilian categorization

Regional ghouls

Ghoul Inclusion Programs and Laws

+ Violent and marginalized ghouls, illegal meat consumption, Brazilian ghoul elite

Probably some shit, because we Brazilians are very good at doing funny things

[neel-initiative]

Harnessing technology: The future of precision agriculture

By Vyankatesh Sharma, CEO and Founder, NEEL-INITIATIVE

In today’s fast-paced digital age, agriculture is no longer confined to traditional tools and methods. The industry is witnessing an unprecedented transformation, driven by cutting-edge technology, advanced artificial intelligence (AI), and innovative precision farming solutions. At NEEL-INITIATIVE, we are proud to lead this evolution, empowering farmers worldwide with high-tech agricultural machinery that redefines farming as a sustainable and rewarding lifestyle.

As the CEO and founder of NEEL-INITIATIVE, I am passionate about leveraging technology to revolutionize agriculture. Our mission is clear: to enhance productivity, reduce resource wastage, and provide farmers with a lifestyle worth living through state-of-the-art solutions tailored for modern needs.

The Agricultural Revolution

The agriculture industry is at the crossroads of change, with global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and a rapidly growing population demanding innovative solutions. By 2050, the world will need to produce 70% more food to sustain nearly 10 billion people. Traditional farming techniques cannot meet this demand alone.

This is where precision agriculture comes in—a game-changing approach that uses technology to maximize efficiency, enhance crop yields, and promote sustainable farming practices. Precision agriculture not only optimizes farming inputs but also ensures that resources like water, fertilizers, and pesticides are used judiciously.

The Role of Technology in Precision Farming

At NEEL-INITIATIVE, we harness the power of AI-driven technologies, machine learning, and IoT-enabled agricultural machinery to deliver intelligent solutions.

Here are the key ways in which our technology is revolutionizing farming:

1. AI-Enhanced Agricultural Machinery

Our AI-powered machines are designed to make farming smarter and more efficient. From automated tractors to smart harvesters, these machines collect and analyze data in real time, offering insights that drive better decisions. They assess soil conditions, monitor crop health, and even predict the best time for planting and harvesting.

2. Data Analytics for Smart Farming

Data is the lifeblood of modern agriculture. Using drones, satellite imaging, and IoT sensors, our systems gather precise data on variables like soil fertility, moisture levels, and crop performance. This data is processed by AI algorithms, providing farmers with actionable insights to optimize every aspect of their operations.

3. Sustainable Resource Management

Sustainability is a core value at NEEL-INITIATIVE. Our solutions help conserve resources by employing advanced precision irrigation systems, which deliver the exact amount of water needed. By minimizing waste, farmers can cut costs and reduce their environmental footprint.

4. Predictive Analytics for Risk Mitigation

Through predictive models powered by machine learning, we offer farmers tools to anticipate weather changes, pest infestations, and disease outbreaks. This proactive approach helps farmers mitigate risks and improve crop resilience.

5. Blockchain for Food Traceability

Consumers today are demanding greater transparency in the food supply chain. Our technology incorporates blockchain solutions that provide end-to-end traceability, ensuring that every step of the production process is accountable and reliable.

NEEL-INITIATIVE: Leading the Future of Farming

At NEEL-INITIATIVE, we are not just building machines; we are building a legacy of innovation and empowerment. Our high-tech machinery is specifically engineered to address the unique challenges faced by farmers.

When I founded NEEL-INITIATIVE, my vision was to create a company that goes beyond selling products—we provide transformative artificial intelligence solutions that integrate seamlessly into the lives of people. Our systems are designed to enhance efficiency, promote sustainability, and ensure maximum profitability for farmers.

Why Choose NEEL-INITIATIVE?

Advanced AI Technology: Our agricultural machines are powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence that continually learns and improves.

Ease of Use: Our tools are user-friendly, ensuring that farmers of all skill levels can adopt them without hassle.

Cost Efficiency: We design scalable solutions that fit farms of all sizes, making advanced technology affordable for small-scale farmers.

Training and Support: We offer comprehensive training programs to help farmers maximize the potential of our solutions.

A Lifestyle Worth Living

At NEEL-INITIATIVE, our tagline, "Providing a lifestyle worth living," reflects our dedication to enriching farmers' lives. Our mission is not just to improve agricultural practices but to create a future where farming is fulfilling, efficient, and environmentally responsible.

Our solutions enable farmers to:

Monitor fields remotely using mobile apps.

Optimize resources to cut costs and increase yields.

Reduce labor-intensive tasks through automation.

Make data-driven decisions for long-term success.

Overcoming Challenges

While the benefits of precision agriculture are undeniable, the road to adoption comes with challenges, including:

Lack of Awareness: Educating farmers about the potential of precision agriculture is a critical task.

Digital Divide: Bridging the gap in access to digital infrastructure is essential for widespread adoption.

At NEEL-INITIATIVE, we address these challenges by providing:

Flexible Financing Options: Helping farmers access the tools they need without financial strain.

Educational Outreach: Conducting workshops and training sessions to showcase the advantages of precision farming.

Accessible Solutions: Designing equipment that works efficiently even in areas with limited connectivity.

The Future of Agriculture

The future of agriculture lies in embracing technology and innovation. Precision agriculture is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. By integrating AI, IoT, and big data analytics into farming, we can address the challenges of feeding a growing population while preserving the planet’s resources.

At NEEL-INITIATIVE, we are proud to be at the helm of this transformation. Our advanced tools and machinery are paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future in agriculture.

Join the Revolution

As the CEO of NEEL-INITIATIVE, I invite farmers, technologists, and stakeholders to join us in shaping the future of farming. Together, we can create an ecosystem where technology and nature coexist harmoniously.

The future of agriculture is here, and at NEEL-INITIATIVE, we’re building it one innovation at a time.

Vyankatesh Sharma CEO and Founder, NEEL-INITIATIVE

[xris05]

Wooo! Geography and sustainability and stuff and stuff

When, in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one student to take upon themselves the burden of writing a very long (not really all that) academic post on a website they barely know how to use because said website was recommended to them by their actual genuine university as a blog website for an assignment.

And then said student forgets to do the assignment, falls deliriously ill, and is now finally getting round to it hilariously late and because all of their other assignments seem so, so much more difficult and mentally strenuous to do on a day where they really do not want to have to deal with that.

So, here we are. A comically large wall of poorly grammatically structured text, talking about (drumroll please) geography! More specifically "Human" geography, or Urban Geography or whatever you want to call it. It's my chosen field of study (despite my best judgement) and I've been tasked by the powers that be, to create a blog to inform and educate the nebulously defined general public about ~exciting~ developments and "Gamechanging innovations" Now, to tell the truth, this was not a particularly easy thing for me to do, because quite frankly my chosen field of study isn't really one of those ones you'd associate with constant innovation and invention, at least in my mind, but thankfully the university provided a long list of various subjects we could look at and study and then report back unto you (the reader, stand in for the entire rest of the world) about.

Small issue there, was the vast vast majority of what we were offered as potential "Gamechanging innovations" either drove me to madness with boredom, or absolutely did not seem like they were exactly "Gamechanging" (could be worse, one of the ideas offered to another discipline was the hyperloop, which is quite frankly a stupid idea that is dead in the water and could have just been normal highspeed rail)

Take, for instance, "Autonomous vehicles". Yeah. Now, suffice to say there is issues with the concept of self driving vehicles, mostly about how the technology is not exactly safe right now, and well, that's just the start of the rabbit hole there. (and really, just build a train, tram or other preferred method of public transport)

There was another one, which look promising to my untrained eye, namely "The Internet of things" which I had no idea what it was, so doing what any self respecting academic in-training would do, I googled it. Apparently, the "Internet of Things" is the catch-all term for devices that exchange and communicate data over the internet.

I'm no expert, but at an initial reading, that did just seem to be most things these days, and was hardly groundbreaking or new, so I dug a bit deeper into the scholarly side of the ole internet for some answers. Thankfully, I found a very helpful little paper (linked here) which clarified, and I quote:

"The term Internet of Things generally refers to scenarios where network connectivity and computing capability extends to objects, sensors and everyday items not normally considered computers, allowing these devices to generate, exchange and consume data with minimal human intervention. There is, however, no single, universal definition."

So it's the smart fridges, the fancy new cars and all of that lovely stuff, which buzz all of their data and such onto other devices on the internet. Now, of course my immediate thought was that it means my everything is now spying on me, but I was quickly relieved to remember that that changes effectively nothing as I do in fact own a phone which already does that.

The main benefit that seems to be proposed by this is the fact that all of this data allows rather effective monitoring of things like emissions and water quality and power usage and potentially good ole agriculture and so on and so forth, which, yeah, I can see the uses, maybe, but I can also see the glaring potential privacy, legal and potential tech issues.

A lot of people may not like their cars telling some company about where they've been all the time, and how much gas they've used. That's fair and understandable. Not to mention, the data gathered could be wrong, or otherwise rendered useless, effectively poisoning the data-well if enough things go wrong, or are just falsely reported to the public.

(It's at this point that I realise, I don't exactly know if this is quite what the uni wanted me to write, but hey, at least it's honest)

Anyway, I've overstayed my welcome in rambling about all of these things, and will be back (later) to complain/ do my assignment more, have a lovely day and remember that if you ever think about revolutionizing public transport, ask yourself if a bus or train would do the same thing, better.

[briantwomeydallas]

How Innovation Is Reshaping the Food Industry

Food innovation refers to introducing novel ideas, products, and technologies that change how society produces, processes, packages, distributes, and consumes food. It goes beyond merely creating new recipes or flavors - food innovation encompasses advances in agriculture, food science, sustainability, and packaging. The goal is to enhance efficiency, safety, nutrition, and the overall consumer experience.

The need for food innovation arises from the ever-changing demands of consumers and the pressing challenges faced by the industry. As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for food. Additionally, sustainability concerns, climate change, and limited resources prompt exploring alternative food growing and production methods. Innovations in food aim to enhance food security, minimize environmental impact, and offer consumers healthier, more diverse options.

Food innovation occurs through a combination of research, collaboration, and creativity. Scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, and food industry professionals work together to develop new technologies and processes. Research institutions and startups play a crucial role in conducting experiments, testing new concepts, and bringing innovative products to the market.

In recent years, the food industry has witnessed groundbreaking innovations reshaping how people interact with food. The plant-based movement has gained immense traction, with plant-based alternatives for meat, dairy, and seafood becoming mainstream. Companies have developed plant-based burgers, vegan cheeses, and sustainable seafood alternatives using cutting-edge technologies. Beyond plant-based options, innovations have also focused on alternative protein sources, such as insect-based proteins and lab-grown meats, offering sustainable and protein-rich alternatives.

Swedish startup Mycorena is boosting microbial protein production through its fungi-based mycoprotein called Promyc. This ingredient can be used to create meat and tuna alternatives, beverage additives, and dessert ingredients, offering plant-based and sustainable options for consumers.

Finnish startup Onego Bio has developed a product genetically identical to egg whites using fermentation, and without using actual chickens. It uses precision fermentation of a microflora called Trichoderma reesei to produce ovalbumin, the protein found in chicken egg whites. This technology offers a sustainable and animal-friendly alternative for various food applications, including baked goods, desserts, sauces, and dressings.

Companies like New Culture are incorporating animal-free casein into their cheeses through precision fermentation. This breakthrough allows them to produce animal-free mozzarella cheese, offering a delicious and cruelty-free alternative to traditional dairy products.

In addition, consumers increasingly seek transparency in food choices, leading to the clean label movement. Brands are responding by using simple natural ingredients and avoiding artificial additives and preservatives.

Breakthrough innovations in the food industry are revolutionizing how society grows, produces, and consumes food, focusing on sustainability, nutrition, and convenience. One such innovation is plastic-free and smart packaging. Food companies are exploring biodegradable and even edible packaging solutions in response to environmental concerns. Smart packaging using nanotechnology is also gaining popularity, allowing consumers to assess food safety and quality easily.

The Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture employs sensors and data analytics for optimizing crop conditions, irrigation, and pest control, reducing resource usage. Food waste reduction solutions, such as surplus food redistribution platforms, are being developed to combat the global food waste crisis. Moreover, biotechnology and data science advances enable personalized nutrition, tailoring dietary recommendations to individuals based on their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health goals. These innovations promise a more sustainable, healthier, and efficient food future.

Food innovation is driving a remarkable transformation in the food industry, responding to the challenges and opportunities of today. From new plant-based products to sustainable agriculture and cutting-edge technologies, the future of food promises to be more diverse, nutritious, and sustainable. As consumers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders continue to embrace innovation, the food industry's journey toward a more resilient and conscious future is set to continue.

[mariacallous]

If you ever had pastries at breakfast, drank soy milk, used soaps at home, or built yourself a nice flat-pack piece of furniture, you may have contributed to deforestation and climate change.

Every item has a price—but the cost isn’t felt only in our pockets. Hidden in that price is a complex chain of production, encompassing economic, social, and environmental relations that sustain livelihoods and, unfortunately, contribute to habitat destruction, deforestation, and the warming of our planet.

Approximately 4 billion hectares of forest around the world act as a carbon sink which, over the past two decades, has annually absorbed a net 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2. That’s the equivalent of 1.5 times the annual emissions of the US.

Conversely, a cleared forest becomes a carbon source. Many factors lead to forest clearing, but the root cause is economic. Farmers cut down the forest to expand their farms, support cattle grazing, harvest timber, mine minerals, and build infrastructure such as roads. Until that economic pressure goes away, the clearing may continue.

In 2024, however, we are going to see a big boost to global efforts to fight deforestation. New EU legislation will make it illegal to sell or export a range of commodities if they have been produced on deforested land. Sellers will need to identify exactly where their product originates, down to the geolocation of the plot. Penalties are harsh, including bans and fines of up to 4 percent of the offender's annual EU-wide turnover. As such, industry pushback has been strong, claiming that the costs are too high or the requirements are too onerous. Like many global frameworks, this initiative is being led by the EU, with other countries sure to follow, as the so-called Brussels Effect pressures ever more jurisdictions to adopt its methods.

The impact of these measures will only be as strong as the enforcement and, in 2024, we will see new ways of doing that digitally. At Farmerline (which I cofounded), for instance, we have been working on supply chain traceability for over a decade. We incentivize rule-following by making it beneficial.

When we digitize farmers and allow them and other stakeholders to track their products from soil to shelf, they also gain access to a suite of other products: the latest, most sustainable farming practices in their own language, access to flexible financing to fund climate-smart products such as drought-resistant seeds, solar irrigation systems and organic fertilizers, and the ability to earn more through international commodity markets.

Digitization helps build resilience and lasting wealth for the smallholders and helps save the environment. Another example is the World Economic Forum’s OneMap—an open-source privacy-preserving digital tool which helps governments use geospatial and farmer data to improve planning and decision making in agriculture and land. In India, the Data Empowerment Protection Architecture also provides a secure consent-based data-sharing framework to accelerate global financial inclusion.

In 2024 we will also see more food companies and food certification bodies leverage digital payment tools, like mobile money, to ensure farmers’ pay is not only direct and transparent, but also better if they comply with deforestation regulations.

The fight against deforestation will also be made easier by developments in hardware technology. New, lightweight drones from startups such as AirSeed can plant seeds, while further up, mini-satellites, such as those from Planet Labs, are taking millions of images per week, allowing governments and NGOs to track areas being deforested in near-real time. In Rwanda, researchers are using AI and the aerial footage captured by Planet Labs to calculate, monitor, and estimate the carbon stock of the entire country.

With these advances in software and hard-tech, in 2024, the global fight against deforestation will finally start to grow new shoots.

[thxnews]

World Bank: Cutting Greenhouse Gases through Agriculture

A recent World Bank report unveils a promising pathway: by adjusting farming practices, we can slash global greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third. This shift not only promotes sustainability but also fortifies food security for the most vulnerable.  

Sustainable Practices: The Heart of Change

Agricultural Techniques for a Cooler Planet Transforming agricultural methods can have a profound impact on our planet's health. By adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, farmers can significantly reduce emissions. Techniques such as precision farming, which optimizes the use of resources like water and fertilizer, and integrated pest management, that minimizes pesticide use, are at the forefront of this movement. Such practices not only lessen environmental impact but also improve yield efficiency.   The Role of Technology in Sustainable Agriculture Technology plays a pivotal role in modernizing farming techniques. Innovations like drone technology for crop monitoring and automated irrigation systems can drastically cut down resource wastage and emissions. These technologies, once perceived as luxuries, are now becoming necessities in the fight against climate change.  

Policy Support and Economic Incentives

Reforming Agricultural Subsidies A significant portion of the change hinges on policy reform. Currently, many subsidies encourage practices harmful to the environment. Redirecting these funds towards supporting sustainable practices can catalyze a major reduction in agrifood emissions. For instance, subsidies for cover cropping or organic farming can promote soil health and carbon sequestration.   Financial Models and Investments The financial investment required to halve agrifood emissions by 2030 is substantial—estimated at $260 billion annually. However, the returns, such as improved public health, job creation, and enhanced food security, far outweigh the costs. It is crucial for both governmental bodies and private sectors to collaborate in financing these green initiatives.  

Global Cooperation for a Sustainable Future

International Collaboration and Support High-income countries have a unique position to lead global efforts by providing technical and financial assistance to lower-income nations. This support is essential for adopting low-emission farming methods and technologies across the globe. Additionally, international partnerships can facilitate the transfer of knowledge and resources, enabling a unified approach to tackling climate change.   A Unified Approach Across Income Brackets While high-income countries can lead by example, middle and low-income countries also play critical roles. Middle-income countries can reduce up to 75% of global agrifood emissions through greener practices, while low-income countries can focus on avoiding high-emission pitfalls of industrialized nations.   A Recipe for a Livable Planet The journey to a sustainable agrifood system is complex but achievable. With concerted global effort, strategic investments, and a commitment to transforming agricultural practices, we can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our food systems. The benefits of such transformations extend beyond environmental impacts, promising a healthier planet and a sustainable future for all. It's time for stakeholders across the board—policymakers, farmers, investors, and consumers—to unite in this vital cause. Together, we can cultivate a greener, more sustainable world.   Sources: THX News, WB Report & World Bank. Read the full article

[bizzopp2024]

How are startups disrupting traditional industries?

Startups are often at the forefront of disrupting traditional industries by introducing innovative technologies, business models, and approaches. Here are several ways in which startups are causing disruption:

1. Technology Integration

   - Startups leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things to create more efficient and streamlined processes in industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.

2. E-Commerce and Direct-to-Consumer Models

   - E-commerce startups have revolutionized retail by providing direct-to-consumer sales channels, cutting out intermediaries and reducing costs. Companies like Amazon and Alibaba have transformed the way people shop.

3. Sharing Economy

   - Startups in the sharing economy, like Uber and Airbnb, have disrupted transportation and hospitality industries by connecting service providers directly with consumers through online platforms.

4. Fintech Innovation

   - Fintech startups have transformed the financial services sector by introducing digital payments, robo-advisors, crowdfunding platforms, and blockchain-based solutions, challenging traditional banking models.

5. HealthTech Advancements

   - Health technology startups are disrupting healthcare by introducing telemedicine, personalized medicine, wearable devices, and digital health platforms, making healthcare more accessible and efficient.

6. Renewable Energy and CleanTech

   - Startups in the clean energy sector are disrupting traditional energy industries by developing innovative solutions for renewable energy, energy storage, and sustainable practices.

7. EdTech Revolution

   - Education technology startups are changing the way people learn by offering online courses, interactive platforms, and personalized learning experiences, challenging traditional educational institutions.

8. AgTech and FoodTech

   - Agricultural technology startups are improving efficiency and sustainability in farming, while food technology startups are introducing alternative proteins, lab-grown meat, and sustainable food production methods.

9. InsurTech Transformation

   - InsurTech startups are leveraging technology to streamline and personalize insurance processes, making insurance more accessible, affordable, and customer-centric.

10. Space Exploration and Aerospace Innovation

    - Startups in the space industry are disrupting aerospace by developing cost-effective satellite technologies, commercial space travel, and new approaches to space exploration.

11. Smart Manufacturing

    - Startups in the manufacturing sector are implementing Industry 4.0 technologies, such as automation, IoT, and data analytics, to create more agile and efficient production processes.

12. Telecommunications Disruption

    - Telecom startups are challenging traditional telecommunications companies by providing innovative solutions for connectivity, communication, and data transfer.

These examples showcase how startups are challenging the status quo across various industries, prompting established companies to adapt, innovate, or risk becoming obsolete. The agility, creativity, and willingness to take risks inherent in many startups enable them to drive significant changes in traditional business landscapes.

[cognitivejustice]

From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculture-reliant African continent are looking to the past and future to respond to climate change.

Zimbabwe

A patch of green vegetables is thriving in a small garden the 65-year-old Tshuma is keeping alive with homemade organic manure and fertilizer. Previously discarded items have again become priceless.

“This is how our fathers and forefathers used to feed the earth and themselves before the introduction of chemicals and inorganic fertilizers,” Tshuma said.

He applies livestock droppings, grass, plant residue, remains of small animals, tree leaves and bark, food scraps and other biodegradable items like paper. Even the bones of animals that are dying in increasing numbers due to the drought are burned before being crushed into ash for their calcium.

Somalia

Greenhouses are changing the way some people live, with shoppers filling up carts with locally produced vegetables and traditionally nomadic pastoralists under pressure to settle down and grow crops.

“They are organic, fresh and healthy,” shopper Sucdi Hassan said in the capital, Mogadishu. “Knowing that they come from our local farms makes us feel secure.”

The greenhouses also create employment in a country where about 75% of the population is people under 30 years old, many of them jobless.

Kenya

In Kenya, a new climate-smart bean variety is bringing hope to farmers in a region that had recorded reduced rainfall in six consecutive rainy seasons.

The variety, called “Nyota” or “star” in Swahili, is the result of a collaboration between scientists from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the Alliance of Bioversity International and research organization International Center for Tropical Agriculture.

The new bean variety is tailored for Kenya’s diverse climatic conditions. One focus is to make sure drought doesn’t kill them off before they have time to flourish.

--------

Other moves to traditional practices are under way. Drought-resistant millets, sorghum and legumes, staples until the early 20th century when they were overtaken by exotic white corn, have been taking up more land space in recent years.

Leaves of drought-resistant plants that were once a regular dish before being cast off as weeds are returning to dinner tables. They even appear on elite supermarket shelves and are served at classy restaurants, as are millet and sorghum.

This could create markets for the crops even beyond drought years