What's Worth Reading This Week (No. 6)
What's Worth Reading This Week (No. 6)
Some food for thought as you start the week of September 30, 2024
Enjoy this brief compilation of interesting snippets, insightful stories, and the occasional nutrition research update (for the food nerds among us). I’ll feature some familiar favorites here on Substack and beyond, including books, podcasts, and more.
(click on the links in bold to browse)
Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already, and you’ll get a fresh batch next week!
Sticking with a sustainability theme this week, and keeping the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene top of mind. While extreme storms and natural disasters are not new, they are happening more frequently and with greater intensity. And as with most things, it’s marginalized and BIPOC communities who bear the brunt of the devastation. The effects of climate change are here, right now. The American Red Cross is mobilizing a large-scale relief effort, if you want to help but aren’t sure where to donate or support you can start there.
I’m in the thick of a research project that I’m trying to wrap up before I leave for FNCE on Friday morning. Scroll to the bottom for a preview of my planned schedule. I hope to see some of you in Minneapolis soon!
What If We Get It Right? (by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, affiliate link)
This came highly recommended by Chef Catherine Shamburger Brown, and when I realized I had added it to my Audible Wish List already, I immediately downloaded it. And while I haven’t had a chance to get too deep into it yet, I can already tell it’s the antidote to the cynicism and borderline nihilism I sometimes feel when I think about the future of our planet. We have to envision a better future, and this book can serve as a scaffold to start pulling your imagination towards what we can do.
Why You Should Read This: Instead of pontificating on and on about how bad things are (and trust me, they are pretty bad), this book asks, “What if?” It’s organized as short snippets, so you can take plenty of breaks to process what you’re reading (or, in my case, hearing in the audiobook). I enjoy this format for heavy topics like this, it makes it feel more digestible.
Bonus Read: You might also like Johnson’s previous book, All We Can Save. It’s a similar format, spotlighting voices with intersectional views normally left out of conversations about climate solutions.
The Tiniest GMOs (Ambrook Research)
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one of the most contentious topics out there. And to be clear, I personally don’t have an issue with the technology itself. I’m more concerned with how it’s used, and the unintended consequences of using it. “It” being GMO or GE (genetically engineered) crops, including more recently developed gene editing technology like CRISPR.
And although there are still only a handful of GMO crops being grown (corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya, summer squash, and a few varieties of apple, pineapple, and potato) this article focuses on uncharted territory: GMO soil microbes.
Why You Should Read This: As stated in this article:
“Soil is the basis of 95 percent of our food production. We clearly need to protect and regenerate soil, so we can continue producing food into the future, and so farmers can deal with the increasing droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures.”
We’re only just beginning to build a public awareness of the intricate links between soil health, planetary health, and human health. As for me, I barely gave it any thought. This piece will not turn you into an overnight expert on the subject, but it might grant a new perspective.
I think your assessment will depend on your general stance towards biotechnology. Those in favor should consider the heavy risks and how GMO soil microbes could impact our ecosystems differently than GMO or GE plants. And vice versa, those who are staunchly anti-GMO in any form should consider whether we can feed, nourish, and sustain both people and planet without them.
Bonus Read: There’s a lengthy report linked in the article about Risks and Concerns if you want to dive deep.
Climate change makes farming easier in Alaska. Indigenous growers hope to lead the way (NPR Climate Solutions Week)
Two (or more) things can be true at the same time. According to this article:
Alaska is warming faster than any other U.S. state as a result of human-caused climate change.
Climate change is making agriculture more possible in many parts of Alaska.
Obviously, that first one is very concerning. But that second one could spell big changes for food and nutrition security, especially for very remote regions of the state. I didn’t realize almost 95% of the state’s food is imported. When you think about how fragile supply chains can be, it feels even more urgent that Alaskan farmers lead the way towards growing more of what they need.
Why You Should Read This: It’s easy to hear about the devastating effects of climate chance on places like Alaska and think, “Wow, everything is bad, what good could come of this?” But it’s never that black and white. I think this story is especially important because local and regional food systems are critical. They help build resiliency into the overall food system, and Native Alaskans and indigenous communities were the original stewards of this land. More simply, if you’re an advocate for fruits and veggies, you’ll enjoy learning about what these intrepid farmers are able to grow.
6 Reasons Sustainable Nutrition is Smart Business (Erin Boyd Kappelhoff on LinkedIn)
And finally, here’s a short list-icle from a fellow dietitian who recently attended Climate Week NYC. Erin points out six reasons why pairing sustainability with nutrition just makes sense. And while I wish we didn’t need to build a business case for sustainability or food + nutrition security, I can accept that’s the reality of what needs to be done for meaningful change to happen.
Why You Should Read This: Even if you don’t work in the business world, you probably care about what brands are doing (both those you love and those you don’t). This is a little peak behind the curtain at just some of the factors that influence business decisions.
Bonus Read: A more academic look at ESG + Nutrition, from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (ESG = Environmental, Social, Governance)
And as promised, here’s a preview of some of the events I’ll be attending in Minneapolis next week. If you’re a fellow dietitian, student, or intern and see me out and about, please don’t hesitate to say hello — I love meeting new folks IRL!
Friday 10/4: FNCE Friday, hosted by Janice Bissex
Saturday 10/5: A mini wellness retreat hosted at the Walker Art Center
Sunday 10/6: An early morning breakfast event with Eggland’s Best, followed by a lunch event with the National Peanut Board and foodie friend Tessa Nguyen, and closing out with Trivia Night with the Healthy Family Project
Monday 10/7: Another breakfast reception with the Ketchum PR team, then finishing the events marathon with the Eat Well Global reception and an event with Planet Oat at Hewing Hotel (which is such a cool spot to visit if you’re ever in Minneapolis)
If you’re traveling to Minneapolis, don’t forget to check out my Ultimate FNCE Packing Guide so you don’t forget any essentials.
And given that I’ll be out of town and likely exhausted by next Monday, I’m planning to skip the “What’s Worth Reading” roundup for the week of October 7th. But I’ll have plenty of interesting and insightful recommendations post-FNCE, so I’ll be back with the next installment on Monday, October 14th.
Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already, and as always, thanks for reading!