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Food and agriculture

Food and agriculture
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on food and agriculture, with a focus on Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
A study has found key differences between durian grown in China compared with Southeast Asia. Photo: Sun Yeung
Science

Scientists find key nutrient missing in China-grown durian

A study of the popular, pungent fruit grown in Hainan has discovered some stark differences with their Thai counterparts.

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Hong Kong society

Suspected pufferfish poisoning leaves 2 Hong Kong men in hospital

Hong Kong society

Dried fruits have highest sulphite levels, Hong Kong survey finds

China food security

Fertiliser on its way out, advanced tech is in, as China sees record farm yields

Modernisation efforts come as food-security stability grows more critical in China’s agrarian undertakings.

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A farmer checks on his seedlings at an intelligent rice-farming facility in China’s Sichuan province. Photo: Xinhua
China food security

Opinion | China’s ‘Food Silk Road’ holds key to thwarting Trump tariffs

Policymakers in Beijing have taken steps to address supply chain vulnerabilities and the weaponisation of imported food supplies.

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Japan

In Japan, a protein pioneer’s edible insect experiment fails to fly

The founder of Gryllus Inc, which has filed for bankruptcy, maintains that his company’s insect-based food was ahead of its time.

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China economy

China’s crop import curbs causing soybean shortage

Some soybean crushers in Dongguan in Guangdong province have had to suspend operations for the last three weeks, traders say.

Farmers harvest soybeans near Palo, Iowa, United States, on October 2, 2024. Photo: AP
Donald Trump

Trump vows to eliminate Daylight Saving Time

The US president-elect says the practice of moving clocks forward an hour in the spring ‘inconvenient’ and ‘costly’.

Japan

Japan auctions fresh fin whale meat for first time in decades

Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019.

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US-China relations

US House advances defence bill that bans Chinese goods from tech to garlic

The US$884 billion measure, which is considered ‘must-pass’ legislation, now moves to the US Senate.

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The annual US defence spending bill is considered “must-pass” because its enactment is required for members of the military to receive their pay and benefits. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
China food security

China hopes to breed success with focus on quality soybean varieties

China completed a census of its agricultural germ plasma resources earlier this year amid a focus on food security.

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A farmer checks newly-harvested soybeans in Xiagu village in Luoyang city in central China’s Henan province. Photo: Xinhua
Wellness

Beans, peas better than veggie burgers as alternatives to meat

Eating plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy lowers the chance of an early death. Scientists ranked the best foods to switch to.

Food and Drinks

Why prickly pear is a crop with potential in a warming world

In arid southern Italy, where drought, disease and global warming ravage olive trees, a start-up is growing prickly pear, a food and biofuel.

China trade

Will China turn to Argentina to fill its farming import gap? Wheat and see

The first wheat shipment from Argentina to China since the 1990s suggests a deeper trade relationship could be on the horizon.

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China could widen its trade relationship with Argentina to ensure its supply of staple crops like wheat. Photo: Xinhua
China food security

China announces plan to cut food waste at production, transport and storage end

Amid climate change and geopolitical pressures, Communist Party aims to raise public awareness about saving food, waste and healthy eating.

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China is cracking down on food waste. Photo: Xinhua
Robotics

Chinese start-up wants to replace human chefs with robots

Cooking robots can help restaurants cut labour costs by 30 per cent, and reduce food and seasoning waste by 10 per cent.

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China manufacturing

China wants to turn Xinjiang’s vast deserts into a string of pearls

Millions of pearls are already being harvested in the Taklimakan Desert, as China tries to turn the arid region into a hub for aquaculture.

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Science

China surrounds ‘sea of death’ Taklamakan Desert with giant green belt

Just completed multi-decade project in Xinjiang region is intended to help prevent desertification and boost local economies.

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China has construction a vast green belt of salt-tolerant, drought-resistant plants to combat desertification in the Xinjiang region. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Diplomacy

Opinion | Can Global South and G20 lead new era of poverty reduction?

The credibility of developing countries in the fight against poverty stems from lived experience rather than theoretical discourse.

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Raise fines on Hongkongers for illegal imports of groceries

Hongkongers are increasingly bringing in raw meat, eggs and other food items from the mainland in contravention of the law.

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Donald Trump

Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief for his final cabinet secretary pick

Several spots that are traditionally cabinet-level remain, including US trade representative and head of the small business administration.

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Brooke Rollins speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York in October. Photo: AP
US-China relations

US blacklists 29 more Chinese companies over alleged forced labour in Xinjiang

Products of offending firms range from hi-tech inputs such as polysilicon to food products like tomato paste, according to Homeland Security.

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A picker harvests tomatoes in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in September. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

‘We don’t have anything to harvest’: storm-hit Philippines faces rice crisis

The onslaught from six storms caused at least US$131 million of crop losses, with rice bearing the brunt of the damage.

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Food and Drinks

Mouthing Off | Why there’s a big problem with organic food labelling in Hong Kong

With no concrete rules or oversight, goods displaying organic labels in Hong Kong may not be that at all. One organisation wants to fix that.

Business of climate change

Lab-grown meat lands on Hong Kong plates via Australian start-up

The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental has introduced two dishes featuring Sydney-based Vow’s cultured Japanese quail.

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Vow, a Sydney food-tech start-up, debuted its cultured meat products at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong on November 19, 2024. Photo: Handout
India

‘Cannot wait to sow seeds’: Indian farmers burn stubble despite fines, toxic smog

While authorities fine violators, farmers say they are forced to burn due to the short window between harvests and lack of government support.

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Farmers burn stubble in a rice field in the northern state of Haryana, India, on October 21. Photo: Reuters
Climate change

Future-proofing rice: how Asia’s farmers are innovating against climate odds

From India to Vietnam, a new wave of innovation is transforming traditional rice farming into a resilient and eco-friendly industry.

China food safety

China imposes new cooking oil transport rules after fuel tanker scandal

From February, containers used to transport food oils must comply with hygiene standards, and be labelled.

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