Hello,
Last weekend was exciting. We had a discussion on plant-rich diets at The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, as part of the Drawdown Eco-Challenge.
Plant-rich diets are one of the most impactful solutions to reversing global warming according to Project Drawdown. But where does India stand in this planet-forward movement? Some of these questions were answered and more were raised.
In case you missed it,here’s a detailed account of what we discussed.
We love having such conversations and if you think there’s an Edible Issue that needs to be talked about, write to us and let us know.
Until then, dive into this week’s issue.
Stay Curious,
Anusha and Elizabeth
Lawmakers must radically reform the food systems:
The Sunday Guardian
If the recommendations of a recent KPMG report to Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society are acted upon, India’s children will end up consuming low cost, fortified, unhealthy processed foods as flavoured sweet or sour powders or biscuits. How can food systems respond to this problem? Here’s what Dr Arun Gupta has to say.
Can Africa and India meet the SDG 2030 target of Zero Hunger?
Observer Research Foundation
Africa and India continue to have the highest percentage of under-five children who are undernourished. Reasons being climate change, inadequate access, and imbalanced diets. How can we ensure a secure and healthy future? Shoba Suri talks us through what needs to change.
Targeting a healthier tomorrow
MORE NEWS
🌧 Monsoon forecast offers respite for Indian agriculture
Good news — the monsoon is likely to be near normal! The south-west monsoon, which makes its onset over the country in June, irrigates over half of India’s cropland and sustains the livelihood of over 58% of its population that is dependent on agriculture.
🥕 Food inflation falls to the lowest level since 1991
Economists attribute low food prices to a string of factors including bumper crop, low demand, low global prices, and muted impact of increased minimum support prices (MSP).
🍖Licious is grabbing a big bite of the $30B Indian meat market
“When we first went with our list of expectations to the supplier, the talk in the market was — there are two madmen looking to supply gold plated meat in the market. So the biggest challenge has been to get the right vendors,” Abhay says.
🐄French dairy giant, Lactalis, to milk more in India
The increasing footprint of Lactalis may not be received well by a section of Indian dairy farmers as well as consumers. Lactalis mainly produces cheese, milk and butter, with brands including President, Bridel, Galbani and Lactel.
🍵Tea quality and industry compliance in India ‘very good’.
The Tlabs chain of laboratories has recently obtained official accreditation by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and has been tasked with monitoring tea quality in the country according to FSSAI parameters.
🌍Embracing the Earth🌍
#IndianFoodMovement
Leafy greens like mutthi saag are an accessible source of nutritional and helps locals in Odisha fight adverse climate. Read about this restorative green and learn a recipe too!
CHUK-ing Out Negativity
Ved Krishna builds sustainable packaging at CHUK. Read his beautiful reflection piece on being inspired by surroundings and setting goals to being better citizens of the future.
Rice is Life
Edible Archives presents not just over 40 undiscovered varieties of rice in all its glory but preserves the dwindling knowledge about cooking methods, as well as revives lost recipes. Here’s more on the project.
“Meating” Climate Goals
“We have to understand that the western world also sets the aspirations for food across the world. Today China is eating a lot more meat. Today the Indian middle class is eating a lot more meat than it ate before because the aspiration of what is good food becomes food for the affluent.” Read more.
This is the second part of Inthefield’s podcast on sustainability, climate change and consumption. Going beyond the label, how are organisations in the sector contending with issues such as livelihoods of small scale producers, value chains and their inclusion in global markets, environmental and biodiversity sustainability, and most importantly the changing power structures needed in the marriage between producers and consumers.
If you haven’t already, Listen to part 1 here.
COLONIALISM’s POTATO CURRY
serves 1.3 billion
INGREDIENTS:
Potatoes; planted in the
Bangalore Botanical Garden Rs. 100/- worth
Real Indian Curry couple of spoons
Gastropodcast A sound-byte
DIRECTIONS:
Chop up some potatoes (as a tool to increase public happiness meant it embodied Britain’s supposed right — and by extension moral imperative — to rule India.)
Sprinkle some historic spice blend made in Britain and Japan.
And as you are doing so listen to Nicola Twilley and Cynthia Graber decode this thing called curry on Gastropod.
Serve this culinary delight piping hot while being provoked by the injustice of colonialism.
THE RETAIL SAGA
Upward Thrust for Food Processing Startups in India as Tech Drives Growth
“In the past, startups have successfully demonstrated their ability to revamp traditional sectors by deploying scalable future-ready solutions,” says Vishal Anand
FMCG no longer fast moving as rural demand fizzles out
India’s consumption engine is losing steam as rising prices and lower purchasing power in the countryside hit the brakes on demand growth.
The private label takeover of modern Indian retail
From Future Group to Reliance Retail, modern grocery retailers are betting big on private labels in their quest for higher margins. FMCG companies, meanwhile, are feeling the heat
Grofers’ latest value proposition is…value
In its latest shift in strategy, Grofers is betting that it can survive by targeting value-conscious customers. Will this be the final stop in Grofers pivot-laden journey?
Do you have an idea of solving an Edible Issue? Are you passionate about social change?
UnLtd India has announced the launch of its July 2019 Cohort Application Process and is seeking applications from early-stage social entrepreneurs addressing socio-economic issues across sectors (livelihoods, agriculture, environment, health, education, etc.) Here’s more information.
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