Critical questions to ask and answer about the future of global agriculture in an era of multiple crises

Sustainable Food Director's Blog

Critical questions to ask and answer about the future of global agriculture in an era of multiple crises

By Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. October 6, 2023 at the ASU DC campus, the Swette Center for Sustainable Food

CIFOR-ICRAF is a must-know organization

My students and staff exclaim – she’s off again on an international trip! Indeed. For nearly six years, I’ve been engaged as a member of the board of trustees for CIFOR-ICRAF, an international institution comprised of two merged research centers that together produce much of the world’s knowledge on trees, forests, agroforestry, and sustainable landscapes.

These four challenges will shape the next farm bill – and how the US eats

For the 20th time since 1933, Congress is writing a multiyear farm bill that will shape what kind of food U.S. farmers grow, how they raise it and how it gets to consumers. These measures are large, complex and expensive: The next farm bill is projected to cost taxpayers US$1.5 trillion over 10 years.

Farmer fertilizing feild with tractor and sprayer.

Fertilizer prices are soaring – and that’s an opportunity to promote more sustainable ways of growing crops

Farmers are coping with a fertilizer crisis brought on by soaring fossil fuel prices and industry consolidation. The price of synthetic fertilizer has more than doubled since 2021, causing great stress in farm country.

What is bioengineered food? An agriculture expert explains

By Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines bioengineered food as food that “contains detectable genetic material that

Unlike the US, Europe is setting ambitious targets for producing more organic food

By Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University President Joe Biden has called for an all-of-government response to climate change that looks for solutions

Swette Center Comments on USDA Meat Processing Investments

Secretary Vilsack, Thank you for the opportunity to submit a comment regarding the investments and opportunities for meat and poultry processing infrastructure. We at the Swette Center for Sustainable Food

Organic food has become mainstream but still has room to grow

By Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University Organic food once was viewed as a niche category for health nuts and hippies,

Letter to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

By Kathleen Merrigan, executive director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, and professor with appointments in the School of Sustainability, College of Health Solutions, and

Swette Center Selected for Whole Foods Market 5% Day

By Kathleen Merrigan, executive director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University We’re thrilled to share that on Wednesday, Dec, 4, the brand-new Whole Foods