KUALA LUMPUR: To help the nation and communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO), Sunway Group has contributed RM1 million to the Malaysian governments Covid-19 Fund.

Representing the group at the official mock cheque presentation ceremony, Sunway Berhad Executive Director Sarena Cheah presented the mock cheque to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

As a corporation, we want to reach out to all Malaysians who need it the most during these difficult times including the COVID-19 patients who have lost their jobs because of the disease, frontline healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us, not forgetting the more vulnerable B40 communities as well, Sarena said.

This contribution was part of Sunway Groups RM34 million commitment earlier, which is expected to support at least 40,000 Malaysians.

Other contributions include up to RM12 million from Sunways healthcare division to cover the cost of subsidising treatment for public patients from MOH and UMMC hospitals, RM20 million worth of rent-free days to Sunway Malls non-essential retailers and RM300,000 to various non-profit organisations, including Yayasan Kebajikan Negara to aid B40 beneficiaries nationwide.

Pusat Koreksional Puncak Alam personnel receives the Soapful bars from Sunway Resorts & Hotels. - Sunway Group

LENDING A HELPING HAND

Sunway Resorts & Hotels has also donated 1,500 repurposed soap bars to Pusat Koreksional Puncak Alam, a correctional facility in Kajang, in an effort to help juvenile inmates observe personal hygiene as visitations are not allowed during the MCO.

In addition, more than 25,000 hygiene items including blankets, shower gel, shampoo, dental kits, small pillows and kitchen gloves were donated to Hospital Sungai Buloh in Selangor and Hospital Seberang Jaya in Penang. The aid is expected to benefit at least 5,000 individuals and help hospitals cope with an increasing number of patients during this time.

As part of Sunway Groups ongoing #zerofoodwastage initiative in collaboration with Kechara Soup Kitchen Society, Sunway hotels have contributed a total of 415kg of surplus food up to February 2020, which has benefited close to 1,700 of the homeless and urban poor in Malaysia.

Sunway City Ipoh contributes organic vegetables from its organic farm to the Ipoh-based Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bain. - Sunway Group

SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINERS

In Ipoh, Sunway Property has started a weekly contribution of organic vegetables produced in Sunway City Ipohs organic farm throughout the MCO period. To date, more than 110kg of fresh organic produce has been delivered to benefit some 750 frontline healthcare workers and patients of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun.

Separately, Sunway employees have also chipped in contributions under the #SunwayforGood Fund, set up in collaboration with the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. The fund collected more than RM800,000 at its launch last week.

These funds were used to aid Sunways frontline healthcare workers, as well as those in essential and critical services across Sunway businesses, such as zookeepers in the theme parks, hotel staff tending to quarantined guests, facility maintenance workers, security officers and auxiliary police. The fund will also support the B40 communities around Sunway townships nationwide.

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Sunway donates RM1 million to National Covid-19 Fund and amps up relief efforts - New Straits Times

April 01, 2020 17:55 ET | Source: ReportLinker

New York, April 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Organic Food Additives Market - Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles, Market Sizing & Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871840/?utm_source=GNW

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Organic Food Additives Market including are Archer Danials Midland Company, Cargill, Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, DuPont, Kerry Group Plc, BASF SE, and Novozymes.

On the basis of Product Type, the Global Organic Food Additives Market is studied across Antioxidants, Colorants, Emulsifiers, Flavoring Agent, Nutrition Enhancer, and Sweeteners.

On the basis of Nutrients, the Global Organic Food Additives Market is studied across Minerals, Phytonutrients, and Vitamins.

On the basis of Application, the Global Organic Food Additives Market is studied across Bakery and Confectionery, Beverages, and Dairy Products.

For the detailed coverage of the study, the market has been geographically divided into the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The report provides details of qualitative and quantitative insights about the major countries in the region and taps the major regional developments in detail.

In the report, we have covered two proprietary models, the FPNV Positioning Matrix and Competitive Strategic Window. The FPNV Positioning Matrix analyses the competitive market place for the players in terms of product satisfaction and business strategy they adopt to sustain in the market. The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisitions strategies, geography expansion, research & development, new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

Research Methodology: Our market forecasting is based on a market model derived from market connectivity, dynamics, and identified influential factors around which assumptions about the market are made. These assumptions are enlightened by fact-bases, put by primary and secondary research instruments, regressive analysis and an extensive connect with industry people. Market forecasting derived from in-depth understanding attained from future market spending patterns provides quantified insight to support your decision-making process. The interview is recorded, and the information gathered in put on the drawing board with the information collected through secondary research.

The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players in the Global Organic Food Additives Market 2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Organic Food Additives Market 3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Organic Food Additives Market 4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Organic Food Additives Market 5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Organic Food Additives Market

The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size of Organic Food Additives market in the Global? 2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Organic Food Additives Market over the forecast period? 3. What is the competitive position in the Global Organic Food Additives Market? 4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Organic Food Additives Market? 5. What are the opportunities in the Global Organic Food Additives Market? 6. What are the modes of entering the Global Organic Food Additives Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871840/?utm_source=GNW

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global Organic Food Additives Market is expected to grow from USD 3,162.12 Million in 2018 to USD 4,189.12 Million by the end of 2025 at a...

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Knowing what makes food organic can reframe how you think about what you eat

By Sam Pomichter - March 30, 2020

If youve been to a grocery store in the past few years, youve probably heard of organically produced food. Organic food, once confined to small health food stores run by gleefully high middle-aged hippies, now has its own aisles in grocery stores and dedicated areas of produce sections. But what exactly is organic food? How are the production processes of organic food different from normally produced goods? Why does organic food cost more? Does organic food have scientifically substantiated health benefits relative to regular food? These questions, though many dont know the answers to them, can not only change the way you shop but the way you think about the food you eat.

Organic refers to the farming processes in place to produce the food in question. Organic farming practices are those that attempt to create soil and water of enhanced quality, reduce the pollution created from farming, provide safe and beneficial habitats for livestock, enable the natural tendencies of livestock and promote self-sustaining practices among the resources utilized on a given farm. In fact, most categories of food can be produced through organic means. If farmers fail to uphold all of these standards, then they will not be given the token United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal on their products.

The farming practices represented by organic farming aim to eliminate cruelty toward the environment and the organisms utilized for food production. Organic farming practices exclude many materials and practices utilized by factory farm producers, including the usage of synthetic and inorganic fertilizers, sewage as fertilizer, most synthetic pesticides, using UV rays to eliminate pests and bacteria, genetic engineering to improve crop yield and the utilization of antibiotics and growth hormones in livestock. Organic farming practices, adhering to USDA guidelines, definitely promote a more ethical treatment of livestock through enabling animals to graze pastures for extended periods and providing them with organically produced food.

All this sounds great, but are there health benefits associated with consuming organic foods? Scientific evidence of the health benefits of eating organic has been budding in recent years because of its increasing prevalence in the eyes of shoppers. There are hundreds of studies that suggest organically produced foods carry some to moderately more amounts of essential nutrients relative to normally produced foods, depending on what nutrients are in question.

But nutritional enhancement, although important, is not the main justification for eating organic food from a health perspective; its what organically produced foods dont have that make them healthy. Cadmium is a heavy metal sometimes present in soils treated with inorganic fertilizers. Cadmium, being a heavy metal, is also a carcinogen. Organically produced crops have been shown to have less heavy metal content than inorganically produced crops. Heavy metals can amount to more oxidative stress in the body and continued exposure can lead to the development of chronic illnesses. Pesticide residue is commonly found on inorganically grown produce, whereas organically grown produce has 30 percent less pesticide residue than inorganically grown produce. It is unclear how these deviations in heavy metal content and pesticide residue impact the health of consumers, but there could be health implications with the continual ingestion of small amounts of toxins.

I generally try to buy and garden organic products; its a lifestyle choice I made because of my beliefs regarding the ethical treatment of animals and the necessity for farming to positively benefit the environment. Understandably, the price of organically produced food is a barrier for a lot of potential consumers, with organic food costing 10 percent to 30 percent more than nonorganic food. Growing and buying organic is not always a viable option for people of lower incomes, but if expanded further, the standards in place for the cultivation of organic produce could end up benefiting those currently without access to organic food. This could reduce the cost of production through a more developed industry, which may cut the cost on the consumer end as well.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) generally act against the tenets of organic farming, but their uses could also be vital in helping drive down the cost of food because they garner higher crop yields. As far as we know, there are no confirmed health benefits from avoiding consuming genetically modified food. If patents on GMO seeds were eliminated and they were more readily available for commercial use, but grown in the environments akin to organic produce, the price of sustainable and ethical food would be much lower.

Factory farming companies and local farms alike should look toward organic farming practices to produce more high-quality food. But as of right now, for those who have the money, I urge all of you to purchase organic. In doing so, you will promote ethical practices in the produce and livestock industries and support local farms. Check out the local and organic section in your supermarket, familiarize yourself with local farms and visit locally owned health food stores. Considering most organic and local goods are sold in tandem, buying organic goes beyond the kitchen and can help your community.

Sam Pomichter is a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience.

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Organic food is a better, but much more expensive option - Binghamton University Pipe Dream

Assuming the organic manufacturing process is able to sustain premium pricing levels. organic soybean producers using reduced-tillage production methods can achieve similar revenue, finds an ongoing experiment.

It used cover crops to reduce tillage - the thousands of years old approach of preparing soil by plowing or overturning soil - in organic field crop production systems. Since organic food is now a gigantic $130 billion industry the scholars wanted to see if domestic organic soybeans could be competitive with their modern scientific counterparts. To become competitive among a wider socio-economic demographic, organic farmers need to reduce costs and they can't do that when they limit themselves to older pesticides that require more applications and intensive labor. Aquaponics are also threatening to erode their business, since organic industry trade groups contending that chemicals their lobbyists choose to use in soil are better than using no soil at all have been unconvincing to the public.

The scientists compared regular soybean production after a cover crop mixture interseeded into corn, to reduced-tillage soybeans after a roller-crimped cereal rye cover crop after a corn silage forage crop.

A roller-crimper for cereal rye in the organic no-till soybean system. Photo:John Wallace/Penn State

In that process, there was 50 percent less 'soil disturbance', which is desired by people who worry about soil conservation over food. So the environmental halo remains in place, but though reduced-tillage meant reduced input costs it will be $46 per acre less profitable because of lower yields. Since soybean revenue is just over $500 an acre and farming operates on razor-thin margins a loss of 10 percent is a lot of money, so prices would need to remain high if the corn-soybean-spelt organic cropping system is going to work.

Since organic soybeans are not yet viable how do organic foods use them in everything? They have a bit of a cheat. Though domestic organic food has some fraud that is mostly at local farmer's markets where small groups are exempt from any standards. Organic imports have no criteria at all. Studies by independent groups have found endemic fraud in imported organic food. Not as systematic as olive oil but still common. India and Turkey are happy to sell Americans 'organic' soybeans that are not organic, since they know they can't really be caught and it makes no difference. The food is identical and no activist groups want to damage their allies by doing surprise spot testing of organic food.

So if fewer rotors for crops makes organic shoppers feel better, this could work as long as they continue to pay a premium. But I predict that 'no soil damage at all' aquaponics will overrun the conventional organic marketing groups that remain stuck in the past.

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Reduced Till Organic Soybeans Could Be Viable, But Prices Need To Be At Least 10% Higher - Science 2.0

As the need for medical equipment grows across New York City, so does the need to keep workers using that equipment fed.

Jared and Kyle Lyons started Served Natural in February to create and delivery healthy meals in New York City. Now, they're delivering 750-1,000 meals to hospitals in the tri-state area each day.

"I think the biggest problem is one: a lot of restaurants aren't open, and two: especially with night shifts, no one is delivering at two in the morning, there's absolutely nothing available," says Jared Lyons.

Temporary hospital in Central Park set to hold 68 coronavirus patients

The duo says after someone called to donate 100 meals a few weeks ago, they set up donations through their website.

They've matched each meal donated so far

"While the whole world may be talking about PPE, feeding our staff is is important too, we've got to make sure that they're strong and they have the ability to come back and do the job that they've been doing," says Khari Edwards, vice president of external affairs at Brookdale Hospital.

LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond

Served Natural has also created a GoFundMe with a goal of donating 25,000 meals to medical staff.

"It shows that we're not forgotten ... what it means is that the community cares, that people understand what we're going through more so than ever," says Edwards.

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Organic food delivery service donating thousands of meals to hospital staff - News 12 Bronx

Strawberries top the EWG's Dirty Dozen list for 2020.

If organic food is in your budget, you may want to think twice about purchasing conventional strawberries, spinach and kale. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S. based advocacy and research group, released its 2020 Dirty Dozen list this week, an annual shoppers guide for fresh produce evaluating which fruits and vegetables are most contaminated by pesticides, and therefore potentially carcinogenic.

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and kale that EWG tested were positive for residues of two or more pesticides and multiple samples of kale showed eighteen different pesticides. In fact, on average, the EWG found thatkaleandspinachsamples had 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop tested.

And yes, these products are sold in supermarkets across America, where the USDA deems them safe to eat. Some background: The USDA does not test for all pesticides used in crop production, including glyphosate (also known as Roundup), which is the most heavily used pesticide in the U.S., the EWG says. High levels can be found in several grains and beans, such as oats and chickpeas, due to its increasing use as a pre-harvest drying agent. Not ideal.

Organic kale is the way to go if you want to avoid pesticides.

If youre eager to phase pesticides out of your diet, keep the EWGs newest dirty dozen list in mind (or on your shopping list) next time you grocery shop. Remember that some local farms and producers dont have an official organic certification, but also are proudly pesticide-free, so you can always ask about your produces origins at farmers markets if youre concerned about the foods on the list:

Avocado tops the Clean Fifteen list

Along with the annual Dirty Dozen, the EWG also puts together a Clean Fifteen list, that is, a list of items you dont have to worry about purchasing conventionally. The fifteen items on the list were found to contain the lowest amount of pesticide residue and almost 70 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had no pesticide residues. The top of the list is the cleanest, with fewer than 2 percent of avocado and sweet corn samples showing any detectable pesticides:

Splurge on strawberries, save on avocados, and you should be well on your way to cleaner eating.

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Heres Why You Should Only Buy Organic Strawberries, Spinach And Kale - Forbes

These are unprecedented times. One thing is for sure with the widespread acceptance that coronavirus originated in an exotic meat market in China, there has been a massive consumer rethink around food.

This shift is impacting the type of food that is consumed, where it is obtained, how and where it is prepared and how it is produced and stored.

The overarching theme? Fear of contagion and oftentimes human contact.

A self-driving food delivery robot might appear in a post-pandemic world in which consumers want to ... [+] avoid human contact.

Here are some predictions of how coronavirus will change the way we eat, based on recent surveys and forecasting.

Home cooking will make a resurgence

Yelps Coronavirus Impact Report reveals that consumers want food with minimal human touch points. A recent survey by Technomic confirms that 32 per cent of adults plan to eat at restaurants less often due to COVID-19 concerns. With many restaurants closed and supermarket shelves bare, and with heightened concerns around food safety, home cooking is making a comeback. This trend is likely to continue for some time, post pandemic, due to hesitation around public gathering as revealed in the results of a survey conducted by Variety in which 47 per cent of respondents agreed that the idea of going to a major public event will scare me for a long time. This transition to home cooking could also result in an increase in sales of cooking staples, meal kits and accompaniments to meals.

Healthy and Organic Eating will become increasingly important

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. There is likely to be an increase in demand for organic food, vegan, vegetarian and other healthy foods as a result of the pandemic. Coronavirus poses a significant risk to those with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease as well as those who are overweight and obese. The value of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables in the management of these conditions is well documented. The March performance of organic food companies such as Nourish Organics, which experienced an increase in sales of approximately 30 per cent and the surge in demand for organic vegetable box delivery in the United Kingdom are evidence of this trend.

Food Safety will come under a tighter lens

There is currently no evidence that coronavirus is transmitted via food, yet this has not been reflected in consumers dining and shopping decisions. According to a recent survey by The Packer, grocery shoppers have changed their shopping habits due to fears of catching coronavirus from food. Survey respondents indicated that they are buying less fresh produce in grocery stores and more canned foods due to fears around food safety. Studies have also shown that consumers want food that is pre-packaged. Even among those who understand that they cannot catch coronavirus from food, there is an elevated fear around food safety that has even extended to home kitchens.

There will be reduced demand for exotic, risqu foods

The Wuhan seafood market, where coronavirus is thought to have originated was a popular centre for wildlife such as snakes, porcupines, deer and racoon dogs, many of which were slaughtered in front of customers, according to reports.

Since the onset of the coronavirus in 2019, 20,000 wildlife farms in China have been shut down or quarantined and a strict ban is being implemented on the farming and consumption of exotic animals.

Although there is some disagreement around which animal transferred the virus to humans, it is an accepted fact that outbreaks are more likely when exotic animals from different environments, with viruses that are specific to those environments, are kept in close proximity.

This will most certainly translate in decreased demand for exotic animals.

There will be greater focus on eating local

Yelps Coronavirus Impact Report reveals that consumers are more likely to want to know the source of their food, making them increasingly desirous of food from community-supported agriculture (increase in demand of 430 per cent) and farms (increase in demand of 149 per cent). A heightened awareness around food safety and a desire for more nutritious food will also increase demand for eating local. On the supply side, the interruption of global supply chains and closure of borders due to COVID-19 will impact foreign food production and reduce imports.

Other trends? Until the mayhem dies down, there might continue to be some hoarding and stockpiling of items such as fruit snacks, energy drinks, dried beans, pretzels and frozen fruit.

Consumers will also want to limit their exposure to crowds for quite some time, which will increase the demand for online purchasing of food, curb side pick up, take out and delivery. According to Yelp, the demand for delivery has increased 135 times with coronavirus, but this will be tempered by food safety concerns and the relaxation of shelter in place orders.

With all these changes, it appears at least for the time being, that the biggest losers in the food business will be restaurants, food stands and vendors, unless they are able to pivot and offer meals with minimal human touch points.

Business owners will have to make a conscious effort to meet the needs of the new pandemic mindset.

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Five Ways That Coronavirus Will Change The Way We Eat - Forbes

Rise in inclination for readymade and convenient food products, increase in spending capacity of people, and growth in demand for organic food increases the demand for organic snacks, thereby accelerating the organic snacks market growth. Organic Snacks Market by Product Type (Nutrition Bars, Candy Bars, Salty Snacks, Nuts, and Others), Distribution Channel (Retail Stores, Supermarket/Hypermarket, Convenience Stores, and E - commerce), and Generation (Millennial (18 - 34), Generation X (34 - 50), and Baby Boomers (51 - 69))

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled,"Organic Snacks Marketby Product Type, Distribution Channel, and Generation: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018 - 2025,"the global organic snacks market was valued at $8,783.2 million in 2017, and is expected to garner $24,035.2 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 13.6% from 2018 to 2025. Snacks are small servings of food eaten between main meals.

Organic snacks are food prepared using ingredients that comply with the standards of organic farming. Organic food is also Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)-free and are free of artificial additives and can be better digested by the human body.

It includes snacks such as potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and bakery products such as bagel, biscuits, doughnuts, cheese snacks, nut bars, pretzels, crackers, pita chips, and confectionery such as chocolates, candies, candy bars, and other snacks. As consumers tastes have expanded in an increasingly globalized world, many consumers are experimenting with organic foods to satiate their desire for unique taste experience and to align with their increased focus on healthy lifestyles.

As a result, organic foods have gained a lot of popularity over the last decade as they are considered safe and a rather healthy option by many consumers.

The growth of the organic snacks industry is driven by increase in disposable income of people along with rise in the living standards of consumers around the globe.

Furthermore, hectic lifestyle and increase in the need for convenience and ready to eat food drive the growth of the market and help increase the organic snacks market size. Furthermore, growth in adoption of organic farming practices in various developed region is one of the top impacting factors driving the growth of the organic snack food market.

Growth of the retail network in emerging economies, such as India, China, and Brazil, has led to increased availability of organic snacks, thus supplementing the organic snacks market growth. However, high cost of production hampers the widespread adoption and act as the major restraint for the global market.

On the contrary, rise in disposable income and increase in willingness of people for buying premium and environment-friendly products in the emerging nations are expected to provide opportunities for the market growth in the coming years.

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Salty snacks segment garnered the highest share in the organic snacks market by product type. The rise in popularity of innovative products with different types of flavor and ingredients attracts consumer toward salty snacks and thus contributing to the market growth.

Apart from this, changing lifestyles, food consumption habits, rise in disposable incomes, and increase in food convenience are the major factors impacting the growth of the organic snacks market.

Based on distribution channel, the retail stores segment dominated the organic snacks market in 2017 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the organic snacks market analysis period due to the fact that these retail stores are located near residential areas and require less efforts purchasing goods. In retail stores, customers can check and compare products before buying and can own them immediately.

This ease of purchase adds to the popularity of this segment, thus acting as a key driver of the global organic snacks market.

By generation, the baby boomers generation is expected to experience the fastest CAGR through the organic snacks market forecast period. This high growth is due to increase in knowledge about health and fitness coupled with the improvements in the retail distribution channels that makes acquiring packaged food such as organic snacks easy.

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Key Findings of the organic snacks market:

In terms of value, North America contributed around two-thirds of the global market share in the organic snacks market in 2017. The key players profiled in the report include Pure Organic, PRANA, Made in Nature, Kadac Pty Ltd, Navitas Naturals, Hormel Foods, Hain Celestial, Conagra Brands, General Mills, and Woodstock Farms Manufacturing.

The other market players (not profiled in this report) include SunOpta, Simple Squares, YummyEarth, Inc., Utz Quality Food, LLC, Eat Real, Creative Snacks Co., NurturMe, Annies Homegrown Inc, Navitas Organics, Clif Bar & Company, My Super Foods, Sprout, Peeled Snacks, Beanitos Inc., Late July Snacks LLC, 8 Rabbits, Cussons Australia Pty Ltd, Kraft Heinz, Kewpie Corporations, Louisville Vegan Jerky Co., and Organic Food Bar.

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Current research: At 13.6% CAGR, Organic Snacks Market is expected to garner $24035.2 million by 2025 - WhaTech Technology and Markets News

Since the coronavirus pandemic started in America, one scene has been commonempty grocery store shelves as families flock to stores preparing to settle in for the long haul and shelter in place.

As shoppers stack carts with rice, bread, meat, and beans, have they thought of the farmers that produce our food? Farmers that today are in the fields, in the coronavirus crosshairs, often without sick pay or health insurance, planting and harvesting our nations food supply.

The total economic cost of the coronavirus outbreak on local and regional food systems, such as farmers markets, farm-to-school programs, restaurants and food hubs, could total US$1.3 billion between March and May of this year, according to a new analysis by researchers at Colorado State University, the University of Missouri, and a former official within USDAs Local Food Research and Development Division.

And as consumers rush to save their favorite restaurant or neighborhood bar during this crisismany, removed from the realities of rural America and farming, have been unaware that an important sector of small businessesfarmershave been in crisis for years.

In 2019 U.S. farm bankruptcies hit an eight-year high. Much of this can be attributed to the failings of industrial agricultureprolonged low commodity prices, ever-mounting farm debt, animal disease, consolidation, and the impact of climate change causing record flooding in the Midwest and fires in the West.

The COVID-19 crisis could be the nail in the coffin for already struggling farms, especially farms that sell healthy, perishable foods like fruits and vegetables, and that sell into their local communities as restaurants, schools, and farmers markets shutter. All at a time when local food systems and healthy food is more important to resilient communities than ever before.

What can we do to help our farming community?

In the short-term, help get as many of your food dollars directly to farmers by:

1. Signing up for a CSA. This influx of cash now helps farmers buy seeds and tools at the beginning of their season, and allows you to be a stakeholder in a local farm. If you have the means, consider donating a CSA share to a family in need.

2. Shopping at a farmers market. In many states, farmers markets have been deemed essential businesses, and are innovating with drive-through pickups and other modifications to keep you safe.

3. Ordering direct online. Many farmers offer delivery of organic produce and pastured meats, and more farmers are adding this service in the wake of the pandemic.

And be sure to fight to make sure farmers, and not just the corn and soybean farms that receive the bulk of traditional U.S. farm subsidies, are included in any coronavirus stimulus packages.

But also use this crisis as a wakeup call. Were you scared about feeding your family as you saw those empty shelves? How will we feed our society in the future as farms fail and consolidate? Do you value the food you put on your table? Then its time to start valuing the farmers that produce it.

We need a wholesale shift in the way we produce food in our country and around the world. A shift away from demanding only the cheapest food possibleat the expense of our health, our environment, and our farmersto regenerative agriculture, rooted in empowered and profitable farmers, serving the health of local communities.

This crisis, unfortunately, is only a glimpse of what is to come. Farmers continue to grapple with extreme weather from our climate crisis, and if we continue farming with our current practices, the United Nations says we have 60 years of farmable topsoil remaining. To secure the future of our food supply, we need a drastic shift to regenerative, organic farming practices, a shift to resilient local food systems, and a shift to prioritizing healthy, nutrient dense food direct from our farmers.

Photo courtesy of Johnie Gall, Bad Cactus Creative

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Remember Your Farmers During the COVID-19 Crisis. We'll Need Them the Next Time Around. - Food Tank

Vertical farming market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.2% during the forecast period.

Globally, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is forecast to record the fastest growth in the vertical farming market in the coming years. The major factor contributing toward this rapid advance would be the rapid reduction in the fertile agricultural land in this region.

In densely populated countries, such as India and China, the available farming land is witnessing a massive reduction, owing to the burgeoning population level. Furthermore, the increase in the per capita income in these countries is causing rapid progress in the market.

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On the basis of growth mechanism, the vertical farming market is categorized into hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics. Amongst these, the hydroponics category accounted for the largest market share, in terms of revenue, historically.

The aquaponics category is expected to register the highest CAGR in the future. This is attributed to this growth mechanisms useful characteristic of combining aquaculture and hydroponics together, in order to develop a closed-loop system, which allows for the efficient production of different types of crops.

Among the biggest opportunities for the vertical farming market players are the increasing utilization of internet of things (IoT) sensors for the production of crops. The vertical farming industry is shifting toward the implementation of complex sensors for the automated production of crops, in order to increase the yield and also reduce the wastage of water during the farming process.

The information collected from the sensors is used for analysis, thereby leading to improved production cycles and processes.

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Due to the increasing awareness amongst the people about the various health benefits of organic foods and shift in the focus toward reliable and climate-friendly production methods, the vertical farming market is set to flourish in the coming years. In addition to this, the increasing support for organic farming by governments across the world is also driving its adoption.

The expanding global demand for unseasonal fruits and vegetables is also contributing toward the rapid surge in the usage of this agricultural technique.

Therefore, the market, due to the decreasing farming area and ballooning demand for organic food items, is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years.

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Increasing adoption of Organic Foods is major driver of vertical farming market - WhaTech Technology and Markets News