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How local, urban farming could help alleviate international food supply…
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageGlobalization has meant a lot of things: More opportunities for economic advancement, an easier way for pandemics to spread (as we've seen with COVID-19), and the rise in internationally supported food production and consumption in recent decades. Regarding food stocks, cultivation has become more efficient, and diets have diversified. People are eating food that their parents never experienced nor knew previously existed. But this edible bounty is leading to a situation where the majority of the world's population lives in countries now dependent on — partially — imported food.
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Pandemic sheds light on weak links in inventory strategies
Gail Short Distribution & WarehousingIn the weeks after COVID-19 began sweeping across the United States, the pandemic succeeded in revealing chinks in the country’s retail and manufacturing supply chains. Many factories and retailers use an inventory system called the just-in-time (JIT) method to save on costs and, in the case of factories, to support lean manufacturing practices. But in light of the recent disruptions to supply chains due to the coronavirus pandemic, some experts say it is time to review current supply chains and inventory processes like JIT.
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Food supply chain comes under tremendous pressure due to COVID-19
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageTyson, one of the world’s leading meat processors, suspended operations at its largest pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, on April 22. Earlier, Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the world, announced the closures of plants in Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Missouri. Both companies decided to close facilities after COVID-19 outbreaks among their workers. Speaking to the closure and the crisis, John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, warned Americans on April 27 that the food supply chain is breaking.
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Pandemic origin controversy aside, Wuhan still harbors zoonotic viruses
Dave G. Houser Medical & Allied HealthcareWith global cases of COVID-19 pushing past 3 million — and with approximately a quarter-million deaths — the precise origin of this stealthy virus remains up for debate. While it is certain to have emerged from the central China city of Wuhan, most but not all experts agree that the virus spread from one of the city's "wet markets." These sprawling outdoor markets are similar to farmers' markets in the West except that, in addition to produce, the typical Chinese wet market includes the live slaughter of animals and the sale of wildlife.
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What’s so great about saffron? A lot, apparently
Amanda Ghosh Medical & Allied HealthcareSaffron is a spice. It's derived from the saffron crocus, a striking deep purple flower with stunning crimson stigma and styles. Though saffron is among the costlier spices by weight, the saffron crocus' stigma and styles are frequently used as seasonings and food dyes. Middle Eastern cultures have used saffron for medicinal purposes for centuries, and its popularity as a "wonder drug" is increasing worldwide. Learn more in this article about its uses in managing Alzheimer's and depression.
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Making up for lost time
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAs the lockdown for COVID-19 enters its second month in most locations, it's becoming apparent there are businesses that are thriving, but many more businesses are suffering. Some of these businesses will recover once the economy begins to breathe again. But some time-based purchases will never be made up. For example, we are not going to go get two haircuts because we missed one. Nor are we going to get two dental checkups at once or attend two meetings of the same association at once to make up for one that was canceled. So, what are we to do? Here are a few ideas.
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Deforestation, human activity may be more responsible for viruses’…
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalDeforestation across the globe is negatively impacting the world's population and leading to the spread of disease, including coronaviruses. According to a new Stanford study, as large swaths of dense forestland are cleared for farming or other human use, viruses that jump from animals to people, like COVID-19, will likely become more common. Published in Landscape Ecology, the study suggests that deforestation puts people at higher risk of interactions with wild primates — and the viruses they carry — meaning the emergence and spread of infectious animal-to-human diseases.
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Associations face a new advocacy landscape
Jeb Ory Association ManagementAs many people in Washington know, the COVID-19 crisis launched an advocacy boom. What they may not realize is that it is far from over. As Congress considered a $2 trillion stimulus bill — the largest in U.S. history — hundreds of organizations scrambled to ensure that lawmakers understood and addressed their needs, whether that meant safety equipment, financial support, tax relief or other necessities. Trade associations led that charge.
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Does workers’ compensation cover coronavirus?
Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThough we still have much to learn about the novel coronavirus, symptoms range from mild to severe and can lead to death. In response, lawmakers and industry leaders have been implementing relief for impacted individuals — such as paid leave, additional unemployment benefits, and free COVID-19 testing. A common question among employees is whether relief extends to workers' compensation, also known as workers' comp. Long story short, if you're exposed to COVID-19 on the job, you might have a hard time getting workers' compensation — unless you’re a healthcare provider or first responder.
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Counting carbs? 3 alternative options for tasty sweets
Damon Sayles Food & BeverageFor many trying to lose weight, junk foods are an Achilles' heel. Let's be honest: There's nothing like the soothing taste of candy, cake, chocolate and everything in between. It's a guilty pleasure ... but what if that pleasure wasn't as guilty? What if you could eat low-carb snacks that taste just like the sweet items you're used to? Allow me to present to you three sweets that taste just like the more unhealthy substitute. Let it be said that the following information isn't a shot on any product by any means; it's simply a means to provide healthier alternatives.
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