Pigs and Hunger Strikes

Welcome back Food Junglers. It’s been a hectic elections week with food taking centre stage, especially in Europe. Let’s dig in.

This week:

🐖 Denmark will tax agriculture-related carbon emissions.

🛵 Food delivery companies are dealing with a crisis in the US.

🧘‍♀️ A politician in India protests the country’s water crisis.

🐄 Financial assistance is given to American dairy farmers.

☘️ Seaweed from Maine could be another climate solution…

CLIMATE
DENMARK TAXES CARBON

The Danish government will introduce Europe’s first carbon tax on agriculture, ending a five-month negotiation with farming and conservation groups.

From 2030, farmers will have to pay around €16 per metric ton of emitted carbon, which will then be raised to €40 per metric ton from 2035 onwards. 

On top of this, the Danish government will allocate €3.5 billion to reforest 250,000 hectares of agricultural land by 2045 in an effort to reduce the nation’s nitrogen emissions.

ZOOMING OUT: As one of the largest exporters of pork and dairy in the world, this is a HUGE step for Denmark. And, with the tax projected to slash around 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030, this is a great leap for Europe as a whole.

BUSINESS
FOOD DELIVERY IN CRISIS MODE

In the wake of updated pay requirements for delivery drivers across the United States, reports show food delivery companies stagnating as they try to save their bottom lines.

Whether Doordash or Grubhub, food delivery services have had to pass on mandatory increases in driver pay onto consumers, driving them away and, as a result, leaving the drivers themselves with fewer delivery jobs.

Uber Eats’ orders in Seattle, for example, fell 45% last quarter from the same period a year earlier after the company imposed a $4.99 fee on each order to cover the salaries of the delivery drivers.

ZOOMING OUT: While these pay requirements have not been enforced in every state across the country, many fear that won’t last. But as it stands, delivery has gotten more expensive and delivery drivers are quitting.

POLICY
INDIAN HUNGER STRIKE

Delhi city water minister, Atishi, was forced to end her indefinite hunger strike after being hospitalised earlier last week.

The hunger strike started as a way to demand more drinking water for India’s capital, which has seen some the worst drought conditions in years.

"There are 2.8 million people in the city who are aching for just a drop of water,” she said before being hospitalised after the seventh day of fasting. Indeed, prolonged heatwaves are making it harder for poorer citizens to get their fair share.

ZOOMING OUT: A Delhi water development plan, made in 1994, is largely responsible for such an inefficient allocation of water. And, until the plan is amended, the city’s poor will continue to suffer.

SUPPLY CHAIN
USDA HELPS STRUGGLING FARMERS

The US Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) will expand its Emergency Assistance for Livestock (“ELAP”) programme for farmers who are struggling to contain the avian flu among dairy cows.

The updated ELAP programme will cover a portion of the financial losses incurred by dairy producers due to reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking operations after a confirmed virus test.

This marks a step in the right direction for the US as, so far, the virus has spread to 12 states and has even infected other mammals, such as seals and cats.

ZOOMING OUT: Programme expansions aside, many experts are still worried that not enough is being done to suppress the spread and mutation of the avian flu.

Currently, federal surveillance of US dairy cows is limited to testing herds before they cross state lines and many farmers refuse to test for fear of profit loss. More needs to be done.

THE BRIGHT SIDE
SEAWEED FROM MAINE

From seaweed burgers to kimchi, I’ve noticed that seaweed products have become incredibly popular these past few years, even beyond sushi.

Atlantic Sea Farms is a small company that is helping seaweed go mainstream in the US. Based in Maine, the team has harvested around 1.3 million pounds of kelp (a type of seaweed) in 2024 alone and have sold various seaweed-based goods, from kelp smoothies to pet foods, to enormous retailers, like Whole Foods.

But apart from seaweed being just another niche food product, it’s incredibly sustainable to produce, as it can reduce ocean acidification by absorbing excess nitrogen and phosphorous that are frequently found along the US coast.

So, especially in a time when land-based agriculture is being so heavily affected by climate change, this kind of aquaculture could be the next big thing. Food Jungle approved ✅ 

SHARE THE JUNGLE

I feel like this is what most people are feeling now that the summer heat is finally upon us. But, with that being said, maybe sharing Food Jungle from the comfort of an air-conditioned room could make you feel better? 🥰 

BEFORE YOU GO…

• The FDA has warned a top U.S. bakery to stop using labels that say its products contain potentially dangerous allergens when, in reality, they don't.

• According to the latest UN report on hunger levels in Gaza, 96% of the population are now facing acute food insecurity.

• U.S. meal delivery group - DoorDash - flagged an interest in a takeover of Britain's Deliveroo last month.

• Grocery giant - Albertsons - has chosen another food delivery service - Grubhub - to provide grocery delivery services from most of the supermarket operator’s stores.

TAKE A BREAK

Hi there everyone! It’s our pleasure to introduce another newsletter in the food space - BETTER BIOECONOMY - from a food technology enthusiast, Eshan Samaranayake.  

Like the team at Food Jungle, Eshan is doing his absolute best to advertise those who are making food healthier, cleaner, more sustainable, more animal-friendly AND accessible to all.

So, if you are interested in reading more on food tech, go check it out! Food Jungle approved ✅