Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester
Institute of Technology
“Why Air
Pollution Fuels Crime and the Policy Lessons for India” By: Basis Point– September 22,
2025
“What
Drives the Quality of Internet Searches – Better Algorithms or Access to
More Data?” By: Rochester Business Journal– September 26,
2025
Ani Katchova, The Ohio
State University
“Protecting
Ohio Farmland”
By: Brownfield
– September 4, 2025
“We have a tremendous
amount of demand for farmland,” she says. “This demand comes from agricultural
uses. That can be a good opportunity for farmers to increase their land
holdings. But, there’s also demand for farmland for non-agricultural uses like
housing and development.”
Christiane Schroeter, California
Poly - San Luis Obispo
“Want Big
Change? Start with Small Steps”
By: TEDxFolsom
– September 16, 2025
“In this talk, I explore
how small, intentional actions - what I refer to as micro-habits - can lead to
sustained personal and professional development. The framework, called Petite
Practice™, is grounded in behavioral economics and informed by my work in
health behavior and decision-making.”
“Trump’s
Tariffs, Deportations and Climate Change Are Making Groceries More
Expensive” By:CNN– September 20, 2025
“Grocery
Prices Are Jumping Up. We Explain Why” By: USA Today– September 23,
2025
Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, University
of Guelph
“Economic
Sanctions Need a Rethink: Evidence Shows They Raise Food Prices and Hurt the
Poor Most”
By: The
Conversation – September 22, 2025
“Economic sanctions are
widely viewed by academics and policymakers as a better alternative to military
interventions to pressure governments to change objectionable policies. The
idea is simple: instead of using weapons, squeeze the ruling elite economically
until they change their behaviour.”
“There are four main
factors which will drive the demand for agricultural products in the remainder
of this century: population growth, income growth, the expanded dietary demands
associated with income growth, and policy-driven growth in biofuel demand.”
“Soybean
Farmers Caught in Looming Crisis as US Trade War With China Cripples Sales”
By: ABC News
– September 28, 2025
“For American farmers
who export their harvests directly to Asia, the evaporation of Chinese demand
for soybeans -- at a time when fertilizer and other inputs have become more
expensive -- could potentially be devastating, and lead to bankruptcies and foreclosures.
It's just a massive shock to our markets," Cory Walters.”
The circular bioeconomy aims to enhance the productivity of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by optimizing the use of natural resources in these sectors. It emphasizes recycling residues and waste products to generate energy, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, while also enabling carbon sequestration. These efforts contribute significantly to the transition from non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, to renewable ones—helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while also enhancing rural development and preserving biodiversity.
Although the circular bioeconomy is a relatively new concept, it has recently gained significant momentum as countries develop their own plans and programs. Because the bioeconomy is diverse, it takes different forms depending on national contexts and environmental conditions. This month, I participated in several events that highlighted both the hopes and challenges associated with building the bioeconomy.
The Californian Visit to Denmark
I was part of a California delegation to Denmark aimed at building collaboration between the Danish government, Danish companies, and the state of California. California has a strong agricultural sector and is a leader in bioeconomy research and environmental innovation. However, the Central Valley, where most of California’s agricultural activity takes place, remains relatively impoverished.
The premise of the visit was that Denmark, with its world-class agricultural sector and leading life science and agribusiness companies, could offer valuable lessons on how to build a thriving bioeconomy. At the same time, collaboration with the University of California could help advance technology-based products and innovations.
We were impressed by Denmark’s ability to balance the interests of agriculture, industry, government, and the environment in pursuit of initiatives that are broadly beneficial to society. Denmark stands out as a model country, combining a strong capitalist ethos with a world-class welfare state. We also enjoyed the high quality of life in Copenhagen, particularly the creative architectural design that seamlessly integrates the old with the new. A big surprise was the food; we visited Noma, which has been ranked the world’s best restaurant four times in its history, and were amazed by the attention to detail and the beauty of the ambiance.
During our visit, we were particularly impressed by the Danish dairy farms and regional recycling models, which successfully circularize multiple waste streams to generate valuable products—ranging from natural gas to food products. The Danish universities have shown us a wide variety of research initiatives, including one that is transforming carbon into valuable products that can replace concrete in construction. The Danes recognize the folly of the EU’s restriction on the use of GMOs and CRISPR, and I expect Danish companies to establish the capacity to produce new products using modern agricultural biotechnologies in California. I also hope that we will be able to establish a regional joint venture in the Central Valley that will circulate waste products from agriculture and forestry to produce valuable products and reduce pollution and the risk of fires.
The Black Soldier Fly Conference in Cambridge
One of the greatest challenges of the bioeconomy is developing technologies that can convert waste into valuable products. However, the black soldier fly (BSF) has this capacity. Its larvae can consume a wide range of organic waste—including food residues, manure, and even forestry by-products—and transform it into protein, oil, and fertilizer. Scientists face challenges in breeding high-quality fly strains, designing effective feeding systems, and producing high-value outputs. Because different feedstocks generate distinct products, a major challenge lies in establishing supply chains that minimize overall costs while ensuring safety in both production processes and final products.
I was fortunate to be invited to speak at the BSF conference at St. John’s College, Cambridge. The college is renowned for its grand chapel, extensive historic buildings, and the Bridge of Sighs, which spans the River Cam. Punts—flat-bottomed boats propelled by a long pole—are a common sight on the river, offering iconic views of the college and a source of income. Dining in the centuries-old halls felt like a Harry Potter experience, and staying in the “New” Court (a 200-year-old collection of palaces) offered the unique combination of historic charm and modern amenities.
In my talk, I suggested that the BSF sector is in a takeoff phase: it is already commercial, generating close to a billion dollars in sales, yet still constrained by costs, regulations, and technical risks. Production facilities now exist in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, with some capable of processing tens of thousands of tons of organic waste annually. BSF protein is already used in aquaculture, poultry, and pet food. The industry has developed advanced technologies, including vertical farming of larvae, automated rearing and harvesting, and biorefineries that extract protein, fat, and other co-products. Market estimates project the BSF industry will reach $2–3 billion by 2030.
The sector’s future, however, depends on continued innovation to expand the range of feedstocks that BSF larvae can consume, reduce processing costs, attract new investment, create market opportunities, and navigate evolving regulations. Regulation is especially crucial, as restrictions on allowable feedstocks and the use of biotechnology to improve BSF strains could significantly limit the industry’s potential. Much of today’s innovation originates in the EU, yet the region also enforces some of the world’s strictest regulations. In contrast, China is rapidly scaling its BSF industry, viewing it as a strategic tool to reduce reliance on imported American soybeans for livestock feed. I speculated that within ten years, BSF revenues could surpass one billion dollars in China and India, reach hundreds of millions in Africa and North America, but remain much smaller in Europe unless regulatory frameworks become less restrictive.
Presentation at Brussels
I was invited to Brussels to present my perspective on how Europe can build a stronger circular bioeconomy to address major global challenges, including climate change, food security, biodiversity loss, and rural development. I emphasize that the challenges are both scientific and political, requiring compromises between the needs of the present and the responsibilities to future generations, as well as between risk-taking and benefits.
The bioeconomy is diverse and has many forms, including a biotechnology-focused bioeconomy that emphasizes genetics and synthetic biology. A resource-oriented bioeconomy, centered on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. A circular bioeconomy, which reuses waste and creates new value from by-products. A green or eco-bioeconomy, which protects biodiversity and provides ecosystem services. Every country should find its optimal combinations. Building the bioeconomy requires a substantial investment in research that will lead to the development of supply chains consisting of growing feedstock, processing, and distributing it.
The bioeconomy faces real challenges. Scaling up technologies is costly, returns are uncertain, and rules differ across countries. Regulations often restrict the types of waste that can be used or slow down the adoption of biotechnology. Social acceptance, competition with fossil fuels, and uneven global investment also hinder progress.
For Europe, the bioeconomy is already significant, contributing around €2.4 trillion (about 5% of GDP). The region has strengths in sustainability, research, and consumer demand, but faces constraints: high costs, limited biomass, and fragmented regulations. Meanwhile, the United States and Asia are investing heavily and growing rapidly, with China viewing the sector as a means to reduce its dependence on imported soybeans.
My main message was: if Europe embraces innovation, reduces unnecessary regulatory barriers, and invests in circular systems, it can become a global leader in the bioeconomy. This would not only support climate action and biodiversity but also create new industries, jobs, and opportunities for rural and coastal communities.
The lessons of my European trip are global. Humanity is facing major challenges, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, and excessive dependence on non-renewable resources. The bioeconomy can provide many solutions; building it will involve investments in research, development, education, and human capital, as well as awareness, which are essential to establish new circular bioeconomy industries. It will require policies that strike a balance between risk and benefits, provide the right incentives, and leverage new scientific insights. Building the bioeconomy will entail some risk, but not taking the challenge will be riskier.
Scott Irwin, University
of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
“Illini
Insider | My Campus: College of ACES' Scott Irwin”
By: The
News Gazette – September 9, 2025
“Meet
SCOTT IRWIN — a self-proclaimed “Iowa farmboy” turned Laurence J. Norton
Chair of Agricultural Marketing at the University of Illinois, with a reach
like few others in his field.”
Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester
Institute of Technology
“Examining
Mamdani’s Proposal for Free Public Transit - in NYC and Beyond”
By: WXXI News – Septmeber 13, 2025
"What
would happen if cities offered free public transit for anyone who wants to
use it? New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wants to do just that.
Economist Amit Batabyal recently examined some data to see what the impact
would be - and the answers were not what many of his readers in the Rochester
Beacon expected. We’ll discuss what could happen if transit were free and
widely accessible."
“US
Farmers Are Being Squeezed - and it's Testing Their Deep Loyalty to Trump”
By: BBC
– September 14, 2025
"China
is just so big that when they buy things, it matters - and when they don't,
it matters. The cost of fertiliser has rocketed, too - partly because of
trade disputes with Canada, which has raised the cost of potash, a salt
imported from Canada by American farmers and used in fertiliser.”
“Farmers
Advocate for Reform, Workers Fight for Survival Amid Trump Immigration
Crackdown” By: News 21–
September 4, 2025
“Farm
Labor Survey Nixed” By: Brownfield– September 5, 2025
Will Maples, Mississippi
State University
“Weather,
Heavy Production Costs and Tariffs Rattle Mississippi’s Cotton Industry”
By: MPB
– September 10, 2025
“We are
down this year compared to last year, by a good bit. Last year, we planted
like 520,000 acres. This year, we've planted 330,000 acres. So across the
board, it's gonna be a smaller crop in the state.”
“Foreign
Investors in Agriculture Say U.S. Tariffs Could Wipe Them Out—And They May
Test America in Global Court”
By: Fortune
– September 11, 2025
“Brazil
is the largest producer of coffee. They’re a major source of our coffee
imports, and they’re currently facing 50% tariffs,” Ortega said. “So that’s
raising the cost of product, the cost of importing the coffee into the US,
and having very significant impacts on roasters here, but also on producers
in Brazil who no longer have tariff-or-duty-free access to the US market.”
“Widespread
Confusion Among US Consumers Around Food Insecurity” By: Ingredients Network–
September 9, 2025
“Americans
Support AI in Farming But Demand Transparency” By: National Hog Farmer–
September 10, 2025
Christopher Barrett, Cornell
University
“As
Farm Jobs Decline, Food Industry Work Holds Steady”
By: Press-News.org
– September 10, 2025
“These
shifts are driven more by consumer demand than by improvements in
agricultural productivity. As incomes rise, people demand more convenience,
safety and diversity in their diets. That creates a huge pull for workers
into food processing, retail, restaurants and transportation – not just into
manufacturing.”
“Weather,
Heavy Production Costs and Tariffs Rattle Mississippi’s Cotton Industry”
By: MPB
– September 10, 2025
“This
year's cotton crop, it got off to a rough start. We had a very wet spring, a
lot of rain throughout planting season that put a lot of folks behind across
the state, really. There is also far fewer acreage being used for cotton
crops in Mississippi this year. We are down this year compared to last year,
by a good bit. Last year, we planted like 520,000 acres. This year, we've
planted 330,000 acres. So across the board, it's gonna be a smaller crop in
the state.”
"The
current policy regime is likely positive for reducing farm regulations…
Generally, farms expect lower environmental regulatory pressure, either from
legal interpretations from the [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] or
reduced enforcement.”
Jiameng Zheng, Louisiana
State University Wendong Zhang, Cornell University Ruohao Zhang, The Pennsylvania State University Xibo Wan, University of Connecticut
“You Can
Be Exposed to PFAS Through Food, Water, Even Swimming in Lakes – New Maps Show
How Risk From ‘Forever Chemicals’ Varies”
By: The
Conversation – September 4, 2025
“Notably, our analysis
found that most dietary PFAS risk comes from butter, olive oil and shrimp.
Seafood typically contains much higher PFAS concentrations than butter or olive
oil – polluted rivers bring these chemicals into marine environments, and fish
and shellfish gradually accumulate and magnify it through the food chain.
However, substantially greater consumption of butter and olive oil makes those
products potentially large dietary sources of PFAS.”
“Some of the issues
these agencies are trying to address are national issues. Moving it from D.C.
to Indianapolis doesn’t necessarily make it easier for an Alabama cotton farmer
to get a hold of — or someone who does aquaculture in Maine… “He’s done this
before with other parts of USDA, and so now he’s following that same blueprint
here again.”
“What are the land
prices looking around you right now? ... Land use in Ohio is changing at an
alarming rate over the last few years with new development projects and the
major cities all expanding. So what can be done about the issue and how severe
is the problem?”
Catalina Herrera-Almanza, University
of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
“Research
Investigates Impact of Teacher Training and Reading Programs on Literacy Rates
in Mozambique”
By: Science Mag
– August 27, 2025
“The investigation,
co-led by assistant professor Catalina Herrera-Almanza from Illinois’
Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, seeks to interrogate the
efficacy of “light-touch” teacher training schemes supplemented with community
literacy initiatives, particularly reading camps. These interventions are
envisioned as pragmatic alternatives to extensive, resource-intensive training
that, while effective in some contexts, present formidable implementation
barriers at scale.”
“Your
Child's Favorite Cereal May Have More Fat, Sodium and Sugar Than it Did 15
Years Ago”
By: Courier
Journal - September 3, 2025
“A lot of people,
especially parents, probably already know that cereal, especially kids’ cereal,
is not something that's on the healthy side of products. This is not new
knowledge. But what we are trying to understand is that even though a lot of
people have been talking about making products healthier, we looked at the
product development trend for products that have been available to see if there
is a potential positive direction in terms of the nutritional content.”
"Farmers
Advocate For Reform, Workers Fight For Survival Amid Trump Immigration
Crackdown"
By: Idaho Capital
Sun – September 8, 2025
“The bill’s pathway to
legal status may be what’s holding it back. It’s hard to get bipartisan support
when you’re talking about legalizing hundreds of thousands of unauthorized
workers – especially in our current political climate.”
“Trump
Faces Hamburger Headache After Pledge to Cut Food Prices”
By: The Telegraph
– August 16, 2025
“Food prices are top of
mind for many consumers, and they played a critical role in the last election.
And with high beef prices, we have to keep in mind that we are a beef-consuming
country.”
