Environment

A USDA scientist examines sorghum plants. (USDA photo by Peggy Greb)

An Ancient Grain Made New Again: How Sorghum Could Help U.S. Farms Adapt to Climate Change

February 7, 2023

Sorghum—popular among young, BIPOC, and under-resourced farmers—has extra long roots that allow it to withstand drought and sequester greenhouse gasses.

Comic: Adapting Corn for Tortillas—and New Markets—in the Pacific Northwest

By Nhatt Nichols

February 1, 2023

A two-panel comic of a test farm hoop house growing corn and cactus and other crops on the left, with chef lisette garay working in her restaurant kitchen on the right.

For Melon Farmers, Insects’ Benefits May Outweigh Their Costs

By Ian Rose

January 31, 2023

A two-spotted long horn bee visits a watermelon flower (Photo credit: Ashley Leach)

Does Pastoralism Have a Place in the Future of Food?

By Kayla Frost

January 24, 2023

Ilse-Kohler-Rollefson, a camel, and the cover of the new book, hoofprints on the land

The Field Report: New Research Shows Dangerous Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Freshwater Fish

By Lisa Held

January 18, 2023

a fisherman pulls a largemouth bass that is probably polluted with PFAS from a freshwater lake

Op-ed: Some Regenerative Farms Are Weathering California’s Unprecedented Rainfall

By Ryan Peterson

January 13, 2023

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, water floods a vineyard on January 09, 2023 in Santa Rosa, California. The San Francisco Bay Area and much of Northern California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events that have brought high winds and flooding rains. The storms have toppled trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands. Storms are lined up over the Pacific Ocean and are expected to bring more rain and wind through the end of the week. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Kristin Ohlson Wants Us to Reimagine Collaboration on the Land

By Lee Van der Voo

January 11, 2023

Kristin Ohlson and the cover of her book, sweet in tooth and claw

Our Best Op-eds and Commentary of 2022

By The Civil Eats Editors

December 29, 2022

Indian farmers shout anti-government slogans during a protest against new farm laws in December 2020. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)

Our Best Climate Reporting of 2022

By The Civil Eats Editors

December 22, 2022

Harvesting corn at Estrem Farms in Nerstrand, Minnesota.

The Field Report: Reflecting on a Big Year for Food News

By Lisa Held

December 21, 2022

Goverment Capitol building in Washington DC with autumn park and green floor and blue sky , USA, United States of America

Insect Farms are Scaling Up—and Crossing the Atlantic—in a Play for Sustainable Protein

By Lynn Fantom

December 20, 2022

A black soldier fly. (Photo courtesy of Protix)

As Climate Changes Makes Desert Water Scarce, the Debate over Livestock vs. Wildlife Heats Up

By Leorah Gavidor

December 19, 2022

Desert Bighorn Sheeps in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. California.

Catholics Used to Forgo Meat on Fridays. Could Bringing the Practice Back Help the Climate?

By Anne Marshall-Chalmers

December 14, 2022

Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday during a mass at Holy Name Cathedral on March 1, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Field Report: FDA Data Shows a Worrisome Increase in Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture

By Lisa Held

December 13, 2022

a pig eating antibiotic-filled feed in a hog barn

Our 2022 Food and Farming Holiday Book Gift Guide

By The Civil Eats Editors

December 7, 2022

a collage of the latest food and farming books for our holiday gift guide

Is This Biochar’s Big, Carbon-Rich Moment?

By Lisa Held

December 6, 2022

Ken Carloni of the nonprofit Yew Creek Land Alliance holds a piece of biochar created from thinned, overcrowded conifer in Yew Creek Forest, Oregon. (Photo CC-licensed by NRCS Oregon)

Climate Change Is Pushing Pacific Northwest Farmers to Protect Crops from Extreme Heat

By Michael Crowe

December 5, 2022

Climate-Driven Drought Is Stressing the Hopi Tribe’s Foods and Traditions

By David Wallace, Inside Climate News

December 2, 2022

Ann Tenakhongva, 62, and her husband, Clark Tenakhongva, 65, sort traditional Hopi Corn at their home on First Mesa on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona on September 28, 2022. The corn comes from the families’ field in the valley between First Mesa and Second Mesa, which Clark had just harvested. The corn is organized on racks to dry out and then stored in cans and bins for years to come. Much of the corn is ground up for food and ceremonial purposes. Corn is an integral part of Hopi culture and spirituality. (Photo by David Wallace)

Soil Health Is Human Health

By Naomi Starkman

December 1, 2022

David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, authors of

Can This Chicken Company Solve America’s Food Waste Problem?

By Lisa Held

November 30, 2022

a freshly roasted chicken from do good foods, in theory

22 Reasons to Support Civil Eats on #GivingTuesday 2022

By The Civil Eats Editors

November 29, 2022

Farmer Doug Crabtree walks in his sunflower field (Photo by Jennifer Hopwood, Xerces Society)

A Young Oyster Farmer Carrying on the Family Business

By Bridget Shirvell

November 28, 2022

Gaby Zlotkowsky on a boat holding a basket of oysters. (Photo credit: Capshore Photography)

Young Fishermen Are Struggling to Stay Afloat

By Tilde Herrera

November 23, 2022

Lucas Raymond holding a halibut. (Photo courtesy of the New England Young Fishermen's Alliance)

This Young Climate Activist Has Her Hands in the Soil and Her Eyes on the Future

By Twilight Greenaway

November 21, 2022

Young climate activist Ollie Perrault holding a chicken. (Photo courtesy of Ollie Perrault)

Biogas Expansion May Compound Worker Risks

By Kari Lydersen

November 16, 2022

An overhead view of an anaerobic digester pond next to animal barns and a cornfield. (Photo credit: Maas Energy)

Environment

An Ancient Grain Made New Again: How Sorghum Could Help U.S. Farms Adapt to Climate Change

Comic: Adapting Corn for Tortillas—and New Markets—in the Pacific Northwest

For Melon Farmers, Insects’ Benefits May Outweigh Their Costs

Does Pastoralism Have a Place in the Future of Food?

The Field Report: New Research Shows Dangerous Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Freshwater Fish

Today’s food system is complex.

Op-ed: Some Regenerative Farms Are Weathering California’s Unprecedented Rainfall

Kristin Ohlson Wants Us to Reimagine Collaboration on the Land

Our Best Op-eds and Commentary of 2022

Our Best Climate Reporting of 2022

The Field Report: Reflecting on a Big Year for Food News

Insect Farms are Scaling Up—and Crossing the Atlantic—in a Play for Sustainable Protein

As Climate Changes Makes Desert Water Scarce, the Debate over Livestock vs. Wildlife Heats Up

Catholics Used to Forgo Meat on Fridays. Could Bringing the Practice Back Help the Climate?

The Field Report: FDA Data Shows a Worrisome Increase in Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture

Our 2022 Food and Farming Holiday Book Gift Guide

Thank you for being a loyal reader.

Is This Biochar’s Big, Carbon-Rich Moment?

Climate Change Is Pushing Pacific Northwest Farmers to Protect Crops from Extreme Heat

Climate-Driven Drought Is Stressing the Hopi Tribe’s Foods and Traditions

Soil Health Is Human Health

Can This Chicken Company Solve America’s Food Waste Problem?

22 Reasons to Support Civil Eats on #GivingTuesday 2022

A Young Oyster Farmer Carrying on the Family Business

Young Fishermen Are Struggling to Stay Afloat

This Young Climate Activist Has Her Hands in the Soil and Her Eyes on the Future

Biogas Expansion May Compound Worker Risks