Agricultural economist, PhD. Curating and sharing research and evidence-based information on food, health, technology & sustainability. More about me: www.AJStein.de. Moderated private account. Posts + Likes ≠ endorsements. German: ajstein-de.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrsdti3t4c2k#Telework: Remote employees have higher well-being, more positive workplace connections & lower turnover rates than onsite workers. #RemoteWork can improve employee experiences & retention, and be a catalyst for healthier, more connected & more sustainable work: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1848857 #HR29 Jul 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsdti3t4c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrs7l5ey622kIndustrial chicken farming accelerating spread of diarrhoea bacteria: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jul/27/industrial-chicken-farming-accelerating-spread-of-diarrhoea-bacteria-study-finds Parvovirus detected in a piglet in Flanders, veterinarians reported similar clinical signs elsewhere: https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2248614/parvovirus-variant-detected-for-the-first-time-in-a-piglet-in-flanders #Chicken #Farming #Diarrhoea #Pigs #Pork #Parvovirus29 Jul 2026 15:12 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrs7l5ey622khttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrs732ivs22kA new calculation says the death toll of the June #heatwave – the most extreme heat event ever experienced in Europe – exceeds 20,000 heat-related deaths. Significant increases in adaptation #investments will be necessary to reduce future mortality: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21083732 #ClimateChange #Mortality29 Jul 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrs732ivs22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrs44ioz3c2k#Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with significant #climate implications. While ruminants are the biggest emitters, also #rice cultivation contributes to the problem. A new study provides an assessment of trade-adjusted #emissions from rice cultivation… https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00118-7 +29 Jul 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrs44ioz3c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrpvmnd4w22kOne of Germany’s biggest #yoghurt producers bets on local #supplychains to meet growing demand for #plantbased dairy, asking its supplier farms to grow #soybeans. Purchases of #milk & yoghurt alternatives in Germany grew by 8-10% in 2025: https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/bauer-gruppe-plant-based-milk-yoghurt-dairy-production-facility-gea/ #dairy28 Jul 2026 17:09 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrpvmnd4w22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrpn5pzqhs2lIn a representative sample of 34,000 US adults, higher intakes of red #meat were linked to higher odds of #diabetes. Substituting 1 serving/day with #plantbased protein (incl. nuts, seeds, #legumes & soya) was linked to ~12% lower odds of diabetes: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114526106497 #Health #Protein #Diets28 Jul 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrpn5pzqhs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrnbqmqugk2fGiven the moral harms of factory #farming, we should find ways to reduce meat consumption. Schema replacement could be a pragmatic solution. It does not condemn eating #meat nor tell people what to do. Instead… https://doi.org/10.1007/s41055-026-00204-5 +27 Jul 2026 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnbqmqugk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrmd6di4t225#AI doesn’t use that much water: a #ChatGPT query’s water #footprint is two teardrops. But animal #agriculture uses over 1/4 of the #freshwater we use, and the water use of #livestock products is higher than that of plant-based options: https://morethanmeatstheeye.substack.com/p/ai-water-use-vs-animal-agriculture #chatbot #meat27 Jul 2026 07:00 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrmd6di4t225https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrkwcpbgfs25Most people don't want to harm #animals or the #climate but also eat #meat. They use subconscious #coping strategies to reduce cognitive #dissonance caused by this #paradox. Dairy-related coping strategies overlap—with the added justification that #dairy is “neglectable”: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41055-026-00214-326 Jul 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrkwcpbgfs25https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrkrc3apls25Funding in #agriculture has been vastly disproportionate, systematically favouring major grains—often used for #livestock feed—while neglecting nutritious crops like #legumes, nuts & seeds. Correcting this imbalance requires R&D #investments tailored to these value chains: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd8306en26 Jul 2026 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrkrc3apls25https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrkq5q27i22w#Livestock contributes substantially to GHG #emissions, #landuse change & #biodiversity pressures. Impacts are often obscured by global #supplychains. Demand within producer countries and demand from consumer countries in the Global North share responsibility: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148969 #trade26 Jul 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrkq5q27i22whttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrkj6zxoyc2cLast year, German chancellor Merz opposed hoisting the rainbow flag on the Parliament, for the Berlin Pride (likening it derogatorily to a circus). This year, the event was attacked: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/25/berlin-pride-march-called-off-after-car-crashes-into-crowd-of-people-near-route >> Showing support for fellow citizens since last year's pushback, as an "ally".26 Jul 2026 13:43 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrkj6zxoyc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrk2qzpexc2dFood processing can enhance #foodsafety, shelf life, accessibility & #nutrition. Ideally, processing preserves beneficial components of raw materials while adding ingredients that contribute positively to #health. Alternative #proteins allow us to rethink the ingredients… https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2026.101777 +26 Jul 2026 09:24 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrk2qzpexc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrjzj6dsas2dOil crop cultivation—esp. oil palm, coconuts & soybeans—causes #biodiversity loss, with tropical exporters bearing most of the impacts. 20% of overall #oilseeds use is driven by feed use in #meat, dairy & #eggs production; non-food uses are driven by biodiesel: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-026-01375-4 #trade26 Jul 2026 09:02 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjzj6dsas2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrjzegsw6s2dSugary drinks have become a public health concern. #Taxes on sugar-sweetened #beverages reduce their consumption effectively and are linked to reduced #health risks—such taxes are already implemented in 64 countries, covering 3.5 billion people: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-026-01399-w #sugar #soda #sugartax26 Jul 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjzegsw6s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrhtv2xqq22jOver a quarter million people! – France and Spain race to control wildfires as more than 250,000 people are evacuated: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/25/france-spain-wildfires-latest-news-updates-madrid-cap-ferret-bordeaux-gironde #Wildfire #Evacuation #ClimateChange #SafeToIgnore #NothingToSee #WalkOn25 Jul 2026 12:16 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhtv2xqq22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrfsrpu5ok27#Subsidies can be a structural reason why healthy #diets remain unaffordable for millions. While global support to #agriculture runs to $540 bn/year, about 70% of it is tied to few commodities: grains, #sugar, #dairy, #beef, and oil crops grown for #livestock feed… + https://vegconomist.com/studies-numbers/un-food-security-report-finds-540bn-farm-subsidies-locked-into-commodities-crowd-out-plant-foods/24 Jul 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrfsrpu5ok27https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mreza4nct22zDifferent populations within countries have different #environment footprints of their #diets: Highly educated men in urban areas have the largest #climate impacts, while rural women have the lowest. Groups with a smaller footprint… https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2026/07/not-every-meal-has-the-same-impact-leiden-researchers-reveal-the-hidden-footprint-of-our-food +24 Jul 2026 09:14 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mreza4nct22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrewbx5t7c2zWHO: #Europe is warming fast. Climbing #temperatures can rapidly increase illness & #deaths and put sudden pressure on #health services. Extreme #heat is expected to hit ever harder. In the past 4 years alone it claimed over 200k lives. But heat deaths are not inevitable: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/16-07-2026-planning-for-a-warmer-world24 Jul 2026 08:21 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrewbx5t7c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrdbrqozrs2xThe June #heatwave, which is due to #climatechange, may have cost European grain #farmers €2 bn in lost revenue, destroying 10 m t of production. The losses may make #Europe more dependent on #imports and contribute to higher global commodity prices: https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/june-heatwave-knocks-2-billion-off-european-harvest-prospects-new-analysis #Yields #Harvest #Trade23 Jul 2026 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdbrqozrs2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mrd6inq42c2x#Sugar is produced in high volumes and often consumed as empty calories in #confectionery products—40% of which in Europe, where related GHG #emissions are 3m tons CO₂eq and #landuse is 250k ha. Reallocation of land from sugar crops could improve #environment & human health: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41055-025-00196-823 Jul 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrd6inq42c2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mr5hn3xu3s2dEvidence suggests that plant-based diets may prevent obesity and offer health benefits. In a new, large prospective cohort study, greater alignment with healthful plant-based diets was linked to a decreased risk of obesity-related cancer: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114526107570 #PlantBased #Diets #Health #Cancer21 Jul 2026 09:10 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5hn3xu3s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mr5dupixc22dReducing #livestock numbers decreases #environment pressures related to GHG #emissions & #pollution (eutrophication, acidification), which drive #biodiversity loss. Lower yields in #organic farming risk externalising biodiversity impacts thru increased imports: https://www.doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/ae7c02 #trade21 Jul 2026 08:03 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5dupixc22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mr3s66v4mk2dCellular agriculture is a significant evolution in the global #foodsystem, driven by a growing imperative for #sustainable, ethical & secure food sources. Once it overcomes remaining hurdles, it can contribute to more resilient food production: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clfs.2026.100056 #CultivatedMeat #Fermentation20 Jul 2026 17:14 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3s66v4mk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mr3njmcvvs2yInterested in the findings but no time to read the full article? I wrote a one-pager with the main numbers & conclusions that show: The numbers just don’t add up on manure & fertiliser, i.e. livestock drives fertiliser dependency. One-pager: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20484151 Article: https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mqomnkz2wc2k [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Jul 2026 15:50 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3njmcvvs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mr3emc6tvs2fBiofortified crops have substantial potential for scaling among smallholders in West Africa—given strengthened seed systems, nutrition-sensitive extension services, awareness campaigns & improved market development: https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.404518 #Biofortification #PlantBreeding #Nutrition #Information20 Jul 2026 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3emc6tvs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mqzae2cqys2f#Climate tipping will manifest as a period of increasingly dramatic #weather volatility, not a sharp shift in average conditions. #Agriculture relies on predictability. Once weather extremes are no longer predictable, all bets are off: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02154-8 #yields19 Jul 2026 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzae2cqys2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mqyfwv6dd22fThe NOVA classification of #ultraprocessed food is not rigorous, leading to inconsistent studies. There is also substantial #nutrition heterogeneity: Some #UPFs are linked to harm while others even show benefits. And #NOVA may not account for diverse cultural food traditions: https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898002610303619 Jul 2026 08:57 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqyfwv6dd22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mqw5dwmkec25#Diets in Germany are linked to a reduction of 2.5 years in life expectancy. Red & processed #meat shortens life expectancy, while consumption of #legumes, whole grains & fruits is linked to gains. The average German diet imposes hidden #health costs of 3,700 EUR/capita/year: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clfs.2026.10005318 Jul 2026 11:18 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqw5dwmkec25https://bsky.app/profile/ajstein.bsky.social/post/3mqu4u2p2rk25Documents from internal meetings show how the biggest EU #farming lobby weakened legislation to protect climate & wildlife and overturned sweeping farming reforms—costing the public billions in lost health benefits: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/16/how-europe-most-powerful-farming-lobby-copa-cogeca-killed-eu-pesticide-law #Agriculture #Livestock #Lobbying #Climate17 Jul 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:bdbuhq46rj2nerrfacwh4flu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu4u2p2rk25