Eco-Business

Rice farmers in Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines

As the Philippines braces for lower rice yields from El Niño, farm experts warn that Middle East disruption could make 2027’s harvest more vulnerable by raising fertiliser costs just as tighter water supplies constrain planting.

El Niño is suppressing nutrient-rich ocean upwelling, reducing phytoplankton and disrupting the Pacific’s marine food web.

Past very strong El Niño events, with record heat, drought, precipitation, floods, and wildfires, have taken a toll in human lives, human health, national and community economies, and ecosystems. Some effects can linger as much as a decade, after these events.

India is pushing to use drones, satellite data and digital apps to help farmers cope with climate stress and more. But such agri-tech is no magic bullet.

By David Brown

By Hans Nicholas Jong, Irfan Maulana

By María Paula Rubiano A.

By Rhick Lars Albay

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A potentially record-breaking El Niño is expected to intensify extreme weather and deepen climate risks across the globe. By Mandy Freund

Even as hunger declines around the world, food insecurity remains prevalent in rural communities. Restoring soil health, expanding access to new technologies, strengthening land rights, and upgrading public infrastructure are essential to boost agricultural productivity and protect rural livelihoods. By Esther Ngumbi

The dangerous flooding in Nepal and Tibet has demonstrated, once again, the need for prearranged disaster-risk financing to prepare for the economic chain reactions triggered by natural disasters. Asia's policymakers must act now to help cash-strapped Nepal and strengthen other countries' resilience before the next crisis hits. By Yasuto Watanabe

The latest evidence suggests that the Chinese scientific establishment understands the dangers of a planned Himalayan dam – the world's largest – more clearly than its political leadership is willing to acknowledge. With the livelihoods of two billion people at stake, the international community needs to weigh in. By Brahma Chellaney

By Máximo Torero

By Ruth Khasaya Oniang’o and Peter Kelly

By Nicole Ngeow

By Elyssa Kaur Ludher and Paul Teng

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The impact documentary exploring Asia's mounting waste crisis – and its solutions – is now streaming exclusively for Eco-Business subscribers.

Thumbnail for Kids Video with Dr Sylvia Earle 2

Do children ask the toughest questions? This World Oceans Day, we get renowned oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue, to field questions from curious kids on the mysteries of the deep.

Novel food firms are dreaming big about market expansion, but first they must overcome diners' doubts and a huge cost hurdle.

EB Studio Singaporeans are well-known foodies, but around 800,000 tonnes of food is wasted every year. Why is so much food wasted, and what can consumers do about it?

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EB Studio What are the latest trends in the alternative proteins industry today? The Eco-Business podcast discusses new hybrid products, more localised offerings and cheaper prices due to economies of scale.

EB Studio Nobody likes being told what to eat, but changing diets could make or break climate action. The Eco-Business Podcast explores how best to convince people to choose food good for people and planet.

What's it like co-writing a 3,500 page report on the dangers of climate change with hundreds of scientists worldwide, over Zoom calls during a pandemic? Eco-Business speaks to authors from the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore who were in the thick of the action.

Humanity and the planet are suffering from a serious case of food poisoning. Eco-Business spoke to Brent Loken, WWF's global lead food scientist, about how changes to our diet can help fix our broken food system, and restore our health and the planet's strained ecosystems.

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