Latest news with #Formosa
Forbes
5 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
The New World Food Prize Laureate Uses Microorganisms To Save Soils
A soybean field in Formosa do Rio Preto. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images) When Mariangela Hungria, the winner of the 2025 World Food Prize, started college for microbiology, agriculture had just seen the Green Revolution, and scientists were focused on using artificial fertilizers to feed a growing population. But she didn't think that was the way only forward. Dr. Hungria knew that microorganisms could help achieve nitrogen fixation and better soil-health. She knew that biological fertilizers can help feed the world. In other words, she's been a champion of regenerative agriculture before that term was even widely used! The World Food Prize is a prestigious honor that recognizes her lifetime of work that's literally changed agronomics from the ground up. But as a young scientist in the 1970s and 1980s, she faced significant pushback from the mostly male scientific establishment that believed chemicals were the only option. 'It's not easy to start your career when everybody says that you are not going to have a future,' Dr. Hungria says on the podcast. To prove that microorganisms had a vital role not just on smallholder farms or organic operations but within large-scale, high-yield agriculture, 'I had to change the way I was doing research.' She began involving farmers as collaborators in the research process. As with her commitment to regenerative agriculture, she didn't set out to be a trailblazer: She was just doing things the way she thought was right. 'People talk about participative science, and I say, 'I was doing this a long time ago. I just didn't know!'' she says. 'Every research that I did, it was because a farmer came to me to talk about something. It was because a farmer came [to me] or I met a farmer in the field, and he told me what he wanted and what was happening, and that gave me ideas to do my work.' And just as she set out to prove from the beginning, she has demonstrated that the positive results that come from regenerative practices can be scaled up to fit any size farm. 'The same technology, the same bacteria, that helps the small farmers also helps the big farmers,' she says. 'We use the same in 1 hectare or in 100,000 hectares, so that's really wonderful to work with something that's usable for all.' Dr. Hungria identifies several barriers she continues to face in her work, and I think there are a few takeaways that the entire good food movement can learn from: 1. The regenerative agriculture movement cannot be overshadowed by competition and corporate interests. Even when faced with data on the success of biological fertilizers, some farmers are still skeptical due to aggressive marketing from chemical fertilizer manufacturers, Dr. Hungria says. And occasionally, companies that do adopt biological fertilizers seem more interested in widely planted crops that are more profitable, rather than culturally relevant crops in local communities. As Dr. Hungria explained, feeding the world can't be a competition—which is also why she makes all her research and solutions available publicly for free. 2. We have to think creatively about how to earn people's attention. Dr. Hungria believes strongly in the power of scientific communication. But she's frustrated, she says, by the experience of spending time preparing a concise online video explaining nuance and data—only for the video's view count to be dwarfed by influencers spreading misinformation or changing the subject away from agriculture entirely. 3. The future of science has to be collaborative, inclusive, and egalitarian. Dr. Hungria is candid about the challenges she faced and continues to face as a woman and a mother in a male-dominated scientific world. 'I had lots of problems because there were not many women,' she says. 'And worse, I was a woman working with biologicals that nobody believed in, and with two daughters. I was very improbable to succeed in my career.' But Dr. Hungria did succeed—and she's worked for her entire career to rebuild a scientific field that's less competitive and more participatory, collaborative, and focused on listening to others and appreciating diversity of ideas. This is the kind of approach we truly need to transform the food system! She says, 'I really think that the science of the future will be a female science.' I hope Dr. Hungria's work will inspire future generations of regenerative farmers, microbiologists, food advocates, and citizen eaters—and I also hope it'll inspire us right now, in this generation, to take the action we desperately need to nurture our soils, nourish our bodies, and keep our planet alive.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
River parish residents sue Formosa Plastics over burial site for their descendants
RIVER PARISHES, La. (WGNO) — Formosa Plastics is in hot water after Inclusive Louisiana and The Descendants Project filed suit claiming Formosa won't allow descendants access to the burial site on the land. 'Formosa Plastics has met them with threats, threats of law enforcement action, threats of litigation and threats and surveillance from private security contractors. Today, our clients say no more,' said attorney from the Center for Constitutional Rights Kayla Vinson. Three arrested, one sought following Kenner shooting The $9.4 billion planned plastics facility was acquired in 2017 in St. James Parish. In 2024, the remains of five enslaved people were discovered by researcher Lenora Gobert. 'Simon, Betsy, Rachel, Stanley and Harry deserve no less than to have their lives, along with the many others interred in the burial site,' said Gobert. The lawsuit claims that since 2019, the residents' only goal has been to honor and dignify their deaths, something they never received. Filing in federal court, Vinson says Formosa has continuously violated the 13th Amendment. 'We envision a place where all future generations can come to pay their respects, not only to these five souls, but all the souls buried on the Bonavista property,' said Co-Founder of Inclusive Louisiana Gail LeBoeuf. 'Our clients are asking the court to issue an order declaring that Formosa Plastics has violated their rights to access to care and to protect the sacred grounds of the Buena Vista Plantation cemetery,' said Vinson. Tractor trailer hauling scrap overturned in Pearl River area Those like Barbara Washington say this shows the ongoing battle their area known as 'Cancer Alley' is faced with. The groups are requesting a judge to end Formosa's power and protection against interference with any of the remains found on the property. 'They poisoned our community by polluting the air, the land and the water with carcinogens and other toxic pollutants and waste, ' said Washington. With the lawsuit in the early stage, Vinson is unsure of a timeline for it to end. 'It could be a few months before there's sort of a next step in the litigation. And it could be years before the litigation is resolved entirely,' said Vinson. A statement attributable to Janile Parks, Director of Community and Government Relations for FG LA LLC says: 'FG is aware of the lawsuit, although it has not formally been served and reviewed. FG remains committed to the St. James Parish community and to preserving its rich history and cultural resources. FG has been and will always be respectful of the remains and unmarked burial site within property the company owns in St. James Parish. With the oversight of and coordination by the appropriate governmental agencies, FG has followed all procedures in researching and preserving the protected area. FG has been fully transparent and cooperative in giving residents access to the burial and one of the plaintiffs were parties to a previous lawsuit concerning the terms of access to the burial site for an event to be held by the plaintiff and other groups in February 2025. Ultimately, FG provided access and the plaintiff's event went forward without incident. Since the event in question went forward by agreement of the parties, the previous lawsuit was dismissed without will continue to work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state regulators and local partners to navigate the final steps in bringing this important project to reality. FG is disappointed by the delays the project has faced, but remains confident that all permits were properly issued. We do not intend to give up the fight for this important economic development project that will benefit the people of St. James Parish and assured, we continue to navigate these ongoing challenges to the project.'Stormy by day with Super BUCK Moon by night for Thursday Judge Seeber bridge to fully close for repairs: DOTD Walmart recalls about 850,000 water bottles after 2 people blinded Three fall into water at Glacier National Park while taking photo: rangers Iconic cereal maker WK Kellogg selling to Ferrero for $3B Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Eater
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Team Behind Penny and Claud Is Opening Another Spot
is an editor and reporter for the Northeast region at Eater, focusing primarily on New York City, where she was born and raised. She covers restaurants, bars, pop-ups, and the people powering them. Chase Sinzer and Joshua Pinsky, the team behind East Village hits Claud and Penny, have signed a third lease at 139 East 12th Street, near Third Avenue. Claud opened in 2022 and was initially billed as a wine bar; functionally, it is a restaurant that has become known for dishes like its chicken, sizzling shrimp, and chocolate layer cake. Penny, which opened upstairs in 2024, is a raw bar. Their new, as-yet-named project, will be an actual wine bar that's more snacky than full meals. The 20-seat space will open sometime in winter 2025 with 1,000+ wine selections from around the world, according to a spokesperson. With all the heaps of accolades their previous two projects have received in the neighborhood, it's fair to say that the new space's few seats will fill up fast. A Taiwanese restaurant family expands in Brooklyn Formosa Dumplings, which first opened in Bushwick in 2023, will add another location in Prospect Heights, at 43 Underhill Avenue, at Dean Street. As Eater reported upon its initial launch, Formosa is run by Chuya Lee and her father, Hsin Chang Lee, a Taiwanese chef, who has been involved in Sanmiwago, the popular dumpling chain, with a following in Manhattan's Chinatown and beyond. But Formosa is a true neighborhood dumpling spot using family recipes. Topical new bar lists 'Fuck ICE' on the menu Frijoleros, a new Mexican cocktail bar with snacks, is opening at 131 Greenpoint Avenue in Greenpoint on Thursday, July 10 — formerly the home of Jungle Cafe. An opening drinks menu posted on Instagram stories lists options like the Fuck ICE (a frozen watermelon margarita with a floater), as well as the Mero Mole (Japanese whiskey and black sesame horchata), and the Fine Sap (tequila, snap peas, green apple, egg white, and lime). Bartender Fabiola Juarez is involved in the project, having grown up working in her family's longtime Bay Ridge Mexican staple, Coszcal de Allende, and more recently bringing it into a new era by relocating the restaurant with a fresh look. She also worked alongside her mother running the pandemic-era tamale pop-up, Maiz a Mesa, in Fort Greene Park. Longtime Roberta's alum leads new pizzeria Turbo Pizza is now open, serving Detroit-style pizza and wings, in very Bushwick digs, with a pool table. Brothers Max and Spencer Nelson, who run the nearby bar, 101 Wilson, are behind the casual new hangout, located at 1540 Dekalb Avenue, at Irving Avenue. Chef John True, who spent over 13 years at Roberta's, is in the kitchen. Eater NY All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SAG-AFTRA, video game companies reach tentative deal that would end strike
Video game performers and producers have hammered out a tentative contract agreement, reaching terms that could end a nearly year-long strike over artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the game companies came to a resolution on Monday, more than two years after their previous agreement covering interactive media expired. The walkout began last July. The deal is subject to review and approval by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks, the union said. Specific terms of the deal were not immediately available. Terms of a strike suspension agreement are expected to be finalized with employers soon, the union said. Until then, though, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike. SAG-AFTRA members also must vote to ratify the new contract, which covers roughly 2,600 performers doing voice-acting, performance- and motion-capture work in the video game industry. Read more: SAG-AFTRA, video game companies resuming negotiations as actors' strike continues The proposed agreement would cover guild work for major industry players, including Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc. and Take 2 Productions Inc. Since the fall of 2022, video game performers have been fighting for a new contract containing AI protections, wage increases to keep up with inflation, more rest periods and medical attention for hazardous jobs. Game actors went on strike in late July after contract talks broke down over AI. Throughout the walkout, performers demanded a deal that would require video game producers to obtain informed consent before replicating their voices, likenesses or movements with AI. Read more: Video game actors are on strike. Here's what that means During the first few months of the strike, SAG-AFTRA reached numerous side deals with individual game companies that agreed to follow the union's AI rules in exchange for a strike pardon. By Nov. 18, the labor organization announced that it had made AI pacts with the developers of 130 different video games. 'The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are,' Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the union's video game negotiating committee, said in a statement in September. While some companies earned the union's approval, others felt its wrath. Halfway through October, SAG-AFTRA added the popular computer game "League of Legends" to its list of struck titles in an effort to punish audio company Formosa Interactive for allegedly violating terms of the walkout. SAG-AFTRA also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa, which provides voice-over services to 'League of Legends,' according to the union. Formosa denied SAG-AFTRA's allegations. Read more: Striking video game actors hit picket lines over AI: 'The human element is irreplaceable' The biggest sticking point for actors under the umbrella of AI involved on-camera performers, whose job is often to disappear into the characters they are bringing to life. They expressed concerns that the companies' AI proposal would leave them defenseless against the technology. The game companies argued that their AI proposal already contained robust protections that would require employers to seek prior consent and pay actors fairly when cloning their performances. 'All performers need AI protections,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, in an interview with The Times months ago. 'Everyone's at risk, and it's not OK to carve out a set of performers and leave them out of AI protections.' This work stoppage marked SAG-AFTRA's second video game strike in less than a decade and second overall strike in roughly a year. While the walkout persisted, video game performers weren't allowed to provide any services — such as acting, singing, stunts, motion capture, background and stand-in work — to struck games. Union actors were also barred from promoting any struck projects via social media, interviews, conventions, festivals, award shows, podcast appearances and other platforms. AI was also a major sticking point during the film and TV actors' strike of 2023. That walkout culminated in a contract mandating that producers obtain consent from and compensate performers when using their digital replica. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
SAG-AFTRA, video game companies reach tentative deal that would end strike
Video game performers and producers have reached a tentative contract agreement, reaching terms that could end a long strike over artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the game companies came to a resolution on Monday, more than two years after their previous agreement covering interactive media expired. The deal is subject to review and approval by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks, the union said. Specific terms of the deal were not immediately available. Terms of a strike suspension agreement are expected to be finalized with employers soon, the union said. Until then, though, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike. SAG-AFTRA members must vote on whether to ratify the new contract, which covers roughly 2,600 performers doing voice-acting, performance- and motion-capture work in the video game industry. Since fall 2022, video game performers have been fighting for a new contract containing AI protections, wage increases to keep up with inflation, more rest periods and medical attention for hazardous jobs. Game actors went on strike in late July after contract talks broke down over AI. Throughout the walkout, performers demanded a deal that would require video game producers to obtain informed consent before replicating their voices, likenesses or movements with AI. During the first few months of the strike, SAG-AFTRA reached numerous side deals with individual game companies that agreed to follow the union's AI rules in exchange for a strike pardon. By Nov. 18, the labor organization announced that it had made AI pacts with the developers of 130 different video games. 'The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are,' Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the union's video game negotiating committee, said in a statement in September. While some companies earned the union's approval, others felt its wrath. Halfway through October, SAG-AFTRA added the popular computer game 'League of Legends' to its list of struck titles in an effort to punish audio company Formosa Interactive for allegedly violating terms of the walkout. SAG-AFTRA also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa, which provides voice-over services to 'League of Legends,' according to the union. Formosa denied SAG-AFTRA's allegations. The biggest sticking point for actors under the umbrella of AI involved on-camera performers, whose job is often to disappear into the characters they are bringing to life. They expressed concerns that the companies' AI proposal would leave them defenseless against the technology. The game companies argued that their AI proposal already contained robust protections that would require employers to seek prior consent and pay actors fairly when cloning their performances. 'All performers need AI protections,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, in an interview with The Times months ago. 'Everyone's at risk, and it's not OK to carve out a set of performers and leave them out of AI protections.' This work stoppage marked SAG-AFTRA's second video game strike in less than a decade and second overall strike in roughly a year. While the walkout persisted, video game performers weren't allowed to provide any services — such as acting, singing, stunts, motion capture, background and stand-in work — to struck games. Union actors were also barred from promoting any struck projects via social media, interviews, conventions, festivals, award shows, podcast appearances and other platforms. AI was also a major sticking point during the film and TV actors' strike of 2023. That walkout culminated in a contract mandating that producers obtain consent from and compensate performers when using their digital replica.
