Behind every wheat spike lies a web of hands, knowledge, and choices — and increasingly, those hands are female.From the sowing field to the research lab, and from small farms to cooperative boards, women are reshaping the face of the wheat sector: not only as producers, but as innovators and guardians of sustainability. An Invisible …
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Eating bread, pasta, or biscuits is an everyday act. Yet behind every grain of wheat lies a long chain of processes that leave an environmental trace — from irrigation water and fertilizers to machinery, milling, and transport.Understanding the ecological footprint of wheat does not mean blaming farmers or consumers, but learning how to make the …
Read more “Wheat and Planetary Health: Ecological Footprint and Solutions”
Soil is the living skin of the planet. Within just a few centimeters beneath our feet lies the foundation of every agricultural ecosystem — the place where wheat takes root, water infiltrates, and billions of microorganisms build a fragile but vital equilibrium.Yet that balance is increasingly at risk. According to the FAO, 33% of the …
When we think of biodiversity, we often picture forests, wildlife, or coral reefs. Yet agricultural biodiversity — the genetic variety of cultivated plants — is just as vital for our survival.Wheat, cultivated for more than ten thousand years, is a perfect symbol of this link between nature and civilization. It’s one of humanity’s oldest crops, …
Read more “Wheat and Biodiversity: Why Preserving Local Varieties Matters”
From 10 to 17 October 2025, the FAO headquarters in Rome hosted the organization’s 80th anniversary and the sixth edition of the World Food Forum (WFF).It was a week of dialogue, science, and cooperation, bringing together thousands of participants — governments, researchers, youth, NGOs, and the private sector — to discuss the future of food …
Few crops reveal the balance of power in the world economy as clearly as wheat. From the Black Sea ports to the plains of the Midwest, this grain is not only a staple food but also a strategic commodity that shapes alliances, trade tensions, and even wars. Understanding who “wins” and who “loses” in the …
Wheat may look like a simple plant: it grows tall, sways in the wind, and seems content with poor soil. Yet behind every grain lies a story of water. Each hectare of wheat “drinks” between 3,000 and 5,000 cubic meters of water per crop cycle, depending on the climate, soil, and farming techniques. Water is, …
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Wheat as a tool of power Wheat is not just nourishment: it is also pure geopolitics. From Mesopotamia to modern wars, controlling wheat has always meant controlling peoples and armies. Not by chance, historian Fernand Braudel once wrote that “whoever has bread holds power.” Wheat provides food for more than 2.5 billion people and supplies …
Why the CAP is crucial for wheat In Europe, wheat is not just food: it is a pillar of agriculture, culture, and the rural economy. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), created in 1962, has always played a decisive role in the cereal sector, ensuring farmers’ income, market stability, and food security. But over time, support …
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Why everyone talks about it In recent years the term “ancient grains” has become almost a trend. From Senatore Cappelli to Timilia from Sicily, more and more people are choosing these cereals as an alternative to modern wheats, often linking them to greater digestibility and health benefits. But what’s the truth behind it? What are …
Read more “Ancient Grains and Modern Grains: What Really Changes for Health?”