Singapore ramps up rooftop farming plans as virus upends supply chains

SINGAPORE - Singapore on Wednesday announced new measures to accelerate local food production as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts global supply chains, including a plan to turn car park rooftops in public housing estates into urban farms.

The densely populated city-state produces only about 10 percent of its food needs but has plans to increase that as climate change and population growth threaten global food supplies.

Around the world, restrictions on population movement because of the coronavirus outbreak are wreaking havoc on farming and food supply chains and raising concern of widespread shortages and price increases.

"The current COVID-19 situation underscores the importance of local food production, as part of Singapore's strategies to ensure food security," authorities said in a statement. "Local food production mitigates our reliance on imports, and provides buffer in the event of food supply disruptions."

Authorities have repeatedly assured locals that the city-state has sufficient food supplies, amid bouts of panic buying that have gripped the island during the outbreak.

Farmers and the government have been looking at ways to overcome the shortage of land in Singapore, where only 1 percent of its 724 sq km (280 sq miles) is devoted to agriculture and production costs are higher than the rest of Southeast Asia.

In response to the outbreak, authorities aim to speed up local production over the next 6 months to 2 years.

This includes providing a S$30 million ($21 million) grant to support production of eggs, leafy vegetables and fish in the shortest time possible, and identifying alternative farming spaces, such as industrial areas and vacant sites.

As part of that project, the Singapore food agency will launch a tender for rooftop farms on public housing car parks for urban farming starting next month, authorities said.

($1 = 1.4280 Singapore dollars)

-Reuters-

PH to beat hunger with urban agriculture

MANILA, Philippines -- Josephine de Guzman lives beside an estero or creek in the heart of Manila, surrounded by concrete sidewalks and dilapidated buildings, but she looks forward to waking up each day to the smell of flowers and the sound of chirping birds.

Josephine's community is a unique little pocket of greenery in the midst of a congested urban jungle. "Masarap, pag gising mo, makikita mo agad yung halaman mo," she said (It feels good that when you wake up you’re able to see your plants right away).

A few years ago, an environmental group helped Josephine and her neighbors convert a tiny patch of abandoned land in their community into a thriving garden that grows vegetables, flowers and herbs. Jospehine's neighbor, Remy Patricio, said she hasn’t bought vegetables from the wet market for years because their garden grows all the vegetables her family needs, like eggplants, onions, string beans, cucumbers and sweet potatoes.

Remy said they’re lucky since vegetable prices in Manila are highly volatile. Prices of vegetables can spike up or go down almost daily. For instance, when a typhoon would hit the northern part of Luzon where most crops are grown, prices of vegetables can double, oftentimes becoming more expensive than chicken or fish.

Because of communities like Josephine’s and Remy’s, the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) saw an opportunity in urban agriculture as a way to solve the problems of malnutrition and lack of food among many city dwellers.

“Urban agriculture is essentially farming in the city,” explained Redelliza Gruezo, field officer of the country’s Agriculture Department. The DA wants to integrate farming into the daily activities of residents in urban areas. “So people in the city will not only be consumers but also producers,” Gruezo said.

Hunger and even severe hunger among Filipinos, especially those squatting in urban areas, still persist. A June 2015 survey from the Social Weather Stations estimated that 2.8 million Filipino families have experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

“Our population is growing and we believe that urban agriculture can truly contribute to food security, for our people,” Gruezo said.

Growing plants without soil
After decades of working abroad, Rely Baluyot decided to come home and stay for good. He wanted to replicate here the urban farms he saw in his travels to the US and Japan. But there was one drawback. He had limited land space in the city and therefore not enough soil for planting - until he discovered hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil.

Instead of soil, Rely uses a mixture of cement and coco dust with water. This mixture will serve as the base where seeds will germinate so plants can grow.

“Kahit wala kang lupa, pwede, kahit puro semento ang lugar mo pwede ka mag tanim,” Rely said (Even if you don’t have land, even if you’re surrounded by concrete, you can plant.)

The key with the hydroponics method is to constantly moisten plants with water that's been fortified with nutrients like nitrate, potassium and phosphate. Rely’s hydroponics facility is designed in such a way that allows for the automatic watering of plants and can even filter and reuse water so that it operates with 80% less water than when planting with soil.

Rely was so successful in using the hydroponics method that today, he’s not only able to grow vegetables for his family to eat but also have extra produce to sell. A particularly good harvest of his lettuce, for instance, can yield up to 900 kilos of the vegetable per week.

The Department of Agriculture is aware of the many challenges in solving the problem of hunger in the country. The DA is not without its share of controversies especially with regards to the use of its public funds.

Then there are the adverse effects of climate change like droughts and flooding that greatly diminishes crop yields.

There’s also the pressure on the government to commit to the new development agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be put forward for adoption by Heads of States at the United Nations (UN) Summit in September this year.

One of the goals aims to end hunger by 2030. A feat that, the DA admits, can only be achieved with political will and strong partnerships with stakeholders.

Urban agriculture, according to Gruezo, is one of the crucial components of the government’s sustainable agriculture program.

Since 2011, the Department of Agriculture has helped establish urban farms in 164 communities in Metro Manila, the country’s densest megacity with over 16 million inhabitants. They have also trained 22,266 households in basic vegetable production.

While the agriculture sector grapples with its many challenges, success stories such as Josephine’s community and Rely’s garden also abound, which are perhaps enough reasons to believe that a food secure future for the Philippines is all too attainable.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Does eating cabbage cause goiter?

MANILA -- It is a common belief that eating cabbages can cause goiter, but a doctor stressed that this is just a myth.

Dr. Gio Barangan, a pediatrician, explained that although cabbages are goitrogenic, they do not necessarily cause thyroid gland disorders.

Goitrogens are substances that affect the function of the thyroid gland.

"May mga myths before na kapag kumain ka ng repolyo, or mga cabbage, 'yung mga ganun, pwede daw na makaapekto sa thyroid gland. Ang tawag kasi sa kanila, mga goitrogenic na food. Pwede makaapekto sa thyroid pero kailangan ka kumain ng sako-sakong cabbage araw araw," Barangan explained in an interview on radio DZMM.

Goiter in the Philippines is mainly caused by iodine deficiency.

Aside from goiter, other thyroid disorders include hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of the thyroid hormone. Its symptoms include anxiety, heat intolerance, and irregular heartbeat.

Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Its symptoms include weight gain, cold intolerance, hair loss and, in some cases, depression.

Patients suffering from hypothyroidism also have brittle nails and an enlarged thyroid gland.

Meanwhile, Barangan warned that infants suffering from thyroid disorders have to be given immediate treatment as this may lead to mental retardation.

"Makikita na kung ang anak mo ay may problema sa thyroid gland kasi kung hindi mo natreat 'yan in the first three months, ang IQ biglang babagsak 'yan, magiging fully mentally retarded 'yung pasyente," he added.

Congenital disorders can be detected early through the newborn screening.

Barangan also pointed out that women aged 50 years and above are at higher risk of thyroid disorders such as goiter.

"Mas mataas ang incidence [ng goiter] kapag mas tumatanda ang babae," Barangan said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Orange vegetables may reduce breast cancer

U.S. researchers found women with the highest levels of carotenoids -- found in produce -- in their blood had the lowest risk of breast cancer.

A. Heather Eliassen of the Channing Division of Network Medicine, the Department of Medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues, conducted an analysis of eight studies involving 80 percent of the world's published prospective data on plasma or serum carotenoids and breast cancer.

The analysis included 3,055 case subjects and 3,956 matched control subjects.

The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found in more than 3,000 case subjects, there were statistically significantly inverse associations between circulating levels of individual and total carotenoids and breast cancer risk, with a stronger finding in estrogen receptor-breast cancers -- breast cancers that grow in response to the hormone estrogen.

"The inverse associations we observed among ER-negative tumors highlight carotenoids as one of the first modifiable risk factors for this poor prognosis tumor type," the study authors wrote in the study.

Some evidence has shown that carotenoids inhibit the growth of ER-positive breast cancers as well, it's possible that its effect is hidden by hormone related associations which overpower other risk factors. Still, the researchers said: "A diet high in carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables offers many health benefits, including a possible reduced risk of breast cancer."

The website the World's Healthiest Foods said foods that contain carotenoids include:

-- The orange-colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apricots, mangoes, squash, papaya, and sweet potatoes contain significant amounts of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin.

-- Green vegetables, especially spinach, kale and collard greens, also contain beta-carotene, and are the best sources of lutein.

-- Lycopene is found in tomatoes, guava, and pink grapefruit.

-- Salmon, shellfish, milk and egg yolks also provide carotenoids.

source: upi.com

Secret Ingredient: Condensed Mushroom Soup

MANILA, Philippines — Like a true flower child of the Woodstock generation, I prefer fresh vegetables to processed and would even grow my own whenever time and space allowed. An exception to this fresh only rule is a canned product that my kitchen cannot do without: condensed cream of mushroom soup, one of the most versatile ingredients ever invented by man.

My love affair with canned mushroom soup began almost 50 years ago, when a Pasay Cartimar Market stall that sold PX goods from US military bases offered cases of discounted Campbell’s soups for a few pesos apiece. I bought several cans to use for the dinner I was hired to prepare for a dozen TV advertising executives.

With the guidance of Good Housekeeping recipes, my first catering job was a resounding success, with everyone asking for seconds. The menu: Creamed Chicken Curry, Lasagna, rice, green salad and buttered dinner rolls.

The group hired me again for their next brainstorming session, launching my second career as a sometime cook. As more and more friends took my cooking seriously, so did I. Then, as now, cans of condensed soup were my constant kitchen companions.

EASY CREAMY CHICKEN CURRY – Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then panfry all sides until lightly brown. Set aside. In the same pan, using the leftover chicken oil and drippings, stir-fry a couple of sliced onions with a tbsp of crushed garlic. Add a tbsp of curry powder and quickly mix, watching carefully to prevent curry powder from burning and turning bitter.

Carefully stir in a cup of stock or water, scraping the brown bits sticking to the bottom and sides of the pan. Return fried chicken to the pan with all its drippings.

Simmer, covered, for 15-25 minutes depending on size of the chicken pieces. Add 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup and stir well to remove lumps. Season with salt and pepper and fresh chili peppers, if desired.

Serve topped with fried potato wedges. Surround the curry bowl with sidings of chopped tomatoes, minced onions, raisins, sliced hard boiled eggs, chutney, sliced chili peppers, fresh grated coconut and sour cream.

SHORTCUT LASAGNA – In an oven-proof baking tray or pan, arrange boiled lasagna sheets with alternating layers of tomato-based sauce, diluted cream of mushroom soup, fried onions, tomatoes (add fried zucchini if available) and sliced boiled eggs. Sprinkle one or several types of grated cheese between pasta layers. End with a top surface of cheese. Bake until bubbly.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN – Roast or grill eggplant slices. Use instead of pasta sheets in the recipe for Lasagna. When eggplants are aplenty, I stock up by boiling a big pot of whole eggplants, peel them and pack them in the freezer in small plastic bags, to bake or make into omelets later.

GROOVY GRAVY – Gravy is the new catsup. Filipinos have discovered, and fallen madly in love with gravy. This fad has even invaded our home; grandson Kyle prefers gravy over dip and drenches everything with the gooey brown stuff: fried chicken, lechon manok, lechon, grilled liempo, French fries, omelets, fish fillet tempura and fried camote disks.

Traditionally, I would make gravy by browning flour with or without bacon grease or drippings, then whisk in liquid in the form of water (flavored with chicken cubes) or stock.

The amount of liquid would depend on the desired thickness. Cream, or milk, is added last to add richness. Salt and pepper for seasoning, and whisk in a knob of butter or margarine just before serving.

Using canned condensed cream of mushroom soup, the gravy-making process is shortened considerably.

Whisk together in a pot, over medium heat, one can of soup and one cup of water. Heat to simmering and add more liquid as required to achieve desired thickness. Brown the gravy by stirring in a teaspoon of soy sauce. Taste for seasonings; adjust with salt and pepper. Stir in a little butter or margarine before serving.

VEGGIES WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE – My cousin Bettina Jose Manalili in Paranaque developed this new family favorite. Blanch broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus or spinach in boiling water and refresh in cold water. Set aside.

Stir-fry sliced onions in a little oil until light brown and lightly caramelized. Pour in a can of mushroom soup, thin with a little liquid and whisk until lump-free. Add a little butter, salt and pepper to taste. Mix blanched vegetables into the gravy and heat to boiling. Sprinkle with grated cheese, if available. Serve immediately.

Note: Several brands have joined the original Campbell’s and are now sold in supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide. There are even sachets and pouches of powdered instant cream of mushroom soup.


source: mb.com.ph

A little reward might get kids to eat veggies

If your preschooler turns her nose up at vegetables, giving her a small reward for taking even a taste might help, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that when parents gave their 3- and 4-year-olds a sticker each time they took a "tiny taste" of a disliked vegetable, it gradually changed the preschoolers' attitude.

After a couple weeks, kids rewarded with stickers were giving higher ratings to a vegetable they'd previously sworn off. On average, the vegetable moved up the scale from between 1 and 2—or somewhere between "yucky" and "just OK"—to between 2 and 3 ("just OK" and "yummy").

The children were also willing to eat more of the vegetable in taste tests in the lab.

Verbal praise, on the other hand, did not work so well, the study found.

The bottom line for parents? It might not hurt to try the sticker approach, according to Jane Wardle, a researcher at University College London in the UK who worked on the study.

"We would recommend that parents consider using small non-food rewards, given daily for tasting tiny pieces of the food—smaller than half a little finger nail," Wardle told Reuters Health in an email.

It might seem obvious that a reward could entice young children to eat their veggies. But the idea is actually controversial, Wardle and her colleagues note in their report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

That's because some studies have suggested that rewards can backfire, Wardle explained. In most of those studies, rewards caused kids to lose interest in foods they already liked.

In the latest study, the researchers focused on vegetables that their preschool group had little taste for.

They randomly assigned 173 families to one of three groups. In one, parents used stickers to reward their child each time he took a tiny sample of a disliked vegetable (either carrots, celery, cucumber, red pepper, cabbage or sugar snap peas).

A second group of parents used praise as a reward (as in, "Brilliant, you're a great vegetable taster!") The third group served as a "control," where parents used to no special veggie-promoting tactics.

Parents in the reward groups offered their child a taste of the "target" vegetable every day for 12 days.

Soon afterward, children in the sticker group were giving higher ratings to their previously disliked vegetable. And in the research lab, they were willing to eat more as well: from an average of 5 grams at the study's start, to about 10 grams after the 12-day experiment.

The turnaround also seemed to last, Wardle's team found. Preschoolers in the sticker group were still willing to eat more of the once-shunned veggie three months later.

Verbal praise, on the other hand, seemed ineffective.

It's possible, the researchers say, that parents' words seemed "insincere" to their little ones. Or the preschool set may just really like stickers. Whatever the reason, Wardle suggested that parents give the sticker reward a shot. (Children in this study, she noted, were also given a special sheet where they could place their well-earned rewards.)

And it's unlikely you would have to bribe your children with stickers until they are 18. This research, according to Wardle, suggests that about 10 days is typically enough to change young children's attitudes. –Reuters

source:gmanetwork.com