The hottest Food Systems Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Food & Drink Topics

Chewing the cud could sink the planet

The Global Jigsaw • 119 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Food Systems
  1. Raising cows and sheep produces a lot of methane, which is a major contributor to climate change. This is because methane is released when these animals digest their food and is much worse for the planet than carbon dioxide.
  2. Livestock generates 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is even more than the transport sector. This includes not just the methane from their digestion, but also emissions from raising feed and pasture.
  3. A Japanese seaweed startup has found a way to cut methane emissions from cows by adding a specific type of red algae to their feed. This could reduce their methane output by more than 90%.

Can we break the human development-environment trade-off?

Sustainability by numbers • 761 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Food Systems
  1. For the first time we can improve human wellbeing while reducing environmental harm. Cheap clean energy, smarter farming, and meat alternatives make less-damaging development feasible.
  2. Many major gains in health, education, and poverty reduction were achieved at a big environmental cost, especially from fossil fuels and expanded agriculture, while earlier societies had lower impact but much worse living conditions.
  3. Breaking the trade-off is an opportunity, not inevitable — it requires deliberate investments, policies, and support for poorer countries; the world is still awful in many ways, but it is also much better than before and can become much better.

Call for Pitches: ‘The Influencers’

Vittles • 136 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. A print magazine is commissioning an issue called “The Influencers” that explores how economic, sociopolitical, cultural and interpersonal forces — from algorithms and influencers to trade deals and corporations — shape what we produce, buy and eat.
  2. They want original, tightly argued work across forms (reported features, essays, interviews, data visualisations and shorter dispatches) on topics like the economics and aesthetics of influencing, product R&D, trade, climate and small‑scale local power.
  3. Pitches are due by Jan 9 and should be sent by email; the publication pays set rates (for example around £800 for a 2,000–2,500 word reported piece, ~£600 for 1,500–2,000 word opinion pieces, or roughly 40p/word for shorter pieces) and aims to reply by early February.

Homesteading: The Regenerative Farming Paradox

Who is Robert Malone • 15 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Food Systems
  1. Industrial farming has damaged soil biology so crops can be less nutritious, because tillage, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides break the fungal and microbial networks that make trace minerals plant-available.
  2. Regenerative practices—no-till, cover crops, diverse rotations, and adding organic matter—rebuild soil life, and you can see measurable improvements in soil function within a few years and in crop micronutrients within about 5–10 years.
  3. Expect a short-term yield dip and more year-to-year variability during the transition, but long-term benefits include better drought resilience, lower input costs, improved nutrition, and often comparable or better yields if you maintain diversity and patience.
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On Keeping a Pantry

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 1533 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Keeping a well-stocked fridge and pantry brings a sense of control and satisfaction in cooking.
  2. Food shopping habits are influenced by personal and professional roles, shaping lifestyle choices.
  3. Infrastructure and urban planning impact food procurement practices and access to fresh, local ingredients.

Top Links 779 Tariffs, trade and macro balances. Taking stock of shock & Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed our Food

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
💰 Finance Food Systems
  1. Tariffs can really hurt low-income families the most. This is because they often rely on affordable imported goods that might get more expensive.
  2. Trade balances are important to understand how countries interact economically. Keeping track of imports and exports helps to see if a country is doing well.
  3. Refrigeration has significantly changed how we handle food. It allows us to store food longer and reduce waste, making it easier to feed more people.

Starving Palestine

Vittles • 282 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Israeli actions in Palestine, especially in Masafer Yatta, have severely impacted local pastoralist communities. Many shepherds face violence and loss of land, making it hard for them to sustain their traditional way of life.
  2. Food sovereignty is crucial for Palestinians, as their access to traditional agricultural knowledge is shrinking. This loss affects their health and cultural practices, making dependency on outside, often expensive, food sources more common.
  3. The fight for food sovereignty in Palestine is part of a broader struggle against colonialism. It represents a way for Palestinians to assert their rights, heritage, and identity amidst ongoing challenges.

Announcing "Food Intelligence"!

Julia Belluz • 31 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The book 'Food Intelligence' explores how food affects our bodies and health. It aims to provide knowledge to help people understand nutrition better.
  2. A key focus of the book is the food environment, which includes social and economic factors that influence what we eat. This environment plays a big role in diet-related diseases.
  3. The authors hope to change how people think about nutrition, diet, and health policies. Understanding food systems can help improve public health and tackle issues like obesity and diabetes.

Organic, local, and slow

let them eat cake • 379 implied HN points • 13 Jun 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Organic, local, and slow are different answers to distinct questions in the food system
  2. Organic addresses chemicals in food, local counters industrialization, and slow combats commercialization
  3. Conflating organic, local, and slow can hinder thoughtful trade-offs in the food system and overlook the diversity of needs in a global population

the right word for the pastry we have

let them eat cake • 219 implied HN points • 27 Sep 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Kouign amann, a butter cake in Breizh, is a significant pastry in Brittany, France.
  2. Galletes, buckwheat crepes cooked on griddle, signify a simpler yet delicious dish in Brittany's gastronomic culture.
  3. The experience of enjoying pastries like kouign amann made with Breton butter can be a magical and memorable culinary adventure.

the meaning of doors to nowhere

let them eat cake • 139 implied HN points • 16 Sep 20
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The experience of dining out during the pandemic has shifted, revealing transparency in the power dynamics between diners and restaurant staff.
  2. Questions about the cultural appropriation of food, the meaning of restaurant work, and equitable wages are being raised more prominently as a result of current circumstances.
  3. The value assigned to restaurant work and the dining experience extends beyond just the monetary compensation, spurring reflection on the significance of meals, meaning, and societal perceptions.

winning at the internet

let them eat cake • 159 implied HN points • 14 May 20
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. In the age of the internet, some argue that restaurants should transform into content creators to stay afloat, shifting focus away from creating food.
  2. Becoming successful independent restaurants used to involve creating a strong online presence as a marketing strategy, shifting focus from food and hospitality to internet competitiveness.
  3. For many restaurants, adapting to the challenges of the current landscape, like offering takeout, may not be enough to ensure profitability, and finding new ways to make food at a profit is crucial.

recipes

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 29 Oct 20
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The recipe for Pandan Chiffon Cake involves unique techniques like making fresh pandan extract and coconut milk for a refined flavor and texture.
  2. Fiona's Pandan Chiffon Cake recipe uses less flour and substitutes oil with coconut milk for richness, setting it apart from traditional chiffon cake recipes.
  3. The 'Brandy Chicken' recipe showcases a simple yet flavorful way of cooking with minimal ingredients, emphasizing the importance of quality ingredients like good brandy for marinades.

Strong-backed millenials

let them eat cake • 199 implied HN points • 05 Jul 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Biddeford, Maine transformed from mill town to a vibrant community with new economy ventures like art studios, microbrewery, and funky eateries.
  2. Kim and Alec, the founders of Rover Bagel, moved to Biddeford for affordable space and opportunity to start their business, customizing bagels that stand out for their unique crust and flavor.
  3. Despite success, challenges lie in the growth of Rover Bagel due to limitations in space and resources, reflecting the reality of entrepreneurship requiring more than hard work and creativity.

perfectly normal

let them eat cake • 199 implied HN points • 28 Jun 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Minetta Tavern in New York offers a burger and beer for $37-45, a modern price for traditional items.
  2. The pricing of the burgers reflects the high cost of ingredients and the challenging work in the food industry.
  3. There is a movement towards collectively run restaurants like the one in Oakland, offering a different approach to food service.

Fight to Repair Daily: Monday October 17, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 18 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Food Systems
  1. The FTC is proposing a new rule that would require major appliances to come with repair instructions, enhancing consumers' right to repair.
  2. A Democratic candidate in Kansas is advocating for a federal right to repair law in the agriculture sector to help farmers save money and time on equipment maintenance.
  3. Maine is moving towards including a 'right to repair' question on the 2023 ballot, aiming to enable vehicle repairs at independent shops or by vehicle owners.

statistically average chicken curry

let them eat cake • 179 implied HN points • 13 Sep 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Every cuisine in Singapore has its version of chicken curry, but they shouldn't all be cooked the same way. Each household adds their own touches.
  2. Cookbooks like 'South East Asian Food' by Rosemary Brissenden focus on intentions and histories of recipes, not just measurements, preserving culinary traditions.
  3. Beyond recipes, these books offer insight into cultural contexts and differences in cooking styles across countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

no. 41: random uses of uppercase

let them eat cake • 79 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The traditional hawker food industry in Singapore is facing challenges due to low prices and competition, leading to the emergence of 'hawkerpreneurs' who offer non-traditional dishes at higher prices.
  2. The government's efforts to incentivize young people to become hawkers may inadvertently promote a shift towards more commercialized and market-driven approaches in the hawker trade.
  3. There is a tension between the public's willingness to pay higher prices for 'modernized' hawker food from 'hawkerpreneurs' and their resistance to more traditional hawkers raising prices, highlighting societal perceptions and economic complexities within the hawker culture.

no.37: shops and houses

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 15 Oct 20
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Different perceptions of value exist between 'western' coffee houses and 'local' kopitiams.
  2. 'Kopi' culture in Singapore has evolved and grown in national pride over the years.
  3. The emergence of modern coffee trends in Singapore raises questions of colonialism and capitalism in the food industry.

math in the middle, menu at the end

let them eat cake • 159 implied HN points • 26 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Calculations for restaurant staff wages need to consider various factors like turnover and check averages to ensure fair payment.
  2. The idea of a sustainable wage for restaurant workers raises questions about pay disparities within the industry and the need for all service workers to receive fair compensation.
  3. The existence of table service in restaurants is supported by the tip credit system, with some states eliminating this system to ensure equal wages for all staff.

Knowing how it's made

let them eat cake • 159 implied HN points • 30 May 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The food industry often focuses on humane treatment of animals, but neglects the well-being of workers
  2. There is a lack of transparency in food systems regarding labor conditions
  3. Consumer choices may inadvertently support companies with poor worker treatment practices

we're as disappointed as you are

let them eat cake • 139 implied HN points • 09 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The author shares an announcement about doing a popup at a restaurant to make Peranakan food and mention a newsletter about monopolies and politics.
  2. The author expresses disappointment at not having an essay that week due to a hectic schedule but does share interesting links on various topics from trashfires to baked goods.
  3. The author wraps up the post with a heartfelt message thanking readers, encouraging support by sharing the newsletter, and offering to buy coffee for those interested in connecting.

Bastard crustaceans and crusty bastards

let them eat cake • 159 implied HN points • 27 Feb 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. We are moving towards creating sustainable seafood like shrimp made from algae to address issues like overfishing and climate change.
  2. The food industry is focusing on synthesizing specific parts of seafood like peeled, headless, tailless shrimp to cater to what consumers in America prefer to eat.
  3. The evolution of food technology aims to provide accessible food experiences similar to traditional ones, but it also reflects a shift in societal values and priorities.

There's a reason for the safety valve

let them eat cake • 139 implied HN points • 23 May 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The book 'Pressure Cooker' critiques the food pundits who suggest fixing diets before the economy, highlighting how structural obstacles impact people's ability to cook and eat the way experts recommend.
  2. Many individuals do not have the luxury of opting out of the conventional industrial food system, making them complicit in the human and environmental exploitation ingrained within it.
  3. Workers in the food system, including vulnerable families, often lack control over what they eat due to poor labor practices and structural injustices within the system.

A supposedly fun thing I keep on having to do

let them eat cake • 139 implied HN points • 15 May 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Pig butchery involves careful preparation and techniques like scalding and sawing for meat extraction - showcasing traditional methods in the process.
  2. Tamworth pigs are a heritage breed known for their adaptability and taste, even though they are no longer widely kept due to challenges like difficult bristle removal.
  3. Butchery processes like sausage-making require specific equipment and organization, leading to a large-scale production and consumption scenario on the farm.

counterfactual pastry development

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 04 Oct 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Different pastries have intricate details in their making process that significantly impact their taste and texture.
  2. Traditional recipes and methods influence food homogeneity across regions, but also limit innovation and variation.
  3. Innovations in pastry recipes can lead to improved taste and texture, challenging traditional norms and potentially creating new delicious options.

Apple of my Eye

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 59 implied HN points • 27 May 21
🎭️ Culture Food Systems
  1. There are wild apple trees growing along bike trails in Seattle, and they might have started from people tossing apple cores or seeds. It's a fun thought to imagine how they got there.
  2. In the past, Seattle had many orchards with a huge variety of fruits. Back in 1860, there were way more fruit trees than people, with lots of different types of apples available.
  3. Feral fruit trees still exist in the city, telling stories about the connection between nature and urban life. Some trees were once cultivated but now grow wild, showcasing the randomness of nature.

scientific progress goes "boink"

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 19 Jul 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Some startups are automating restaurant services using machines, raising questions about the future of human roles in the industry.
  2. The automation in restaurants may reflect a broader cultural ambivalence towards the value of restaurant work and a shift in profit margins within the industry.
  3. There's a contrast in the vision of the future of dining out, with some advocating for robot-made food while others emphasize the human touch and hospitality in traditional restaurants.

ultra-hyper-barista-ing on twitter

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 12 Jul 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. The evolution of coffee making from manual skill to automation and knowledge work.
  2. The impact of technology on the barista profession, shifting from physical coordination to machine operation.
  3. Reflections on the changing dynamics in hospitality with the rise of automated coffee-making processes.

Eating like you mean it

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 02 May 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Observing people eat in public is an intriguing experience that can capture raw emotions.
  2. Eating is a fundamental daily activity that is often shared publicly, showcasing genuine joy and pleasure.
  3. Food and dining environments can deeply affect people and reveal societal dynamics, like the impact of cultural fabric in food halls.

The worst dessert ever made

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 27 Mar 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Orh Ngee, a Teochew dessert, can be polarizing due to its taste and texture.
  2. Using traditional cooking methods and specific ingredients are crucial in preparing Orh Ngee for the best flavor.
  3. Celebrity influence on economic decisions may not always align with the needs of the workers involved.

What's included?

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 20 Mar 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Tipping in restaurants impacts the professionalization of the hospitality industry by altering how servers view themselves and their work.
  2. Tipping causes restaurants to underprice their products, erasing the true cost and undervaluing the work of the staff.
  3. Implementing all-inclusive pricing can lead to challenges in balancing wages between front-of-house and back-of-house staff, emphasizing the need for major changes in restaurant pricing expectations.

The fast food of the future

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 13 Mar 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. There is a strong scientific consensus that our current food habits are not good for our health or the environment, but changing them poses a challenge due to habits and taste preferences.
  2. Creating a shift towards a diet less reliant on mass-produced meat and sugar requires innovation in cooking and new culinary approaches, beyond what is currently offered by food corporations.
  3. Innovative cookbooks like the 'Superiority Burger Cookbook' are paving the way for a new kind of fast food that focuses on taste, simplicity, and changing the food system one step at a time.

Victims of taxonomy

let them eat cake • 79 implied HN points • 04 Apr 19
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems
  1. Restaurants often feel the pressure to fit into specific classifications to survive in the industry.
  2. Customer expectations sometimes lead restaurants to prioritize authenticity over flavor or quality.
  3. The American restaurant landscape tends to simplify and categorize eateries, potentially limiting creativity and variety.

Dear Diary/Dairy

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Systems
  1. Poor nutrition is a serious health issue in the US, causing more deaths than smoking. Processed and fast foods are major contributors to this problem.
  2. Just over a quarter of Americans manage to maintain a healthy weight despite the odds. This suggests that some people are successfully prioritizing good nutrition and exercise.
  3. Switching to organic farming might not fix our environmental problems. Reducing dairy and meat consumption could be more effective for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.