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by Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd

Scientists from Osaka University designed a cyborg cockroach and optimized its movement by utilizing machine learning-based automatic stimulation. Credit: Cyborg and Bionic Systems

Have you ever wondered why some insects like cockroaches prefer to stay or decrease movement in darkness? Some may tell you it's called photophobia, a habit deeply coded in their genes. A further question would be whether we can correct this habit of cockroaches, that is, moving in the darkness just as they move in bright backgrounds.

Scientists from Osaka University may have answered this question by converting a cockroach into a cyborg. They published their research in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems.

With millions of years of evolution, natural animals are endowed with outstanding capabilities to survive and thrive in hostile environments. In recent years, these animals have inspired roboticists to develop automatic machines to recapitulate part of these extinguished capabilities, that is, biologically inspired biomimetic robots.

An alternative to this path is to directly build controllable machines on these natural animals by implanting stimulation electrodes into their brains or peripheral nervous system to control their movement and even see what they see, so-called cyborgs. Among these studies, cyborg insects are attracting ever-increasing attention for their availability, simpler neuro-muscular pathways, and easier operation to intrusively stimulate their peripheral nervous system or muscles.

Cockroaches have marvelous locomotion ability, which significantly outperforms any biomimetic robots of similar size. Therefore, cyborg cockroaches equipped with such agile locomotion are suitable for search and rescue missions in unknown and unstructured environments that traditional robots can hardly access.

"Cockroaches prefer to stay in the darkened, narrow areas over the bright, spacious areas. Moreover, they tend to be active in the hotter environment," explained study author Keisuke Morishima, a roboticist from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, "These natural behaviors will hinder the cockroaches to be utilized in unknown and under-rubble environments for search and rescue applications. It will be difficult to apply a mini live stream camera attached to them in a dark or without light areas for real-time monitoring purposes."

"This study aims to optimize cyborg cockroach movement performance," said Morishima. To this end, they proposed a machine learning-based approach that automatically detects the motion state of this cyborg cockroach via IMU measurements. If the cockroach stops or freezes in darkness or cooler environment, electrical stimulation would be applied to their brain to make it move.

"With this online detector, the stimulation is minimized to prevent the cockroaches from fatigue due to too many stimulations," said Mochammad Ariyanto, Morishima's colleague from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University.

This idea of restraining electrical stimulation to necessary circumstances, which is determined by AI algorithms via onboard measurements, is intuitively promising. "We don't have to control the cyborg like controlling a robot. They can have some extent of autonomy, which is the basis of their agile locomotion. For example, in a rescue scenario, we only need to stimulate the cockroach to turn its direction when it's walking the wrong way or move when it stops unexpectedly," said Morishima.

"Equipped with such a system, the cyborg successfully increased its average search rate and traveled distance up to 68% and 70%, respectively, while the stop time was reduced by 78%," said the study authors. "We have proven that it's feasible to apply electrical stimulation on the cockroach's cerci; it can overcome its innate habit, for example, increase movement in dark and cold environments where it normally decreases its locomotion."

"In this study, cerci were stimulated to trigger the free-walking motion of the Madagascar hissing cockroach (MHC)."

More information: Mochammad Ariyanto et al, Movement Optimization for a Cyborg Cockroach in a Bounded Space Incorporating Machine Learning, Cyborg and Bionic Systems (2023). DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0012

Provided by Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd

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Exploring movement optimization for a cyborg cockroach with machine learning - Tech Xplore

Chess grandmasterGarry Kasparov wrote in Deep Thinking that a (weak) human working with a machine, with a strong process to work together, can produce better outcomes than when AI and humans work alone, said Evgeniou. According to Kasparov, building a better process at the human-machine interface requires humans to be informed. In other words, we need to know the technology to understand its potential, limits and challenges.

Unpacking ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a specific product in a class of technologies known as large language models (LLMs) an application area of machine learning (ML), itself at the heart of modern AI. Like all ML algorithms, ChatGPT looks at a large amount of data, finds patterns namely regularities with high enough probability in the data and uses these patterns to make predictions such as about what word to generate next given the previous ones, explained Puranam.

In school, we may have sat for tests where we were shown a sequence of shapes such as a triangle, a circle, a star and a triangle, and asked to predict what comes next. In simple terms, that's what machine learning does, he said.

The term GPT is derived from the phrase generative pre-trained transformer. It is generative as it generates text as a prediction of what users are likely to find useful based on their questions or instructions. It's pre-trained by an algorithm called a transformer using a large corpus of text.

In a nutshell, said Puranam, LLMs such as ChatGPT are complex ML algorithms that find patterns in very large volumes of text generated by people in the past and use them to predict what specific users might find useful based on their inputs. The complexity is evident, with an estimated 175 billion parameters in ChatGPT and an estimated 170 trillion parameters in GPT-4, an advanced version of ChatGPT.

To appreciate the potential of LLMs such as ChatGPT, said Evgeniou, it is important to understand that they are not necessarily products, but foundation models. Since foundation models are used in different downstream applications, what we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Foundation to a myriad of applications

ChatGPT is most commonly used to synthesise or summarise text, translate text to programming language (such as R and Python) and search. In the business context, Puranam provided examples of applications such as copywriting for marketing materials, customer interaction, synthesising large legal documents, writing operational checklists and developing financial summaries.

Due to ChatGPTs ability to generate text from different viewpoints, it can widen perspectives and improve creativity potentially beyond human imagination, said Evgeniou. For example, you can generate short summaries of text such as your companys mission statement from various perspectives, say a European, American, Chinese, 10-year-old or 80-year-old person.

Its already being used in business to enhance creativity and business success: Coca-Cola, for instance, used AI effectively to engage its customers in its recent marketing campaign. But creativity is not limited only to creative fields, stressed Puranam. The technology can leverage human creativity by generating alternatives for business plans, business models and so on. However, humans ultimately need to evaluate the quality of the content generated.

In more advanced applications, Olsen stated that innovation is typically driven by fundamental and corporate research. The more AI can help in these processes, the faster we can see real innovation, just as how using AI in biomedical research has reduced the time taken for drug discovery and protein-folding predictions to a mere fraction of the time taken by a human.

Evgeniou believes that AIcan augment human intelligence, leading to the creation of new needs that we didnt even know of and creating new companies, products, markets and jobs at a much faster pace.

What does ChatGPT mean for business?

While ChatGPT brings new possibilities, we need sound processes to enable humans and AI to work together effectively.

In addition, trust is a necessary ingredient in technology adoption. But trust is a double-edged sword when users place too much trust in technology, it can lead to overconfidence in decision-making or narrative fallacy, where people make up stories based on the narratives generated by LLMs. In high-risk applications, it can even jeopardise their safety.

Trust is also associated with the question of liability, as Evgeniou noted: If professionals such as doctors, lawyers and architects make mistakes as a result of prioritising AIs decisions over their own judgement, are they culpable? Would they be covered under malpractice or professional liability insurance?

From the perspective of consumer trust and safety, the exponential growth of content made possible with technologies such as ChatGPT has made content moderation a critical issue for our online trust and safety more challenging for online platforms. Moreover, the role of AI in creating information filters and bubbles has been put in the spotlight.

Families of the Paris terrorism attack victims are suing Google for the role of its AI recommendation algorithm in allegedly promoting terrorism. The Communications Decency Act (Section 230) is being challenged in the United States Supreme Court for the first time, which raises the alarm on the potential dangers of recommendation algorithms and opens other online platforms that employ AI to litigation risks, said Evgeniou.

Talent development is another consideration. Puranam cautioned that over-reliance on LLMs can atrophy our skills, particularly in creative and critical thinking. Companies should avoid the myopic view of automating lower-end work just because technology allows for it. In some professions, you can't be a partner without having been an associate, and you can't be a full professor without having been a research assistant, he said. Therefore, automation without due consideration for talent development can disrupt the organisations talent pipeline.

Evgeniou proposed that companies put in place guidelines to ensure that AI is harnessed safely, specifying who, when and how it should be used. In AI adoption, we need to put humans in the drivers seat to monitor the behaviour of AI, he said.

Is society ready?

While some people are understandably concerned about being replaced by ChatGPT, technological unemployment hasnt happened in the last 150 years, said Olsen. AI is not expected to lead to massive unemployment in the next five to ten years, he assured, so the more relevant concern is how it would affect income distribution.

New technologies can bring about two effects: productivity and substitution. Productivity effects will only be apparent in productivity statistics over time, as economist Robert Solow observed. As for substitution effect, it affects individuals to different extents depending on their skill level.

In the 1850s, low-skill-biased technological change saw the displacement of skilled shoemakers by unskilled workers who mass produced shoes in factories. On the other hand, the skill-biased technology that enabled factory automation in the 1980s to 2010s favoured those with university degrees over low-skilled factory workers. Currently, it is unclear which group will benefit from LLMs.

At a more fundamental level, there is the question of whether LLMs can be truly unbiased and inclusive. Understanding how it learns reveals why it can be inherently biased. ML algorithms such as ChatGPT build knowledge by unsupervised learning (i.e. observing conversations), supervised learning and reinforced learning where experts train the models based on users feedback, explained Puranam and Evgeniou.

This means that ChatGPT learns from individuals who train and use it, and the machine adopts their values, views and biases on politics, society and the world at large. Therefore, while ChatGPT can be democratising, it can also be centralised depending on the experts who train it, said Puranam.

Moreover, the risk of misinformation is heightened due to the speed of content being proliferated and how content can be weaponised to threaten democracies and institutions. It is even now expected to influence election campaigns, said Evgeniou. Puranam also cautioned that people whose social lives exist only in online channels are at high risk, as they may fail to judge truth from falsehood. Olsen agreed that ChatGPT can perpetuate the views of individuals who are already siloed in their own informational bubbles online.

The panellists were cautiously optimistic and agreed on the need for appropriate management and regulation to ensure ethical and responsible use of technologies such as ChatGPT.

Learning to work together

In practice, regulation will always fall behind tech innovation. The European Union Digital Services Act to safeguard online safety fell behind as soon as it was enforced in late 2022, since it only covers online platforms such as Facebook and Google but not ChatGPT, even though the latter aggregates online content.

Similarly, although foundation models can be used in high-risk products downstream, they fall through the cracks in AI regulations.

But regulating an emerging, evolving technology across different geographical regions comes with challenges. AI algorithms adopt values from the data used to train them, which can result in different AI culture across regions. This increases the complexity of regulation, said Evgeniou. Even if regulations are the same in different parts of the world, the implementations and results will differ not only because of different legal systems, but also different value systems.

In spite of the challenges, a combination of actions by data scientists, businesses and regulatory bodies can improve tech trust and safety. Transparency and trust often go hand in hand, and it pays when businesses are transparent in their engagement with customers. For instance, they can inform customers when content is generated by ChatGPT and when customers are interacting with a machine instead of a human.

An ongoing development to ensure that AI is more aligned with human values is the field of reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF), said Evgeniou. By incorporating human feedback, we can try to improve the quality of the AIs output based on human values. However, according to Evgeniou, we are only at the beginning of solving the AI value alignment problem.

In the meantime, while it is proven that AI can beat a human at chess, this is not the case in all fields. As LLMs continue to evolve, all the panellists saw human-machine ensembling as a promising area to use AI to improve the quality of human thinking and identify the necessary conditions to achieve it.

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How Will ChatGPT Shape Business, Society and Employment? - INSEAD Knowledge

Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts have been challenged to help a new space mission to investigate Earths place in the universe.

The Ariel Data Challenge 2023, which launches on 14 April, is inviting AI and machine learning experts from industry and academia to help astronomers understand planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.

Dr Ingo Waldmann, Associate Professor in Astrophysics, UCL (University College London) and Ariel Data Challenge lead said: AI has revolutionised many fields of science and industry in the past years. The field of exoplanets has fully arrived in the era of big-data and cutting edge AI is needed to break some of our biggest bottlenecks holding us back.

For centuries, astronomers could only glimpse the planets in our solar system but in recent years, thanks to telescopes in space, they have discovered more than 5000 planets orbiting other stars in our galaxy.

The European Space Agencys Ariel telescope will complete one of the largest-ever surveys of these planets by observing the atmospheres of around one-fifth of the known exoplanets.

Due to the large number of planets in this survey, and the expected complexity of the captured observations, Ariel mission scientists are calling for the help of the AI and machine learning community to help interpret the data.

Ariel will study the light from each exoplanets host star after it has travelled through the planets atmosphere in what is known as a spectrum. The information from these spectra can help scientists investigate the chemical makeup of the planets atmosphere and discover more about these planets and how they formed.

Scientists involved in the Ariel mission need a new method to interpret these data. Advanced machine learning techniques could help them to understand the impact of different atmospheric phenomena on the observed spectrum.

The Ariel Data Challenge calls on the AI community to investigate solutions. The competition is open from 14 April to 18t June 2023.

Participants are free to use any model, algorithm, data pre-processing technique or other tools to provide a solution. They may submit as many solutions as they like and collaborations between teams are welcomed.

This year, the competition also offers participants access to High Powered Computing resources through DiRAC, part of the UKs Science and Technology Facilities Councils computing facilities.

Kai Hou (Gordon) Yip, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCL and Ariel Data Challenge Lead said: With the arrival of next-generation instrumentation, astronomers are struggling to keep up with the complexity and volume of incoming exo-planetary data. The ECML-PKDD data challenge 2023 provides an excellent platform to facilitate cross-disciplinary solutions with AI experts.

Winners will be invited to present their solutions at the prestigious ECML conference. The top three winning teams will be receive sponsored tickets to ECML-PKDD in Turing or the cash equivalent.

Winners will also be invited to present their solutions to the Ariel consortium. The UK Space Agency, Centre National dEtudes Spatiales (CNES), European Research Council, UKRI Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC), European Space Agency and Europlanet Society support the competition.

For the first time, DiRAC is providing free access to GPU computing resources to selected participants. The application is open for all.

This is the fourth Ariel Machine Learning Data challenge following successful competitions in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The 2022 challenge welcomed 230 participating teams from across the world, including entrants from leading academic institutes and AI companies.

This challenge and its predecessor have taken a bite-sized aspect of a larger problem to help make exoplanet research more accessible to the machine-learning community. These challenges are not designed to solve the data analysis issues faced by the mission outright but provide a forum for new ideas, discussions and to encourage future collaborations.

More details about the competition and how to take part can be found on theAriel Data Challengewebsite.

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Calling AI Experts: Join The Hunt For Exoplanets - Eurasia Review

Aliens have long been a fascinating subject for humans. Innumerable movies, TV series and books are proof of this allure. Our search for extra-terrestrial has eventaken us to other planets, albeit remotely. This search has progressed leaps and bounds in the last few years, but it is still in its natal stages. Global space agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and China National Space Administration (CNSA) have in recent years sent rovers to Mars to aid this search remotely. However, the accuracy of these random searches remains low.

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To remedy this, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute has been exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for finding extraterrestrial life on Mars and other icy worlds.

According to a report on Space, a recent study from SETIstates that AI could be used to detect microbial life in the depths of the icy oceans on other planets.

In a paper published in Nature Astronomy, the team details how they trained a machine-learning model to scan data for signs of microbial life or other unusual features that could be indicative of alien life.

Also read |Here's how Artificial Intelligence can help modern-day Goldilocks get a good night's sleep

Using a machine learning algorithm called convolutional neural networks (CNNs) a multidisciplinary team of scientists led by SETI's Kim Warren-Rhodes has mapped sparse lifeforms on Earth.Warren-Rhodes worked alongside experts from other prestigious institutions: Michael Phillips of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laband Freddie Kalaitzis of the Universityof Oxford.

The system developed by them used statistical ecology and AI-detected biosignatures with up to 87.5 per cent accuracy, compared to only 10 per cent for random searches. As per the researchers, itcanpotentially reduce the search area by up to 97 per cent, making it easier for scientists to locate potential chemical traces of life.

Also read |Up, Up, and Away!: Elon Musks SpaceX to try and launch Starship, its most powerful rocket ever on Monday

For testing their system,they initiallyfocused on the sparse lifeforms that dwell in salt domes, rocks, and crystals at Salar de Pajonales at the boundary of the Chilean Atacama Desert and Altiplano.

Warren-Rhodes and his team collected over 8,000 images and 1,000 samples from Salar de Pajonales to search for photosynthetic microbes that may represent a biosignature on NASA's "ladder of life detection" for finding life beyond Earth.

The team also used drone imagery to simulate Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High-Resolution Imaging Experiment camera's Martian terrain images to examine the region.

They found that microbial life in the region is concentrated in biological hotspots that strongly relate to the availability of water.

Researchers suggest that the machine learning tools developed can be used in robotic planetary missions like NASA's Perseverance Rover. The tools can guide rovers towards areas with a higher probability of having traces of alien life, even if they are rare or hidden.

"With these models, we can design tailor-made roadmaps and algorithms to guide rovers to places with the highest probability of harbouring past or present life no matter how hidden or rare," explained Warren-Rhodes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets - WION

PRESS RELEASE

Published April 13, 2023

Executive Summary

The global organic foods market is projected to experience significant growth over the next few years. The rising demand for organic foods is driven by increasing health concerns and a growing awareness of the environmental impact of conventional agriculture. The market is segmented based on type, application, and region.

The report found that the fruits and vegetables segment dominates the organic foods market, followed by dairy products and meat. The organic packaged foods segment is also experiencing significant growth. The North American market is currently the largest market for organic foods, followed by Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. China and the United States are two of the fastest-growing markets.

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The report recommends that companies in the organic foods market focus on developing innovative products and increasing their online presence. They should also invest in sustainable sourcing and supply chain management to meet the growing demand for organic foods. The organic food market is subject to a range of regulatory and legal factors that have a significant impact on the industry's growth and development. Some of the most important regulatory and legal factors affecting the organic food market are:

Recent Mergers and Acquisitions in the Organic Foods Market

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Global Organic Foods Introduction and its Market Analysis

The organic food market has seen steady growth in recent years, with consumers becoming increasingly aware of the health and environmental benefits of organic food products. This trend is expected to continue in the future, as more consumers adopt healthy and sustainable eating habits. Here is a brief overview of the current present and future outlook of the global Organic Food market:

Currently, the global organic food market is valued at around $100 billion and is projected to reach $187 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10%. The growth of the organic food market is primarily driven by increasing health consciousness among consumers, rising demand for chemical-free food products, and growing concerns about the environment.

The market is divided into several categories, including fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry and eggs, and packaged food and beverages. The largest category is fruits and vegetables, which account for over 40% of the total market share. Dairy products, meat, poultry and eggs, and packaged food and beverages also hold a significant share of the market.

The market is dominated by North America and Europe, which together account for around 80% of the global organic food market. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth, owing to increasing consumer awareness and rising disposable incomes.

The future outlook for the organic food market is bright, with the market projected to continue its growth trajectory in the coming years. The primary drivers of growth will include increasing consumer demand for healthy and sustainable food products, growing awareness of the benefits of organic farming practices, and government support for organic farming.

The pandemic has also played a significant role in boosting the organic food market, as consumers are becoming more aware of the link between their health and the food they consume. As a result, there is likely to be a continued shift towards organic food products in the post-pandemic world.

The demand for organic food products is expected to be highest in the Asia Pacific region, driven by rising disposable incomes, changing consumer preferences, and a growing awareness of the health benefits of organic food products. In addition, the demand for organic food products is likely to increase in the Middle East and Africa region, as consumers become more aware of the benefits of organic food products.

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Competitive Landscape

The global organic foods market is highly competitive, with a mix of small and large companies operating in the space. The market is segmented based on product type, distribution channel, and region. The leading companies in the organic foods market are Abbott Laboratories, Danone, and Nestle. Other notable players in the market include Holle, Bellamy, Bimbosan, Wakodo, Topfer, HiPP, Babynat, and Bonmil.

Overview of Companies Operating in the Organic Foods Market:

Sales Revenue of Few Listed Companies:

Organic Foods Market Analysis, by Type

Organic foods can be categorized into various types, including infant milk, infant cereals, dry meals, infant drinks, and other organic food products. Infant milks and cereals are specifically designed for babies, while dry meals and drinks are suitable for older children and adults. Other organic food products include fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and snacks that are grown and produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

In terms of self-driving technology in the organic food industry, there have been developments in the use of autonomous robots and drones to assist with farming and harvesting organic crops. These technologies aim to increase efficiency and reduce labor costs while minimizing the impact of farming practices on the environment.

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Organic Foods Market Analysis, by Application

Organic foods have various applications based on age groups, including 1-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-24 months. For infants aged 1-6 months, organic foods are typically in the form of breast milk or formula milk, which provide essential nutrients for growth and development. For infants aged 6-12 months, organic foods are introduced in the form of pureed fruits and vegetables, cereals, and other soft foods. For toddlers aged 12-24 months, organic foods are typically in the form of finger foods, such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, and crackers.

The fastest-growing application segment for organic foods in terms of revenue is the infant formula market, particularly in Asia-Pacific, due to rising awareness of the benefits of organic foods and increasing demand for premium infant formulas.

Organic Foods industry growth Analysis, by Geography

The organic food market has been growing steadily in regions such as North America, APAC, Europe, the USA, and China. In North America, increasing consumer awareness about health and wellness has led to a surge in demand for organic foods. In APAC, countries such as Japan, China, and India are witnessing a growing demand for organic food products due to the rising disposable income and health consciousness of consumers.

Europe is another significant market for organic foods, with countries like Germany and France leading the way. The USA is also a major market for organic foods, with a large number of consumers seeking out organic products due to concerns about the use of pesticides and GMOs.

China is also emerging as a significant market for organic foods, driven by increasing health awareness among consumers and government initiatives to promote organic farming.

North America and Europe are expected to dominate the organic food market in the coming years, with a combined market share of around 70%. However, APAC is expected to grow at the fastest rate due to increasing consumer awareness and government initiatives to promote organic farming. China is also expected to see significant growth in the organic food market, with a projected CAGR of around 15% over the next five years.

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Key Question Answered

The global organic foods market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.0% from 2022 to 2030.

The growth of the organic foods market is being driven by factors such as increasing awareness about the benefits of organic food, rising disposable income, and growing health consciousness among consumers.

The product categories that are driving the growth of the organic foods market include fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry and eggs, and packaged foods.

The organic foods market is experiencing significant growth in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Some challenges facing the organic foods market include high prices, supply chain issues, and the difficulty of maintaining organic certification for small-scale farmers.

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The global organic food and beverages market size was valued at ... - Digital Journal

VANCOUVER, BC. Organic chocolate brand Chocxo has launched its Dark Chocolate Coconut Cups in more than 150 Costco locations in the United States.

The coconut cups, which initially launched in March, join the companys existing line of dark chocolate treats, including covered almonds, keto snaps and almond and peanut butter cups. Chocxos cups are formulated with sustainably sourced cocoa beans, organic coconut and white chocolate to create a low-sugar, 80-calorie treat.

We are thrilled about our partnership with Costco to bring our new Dark Chocolate Coconut Cups to more consumers who desire a better-for-you chocolate option that delivers on indulgence and is made of simple, organic ingredients, said Peter Higgins, president of Chocxo Chocolatier. We are passionate chocolatiers on a mission to deliver great tasting chocolates that are better for you and the planet.

The product is now available in 169 Costco locations in the Northeast, Texas and the greater Los Angeles area. Chocxo plans to expand its Costco distribution to the Southeast in May.

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Chocxo rolls out organic coconut cups - Food Business News

KUTZTOWN, Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants Pennsylvania to be the nations leader in organic farming.

That would mean tripling the states organic sales to keep pace with much bigger California.

Still, according to Ag Secretary Russell Redding, thats not the idle dream of a suburban governor who calls himself competitive as hell.

Pennsylvania, currently third in organic sales, actually has the potential to leapfrog Washington and California within a few years, Redding said April 11 during a visit to the Rodale Institute with the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

To put Pennsylvania on top, Shapiro has proposed $1 million in the state budget to create a Center for Organic Excellence. The state has similar centers supporting dairy, beef and poultry.

Pennsylvanias projected path to pre-eminence is based on maintaining its organic sales gains of almost 50% since 2019.

Redding expects the state would do so by growing organic sectors where it already leads the nation poultry and mushrooms.

The state grows most of the nations mushrooms, organic or otherwise, and producers have made strides toward organic management of the phorid fly, Redding said.

Pennsylvania gets almost 90% of its organic sales from livestock, poultry and eggs. But the poultry industrys organic growth depends on the availability of organic grain, much of which comes from out of state.

In partnership with Cargill and Rodale, Fredericksburg-based Bell & Evans offers premiums to farmers during their three-year transition to organic. Thats a period when land must be managed organically but products dont qualify for the organic seal.

Pennsylvania might be able to grow more organic grain, but getting high quality and yields could be tricky. Organic farmers have few tools for managing grain diseases.

What we've experienced is the challenge of managing the grain within an environment of 41 inches of natural rain, Redding said.

Though casual observers may still pigeonhole organic farming as small-scale produce growing, the sector is diverse in both commodities and scale. It adds up to a big industry in Pennsylvania, where almost two-thirds of the states organic operations gross at least $100,000 annually.

With $1 billion in annual organic sales, Pennsylvania has almost twice the sales of fourth-place Texas and is only narrowly behind No. 2 Washington, according to USDA.

Organics produce 9% of Pennsylvania farmgate revenue, compared to 2% nationally. The states organic sales are higher than for cattle, hogs or produce.

Shapiros effort to make Pennsylvania No. 1 in organic production continues a goal of his predecessor, fellow Democrat Tom Wolf.

Under Wolf, Redding launched the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill, which benefited a variety of ag sectors.

It included expanded organic marketing opportunities, as well as free technical assistance for farmers interested in transitioning to organic through the Kutztown-based, internationally known Rodale Institute.

Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams and the ranking Republican on the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, talks with Ag Secretary Russell Redding at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pa., on April 11, 2023.

Regulated by USDAs National Organic Program, organic farming emphasizes cultural and biological pest control, and limits the types of pesticides and fertilizers that farmers can use.

Though still a small part of the grocery market, organics have caught on with many consumers. Organic food sales have doubled in the past decade, according to the Organic Trade Association.

For farmers, organics appeal includes getting higher prices than conventional crops, participating in a growing market, and for some, farming in a manner that fits deeply held beliefs.

But organic production can entail higher costs than conventional and be complicated by the reduced set of crop protectants.

Organic farming often means tilling, which many Pennsylvania farmers have retreated from to reduce erosion.

And a 2015 review of 115 studies found organic yields average 19% less than conventional ag.

Gladis Zinati, director of the Rodale Institute's vegetable systems trial, speaks at an institute research plot in Kutztown, Pa., on April 11, 2023. To her left are Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams, Ag Secretary Russell Redding, and Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland.

Rodales Farming Systems Trial, which has operated since 1981, has produced different results.

Organic may produce a yield drag in the first few years, but over the long term it produces yields comparable to conventional practices. In years with extreme conditions, organic can outperform conventional, said Jeff Tkach, incoming CEO of the Rodale Institute.

Rodale encourages farmers to manage a split operation, transitioning their acreage to organic incrementally.

Dont go zero to 100 miles an hour out of the gate. Lets take a percentage of the farm, transition that successfully, and then go from there, Tkach said.

Of the 3,200 acres under organic transition in Pennsylvania, 86% are on farms that already have some organic acreage, according to USDA.

While some farmers choose organic for reasons that are more economic than ideological, the system can still be an awkward subject with conventional farmers.

In 2019, some farmers and lawmakers questioned whether Wolf was trying to force organic practices on producers. Similar views have surfaced with Shapiros proposal.

During a March budget hearing, Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, described the clarification he wanted Redding to give conventional farmers.

Its almost more assurances that these existing producers and existing businesses are going to still be able to be enhanced and supported to grow and meet that existing need, Nelson said. Not that Im against the organics.

Redding told Nelson, and confirmed to Lancaster Farming this week, that the Shapiro administration isnt trying to make all farmers go organic. Rather, it wants to bolster a major ag sector and assist those who decide organic is right for all or a part of their farm.

At the end of all of that consideration, it is still a personal decision. It's a voluntary decision, Redding said.

Ag Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee hearing on organic farming at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pa., on April 11, 2023. Joining him are farmer Ben Davies, left, and Jeff Tkach, incoming CEO of the Rodale Institute.

When the Pennsylvania Farm Bill was created, Redding considered including a state-level program to oversee organic regulations using delegated authority from the federal government. California is the only state with such a program.

At the time, Redding was concerned that USDA was falling short in protecting the integrity of organic certification. Grain imports from Eastern Europe were under scrutiny for widespread mislabeling.

USDA announced tightened import rules in January, satisfying Reddings concerns for the time being.

For the new state initiative, Redding decided the money could be better spent helping farmers transition to organic and providing them with quality assurance testing.

The states food safety lab could address consumer complaints, provide verification to buyers that a farms products meet organic standards, and help farmers check their own products, he said.

If all goes to plan, Redding said Pennsylvania could become the top organic producer within a few years.

The state has 1,125 organic farms, behind only California, Wisconsin and New York.

But the lucrative, fast-growing organic market is competitive. Beating California and its $3.6 billion organic sales is far from a given.

Compared to Pennsylvania, the Golden State has more than double the number of organic farms, nearly eight times the organic acreage, and 10 times the acres in transition. (Fortunately for Pennsylvania, poultry and mushroom houses can produce a lot of revenue on a modest footprint.)

Between 2016 and 2019, Washington edged past Pennsylvania for second place in organic sales.

The state also needs increased organic processing capacity for both crops and livestock, and a steady flow of organic grain from somewhere to feed poultry.

A Center for Organic Excellence might help meet those challenges.

What do we need to do to keep the momentum? Redding said. Were not going to stay in this work simply by being good people. We are, but theres so many other things we have to do to get out front.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne and chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, talks with a farmer training participant at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pa., on April 11, 2023.

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Shapiro and Redding Set Goal to Make Pennsylvania the Nation's ... - Lancaster Farming

Boston MarathonBrian Bushard of Newton is running the 2023 Boston Marathon.

In our Why Im Running series, Boston Marathon runners share whats inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. If youre running the marathon, you can share your storyhere.

Name: Brian Bushard Age: 27From: Newton

Im not a runner. Not really, at least, unless you count a brief stint on my high school cross-country team, the casual jog once a week, or the occasional long run and inevitable vomit on the side of the road.

But I grew up watching the Boston Marathon.

Every April, I would head to route 135 in Natick to watch thousands of runners jog by so effortlessly, as I would try to understand the exhilaration they must have felt from my seat on the sidewalk. I was never one of them. I was just there for the ride, drinking a Dunkin Coolatta.

Years later, I still dont quite get it. But I appreciate a good challenge.

Then, late last year, I was put in touch with the Natick Community Organic Farm, a local nonprofit dedicated to sustainable food and farming with a mission I stand by. I decided to run and fundraise for the farm, which has been educating generations of kids (including myself) about the importance of local agriculture. If youve visited the farm, youll know. Any donation helps. Thanks!!

Editors note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

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Brian Bushard is running Boston for Natick Community Organic Farm - Boston.com

HANFORD, Calif.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NICHOLS FARMS LAUNCHES NATIONS FIRST-EVER COMPLETE LINE OF ORGANIC INSHELL AND NO SHELL FLAVORED PISTACHIOS HANFORD, CA April 10, 2023 Nichols Farms, a fourth-generation farming family, announced today the launch of their complete line of organic flavored pistachios. The companys popular Organic Roasted with Sea Salt Pistachios are now complemented by six new flavored products:

We soft-launched these new flavors at Fresh Ideas/Expo West in Anaheim last month, said President Jared Lorraine. And the response was amazing. Now that weve partnered with UNFI, we expect to get these into the hands of healthy snackers across the country. The Organic Flavored Pistachios are made from certified Non-GMO, CCOF California-grown pistachios and contain no artificial ingredients. In addition, they feature 6 grams of complete protein per serving and all 9 essential amino acids. Weve carefully crafted these small batch flavors to respond to what consumers are looking for in organic snacks, said Jeff Nichols, Vice President of Supply Chain. The organic flavored no shell pistachios are perfect to take anywhere, and the inshell flavors round out this complete line of pistachios. The all-new organic flavored pistachios from Nichols Farms will be available to ship in the Fall of 2023. For distribution inquiries, please contact [emailprotected] Nichols Farms is a fourth-generation farming family from the heart of Californias fertile San Joaquin Valley. They offer Non-GMO and Organic California-grown pistachios in a wide range of pack sizes and product lines, including Inshell, No Shell, and an Almond-Pistachio Mix. The familys story and additional information are available at http://www.nicholsfarms.com .

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Weve been farming for over 60 years.

Nichols Farms has a rich history in Hanford, the heart of Central Californias fertile San Joaquin Valley. Our grandfather, Nic, was one of the first pistachio and almond farmers to take root in the Central Valley. Today, our fourth-generation farm is committed to delivering natural and healthy nuts from our trees to your table. We continue to teach each member of our family the gold standard in farming and roasting processes, because thats what makes our pistachios and almonds so flavorful. With over 60 years of knowledge and experience, we are confident youll be able to taste the difference.

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Nichols Farms Launches First Of Its Kind- Organic Flavored ... - Food Dive

Dearborn Library virtually hosts cookbook author Alex Prud'homme

The Dearborn Public Library is hosting a virtual event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with author Alex Prud'homme on Zoom. Prud'homme newest cookbook is "Dinner with the President: Food, Politics and a History of Breaking Bread at the Whitehouse" (Penguin Random House, $35.) In the book, Prud'homme, reveals the tastes of 26 American presidents, how meals were prepared, by whom and how those choices affected food policy around the world.

The event will be broadcast in the Henry Ford Centennial Library Auditorium, 16301 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Attendees will also have the option of watching on personal devices. Prud'homme, who co-authored Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France," is the grandnephew of the late Paul Child, husband of the late revered icon of the culinary world. To register for the event, go to dearbornlibrary.org or call 313-943-2330.

Tickets are still available for two special screenings of the Free Press documentary film "Coldwater Kitchen at Frame in Hazel Park. Seatings are available on April 28 and April 30 for the dinner and viewing experience. The documentary is based on the culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan, following chef Jimmy Lee Hill and three of his students.

Coldwater Kitchen Michigan premieres as the opening night film at the 10th annual Freep Film Festival.

A four-course meal is prepared to feature chef Hills quinoa salad with collards and lime-yogurt dressing, Thai scallops with sweet potato mash, Asian barbecue lamb chops with rice, and a Black Magic cake for dessert.

On hand to discuss the film will be the documentary co-directors, Mark Kurlyandchik, Frames Editorial Director and former Free Press restaurant critic and Free Press Executive Video Producer Brian Kaufman.

Guests have the option of viewing the film first and then dinner or beginning with dinner and then the film. Tickets at framehazelpark.com are $85 per person, plus fees and tax. Wine and cocktail pairings are available. Frame, 23839 John R Rd., Hazel Park.

Burger Sundays: Zana in downtown Birmingham has launched "Burger Sundays." From 4-8 p.m. on Sundays, the menu includes two burger options. The One Night Stand burger ($30) is a half-pound brisket short-rib patty topped with slab bacon, Raclette cheese, mushrooms, fried shallots and bourbon mustard on a Challah bun. Zana's Smashburger ($20) is a brisket short-rib with onions, monster sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles on an onion bun. You can add an additional patty and bacon for an upcharge. The Smashburger is also on Zana's happy hour menu served 4-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For info: zanabham.com.

Pizza Cat: Another metro Detroit location has opened at 30915 Ann Arbor Trail in Westland. It's the third metro Detroit Pizza Cat. Now in its soft opening phase, a grand opening will take place on April 20. During the grand opening, Pizza Cat will offer small cheese and pepperoni pizzas for $4.20 until 4:20 p.m. that day. Pizza Cat is known for its weird pizzas with different toppings like pizza with Flaming Hot Cheetos as an ingredient and those topped with pickles or the makings of a Reuben sandwich. You can also expect plenty of other toppings, including traditional ones like pepperoni and sausage, chicken and brisket. Pizza Cat is also known for pizzas with edge-to-edge cheese, sauce and ingredients, gluten-free and keto pizzas and chicken wings.

A new e-commerce shopping service launched at Fresh Thyme Market in Michigan, including Canton, Farmington and Troy. The Midwest-based grocer is offering a new, easier pickup option designed with savings in mind when shopping online. Fresh Thyme Market Pickup customers, according to a new release, will have more access to the market's fresh food and natural and organic foods at in-store prices online. Orders can also be canceled or edited until the selection happens. The service is available at Michigan stores. Pickup orders under $35 have a $4.95 fee. The fee for orders over $35 is $1.95, according to freshthyme.com.

"We are proud to be able to bring our great in-store shopping experience to life, online,said Liz Zolcak, president of Fresh Thyme Market, in a news release. With our new appealing and convenient e-comm experience, we can provide more shoppers with savings without sacrificing quality or freshness."

For Fresh Thyme Market Pickup information, go to freshthyme.com. The markets also offer delivery through Instacart.

Fresh Thyme Market is billed as a local, community-focused grocer. They have 71 stores in 10 states throughout the Midwest.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to:sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.Subscribe to the Free Press.

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Food and film and books celebrated in metro Detroit events - Detroit Free Press