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Can broccoli sprout extract help manage prediabetes? Recent clinical trial reveals surprising results
Health Care Radius 19/03/2025
Sulforaphane-rich Broccoli sprout extract (BSE) could manage prediabetesSeveral epidemiological studies revealed that a higher intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli is associated with a reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes, and cancer. A few studies also endorse that compared to mature broccoli, the broccoli sprout extract has greater bioactive components and thereby offer better health promoting effects. However, there is demanding need for structured human clinical trials with BSE treatment.
Meet Azolla—The ‘Mosquito Fern’ That Caused An Ice Age For 800,000 Years (And Could Fight Climate Change Today)
Forbes 07/03/2025
But what really sets Azolla apart is its capacity to pull carbon and nitrogen from the environment at an unprecedented rate. During photosynthesis, Azolla absorbs massive amounts of CO₂ which it traps within its tissues. When it dies and sinks to the bottom of water bodies, much of this carbon is effectively buried, removing it from the atmosphere for millennia. Azolla also excels at soaking up nitrates and phosphates, making it a powerful tool for cleaning polluted waters. In agricultural settings, farmers have long recognized its benefits. In Asian rice paddies, for example, Azolla has been used for over a thousand years as a biofertilizer, improving soil quality and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This humble fern isn’t just a carbon sponge—it’s an environmental multitool.
Why long-term investors are staying the course on climate change
Sustainable Views 18/02/2025
First, global emissions are likely to peak in the near future if they have not already. We will not know for a while when exactly this happened, but when we look back this will signal an important turning point in the creation of a sustainable economy, alongside more sustainable investment returns.Second, the economics of climate solutions and clean energy investment remain strong and consumer sentiment clear. Many consumers want to have greater energy independence, whether that is realised from driving an electric vehicle they can charge at home, putting solar panels on their roof, or installing a heat pump in their garden.
Stacked Farm scales its foodie vision with $150m ‘green energy’ vertical farm at Melbourne Airport
Business News Australia 13/02/2025
The Stacked Farm operation will be fully automated “from seed to bag via 25 pieces of proprietary robotics” which will further leverage the rapid growing capabilities of vertical farming which can have crops ready to harvest in just 16 to 31 days. This compares with 45 to 80 days for traditional farming practices.Funding for the Melbourne project has been sourced via a combination of debt and equity, including backing from US-based alternative assets manager Magnetar Capital which participated in the 2022 capital raise.Melbourne Airport will develop the purpose-built premises for Stacked Farm as part of the new 150,000sqm Tullamarine land precinct with CBRE negotiating the lease to the company.
Vertical farming legend Dickson Despommier passed away
Horti Daily 16/02/2025
Dickson Despommier, known for being a true pioneer and knowledge source in vertical farming, passed away on February 7, 2025, in New York City. He was 84 years old. Despommier, a former professor at Columbia University, introduced the vertical farming concept in 1999. His 2010 book, "The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century," outlined urban agriculture models.With very few vertical farms existing at the time, much of his early work involved speculating about the future impact of vertical farms, Dickson predicted that especially operations at scale would slow down 'climate change' as it reduces the need for traditional agriculture which ultimately drives deforestation
Can Broccoli Sprouts Prevent the Development of Diabetes?
Jordan News, 16/02/2025
The Role of Gut Microbiota in Blood Sugar Regulation. Recent research has highlighted the importance of gut microbiota in regulating blood sugar levels, suggesting that microbiome composition may influence how individuals respond to dietary interventions. Sulforaphane, found in broccoli sprout extract, has shown potential in reducing glucose production in the liver, but its effectiveness in prediabetes remains uncertain.
The impact of physical health on employee wellbeing & business success
Benefits Pro 07/02/2025
The impact of employee wellbeing on business successBenefits packages and programs that help employees increase their level of physical activity and improve their overall wellbeing aren’t “nice to haves,” they’re business imperatives. Employers who fall short in this area will feel the effects. For example, sedentary employees lose 14 more days of productivity annually than their active colleagues, undermining performance, efficiency and business results, according to the TELUS Mental Health Index.
Wellness perks are reshaping the workplace, says Robert Half
BPM 06/02/2025
“We're seeing more organizations really taking the time to understand what’s important and valuable for their employee group and then being able to provide some sort of a package that will be able to address some of it,” said Vasilopoulos.“It's not always going to exactly align, but for the most part, these are things that I think employers are becoming more mindful of.”Vasilopoulos also pointed out that workplace wellbeing goes beyond formal benefits. Small changes, like offering quiet spaces for relaxation or encouraging employees to take mental health breaks, can make a significant difference.
Indoor farms are another option for office conversions
Building Design + Construction 04/02/2025
A new purpose for empty office buildings is emerging: indoor farms.Office-to-farm conversions have taken hold in recent months, according to a BBC report. One floor of a 32-story historic Niels Esperson building in Houston, Texas, is undergoing a conversion to a farm. Another project is transforming a 200,000 sf facility inside a former commercial building in Florence, Ky., into a vertical farm.
The state of employee well-being: a critical business priority
I by IDM 04/02/2025
"Investing in well-being offers significant benefits, from higher productivity to improved talent retention and reduced absenteeism. For example, Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve’s research shows that employees who report higher well-being scores tend to generate higher sales and perform better in roles requiring emotional intelligence and creativity. In addition, organizations with higher employee well-being have been shown to outperform peers in stock-market performance, with well-being showing the potential to act as a leading indicator of financial success."
Five reasons you don’t want to miss this year’s evokeAG. event in Brisbane
mla 05/02/2025
Bringing together the brightest minds and fresh ideas, evokeAG. explores the role of innovation to propel Australian agriculture towards its ambition to be a $100 billion industry by 2030 while tackling some of the greatest opportunities and challenges facing food and fibre production. As traceability becomes more important for buyers, will every product eventually have a unique identifier? What does the meteoric rise of weight loss drugs mean for future consumption? And how do we increase nutrition and production, while addressing growing environmental concerns?
Workplace wellbeing still missing the mark
JLL 03/02/2025
"Food matters more than ever! When it comes to keeping people happy and productive, it seems the way to the workforce’s heart is through their stomachs. Staff restaurants and cafés are now the top two most important office amenities, the JLL research shows. Yet satisfaction with nutrition has dropped ten spots since 2023 to become the worst-performing aspect of workplace experience. Mejevitch points out that people had more control over their diet when working from home."As people return to the office, food quality and variety have become more important, particularly for younger workers who spend more time on-site but often bring lunch in to save money," she says."
From a cooling cell to Melbourne’s leading kitchens
Vertical Farm Daily 03/02/2025
"Specializing in crops that chefs can't easily source elsewhere, like Speckled Trout Lettuce, Flower Cos, and Wild Rucola, Fifth Harvest has become a go-to supplier for Melbourne's most renowned restaurants. Their varieties are tailored to overcome local climatic and seasonal constraints, ensuring chefs can innovate with ingredients that are fresh, consistent, and available year-round."
The Benefits Of Benefits: Driving Employee Experience And Engagement
Forbes 30/01/2025
"Engagement Starts Here - If employees don’t understand benefits, they won’t use them. And, if they’re not using them, they’re missing a key part of their employee experience. That’s not just a missed opportunity for the employee—it’s a missed opportunity for the company. Companies that prioritize employee well-being have stock prices that typically outperform the S&P 500."
7 Ways to Grow Community Through Gardening
Sunset 30/01/2025
Think of gardening as an opportunity to bring people together—whether it’s swapping seeds with a neighbor, volunteering at a local farm, or simply tending to a community plot. These hands-on activities offer opportunities to bond over shared passions, exchange tips, and support one another. In a world where digital connections can often feel fleeting, gardening offers a tangible way to not only take care of yourself, but the people around you as well.
Withstanding the pressure: How the best employers will care for their people in 2025
Woman's Agenda 30/01/2025
"Continue an inclusive approach to business recognising that culture makes or breaks talent. While some companies may seek to scale back DEI initiatives, the best employers will continue and even strengthen the overall ambitions of such efforts, underwriting them as critical to the wellbeing of their culture. Companies understand the economic imperative and the business case for attracting and retaining the best possible talent and know all too well the consequences of what a toxic, divisive culture does to the bottom line."
Resilient minds and thriving teams: The new 2025 leadership playbook
CEO Magazine 30/01/2025
"Resilience is not constructed in a vacuum; it’s the result of combining human needs with strategic objectives. Here’s why this two-pronged approach matters - Stronger teams deliver better results: A study by Oxford’s Saïd Business School found that happy employees are 13 percent more productive. Customer satisfaction rises with employee happiness: Research associated these measures of employee satisfaction with increases in customer satisfaction and loyalty. Resilience builds adaptability: Resilient teams can pivot quickly, maintaining performance under pressure. What’s nextThe 2025 workplace will demand more from leaders. Resilience and wellbeing will no longer be ‘nice to have’; they’ll be critical drivers of success. Leaders must be proactive in supporting their people, from fast-track initiatives to championing long-term cultural shifts. "
Company Culture Matters More Than Ever In 2025
Forbes 27/01/2025
"The challenge is significant, but the cost of inaction is far greater. As we step into 2025, the question isn’t whether your organization will face cultural challenges, but whether you’ll meet them with a proactive, strategic approach. Organizations that invest in resilient, adaptable cultures will be the ones best equipped to navigate change and emerge stronger."
A new life for empty offices: Growing kale and cucumbers
BBC 28/01/2025
"Some commentators questioned whether a "vertical farming bubble" had popped. But a new, post-pandemic trend may give the sector a boost. In countries including Canada and Australia, landlords are struggling to fill vacant office spaces as companies embrace remote and hybrid work. In the US, the office vacancy rate is more than 20%."Vertical farms may prove to be a cost-effective way to fill in vacant office buildings," says Warren Seay, Jr, a real estate finance partner in the Washington DC offices of US law firm ArentFox Schiff, who authored an article on urban farm reconversions"
Corporate investment in sustainability at a crossroads: value it or lose it
Sustainable Views 27/01/2025
"If companies cannot clearly demonstrate the financial value of such investments, they may very well struggle to justify them to the market — especially if the company is underperforming financially or facing pressure to scale them back.Moreover, investors, regulators and consumers are increasingly seeking objective and quantifiable evidence that sustainability initiatives drive business value, as well as creating a positive environmental and social impact. To unlock the full potential of sustainability, companies must present a compelling financial case for their investments"
Employee Wellbeing in Australia Is at an All-Time Low: How Employers Can Empower Their Workforce Through Sustainability Engagement Programs
Farmwall Linkedin 28/01/2025
"Australian employers have a unique opportunity to turn this trend into an advantage. Providing employees with purpose-driven opportunities, such as participating in sustainability engagement programs, is a proven way to improve wellbeing and cultivate a stronger connection to the workplace.Programs that incorporate environmental stewardship, community impact, and learning opportunities allow employees to align their personal values with their professional roles. This not only boosts morale but also strengthens organisational culture."
Why business owners say 2025 is their make-or-break ‘year of tech’
NAB News 27/01/2025
“By sticking to our innovation-first approach, we’ve made significant progress in cutting down energy use. In fact, our proof of concept has achieved more than a 40% reduction in the energy needed to produce a kilogram of product compared to local greenhouses,” Mr Nichol said.In 2024, April Sun Farms was recognised for its innovation, outstanding performance and proprietary technologies as a top four finalist in two categories ‘Best Resource Efficiency’ and ‘Best Technology Advancement’ at the Vertical Farming World Awards in Frankfurt.
The Future of Australia’s Food Supply Chain Workforce: A Call for a Shared Vision and Bold Action
Bryce Ives, Linkedin 27/01/2025
This vision must be aspirational, actionable, and reflective of our national priorities. It must prioritise inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, ensuring that the food supply chain workforce is not just resilient but transformative. Such a vision elevates food to its rightful place as a national priority, situating the food supply chain at the very centre of workforce policy and development.
April Sun Farms ready to expand in Australia, and beyond
Vertical Farm Daily 24/01/2025
"The farm has grown from a self-funded farming project to a prototype farming model which is currently competing directly with greenhouses rather than traditional vertical farms. We're not a vertical farm, we're a farm. Our customers don't care how we grow; they care about quality, consistency, and price," says Ty Dickson, Co-founder of April Sun Farms.
ESG roundtable: Is it time to abandon the term ESG in favour of sustainability?
funds europe 24/01/2025
“While we know we are driving positive outcomes, demonstrating that through metrics is another challenge altogether,” Palman said admitted.A key point raised by Vai Patel was the necessity of proving the additionality of capital in impact investing. “If you’re merely investing in green bonds without influencing the company’s practices, can you genuinely claim impact?” This sentiment underscores the importance of active engagement in ensuring that investments lead to real-world outcomes.
From Farm to Future: The Green Life Produce Revolution
Sci fi Mag 24/01/2025
This innovative approach, which leverages hydroponics, vertical farming, and IoT technology, sets a new standard by significantly reducing land and water usage, optimizing resource allocation, boosting crop yields, and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with food production. As urban populations swell and environmental challenges mount, Green Life Produce offers a sustainable pathway to nourishing the planet’s growing population.
Stop chasing the “next big thing” and start investing in your team
Smart Brief 24/01/2025
Culture starts with engagement. Culture isn’t merely what the company says it values — it’s what employees experience every day. When leaders take the time to ask their teams, “What makes you proud to work here?” or “What would make this better?” it opens the door to incredible insights and engagement.Employees who feel that recognition is a core part of their organization’s culture are five times more likely to be engaged. When leaders prioritize employees’ experiences, such as engagement and recognition, they create a culture where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute at their best.
Employee happiness is the key to competitive edge
The Austalian 23/01/2025
"Mental health and purpose at work - Mental health has surfaced as a pivotal area of concern, especially among younger employees (ages 25-34) in Australia, nearly half of whom identified it as a top priority.The report calls for employers to take proactive measures in supporting employee wellbeing."
Climate change is impacting workforce productivity. Here’s how businesses can step up.
Zurich.com 22/01/2025
"Every business can take vital steps now to future-proof their operations and processes. Nurturing a healthy workforce is key to that resilience."
"Workforce wellbeing: the heart of climate resilience - As business leaders the world over strive to mitigate the risks of a changing climate, none can afford to overlook the importance of people, longside building resilience into operations."
Here's how employers can respond to attract the best talent
World Economic Forum 22/01/2025
"Fostering a sense of community - Looking forward, 83% of respondents want their workplace to provide a sense of community. More than a third are willing to trade higher pay for stronger friendships (36%) or social enrichment (37%) at work. This emphasis on connection can be beneficial for people and for business performance. A strong sense of community boosts workplace productivity and supports mental health and wellbeing, according to the data."
Two-thirds of businesses to boost sustainability spending in 2025
Edie 20/01/2025
"Additionally, more than six in ten will this year boost investment for nature protection and/or restoration initiatives, as well as water stewardship. Businesses are increasingly foreseeing the potential long-term risks of nature depletion and water stress.An oft-quoted statistic from PwC is that more than half of the world’s GDP – 55%, or $58trn – is at risk from nature loss."
From Great Resignation To Great Detachment: 4 Actions Leaders Must Take
Forbes 19/01/2025
"The Great Resignation was born out of unique situations—the pandemic and its chaos forced a different reality for employees. In contrast, the Great Detachment has perhaps emerged from ineffective leadership in this new landscape. Addressing this will require concerted actions on employee engagement, customer engagement, and well-being, along with greater support and role modeling from leaders."
Everything you need to know about community gardens
Better Homes & Gardens 20/01/2025
"One of the benefits of community gardens, says Robyn Main from Wentworthville Community Garden, is the diversity of people they attract – from all age groups and cultural backgrounds. It’s not all about growing food – it’s also about building friendships."
How we can make nature a core pillar of the service economy?
Erin Wilburn 14/01/2025
"To sustain human life, we need to continue to produce goods from nature. But we also need to value the services that nature provides that underpin the production of those goods that sustain human life, let alone sustain the breadth of non-human life on this planet."
"The global economy has transitioned from product centric to service centric, are we about to see the same revolution in our economic relationship with nature?"
USDA invests in composting, food waste reduction
Ag|Update 17/01/2025
"An 18-month curbside composting service for residents, and distribute compost to community gardens and urban farms, while engaging those producers in a workshop centered around sustainable agriculture practices. The pilot is expected to reach 12,000 people, divert 65,000 pounds of food waste from the landfill, produce 43,000 pounds of compost, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents"
Plan to grow veggies on Canberra nature strips takes root
Rioact 19/01/2025
“Part of the workshops will be showing you how to improve the soil with the no-dig method, planting pretty basic leafy greens,” she says.“But then it’s up to the people – they can grow anything there.”
Why this Doctor Thinks you Should add Microgreens to your Diet
MindBodyGreen 16/01/2025
"They've got tremendous micronutrient concentration. In addition to their great taste, microgreens have an unusually high nutritional value. They are chock-full of all sorts of vitamins like C, E, and K, along with the phytonutrient carotenoid, which has been shown to support immune function"
From understanding nature’s systems to green action
The Strait Times17/01/2025
"What fascinated me the most about aquaculture was how it offers a multifaceted solution – not only does it enhance food security by supplementing wild fish stock, it also contributes to preserving endangered species through propagation."
His workshops, which blend sustainability education with hands-on animal activities, open doorways to deeper conversations about environmental responsibility and how one can play a part in protecting the natural world.