The key to the future of food
In this 2020 TEDxSeattle talk, Audra Mulkern shares her journey to put female farmers back in the picture. She wants to help them mow down the “grass ceiling” and drive the agricultural industry forward.
Audra explains how female farmers have fed the nation in times of crisis - despite having harder times accessing loans and credit. Foregoing pie charts and graphs for photographs and personal stories, her talk demonstrates why the “grass ceiling” should be a concern for all of us.
More to explore:
- Learn more about Audra and the Female Farmer Project: https://www.femalefarmerproject.org/
- Learn more about Karen Washington, mentioned in Audra’s talk, as she explains her work as a community activist, a community gardener and board member of the New York Botanical Gardens - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDKsvcjfYs
- Listen to Devita Davison explain how features of Detroit's decay actually make it an ideal spot for urban agriculture in her talk “How urban agriculture is transforming Detroit” - https://www.ted.com/talks/devita_davison_how_urban_agriculture_is_transforming_detroit
Hemp holds the key to a sustainable future
The Hemp plant — marijuana’s sober cousin — is poised to revolutionize industry by taking the place of more toxic materials and putting us on a path to a cleaner, more sustainable world, says hemp advocate Amy Ansel. Noting the promise of hemp bioplastics that safely degrade, Ansel explains how hemp can also provide a cleaner, safer more sustainable substitute for paper, textiles, building materials, and even automobiles. From a 1500-year-old bridge in France made of hemp concrete to hi-tech autos that are lighter, stronger, and more fuel efficient, Ansel shows us how substituting hemp industrially can dramatically reduce pollution and conserve water resources while creating safer, stronger products. Amy Ansel had over two decades of IT program management experience at Microsoft before becoming an entreprener working to create a fresh and new program with purpose. She moved her attention to the industrial hemp industry, where her could employ her passion for sustainability. She has mapped her skills and systems over the budding agricultural industry with her partner, Tanya Hart, creating various pillars serving a global agenda in sustainable economies. Amy enjoys trying new things, disruptive technologies/bio innovation, playing cards and solving puzzles. A native of the West Coast, Amy resides outside of Seattle and enjoys spending time with 3 kids, 1 husband and 4 pets. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
