Below the Fold - planting a steak in the ground

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Today is a historic day for music as America celebrates its first Hip Hop Celebration Day. While hip hop has a complex origin, the date itself was chosen in honor of the “originator of hip hop,” Jamaican-American Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc. At age 18, DJ Kool Herc hosted a landmark back-to-school jam on August 11, 1973 for his sister in the South Bronx. Designated by Congress, today’s recognition will be followed by Hip-Hop History Month this November.

TECHNOLOGY

Cars aren’t the only product suffering from the microchip scarcity
Thu Aug 5

The global chip shortage has found its latest prey: consumer tech. Earlier this year, we reported on how this shortage of microchips affected the auto industry (they use computer chips to control everything from engine timing to cabin temperature). As a refresher, without these chips, a number of companies have been unable to make new vehicles. The resulting halt on the supply chain left rental companies — who sold their fleets early in the pandemic — severely short on cars later on, leading to record high car prices.

In April alone, roughly 13% of buyers paid above sticker price for their vehicle. With chip production still limited and prices increasing alongside unrelenting demand, consumer tech executives are now warning of the effects on their products, too.

Apple says supply constraints on less-advanced chips will affect sales for iPhones and iPads, which use the chips for everyday functions such as decoding audio.
Microsoft is struggling to make Xbox consoles and Surface laptops. A number of watchlists have emerged simply to alert consumers of which stores suddenly have an Xbox in stock.
Even smaller companies are now scrambling for parts essential to their products’ functionality, including one San Francisco sex toy seller.

Where do these chips even come from? Over 75% of the world’s chip production happens in Asia, leaving the rest of the world scrambling. In fact, only 12% of global production happens in the U.S. and increasing that capacity is not instant. While the White House has prioritized a plan to expand chip manufacturing, many worry it’ll take years before that investment benefits consumers.

Our Sources:

→ Extensive coverage: Recode
→ Chip production in Asia: Business Insider
→ Federal plans to address shortage: White House

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AGRICULTURE

The impact a world without meat could have on farmer livelihoods
Thu Aug 5

A meatless future may be closer than we think — but are we prepared for it? As more consumers and producers turn to meat alternatives, some are estimating that plant-based meat could represent 10% of the market within a few years. Impossible Foods hopes to end animal farming altogether by 2035. While the benefits are clear for animal welfare, the environment, and more, the cost to farmers is still being determined. In fact, a new report focuses on three vulnerable groups and their ability to adapt.

First, there’s the farmers who grow soy, roughly 70% of which is used for animal feed. If soy-based companies like Impossible Foods can scale operations and achieve enough market share, soy growers will largely remain unscathed and supply similar companies instead of livestock farms.
Then there’s the farmers who grow pork or poultry for major meat companies. Their infrastructure is entirely optimized for animal farming — even if that comes with losses — making it difficult to pivot to another type of farming that would produce plant ingredients such as mung beans, oats, peas, or other legumes.
Finally, there are the workers at meatpacking companies. A decent portion of alternative protein production is automated work. This means that jobs at plant-based facilities are safer, but will require less human labor and therefore fail to absorb the displaced labor forces.

One major piece of legislation directly addresses the farmers at risk, first introduced in 2019, again in 2020, and then again last month. The Farm System Reform Act calls for a moratorium on new large factory farm (aka CAFOs) construction, phasing them out all together by 2040, and creating an annual $10 billion fund to help factory farm operators transition to pasture-based livestock, grow specialty crops, or pay off debt. While unlikely to pass anytime soon, it kickstarts conversations towards policy needed to equip stakeholders for the future.

And now that future might include seafood, too. Some startups have begun using dehydrated tomatoes as a substitute for tuna. Others concerned with sustainability are creating faux tuna with soy, wheat, and pea protein. Meanwhile, a French foodmaker has introduced a plant-based salmon made from algae and pea protein. While still early compared to plant-based meat, these fish alternatives excite consumers trying to minimize their impact on oceans already suffering from overfishing.

Our Sources:

→ Extensive coverage: Vox
→ Plant-based fish options: Bloomberg
→ Summary of Farm System Reform Act: Senator Cory Booker

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CLASSIFIEDS

The first question new freelancers ask our founder is always the same: How much should I charge?

That’s why we’re stoked to share an awesome resource from Mandy Ellis. She created the Freelance Writer’s Pricing Guide, filled with information to navigate all the custom work that hits your inbox.

The best part? It’s free to Below the Fold readers. Check it out!

>> Check out the free pricing guide

ASCII-ING ABOUT THE NEWS

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Another unwheel day paying over the asking price!

Art Credit: Colin Douthwaite

Below the Fold

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San Francisco, CA 94114-1612

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Below the Fold - planting a steak in the ground

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Older messages

if airport efficiency were an Olympic sport

too many holes to plug

even faster fast fashion

where’s the beef… profits going?

America’s buildings are dangerously old

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