Alexander J. Stein
@ajstein.bsky.social
Agricultural economist interested in food, nutrition, health, sustainability. PhD. EU. Private account. Posts + Likes ≠ endorsements. Blocking trolls, unsupported claims etc. More infos at www.AJStein.de
Pinned
Alexander J. Stein
@ajstein.bsky.social
· Nov 27
Personal update: After some reflection, I decided to share that I have #cholangiocarcinoma, a rare & aggressive #cancer. This has little to do with the focus of my posts here, but I hope that it can help raise #awareness of this serious #illness. More details at: AJStein.de/cholangio.htm
#Finland: Food expenditure on #protein is not different for #plantbased or meat-heavy #diets; cost differences arise from discretionary products (coffee, soda, #alcohol, sweets). Negative #environment & #climate impacts are driven by #meat & discretionary products: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #health
Discretionary foods have notable environmental and expenditure relevance across meat and plant protein preferences - npj Science of Food
npj Science of Food - Discretionary foods have notable environmental and expenditure relevance across meat and plant protein preferences
doi.org
January 26, 2026 at 1:11 PM
#Finland: Food expenditure on #protein is not different for #plantbased or meat-heavy #diets; cost differences arise from discretionary products (coffee, soda, #alcohol, sweets). Negative #environment & #climate impacts are driven by #meat & discretionary products: doi.org/10.1038/s415... #health
High adherence to healthful #plantbased diets combined with adequate intake of key #micronutrients like calcium & magnesium improves breast health, reduces #breastcancer incidence, and enhances long-term survival in patients: doi.org/10.3389/fnut... #cancer #health #nutrition #diets
Frontiers | Plant-based dietary patterns, micronutrient status and breast cancer outcomes: a joint analysis of UK Biobank and Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey
BackgroundPlant-based diets may lower breast cancer risk, but their impact on breast cancer-related mortality is unclear. We explored associations of plant-b...
doi.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:33 PM
High adherence to healthful #plantbased diets combined with adequate intake of key #micronutrients like calcium & magnesium improves breast health, reduces #breastcancer incidence, and enhances long-term survival in patients: doi.org/10.3389/fnut... #cancer #health #nutrition #diets
Interpretive #labels (warning labels, Nutri-Score) allow #consumers to distinguish between products with different #nutrition profiles. The #NutriScore is already in use in several European countries. Such systems are more likely to prompt industry reformulation: doi.org/10.1017/S136... #labeling
Consumer Understanding, Preferences, and Acceptance of Front-of-Pack Labels in Thailand: Foundational Evidence for Policy Development | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core
Consumer Understanding, Preferences, and Acceptance of Front-of-Pack Labels in Thailand: Foundational Evidence for Policy Development
doi.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Interpretive #labels (warning labels, Nutri-Score) allow #consumers to distinguish between products with different #nutrition profiles. The #NutriScore is already in use in several European countries. Such systems are more likely to prompt industry reformulation: doi.org/10.1017/S136... #labeling
Food #tax reforms can bring substantial #environment & #health benefits (lower #carbon footprint, pesticide & #fertilizer use, ammonia #emissions; lives saved), while cost-neutral designs ensure no income group is financially disadvantaged: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec... #meat #meattax #taxes #taxation
Redirecting
doi.org
January 25, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Food #tax reforms can bring substantial #environment & #health benefits (lower #carbon footprint, pesticide & #fertilizer use, ammonia #emissions; lives saved), while cost-neutral designs ensure no income group is financially disadvantaged: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec... #meat #meattax #taxes #taxation
#RemoteWork does not reduce the engagement of #CivilServants; they are the main drivers for #PublicSector effectiveness. Remote work is a benefit that must be offered by any attractive employer: doi.org/10.1007/s121... #Labour #Employees #WorkFromHome #Telework #Smartwork #WorkFromAnywhere
The impact of remote work on employee engagement: a case study of public sector employees in the Czech Republic - Current Psychology
Current Psychology - During the covid-19 pandemic, many civil servants in the Czech Republic engaged in remote work. Detailed information regarding the influence of remote work on engagement is...
doi.org
January 25, 2026 at 10:57 AM
#RemoteWork does not reduce the engagement of #CivilServants; they are the main drivers for #PublicSector effectiveness. Remote work is a benefit that must be offered by any attractive employer: doi.org/10.1007/s121... #Labour #Employees #WorkFromHome #Telework #Smartwork #WorkFromAnywhere
A #dairy cow in the #Netherlands was infected with H5N1, the first time the #virus spread to #cattle outside the US. #Flu researchers worry the spread of #BirdFlu allows it to adapt better to mammals & transmit, posing a serious threat to human health: doi.org/10.1126/scie... #cows #milk #health
Bird flu antibodies found in cow in the Netherlands, a first outside of U.S.
Dead cat led to discovery, but officials stress no further spread of H5N1 has been detected
doi.org
January 24, 2026 at 12:06 PM
A #dairy cow in the #Netherlands was infected with H5N1, the first time the #virus spread to #cattle outside the US. #Flu researchers worry the spread of #BirdFlu allows it to adapt better to mammals & transmit, posing a serious threat to human health: doi.org/10.1126/scie... #cows #milk #health
For the #sustainability of food, other factors are more decisive than whether the food is "local": #landuse, production & processing—and whether it is animal or plant-based food—are more important for GHG #emissions… (1/2) progressive--agrarwende-org.translate.goog/regionale-le...
Regionale Lebensmittel sind besser, ist doch klar? - Progressive Agrarwende
„Lokale Lebensmittel“ können nicht einfach mit „nachhaltigen Lebensmitteln“ gleichgesetzt werden; in den meisten Fällen können sie weder die Ernährungssicherheit gewährleisten, noch haben sie zwangslä...
progressive--agrarwende-org.translate.goog
January 23, 2026 at 1:13 PM
For the #sustainability of food, other factors are more decisive than whether the food is "local": #landuse, production & processing—and whether it is animal or plant-based food—are more important for GHG #emissions… (1/2) progressive--agrarwende-org.translate.goog/regionale-le...
How can one test the effectiveness of front-of-pack (FOP) #nutrition labels not by putting those labels on the front of food products' packaging, but by asking #consumers to use a mobile app to cumbersomely visualize food #label info on their phones? ... (1/2)
January 23, 2026 at 12:40 PM
How can one test the effectiveness of front-of-pack (FOP) #nutrition labels not by putting those labels on the front of food products' packaging, but by asking #consumers to use a mobile app to cumbersomely visualize food #label info on their phones? ... (1/2)
EFSA: The consumption of a new GM #soybean does not represent a #nutrition concern nor #environment safety concerns. The #GMO is as safe as conventional soybean varieties with respect to potential effects on #health and the environment: doi.org/10.2903/j.ef... #foodsafety #biosafety
doi.org
January 22, 2026 at 12:32 PM
EFSA: The consumption of a new GM #soybean does not represent a #nutrition concern nor #environment safety concerns. The #GMO is as safe as conventional soybean varieties with respect to potential effects on #health and the environment: doi.org/10.2903/j.ef... #foodsafety #biosafety
#Australia: Food derived from a purple GM #tomato is as safe as food from conventional #tomatoes. The tomato has been modified to produce natural pigments called #anthocyanins in the fruit (that act as antioxidants): www.ogtr.gov.au/gmo-dealings... #GMO #foodsafety #health
www.ogtr.gov.au
January 22, 2026 at 12:26 PM
#Australia: Food derived from a purple GM #tomato is as safe as food from conventional #tomatoes. The tomato has been modified to produce natural pigments called #anthocyanins in the fruit (that act as antioxidants): www.ogtr.gov.au/gmo-dealings... #GMO #foodsafety #health
#Germany: Blood supplies are scarce. Only 3% of the population donates #blood regularly, and the number of donors is declining as they are getting older, from 4.1 m in 2015 to 3.6 m in 2024. We need to encourage younger people to donate: www-zdfheute-de.translate.goog/panorama/blu... #health
Jede Blutspende zählt: DRK warnt vor fehlenden Blutreserven und ruft dringend zum Helfen auf
Blutkonserven gehen zur Neige: Grippewelle und Winterwetter hielten zuletzt viele von der Blutspende ab. Das DRK ruft dringend zum Helfen auf.
www.zdfheute.de
January 22, 2026 at 11:47 AM
#Germany: Blood supplies are scarce. Only 3% of the population donates #blood regularly, and the number of donors is declining as they are getting older, from 4.1 m in 2015 to 3.6 m in 2024. We need to encourage younger people to donate: www-zdfheute-de.translate.goog/panorama/blu... #health
#Germany: Fewer & fewer people drink #alcohol, esp. younger age groups. In 2025, 68% of #consumers reported consuming alcohol. In 2015, this figure was still 78%. Alcohol is becoming less & less a part of everyday life, and #health is gaining importance: yougov-de.translate.goog/consumer/art...
Alkoholkonsum im Wandel: Bewusster Verzicht im Januar gewinnt an Bedeutung +++ Jüngere trinken weniger Alkohol | YouGov
Aktuelle YouGov-Daten zum Alkoholkonsum in Deutschland
yougov.de
January 22, 2026 at 11:20 AM
#Germany: Fewer & fewer people drink #alcohol, esp. younger age groups. In 2025, 68% of #consumers reported consuming alcohol. In 2015, this figure was still 78%. Alcohol is becoming less & less a part of everyday life, and #health is gaining importance: yougov-de.translate.goog/consumer/art...
UK: Die globale Zerstörung der #Ökosysteme bedroht nationale Sicherheit & Wohlstand. Großbritannien verfügt nicht über genügend Land für die #Ernährung seiner Bevölkerung *und* #Viehhaltung: Eine grundlegende Umstellung der Ernährung wäre erforderlich… (1/2) www.gov.uk/government/p...
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 21, 2026 at 2:58 PM
UK: Die globale Zerstörung der #Ökosysteme bedroht nationale Sicherheit & Wohlstand. Großbritannien verfügt nicht über genügend Land für die #Ernährung seiner Bevölkerung *und* #Viehhaltung: Eine grundlegende Umstellung der Ernährung wäre erforderlich… (1/2) www.gov.uk/government/p...
UK: Global ecosystem degradation & collapse threaten national security & prosperity. The UK is unable to be food self-sufficient based on current diets & #prices; it does not have enough land to feed its population and rear #livestock: … (1/2) www.gov.uk/government/p... #meat #dairy #foodsecurity
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 21, 2026 at 2:46 PM
UK: Global ecosystem degradation & collapse threaten national security & prosperity. The UK is unable to be food self-sufficient based on current diets & #prices; it does not have enough land to feed its population and rear #livestock: … (1/2) www.gov.uk/government/p... #meat #dairy #foodsecurity
Food consumption generates #environment externalities that remain insufficiently addressed. Removing #VAT reductions on #meat products in the #EU can decrease related GHG #emissions, water consumption, #landuse, #biodiversity loss, and nitrogen & phosphorus footprints: doi.org/10.1038/s430... #taxes
Environmental impacts from European food consumption can be reduced with carbon pricing or a value-added tax reform - Nature Food
The environmental impacts of food consumption in the European Union are global. This study estimates the environmental footprints of EU27 household food consumption, simulating the mitigation potentia...
doi.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Food consumption generates #environment externalities that remain insufficiently addressed. Removing #VAT reductions on #meat products in the #EU can decrease related GHG #emissions, water consumption, #landuse, #biodiversity loss, and nitrogen & phosphorus footprints: doi.org/10.1038/s430... #taxes
#Cows can use tools: In science, as in culture, #livestock species are often cognitively underestimated, reinforced by their utilitarian role & persistent mind-denial #biases linked to #meat consumption… (1/2) doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... #tools #beef
Redirecting
doi.org
January 19, 2026 at 5:59 PM
#Cows can use tools: In science, as in culture, #livestock species are often cognitively underestimated, reinforced by their utilitarian role & persistent mind-denial #biases linked to #meat consumption… (1/2) doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... #tools #beef
The total #wealth of billionaires grew by $2.5 trillion in 2025, i.e. by as much as the bottom 4 billion people own. This would be enough to eradicate extreme #poverty 26 times over. Billionaires are 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than ordinary people: www.oxfam.org/en/press-rel...
Billionaire wealth jumps three times faster in 2025 to highest peak ever, sparking dangerous political inequality | Oxfam International
www.oxfam.org
January 19, 2026 at 1:09 PM
The total #wealth of billionaires grew by $2.5 trillion in 2025, i.e. by as much as the bottom 4 billion people own. This would be enough to eradicate extreme #poverty 26 times over. Billionaires are 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than ordinary people: www.oxfam.org/en/press-rel...
Sweden: #Diets with lower #environment impacts are characterized by lower intakes of red & processed #meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat #dairy products, saturated fat, sodium & alcohol; they align with dietary guidelines and can help improve health: doi.org/10.1007/s003... #nutrition #health
Co-benefits and trade-offs between environmental impact and diet quality: insights from observational dietary data in a Swedish population - European Journal of Nutrition
European Journal of Nutrition - This study characterises food and nutrient intake in self-reported diets with varying environmental impacts and evaluates their adherence to dietary guidelines and...
doi.org
January 19, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Sweden: #Diets with lower #environment impacts are characterized by lower intakes of red & processed #meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat #dairy products, saturated fat, sodium & alcohol; they align with dietary guidelines and can help improve health: doi.org/10.1007/s003... #nutrition #health
Few foods take a higher toll on the planet than beef. Beef & #lamb are generally highest in GHG #emissions, #landuse & water #pollution. There’s no climate-friendly beef, despite #labels claiming otherwise. The only way to lower your #climate impact is to buy less… (1/2) www.wri.org/insights/tru...
Despite ‘Carbon Neutral’ Certifications, Beef Emissions Can Be Lower, but Never Low
Research shows there’s no such thing as climate-friendly beef, despite labels claiming otherwise.
www.wri.org
January 18, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Few foods take a higher toll on the planet than beef. Beef & #lamb are generally highest in GHG #emissions, #landuse & water #pollution. There’s no climate-friendly beef, despite #labels claiming otherwise. The only way to lower your #climate impact is to buy less… (1/2) www.wri.org/insights/tru...
#Poland: A sample of #farmers who diversified, i.e. who sell 15-50% of their products into short food #supplychains (and not only into normal/long food supply chains), have higher perceived #resilience, i.e. higher perceived adaptability & transformability of their farms: doi.org/10.1186/s401...
Are farms in short food supply chains more resilient to external shocks? The assessment of Polish farmers’ perception - Agricultural and Food Economics
The aim of the study is to indicate perceived resilience of Polish farms during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic crisis. Hence, one of our research question is: do farmers involved in short foo...
doi.org
January 18, 2026 at 2:26 PM
#Poland: A sample of #farmers who diversified, i.e. who sell 15-50% of their products into short food #supplychains (and not only into normal/long food supply chains), have higher perceived #resilience, i.e. higher perceived adaptability & transformability of their farms: doi.org/10.1186/s401...
#Meteorologists are subjected to an alarming rise in hate speech. Messages on #socialmedia denigrate #researchers’ work and included personal attacks directed at professionals who work to share correct & verified scientific information: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j... #science #communication
Spain’s meteorologists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns
Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ work
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:17 PM
#Meteorologists are subjected to an alarming rise in hate speech. Messages on #socialmedia denigrate #researchers’ work and included personal attacks directed at professionals who work to share correct & verified scientific information: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j... #science #communication
By facilitating conservation #tillage (i.e. reduced and no tillage), herbicide-tolerant crops and the corresponding #herbicides can help reduce carbon #emissions compared to conventional plow-based crop production: doi.org/10.1080/2164... #GMO #plantbreeding #agriculture
Glyphosate use in agricultural production: it’s contribution to global carbon dioxide emissions
This paper estimates the annual global carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions from the manufacture, distribution and farm level use of glyphosate and estimates the annual contribution of glypho...
doi.org
January 15, 2026 at 1:52 PM
By facilitating conservation #tillage (i.e. reduced and no tillage), herbicide-tolerant crops and the corresponding #herbicides can help reduce carbon #emissions compared to conventional plow-based crop production: doi.org/10.1080/2164... #GMO #plantbreeding #agriculture
The "Clean Food Facts" campaign of the Center for Consumer Freedom, which is funded by the meat industry, is an #astroturfing effort targeting #plantbased meat alternatives thru manipulative strategies: the illusion of credibility, emotional #manipulation and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1108/978-...
Savouring Truth: Exposing Disinformation in the World of Alternative Meats
This chapter analyses the deceptive tactics employed by the Center for Consumer Freedom’s (CCF) Clean Food Facts campaign, an astroturfing effort targeting
doi.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM
The "Clean Food Facts" campaign of the Center for Consumer Freedom, which is funded by the meat industry, is an #astroturfing effort targeting #plantbased meat alternatives thru manipulative strategies: the illusion of credibility, emotional #manipulation and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1108/978-...
Models are used to explore the global #foodsystem, incl. implications for #nutrition, with unclear confidence. In a #SensitivityAnalysis of a model, variations in the calculated supply of some nutrients led to qualitative changes from sufficient to insufficient global supply: doi.org/10.1007/s125...
Client Challenge
doi.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Models are used to explore the global #foodsystem, incl. implications for #nutrition, with unclear confidence. In a #SensitivityAnalysis of a model, variations in the calculated supply of some nutrients led to qualitative changes from sufficient to insufficient global supply: doi.org/10.1007/s125...
Adding #legumes to maize-based cropping systems can increase resilience against #climatechange and better deliver #nutrition & #foodsecurity while building #soil fertility. In sub-Saharan #Africa, from 2012-23 the area under legumes increased by 5% in Malawi & 14% in Zambia: doi.org/10.1007/s125...
Client Challenge
doi.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Adding #legumes to maize-based cropping systems can increase resilience against #climatechange and better deliver #nutrition & #foodsecurity while building #soil fertility. In sub-Saharan #Africa, from 2012-23 the area under legumes increased by 5% in Malawi & 14% in Zambia: doi.org/10.1007/s125...