Critical element
There is a lot of talk about Critical Materials (or sometimes Minerals) – indeed the UK Government has just issued a strategy on the subject.1 The topic is not new, and there have been a number of reports on the topic over the last 20 years. As a chemist, I should probably start by correcting the use of language – we are mostly talking about elements here!
Agricultural robots
About 13% of global calories came out of production when Russian and Ukrainian borders shut down. The Russia-Ukraine war has put pressure on farmers globally to produce more crops to make up for a gap in supply left by the two countries. As prices of wheat, fuel and fertiliser rise, the total costs for farmers have been increasing.
AI to improve healthcare
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential for dramatic improvements in patient healthcare. However, inaccurate AI-based predictions could just as easily lead to negative consequences.
Compostable packaging
Methane emissions from landfill are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and many governments worldwide, including in the UK, and the EU, are committing to the introduction of mandatory household food waste collections in a bid to curb this.
Supply chain drama
Reliable logistics are crucial for ensuring robust, cost effective and efficient supply chains. Over the last two years, however, several factors have wrought havoc on chemical supply chains. But for the resilience and adaptability of the people employed in the industry, there might have been chaos.