Food

The insertion of technologies and new business models can make a huge difference in third world countries. For example, A recent Stanford University study shows how solar powered drip irrigation systems in sub-Saharan Africa are changing the economics of agriculture for people in the poverty struck area where people live on less than $1.25 a day.

If you live in Iowa, the average carrot must travel 1,600 miles to reach your plate. According to research by IBM’s Smarter Planet Campaign, if you eat carrots, you’re a polluter. The truth is if you eat anything from your local grocery store, even the organic section, it has likely traveled a long distance. Only 1 to 2 percent of all food consumed in the U.S. is locally grown.