Got beef with beans? SFU study explains why shoppers don’t buy more plant‑based proteins
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 2-Jun-2026 19:15 ET (2-Jun-2026 23:15 GMT/UTC)
Incorporating more plant-based proteins could help people save on their grocery bill, but new research has found that it's not so simple when it comes to choices at the supermarket.
Simon Fraser University researchers peeked into more than 87,000 grocery carts in Canada and Finland to study how much price influenced the type of protein people bought: animal-based or plant-based. Researchers discovered that while the price had to be right, having a variety of options also played a role.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa announced today that the African Engineering and Technology Network has signed its tenth university partner, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. The network, launched in 2022, provides a vehicle for technology-focused universities in Africa to engage in deep collaboration to drive digital growth, create technology development, build pathways to opportunities for youth, and shape policy change.
While energy generation and transmission grids have traditionally been strictly protected as part of critical infrastructure, the cybersecurity of the energy retail sector has received far less attention. A new study in the field of industrial management, shows that the sector is increasingly targeted by hybrid threats and cyberattacks: retail organisations process sensitive personal, consumption and location data of millions of Europeans and are closely interconnected with broader energy systems that are essential for the continuity of societal functions.
Europe’s food system is under growing strain from climate change, environmental pressures, and rising levels of diet-related disease. Although the EU has set ambitious goals for a greener, healthier, and more competitive and resilient agrifood system, progress remains slow. A new perspective published in Nature Food examines this gap between ambition and reality and identifies the structural barriers holding transformations back.
The study is the first output of a new European research alliance, bringing together researchers from, among others, Aarhus University in Denmark, Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). Drawing on contributions from 34 researchers, it takes a system-wide perspective on the agrifood system, from production to consumption.
The researchers argue that the challenge is not only a lack of knowledge or willingness to change. Many actors across the food system, like farmers, policymakers, and consumers support reform. However, they operate within “lock-ins”: self-reinforcing systems of incentives, regulations, market structures, and habits that sustain the status quo.
Five key lock-ins are highlighted. First, fragmented policymaking leads to conflicting objectives across agriculture, health, environment, and trade. Second, dietary habits are difficult to shift, as cultural norms, prices, and availability often favor less sustainable food choices. Third, market structures emphasize efficiency, scale, and low costs, discouraging long-term investments in sustainability. Fourth, environmental costs such as emissions and biodiversity loss are not reflected in food prices, limiting the competitiveness of sustainable alternatives. Finally, increasing instability from climate change to geopolitical shocks exposes the fragility of a system optimized for efficiency rather than resilience.
Importantly, the authors propose five guiding principles for change in the agrifood system: prioritizing access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food; ensuring inclusive and engaging transformation processes; provide governance to strengthen transparency and accountability; leveraging Europe’s diversity in agrifood systems; and shifting mindsets towards prioritizing common goods.
The researchers emphasize that transformation will require more than technological solutions. Coordinated policy action, new incentives, and strong leadership are essential to unlock systemic change and move Europe’s food system forward.
Three-quarters of people who respond well to the newest types of biologics for psoriasis can safely reduce their dosage, often even by half. These medications then work just as effectively, according to a study led by Radboud university medical center and Ghent University Hospital. The finding results in fewer injections and saves up to €8,500 per patient per year.
The convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) is fundamentally reshaping global banking and democratising access to financial services.
(Toronto, June 1, 2026) JMIR Publications today released a News and Perspectives report on emerging pharmaceutical access models in the United States.