Topic: Kelp

An ecological emergency is unfolding off the coast of California where purple sea urchins have decimated 90% of the kelp forests. The population explosion is attributed to warming waters and a disease that wiped out starfish, the urchins' natural predator. Current regulations limit harvesting to manual collection, which volunteers argue is insufficient to manage the billions of urchins present.

A critique of the "superfood" industry focuses on the 2016 trends emerging from fancy food shows. The list includes "waste-based food," popularized by New York chef Dan Barber, which utilizes vegetable pulp and scraps, as well as the rising popularity of kelp as a sustainable seaweed option.