Trouble looms for Indian grain that combats climate change

1 Oct 22:11 Key points summarised by AI

The ancient, climate-resilient pokkali rice cultivation in southern India is rapidly declining as farmers shift to more profitable year-round prawn farming, a trend exacerbated by a 2022 government order.
This transition is degrading soil, increasing salinity, and disrupting a delicate ecosystem that traditionally supported both rice and prawn cultivation, maintained natural barriers, and sequestered carbon.
Pokkali cultivation faces significant challenges, including a severe lack of skilled labor for its manual harvesting and limited market awareness, despite efforts by agricultural universities to develop new, high-yielding varieties and some farmers finding success through innovative marketing strategies.

Bright at Midnight: Conceptual echoes of Bas Jan Ader Arrive in Bangkok

Yesterday 15:13 Key points summarised by AI

"Bright at Midnight" marks the first institutional exhibition in Asia of Dutch conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, showcasing his enigmatic work at Bangkok Kunsthalle until January 10, 2027.
The exhibition delves into Ader's legacy, exploring themes of vulnerability and the ephemeral, made more poignant by his 1975 disappearance at sea during an art project.
It encourages viewers to engage with art beyond its material form, featuring key pieces like "Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten," "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks," and the haunting film "Launch of the Ocean Wave."
A highlight is the planned live transformation of "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks" in 2026, where ropes will be cut, creating a new layer of art from the destructive impact.
The exhibition challenges conventional art consumption, advocating for a deeper appreciation of conceptual and research-driven artistic practices over mere fascination with art as an asset class.