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Organic Grazing War — an Economic Overview

In the 1980s, farmers and others on the organic food chain worried about free-riders using unsustainable methods, while touting their produce as ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ to gain a price premium. In response, Congress passed the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) to harmonize certification and define ‘organic.’ But it was soon apparent agribusiness was deploying […]

Wendell Berry Receives Humanities Medal from Obama

Courier-Journal Written by James R. Carroll WASHINGTON — Kentucky author Wendell Berry was honored at the White House Wednesday for his writings and conservation advocacy, receiving the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama. Berry, 76, a Port Royal novelist, essayist, poet, farmer and activist, shook hands with Obama, and the two whispered to one […]

(ALERT OVER) Taking Food Out of the Mouths of Babes

EWG Action Fund The budget legislation passed by House Republicans in the wee hours of February 19 (no Democrats voted for it) would slash $747 million — about 10 percent — from the 2011 budget for the Special Supplemental Feeding Program for Women, Infants and Children. It’s commonly known as “WIC.” Created in 1974, WIC […]

Maine Town Passes Landmark Local Food Ordinance

Sedgwick becomes first town in Maine to adopt protections Food For Maine’s Future SEDGWICK, MAINE – On Saturday, March 5, residents of a small coastal town in Maine voted unanimously to adopt the Local Food and Self-Governance Ordinance, setting a precedent for other towns looking to preserve small-scale farming and food processing. Sedgwick, located on […]

Eco-Farming Can Double Food Production in 10 Years, Says New UN Report

SRFood.org GENEVA – Small-scale farmers can double food production within 10 years in critical regions by using ecological methods, a new UN report* shows. Based on an extensive review of the recent scientific literature, the study calls for a fundamental shift towards agroecology as a way to boost food production and improve the situation of the poorest. “To […]

U.N: Small-Scale Farming Could Double the World’s Food Production

SlashFood by Clare Leschin-Hoar The United Nations released a whopper of a report today. In the midst of soaring global food and oil prices, the agency let loose a public stunner: World hunger and climate change cannot be solved with industrial farming. So much for seed-giant Pioneer Hi-Bred’s “We Feed The World” slogan. Yowch. The […]

Proposed Budget Cuts Make Organic Farmers Wary

Santa Cruz Sentinel By JENNIFER PITTMAN WATSONVILLE — For Jennifer Robinson, the new owner of a seven-acre pinot noir vineyard in Watsonville, federal budget proposals to make steep cuts to conservation efforts and organic agriculture would have a direct impact on her dreams to transition eventually to an organic farm. “I have lots of reactions […]

Cancer Rise and Sperm Quality Fall ‘Due To Chemicals’

BBC News Sperm quality significantly deteriorated and testicular cancers increased over recent years, a Finnish study says. The study in the International Journal of Andrology looked at men born between 1979 and 1987. The University of Turku research suggests environmental reasons, particularly exposure to industrial chemicals, may be behind both trends.

Today’s Food System: All Drugged Up

Huffington Post By Laurie David       [It’s worth noting that antibiotics are prohibited in the production of organic food.] The next time you’re feeling sick, think twice before going to your doctor for answers. Look down at your plate, instead. Hidden in your hamburger or smoked ham may be something you didn’t want or expect on […]

I’d Really Like to Know If I am Eating GMO

Tony T. Azevedo, WODPA President If you are interested in eating, you should know what you are putting in your mouth. The “powers that be” finally won their battle in Washington DC allowing Round Up Ready alfalfa seed to be used. What is Round Up Ready? Round Up Ready is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) […]