Vermont Digger by Dave Rogers Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Dave Rogers, policy adviser for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT). By the end of April, when members of the Vermont House Agriculture Committee finally concluded weeks of testimony and discussion on H.722, a bill that would require foods made with genetically… Read more »
The Organic Watergate: Advocates Condemn Corruption and USDA’s Cozy Relationship with Corporate Agribusinesses in Organics
[This action alert is over.] Cornucopia, WI — The nation’s leading organic farming watchdog, The Cornucopia Institute, is challenging what it calls a “conspiracy” between corporate agribusiness interests and the USDA that has increasingly facilitated the use of questionable synthetic additives and even dangerous chemicals in organic foods. In its new white paper, The Organic… Read more »
NRDC Announces the Winners of the 2012 “Growing Green Awards”
National Resources Defense Council FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press contact: Jackie Wei Awards celebrates leaders and innovators in the field of sustainable food and agriculture SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 16, 2012) – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today honors four remarkable food visionaries for their trailblazing work to make our food systems healthier and more… Read more »
The War Between Organic and Conventional Farming Misses the Point
The Atlantic By Ari LeVaux The real dispute is over valid but competing priorities. On April 23, the science journal Nature published a paper titled “Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture,” by Verena Seufert et al. The mainstream press waded into the paper’s implications but had a hard time packaging them in a… Read more »
Africa: Benefits of Organic Agriculture in the Continent
All Africa – Times of Zambia (this link no longer available) By Gethsemani Mwizabi and Annie Sampa EXPANDING Africa’s shift towards organic farming will be good for the continent’s nutritional needs, the environment, farmers’ incomes, African markets and employment. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Deputy Secretary-General Petko Draganov said this recently at the… Read more »
Organic Farming Grows, North Dakota No. 2 in the Nation
The Dickinson Press (North Dakota) (link no longer available) By: Betsy Simon Minus the lack of chemicals on his crops, life at Patrick Frank’s 1,200-acres of organic farmland north of South Heart mirrors that of any other farmer. “There’s not really a difference in what I do, except that when spring comes instead of just… Read more »
Military Veterans: the Next Generation of Organic Farmers
USDA Blog Posted by Miles McEvoy, National Organic Program Deputy Administrator Compost tea (a mixture of recycled organic matter soaked in water), hydroponic living basil, and organic certification are terms that, at first glance, may not have much of a connection to military veterans. Colin Archipley, a decorated Marine sergeant, and his wife Karen however… Read more »
Want to Stop Banks Gambling on Food Prices? Try Closing the Casino
Neither debate nor dictum have stopped bankers betting on the world’s food supply, leaving criminalisation as the only option The Guardian by Frederick Kaufman Recent price spikes in global food commodities – most notably the bubbles of 2008 and 2010-11 – have exposed a fundamental fault of economic analysis: although speculation in the world’s food… Read more »
Super Weeds no Easy Fix for US Agriculture-Experts
Reuters By Carey Gillam WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A fast-spreading plague of “super weeds” taking over U.S. farmland will not be stopped easily, and farmers and government officials need to change existing practices if food production is to be protected, industry experts said on Thursday. “This is a complex problem,” said weed scientist David Shaw in… Read more »
Fertilizer from Food Waste: PCC Tests ‘Full Circle’ System With Local Firm
PCC Natural Markets is unveiling a new alternative for dealing with food waste — a “harvester” system developed by Issaquah-based WISErg to produce liquid fertilizer. The Seattle Times By Erin Flemming PCC Natural Markets is unveiling Tuesday a new alternative for dealing with food waste at its Issaquah location. For the past two years, the… Read more »
