Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy By Ben Lilliston In the wake of protests in the Philippines over genetically engineered Golden Rice, a series of articles have appeared in the U.S. mainstream press (e.g., the New York Times) and alternative publications like Slate and Grist, all coming to the vigorous defense of the latest incarnation… Read more »
New GE Contamination Reported in Washington State Alfalfa
[Note: Cornucopia has been a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the USDA’s approval of genetically engineered alfalfa.] The Center for Food Safety An export shipment of alfalfa from Washington State was rejected after the shipment tested positive for contamination from genetically engineered (GE), herbicide-resistant alfalfa. The news follows on the heels of yet another contamination… Read more »
Food for Thought
Food Tank’s Fall Reading List FoodTank By Danielle Nierenberg and Anna Glasser Four times a year, Food Tank will be handpicking a selection of books (mostly newer releases, but several oldies) that have recently educated, inspired, and informed the work of this organization. Below are Food Tank’s “must read” Fall 2013 selections for those who are… Read more »
Mushroom Hunting With the Pros
Huffington Post By Langdon Cook In early August I got a call from a producer for the PBS TV series Food Forward. He had seen a review copy of my new book, The Mushroom Hunters: On the Trail of an Underground America, and wanted to film itinerant mushroom harvesters for an episode on wild foods…. Read more »
China Hog Farms Pose Major Health Risk
Public Radio International’s The World By Ruth Morris Cheap meat is a cornerstone of the American diet. Think cheeseburgers and t-bones and ribs. It’s the same in China. Only there, the meat of choice is pork and demand is going through the roof. Check out the menu at just about any Shanghai restaurant and you’ll… Read more »
Farming and Knowledge Monocultures are Misconceived
Speed read: The industrial model of producing both food and knowledge is faulty Sustainable intensification presents ‘technification’ as an undeniable scientific truth Food supply systems and R&D should be reorientated towards real needs SciDev.net Food needs can be met with a new vision for agriculture and science, say Brian Wynne and Georgina Catacora-Vargas. In mainstream… Read more »
American Farmers Challenge Monsanto at U.S. Supreme Court
[Note: The Cornucopia Institute is one of the 73 plaintiffs in this case.] Protection Sought From Genetic Contamination and to Invalidate Monsanto’s Patents on Genetically Engineered Crops Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association New York – A group of 73 American organic and conventional family farmers, seed businesses and public advocacy groups asked the U.S. Supreme… Read more »
EPA Sued for Scrapping Livestock Data Collection
San Francisco Chronicle (this link is no longer available) By David Pitt, Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Environmental and animal welfare groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, alleging the federal agency unlawfully scrapped a rule that would have authorized it to collect information from large-scale livestock confinement farms. The Center for Food… Read more »
GMO Corn Failing to Protect Fields From Pest Damage: Report
Reuters By Cary Gillam (Reuters) – Researchers in the key corn-growing state of Illinois are finding significant damage from rootworms in farm fields planted in a rotation with a genetically modified corn that is supposed to protect the crop from the pests, according to a new report. Evidence gathered from fields in two Illinois counties… Read more »
Local Farmers Worry About New Produce Rules
Public News Service – CA Lori Abbott/Deb Courson Smith SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Some California farmers are voicing concerns over the FDA’s proposed implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. They say the rules are excessive and may put small farmers out of business. Judith Redmond, the co-owner of Full Belly Farm in Guinda, sells her… Read more »
