Cornucopia’s Take: While antibiotic resistant disease is on the rise, the FDA continues to call for voluntary reduction of antibiotic use in agriculture—with few volunteering. Researchers recently discovered colistin-resistant bacteria in farm animals and humans in China. Colistin was considered the last line of defense for serious infections in humans. Apocalypse Pig: The Last Antibiotic… Read more »
EPA Petitioned to Ban Pesticide Known to Make Farmworkers and Families Ill
Cornucopia’s Take: Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide generally banned from home use, continues to be allowed in conventional farming. Several groups have joined together to ask the EPA to ban the sickening chemical. To support farmworker health, buy organic food, which cannot be sprayed with harmful chemicals. Latinx Farmworkers and Health Groups File Petition for EPA… Read more »
Grow Your Soil!
Cornucopia’s Take: One of the keys to strong plants and excellent produce is healthy soil. Rodale’s Organic Life offers some helpful tips to improve your soil. 5 Ways Home Gardeners Can Make More Robust Soil Rodale’s Organic Life by Renee Brincks Follow these tricks of the trade that soil scientists use in their own yards…. Read more »
Groups Ask FDA to Restrict Antibiotics for Livestock
Cornucopia’s Take: Antibiotic resistance is responsible for 25,000 deaths and countless illnesses each year, although the FDA continues to allow farmers to use many antibiotics at their discretion. Cornucopia supports stricter rules and an end to voluntary programs. FDA asked to restrict antibiotics on livestock The Verge by Angela Chen Advocacy groups fear this could… Read more »
As Commodity Prices Drop, GMO Seed Prices Continue to Rise
Cornucopia’s Take: GMO crops were sold as a miracle to some farmers, making weeding and extra tilling unnecessary. Over time many GMO farmers have reverted to conventional seeds to save money, as GMO yields stagnate and superweeds emerge, plus markets are growing for non-GMO foods. Monsanto’s impending sale to Bayer ignores these mounting concerns. Behind… Read more »
Big Pharma Buys Into Big Ag
Cornucopia’s Take: Bayer, a German pharmaceutical and pesticide company, has announced its intention to buy Monsanto. This move will consolidate control over agricultural products even further. Chemical Giant Bayer Agrees To Buy Monsanto For $66 Billion NPR – The Two-Way by Camila Domonoske The German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer says it will buy U.S…. Read more »
Glyphosate in Honey
Cornucopia’s Take: As glyphosate use becomes more and more common, bees are collecting more of it by way of pollen, and it has become ubiquitous in honey. Cornucopia supports organic agriculture, where toxic synthetic herbicides like glyphosate are not allowed. FDA Finds Monsanto’s Weed Killer In U.S. Honey Huffington Post by Carey Gillam Source: Dino Giordano… Read more »
OFARM and Food & Water Watch Request USDA/OIG Audit of “Organic” Grain Imports
The Milkweed by Pete Hardin Source: USDA An organic grain producers group and a citizens’ advocacy organization have filed a complaint with USDA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) requesting a deeper look at the integrity of imported organic grains. The two organizations are OFARM and Food & Water Watch. Their complaint was stated in… Read more »
Organic Grain Imports Threaten Domestic Markets and Standards
Cornucopia’s Take: The flood of cheap “organic” imports of questionable authenticity into the U.S. is pushing American certified organic farmers out of the market. This is a very disturbing development. The Milkweed by John Bobbe The Nakagawa During the third week in May 2016, the Nakagawa — a cargo ship docked in Indiana on Lake… Read more »
Vermont’s Will Allen Recognized for Reshaping American Politics
Cornucopia’s Take: 2016’s “Politico 50” illustrates the dichotomy in the country by pairing Will Allen with Debbie Stabenow for “making food transparent.” Cornucopia applauds Mr. Allen’s work on GMO labeling. Sen. Stabenow receives our acknowledgement for making her ties to Big Ag transparent and GMO food labeling less transparent. Vermonter Will Allen Honored with Politico… Read more »
