Cornucopia’s Take: A new UN report warns that climate change has already curtailed global food production and millions are at risk of poverty and hunger in the coming years. The report suggests that funding for climate mitigation is best spent on changing agricultural practices. Organic agriculture is one important arm of this approach. UN: Global… Read more »
Search Results for: regenerative agriculture
Don’t Water Down Organics — Keep Soil in Organic Agriculture
[This action alert is over.] Sign the Petition Opposing Approval of Industrial Hydroponics by October 30 The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is considering a proposal at its meeting at the end of this month that would allow the organic certification of hydroponics and its use in container growing. “Feed the soil not the plant.”… Read more »
Eliminate the Incentive to Convert Native Ecosystems to Organic Agriculture
Talking Points for Comments (Due October 11, 2017) I support the addition of language to the organic regulations that will provide protections for sensitive, imperiled, and native ecosystems through removal of the incentive to immediately gain access to the organic market after the destruction of these ecosystems. I support the NOSB’s suggested ten-year prohibition on… Read more »
Industrial Agriculture Rivals Deforestation as Climate Change Factor
Cornucopia’s Take: Conventional and GMO farming practices have sped up the removal of carbon from the soil, a contributor to climate change. Organic, sustainable agricultural practices help sequester carbon in the soil, prevent erosion, improve soil fertility, and mitigate climate change. Farming has changed climate almost as much as deforestation CBC News Thomson Reuters Harvesting,… Read more »
Dramatic Decline in Industrial Agriculture Could Herald ‘Peak Food’
Most conventional yield projection models are oblivious to the real world say US researchers The Guardian By Dr. Nafeez Ahmed Industrial agriculture could be hitting fundamental limits in its capacity to produce sufficient crops to feed an expanding global population according to new research published in Nature Communications. The study by scientists at the University… Read more »
Roger Blobaum Recognized for Lifetime Contribution to Organic Agriculture
Roger Blobaum, a widely respected pioneer in organic farm policy and one of the first two members of The Cornucopia Institute’s formal Policy Advisory Panel, was recognized with a lifetime award last month by the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Honorary Recognition Award was given to Blobaum at a banquet… Read more »
New California Law Aims to Cultivate Urban Agriculture
A new law promoting community gardens and small farms lets municipalities lower property taxes on plots of 3 acres or less if owners dedicate them to growing food for at least 5 years. Los Angeles Times By Lee Romney SAN FRANCISCO — Sandwiched between rows of homes in the fog-kissed Mission Terrace neighborhood, Little City… Read more »
(ALERT OVER) Genetically Modified Alfalfa Threatens Organic Agriculture
UPDATE: The Alfalfa EIS docket comment period has been extended 15 days until March 3rd. Send Your Comments to USDA on Draft Environmental Impact Statement Late last year, the USDA released a court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Monsanto’s new genetically engineered Round-up Ready Alfalfa. A federal lawsuit, led by the Center for Food Safety… Read more »
Leading Organic Industry CEO Condemns GMO Labeling “Sell-out”
Criticizes the Organic Trade Association and Some of Its Powerful Members David Bronner Cornucopia’s Take: David Bronner, CEO at Dr. Bronner’s, has been an activist and a leading voice for the real labeling of GMO foods. He also happens to be a long time member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA). He is harshly critical of… Read more »
Is Biodynamic Farming for Real?
Cornucopia’s Take: Biodynamic farmers are sometimes accused of being unscientific, and Demeter, their certifying agent, has now begun collecting topsoil samples from their biodynamic farms for further study. Biodynamic farmers must follow federal organic rules as well as additional practices, including off-farm input restrictions. Biodynamic farming is on the rise – but how effective is… Read more »
