Cornucopia’s Aerial Photography Investigates Factory Farm Cheating by Will Fantle Chino Valley’s poultry operation in Texas is estimated to confine hundreds of thousands of laying hens in barns that appear to offer little, if any, outdoor access, as required by organic law. Cornucopia has captured hundreds of images of massive “organic” livestock operations in 12 states (and counting)…. Read more »
Search Results for: national organic program
USDA and Corporate Agribusiness Continue to Push Animal ID Scheme
Consumers and Independent Producers Lose if Big Ag Wins on Animal Traceability WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to issue its new proposed rule for mandatory animal traceability very shortly. While USDA already has traceability requirements as part of existing animal disease control programs, the proposed framework goes much further… Read more »
See No Evil
Organic Industry Bigwigs Dispute What Cornucopia’s Aerial Photos Reveal by Mark A. Kastel MBA Poultry, marketing under the trade name Smart Chicken, maintains 40 barns near Tecumseh, NE. On the day this photograph was taken, all had fencing but with gates open, freshly mowed grass, doors closed, and no sign of birds ever being outside…. Read more »
A 40-year Experiment in Organic Food
Takeaways from Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial by Lisa Elaine Held In Eastern Pennsylvania, fields of corn that stretch endlessly towards the horizon are a common sight. But 12 acres in Kutztown are nothing like the rest. It’s the site of Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial (FST), the longest running side-by-side comparison of organic and… Read more »
Give Your Input to USDA on GMO Labeling
Cornucopia’s Take: USDA is asking for stakeholder input on key issues of the GMO labeling law set to go into effect in 2018. We believe the most important issue here is to ensure that the USDA includes all gene-editing technologies in this labeling law. All Forms of Genetic Engineering Must Require Labels Organic Insider by… Read more »
There’s a Raging Debate Over Whether These Types of Lettuce and Tomato Are Really Organic
Washington Post by Peter Whoriskey Source: Scott Miller Consumers associate the word “organic” with healthy and safe, and that sounds simple enough. But exactly what kind of food should get the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “organic” label has been the subject of repeated controversies, and some of the fiercest divisions have opened recently over the eerily… Read more »
10 Urban Agriculture Projects in Chicago to Explore
FoodTank by Kathleen Corr Credit: Linda from Chicago In neighborhoods, in parks, on rooftops, and even at its airports, urban agriculture in Chicago is thriving. Food Tank has compiled a list of ten urban farming projects in Chicago that are definitely worth a visit. 1. Urban Canopy Rooftop Farm – 1400 W. 46th Street, Back of the… Read more »
Is Corporate Organic a Problem? It Depends on Who You Ask
As consumer demand for organic food continues to rise, many corporations that previously only marketed conventional food have thrown their hats into the ring. While they claim to be making organic food more widely available, the effects of their vertically integrated supply chains and lobbying efforts to stretch the organic regulations have had catastrophic effects… Read more »
WI — Kamp Kenwood Youth Scholarship
Cornucopia members Mary and Rick Jurmain are offering a scholarship to a first-time youth visitor to Kamp Kenwood. Operated by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, this beautiful camp focuses on farm traditions, cooperatives, sustainability — and fun! Summer camp for ages 8-14 is offered June 11-14. Camp for ages 8-12 is offered July 21-24, August 6-9… Read more »
Building Bridges to Uncover the Risk of Pesticides
The Cornucopia Institute recently sat down with Dr. Charles Benbrook to discuss pesticides. He has spent 50 years researching their impacts on our health and the environment and advocating for change. He worked on the House Committee on Agriculture and for the National Academy of Sciences and played an important role in the Food Quality… Read more »
