Search Results for: GMO

With A Gust of Wind, an Iowa Crop Duster Can Squash an Organic Farm

Grist Kurt Michael Friese Grinnell Heritage Farm is 152 years old. Andrew Dunham is the fifth generation of his family to work this land about 50 miles east of Des Moines. He is a direct descendant of Josiah Grinnell, founder of the town and the man Horace Greeley once famously quoted as having said, “Go… Read more »

Report Exposes Food Industry Cover-up

[Click here to read the updated carrageenan report] Toxic, Carcinogenic, Degraded Carrageenan: Widespread Contamination Present in the Common Food-Grade Ingredient A just-issued report by The Cornucopia Institute summarizes research on the common food additive carrageenan, exposing the industry’s hidden data demonstrating that all food-grade carrageenan contains a carcinogenic contaminant—low molecular weight poligeenan. Carrageenan, harvested from… Read more »

Close the Loophole Allowing Conventional Cows on Organic Farms

The comment period is closed. [UPDATED] Comment by July 27 Origin of Livestock – Proposed Rule One of Aurora’s “organic” dairies, each managing many thousands of cows (producing private label milk for Walmart, Costco, Target and others) In April 2010, the USDA National Organic Program’s new director, Miles McEvoy, promised that releasing a tightened set… Read more »

Antibiotic Resistance from Unexpected Sources–Herbicides, Dust and Metals

Forbes by Judy Stone Source: TP Martins More disturbing news was revealed this week on new sources of antibiotic resistance in the environment. First, in a troublesome report in mBio, the journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers showed that three commercial herbicides—Monsanto’s dicamba (Kamba) and glyphosate (Roundup), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)—could make strains… Read more »

Letter to the Congressional Organic Caucus

NOTE: PCC Natural Markets, in Seattle, coordinated a letter to members of Congress expressing the concerns from three dozen retailers about the arbitrary changes made by the USDA to NOSB governance and advice over organic food and agriculture.  These changes continue to trouble Cornucopia and many others in the organic community. PCC Natural Markets To… Read more »

Pro-Industry Journalism Casts Doubt on Real Science

Cornucopia’s Take: When scientific findings have regulatory consequences, the science is all too often subject to corporate spin. In this case, herbicide manufacturers have a vested interest in a regulatory conclusion that glyphosate is safe when used per label directions. The independent science says otherwise. For a good explanation of the corporate methodology and mythology at… Read more »

Keeping an Eye on Transgenic Crops

Rocky Mountain Outlook By David Suzuki Did you know that genetically modified, or “transgenic” crops are now commonplace on North American farms? According to a recent survey in the United States, the majority of Americans have no idea just how pervasive this technology has become. In fact, North Americans have been eating transgenic foods and… Read more »

Why the World Needs a Renaissance of Small Farming

The greed for profit is ruining agriculture – and the world – but the trend for local shops and farmers’ markets offers real hope The Guardian – UK Colin Tudge British farmers can’t produce pigs as cheaply as the Poles, or cattle feed as cheaply as the Brazilians, or milk as cheaply as the Americans,… Read more »

Government Tries to Help Stop Monarch Butterfly Massacre

The U.S. government vows to plant more milkweed while GMOs continue to kill off the magical creature in never-before-seen numbers. Rodale News by Christine Olley Source: Postbear Monarchs are getting massacred. This week, the Obama administration and conservation groups have come together to announce how they are going to save these beautiful creatures. The U.S…. Read more »

Major Pest Control Company Announces a Huge Change to Protect Bees

HuffPost by Chris D’Angelo Source: Day Donaldson A commonly used insecticide is suspected of contributing to the collapse of bee populations. In an effort to better protect the planet’s most important pollinators, pest control company Ortho says it will remove from its products a class of chemicals thought to be linked to declining bee populations. The company,… Read more »