News regarding the dangers of GMOs and biotech, and the advantages of organic sustainable agriculture.
Dow’s Controversial New GMO Corn Delayed Amid Protests
By Carey Gillam
Reuters
Excerpts:
A controversial new biotech corn developed by Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical, will be delayed at least another year as the company awaits regulatory approval amid opposition from farmers, consumers and public health officials.
Dow wants to roll out Enlist corn, and then soybeans and cotton to be used in combination […]
Seeds of Discontent: A Texas Organic Cotton Farmer Takes On Monsanto
by Eva Hershaw
TexasObserver.org and ReportingTexas.com
This story was produced as part of a joint venture with Reporting Texas, an online publication at the University of Texas-Austin’s School of Journalism.
Through the windows of LaRhea Pepper’s pickup, turnrows of blooming Texas cotton stretched to the horizon under an impeccably blue sky. We barreled down a dirt road toward her brother-in-law […]
How GMO Seeds Lead to Suicides in India and Threaten Native Heirloom Seeds
Two Options: The story of an environmental activist (Dr. Vandana Shiava) and a farmer (Bija Devi) and their fight to preserve heirloom seeds in India amidst great opposition.
In this brief video Dr. Vandana Shiava explains how the policies of Monsanto have led to farmer suicides (they lose their farms after believing they will get […]
Food Freedom: Cottage Food Laws Taking Shape at the State Level Across the Country
by Baylen Linnekin
reason.com
Excerpts:
State laws permitting cottage foods are quickly catching up with the demand for looser regulations. Nearly three-dozen states now have cottage food laws in place. And advocates in other states—including Minnesota and Alabama—are pushing to add their states to the growing list.
While cottage food laws benefit home cooks and their customers, another […]
The Meat Industry Now Consumes Four-Fifths of All Antibiotics
By Tom Philpott
motherjones.com
Last year, the Food and Drug Administration proposed a set of voluntary “guidelines” designed to nudge the meat industry to curb its antibiotics habit. Ever since, the agency has been mulling whether and how to implement the new program. Meanwhile, the meat industry has been merrily gorging away on antibiotics—and churning out […]
Nearly Half of All US Farms Now Have Superweeds
By Tom Philpott
motherjones.com
Last year’s drought took a big bite out of the two most prodigious US crops, corn and soy. But it apparently didn’t slow down the spread of weeds that have developed resistance to Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup (glyphosate), used on crops engineered by Monsanto to resist it. More than 70 percent of all […]
US farmers may stop planting GMs after poor global yields
by Robyn Vinter
Farmers Weekly
Some US farmers are considering returning to conventional seed after increased pest resistance and crop failures meant GM crops saw smaller yields globally than their non-GM counterparts.
Farmers in the USA pay about an extra $100 per acre for GM seed, and many are questioning whether they will continue to see benefits from using […]
Viral Gene in Genetically Engineered Foods Could Promote Disease
By Dr. Mercola
I’ve previously warned of the potential dangers of genetically engineered (GE) foods for many years now, pointing out that such crops might have wholly unforeseen consequences.
In recent years, such suspicions have increasingly proven correct, and now researchers have released yet another bombshell.
Genetic manipulation of crops, and more recently food animals, is a dangerous […]
GMO Labeling Requirement Gains Traction Nation-wide
Health Impact News Editor Comments: The GMO labeling issue is taking a new turn early here in 2013. Some of the major food companies are now beginning to discuss labeling initiatives. As the story below by the N.Y. Times shows, the issue is becoming more than just a consumer rights issue, but also a […]
Private “Unregulated” Food Clubs Treated Same as Illegal Drug Dealers
Raw milk is increasingly being treated the same as illegal drugs across the U.S.
Health Impact News Editor Comments: David Gumpert brings us an update on the Alvin Schlangen case in Minnesota, where the prosecutor has linked the distribution of raw milk as the same as distributing “contraband” or a “controlled substance.” This case is […]
Organics is About More Than Just Nutrients
Health Impact News Editor Comments: This wonderful graphic provided by the Organic Trade Association shows just what is driving the organic movement in the U.S. – consumer demand! As such, it has a tremendous impact on our economy.
Given the fact that today less than 1% of our population is now producing food for the […]
Demand Growing for Non-GMO Corn Seed Among Farmers
by The Organic & Non-GMO Report
Excerpts:
Farmers questioning the value of GMO traits in corn.
Interest and demand for non-GMO corn seed among US farmers is growing, according to seed suppliers who say that higher yields and returns, less cost, dissatisfaction with genetically modified traits, and better animal health are driving the demand.
Tim Schneider, a sales representative for Tom […]
Raw Milk Vending Machine Supplier in UK Targeted by Government
Mr. Hook told the Guardian: "Over the last five years I have sold hundreds of thousands of pints of raw milk and there has never been any illness."
Do we really need industrial agriculture to feed the world?
The biggest players in the food industry—from pesticide pushers to fertilizer makers to food processors and manufacturers—spend billions of dollars every year not selling food, but selling the idea that we need their products to feed the world. But, do we really need industrial agriculture to feed the world? Can sustainably grown food deliver […]
USDA Opposition to Baker Family Farm and Heritage Pigs Continues
Health Impact News
Last year we covered the story of the Michigan DNR’s attack against family farms in Michigan raising heritage pigs. Using the states Invasive Species Act to expand its jurisdiction beyond hunting and fishing to farming operations, the DNR threatened several family farms in Michigan with felony charges if they did not destroy their […]
Family Farmers to Travel to Washington, D.C. to Take on Monsanto
by The Cornucopia Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dozens of family farmers, Plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et al v. Monsanto,will travel from across America to Washington, D.C. this week to take on Monsanto and demand the right to farm. They will attend the January 10th Oral Argument in the Appeal […]
The Lack of Science Behind GMO Technology
Health Impact News Editor Comments: Are those against genetically engineered foods “anti-science”? Peter Melchet answers this charge and shows how it is actually the pro-GM lobby that is against science. Be sure to also watch the short video below by Dr. Bernhoft, who discusses the lack of science behind genetically engineered food and how […]
Replace Your Lawn with an Edible Garden and You Will Get Arrested in Many Cities Across America
Productive Property vs. the Lawn Police
by Karen De Coster
It’s amazing to see the number of individuals who are being persecuted for using their own property for productive purposes. This house and garden in Florida violated an “appearance code.” Appearance is always subjective, that is, until the government perverts definitions to enforce its arbitrary laws.
Individuals […]
Raw Milk Akin to “Controlled Substance” Prosecutor Tells Judge
by David Gumpert
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture continues to push ahead with misdemeanor criminal charges involving the distribution of raw milk, meat, and eggs against farmer Alvin Schlangen in his home county, despite the similarity to three charges he was acquitted on last September.
At a hearing in St. Cloud recently, the Stearns County prosecutor, […]
Tell President Obama and the FDA you won’t eat GMO salmon!
by Food Democracy Now!
Right now President Obama and bureaucrats at the Food and Drug Administration are preparing to unleash genetically engineered salmon on the market. After years of controversial regulatory review, this past week the Obama administration cleared a final hurdle for AquaBounty’s GMO salmon to be approved at any moment.
On Friday, December 21st, […]