News regarding the dangers of GMOs and biotech, and the advantages of organic sustainable agriculture.

Radical Self Reliance: Homesteading Outside L.A.

By NextWorldTV

Meet the Dervaes family. These new urban homesteaders, a family of four, are not employed- living comfortably on $30,000/ year.  Growing their own food on 1/5th of an acre outside of Los Angeles, CA, they have meat, dairy and vegetables- all they need.  They even sell to local restaurants and neighbors.

Yes, a lot of […]

15 Years of GMO Contamination in Canada

by Lucy Sharratt

Over the past 15 years, Canadian farmers’ experience with contamination from genetically engineered (GE) crops has exposed the seriousness of the problem. One of the earliest arguments advocating caution in the release of GE plants into the environment was based on the fact we cannot control or recall these living, self-replicating organisms. […]

First Biotech Food Crop Containing Human Genes Set to be Approved for Commercial Production

by SEAN POULTER

The first GM food crop containing human genes is set to be approved for commercial production.

The laboratory-created rice produces some of the human proteins found in breast milk and saliva.

Its U.S. developers say they could be used to treat children with diarrhoea, a major killer in the Third World.

The rice is a […]

GM Alfalfa: What’s Happening Now – Time for consumers to vote with their dollars by buying organic

by George L. Siemon, Organic Valley CEO on January 25, 2011
UPDATE Friday, January 28:
Yesterday, the USDA announced its decision to allow the commercial sale of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa throughout the United States. I personally have been involved in the fight against GMOs for many years and was very disappointed that the biotech industry once again […]

Monsanto’s Roundup Triggers Over 40 Plant Diseases and Endangers Human and Animal Health

by Jeffrey M. Smith – posted on NaturalNews
The following article reveals the devastating and unprecedented impact that Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide is having on the health of our soil, plants, animals, and human population.

On top of this perfect storm, the USDA now wants to approve Roundup Ready alfalfa, which will exacerbate this calamity.Please tell USDA […]

Biotech Industry Spends More Than Half a Billion Dollars to Influence Congress

by Food & Water Watch

Since 1999, the 50 largest agricultural and food patentholdingcompanies and two of the largest biotechnology andagrochemical trade associations have spent more than $572million in campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures,according to a new analysis by Food & Water Watch.The companies and trade associations have hired a bevyof well-connected lobbying shops — […]

Minority Farmworkers are Climbing up the Organic Food Chain to Become Farm Owners

Rigoberto Bucio, 25, selling his own organic produce at the North Oakland, Calif. farmer markets.Photos: Bart Nagel

by Heather Smith

The strawberries, purchased in November, in a rainy parking lot behind a community clinic, feel like they’ve traveled in time from summer to here. Out of season, strawberries usually taste like rainwater. These have a taste that […]

USDA Approves GM Alfalfa: What You Can Do

by Becky Striepe
USDA approved Monsanto’s genetically modified alfalfa today.
The problem with GM alfalfa goes beyond the usual issues with GM crops. Since alfalfa cross-pollinates easily, this genetically engineered crop is guaranteed to contaminate organic crops. If you oppose GM alfalfa, you can send a letter to President Obama urging him to stop this approval.

Update: Our friends […]

USDA approves GMO alfalfa; CFS to sue

by Food Freedom

US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, just approved widespread planting of genetically modified alfalfa. The Center for Food Safety plans to sue and Food & Water Watch would like you send a letter to Obama to reverse the decision.

The Center for Food Safety criticized the announcement today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]

Mexico Says ‘No’ to Monsanto

by Jeannie Moulton
The Mexican government denied Monsanto’s request to expand its pilot project in northern Mexico.  The request was rejected because the government says additional tests and studies need to be carried out to determine the effect of genetically modified corn on native corn species.
Importance of corn varieties in Mexico and elsewhere
With the fears […]

In stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa

by Beth Buczynski
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announed today that it will once again allow unlimited, nation-wide commercial planting of Monsanto’s genetically-engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa.

The decision comes as a shock to many after the USDA admitted that GE alfalfa poses many risks to organic and conventional farmers in its Final Environmental Impact Statement […]

Haitians Burn Seeds Donated by Monsanto to Protect their Native Maize Seed

by Ryan Stock
Rural Haitian farmers gathered in Papaye, June 4, 2010. Many wore straw hats reading, “Aba Monsanto – down with Monsanto and Aba Preval – down with Preval.” (Photo: mediahacker)
Let It Burn

“A fabulous Easter gift,” commented Monsanto Director of Development Initiatives Elizabeth Vancil. Nearly 60,000 seed sacks of hybrid corn seeds and other vegetable […]

Small poultry farmers grapple with lack of slaughterhouses

by Carla A. Wise

Producers in Oregon and beyond can’t find places to butcher chickens

On a brilliant fall day at Afton Field Farm, Tyler Jones shows off his butchering shed. Jones’ farm in Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley boasts an overgrown orchard, a rambling farmhouse and sheds filled with freezers. Jones and his crew will butcher […]

China boosts funds for public debate on GM crops

by Li Jiao

[BEIJING] Scientists in China have been given government funding to discuss genetically modified (GM) crops with the public following protests against the technology.

The ministry of agriculture has made available 2.6 million yuan (US$400,000) since late last year, and some communication on GM crop science has now started.

Buoyed by high-level support from China’s premier, Wen Jiabao, […]

F.D.A and Dairy Industry Spar Over Testing of Milk

by WILLIAM NEUMAN

Each year, federal inspectors find illegal levels of antibiotics in hundreds of older dairy cows bound for the slaughterhouse. Concerned that those antibiotics might also be contaminating the milk Americans drink, the Food and Drug Administration intended to begin tests this month on the milk from farms that had repeatedly sold cows tainted by […]

Mutant mosquitoes: Malaysia release of genetically modified insects sparks fears of uncontrollable new species

by DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Malaysia has released 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes into a forest in the first experiment of its kind in Asia aimed at curbing dengue fever.
The field test is meant to pave the way for the official use of genetically engineered Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to mate with females and produce offspring with […]

Potential dangers of the Food Safety Modernization Act

Could the United States government make it illegal for its citizens to grow their own food? Check out this exclusive video RT got from George Hemminger (George4Title). He will be on later to discuss the new genetic fish made by AquaBounty.

“MK Group” denies importing genetically modified seed

by Emg.rs

“MK Group” underlines that it has never imported genetically modified seed and that any other information is untrue.

In regard to media reporting on the alleged import of genetically modified seed to the Republic of Serbia and false claims of Mr Nikola Aleksić, President of the Ecological Movement of Novi Sad, that “MK Group” […]

A Tale Of Two Seed Farmers: Organic Vs. Engineered

by DAN CHARLES
The Cold War phrase “peaceful coexistence” has been revived in a new context: as a potential solution in the clash between organic agriculture and genetic engineering.

This agricultural battle is global in scope, but one place where the tension is most tangible — and where its consequences are most concrete — is the […]

Monsanto’s latest farmwashing ad campaign debuts

by Kerry Trueman

Now that the Supreme Court has declared that corporations are people, too (happy birthday, Citizens United!), Monsanto is apparently out to put a friendly, slightly weather-beaten, gently grizzled face on industrial agriculture. The above ad (the lefthand one) is part of a campaign currently appearing in bus shelters in D.C., including just outside USDA headquarters, […]