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

Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? Film Examines the Dire Global Bee Crisis

About the film

In 1923, Rudolf Steiner, a scientist, philosopher & social innovator, predicted that in 80 to 100 years honeybees would collapse. His prediction has come true with Colony Collapse Disorder, where bees are disappearing in mass numbers from their hives with no clear single explanation. In an alarming inquiry into the insights behind […]

Bulgaria Becomes 7th EU Country to Ban GMOs

Bulgaria’s Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov. Photo by bgnes
by novinite.com
Bulgaria will explicitly oppose to the proposed import of GMO-containing food products and livestock fodder in the EU.

“I received a demarche rom Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the US asking us to support their demand that EU allows GMO-containing food products and livestock fodder on its territory,” Bulgaria’s Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenovrevealed […]

This Could Threaten the Future of Food – Destroying the Entire Food Chain…

by Dr. Mercola

Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide, is causing Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a serious plant disease, in many fields. Study after study shows that glyphosate is contributing not only to the huge increase in SDS, but also to the outbreak of numerous other diseases.

Glyphosate is the world’s bestselling weed killer; it was patented by […]

Michael Pollan and Others Sign Organic Unity Statement Against Monsanto’s GE Alfalfa

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by tea_time
by eatdrinkbetter
Heavy hitters in the food movement signed a unity statement in favor of fighting the USDA’s recent approval of GE alfalfa.
Here is the statement, in full:
In response to the USDA’s full deregulation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, the following statement was released by more than 20 groups and individuals […]

After Decades of Chemicals, Farmers in the Philippines are Seeing the Benefits of Organic Farming

by John Cavanagh, Robin Broad
yes! Magazine
posted Jan 31, 2011
In an increasingly vulnerable world, we’re searching for rooted communities—and what we can learn from them. Read more at our blog, Finding Rootedness.

Authors Robin and John with Gil and Teresa (at center) and Don Bosco staff.

Photo courtesy of Robin […]

Genetics Scientist: “GMO technolgy is in its infancy and we have no idea what the technology is going to do.”

by Jeremy Bloom

I’ve been asked why we’re writing so much about Monsanto and genetically modified food. “It’s been tested,” they say. “It’s safe,” they say. “There’s nothing to fear. Why are you spreading disinformation?”

I’m not a geneticist. So if I say “We don’t know enough about this,” I’m just one guy. So I’ll let a geneticist answer those […]

Australia’s 1st Legal Attack on Monsanto for GMO Contamination of Organic Crops

Photo credit: Marie Nirme

by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor
Over the Christmas and New Year, whilst people on the east and south of Australia were suffering floods and their consequences, one farmer, much further west, discovered a far more insidious flood was occurring on his property. He is also reeling from the consequences.

Steve Marsh is the farmer […]

New GMO Report from South Africa: GMOs Should be Banned – They Pose Unacceptable Risks to Human Health

by GMWatch

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), tasked by law, with monitoring the impacts of GMOs on the environment, has released its first report on 28th January 2011. The report co-produced by SANBI with premier biosafety unit, Genok in Norway and a number of South African universities record the findings of a three-year […]

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 […]