Court Decision Keeps Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Off the Fields
By Christine White
A recent appeals court ruling upholds a nationwide ban on GE alfalfa, claiming it can cause permanent damage to crops, the environment, and the livelihood of farmers.
In the 1990’s, Monsanto began developing a variety of genetically modified alfalfa that would be resistant to one of the company’s major herbicides. This Monsanto alfalfa, called Roundup Ready alfalfa, was approved by the USDA in 2005—but not without a significant political backlash.
Nominations for Food Sovereignty Prize - Last Day July 1!
By Christine White
This October, the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) will present its first annual Food Sovereignty Prize. Eligible candidates for the prize include groups or organizations that have made contributions to food justice, sustainable agriculture, and a democratically controlled food system. The recipient will be chosen by a panel of CFSC committee members, and recognized at CFSC”S 13th Annual Conference, held October 10-13th in Des Moines, Iowa. The Food Sovereignty Prize is an exceptional opportunity to recognize groups dedicated to transforming our food system.
Farmers' innovation matches achievement of World Food Prize winner
By Christine White
The World Food Prize was recently awarded to an Ethiopian scientist for his work breeding corn for resistance to Striga – a parasitic weed and the cause of significant crop losses for African farmers. The new striga-resistant seeds should be on shelves in the coming year. But as far back as 15 years ago, Kenyan farmers developed their own solution to Striga – one that also provides fertility, animal fodder, helps conserve precious irrigation water, and provides resistance to another major African pest – the stemborer.
World Food Prize Winner Announced
By Christine White
The 2009 World Food Prize will be awarded to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia. Financially supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and USAID - Dr. Ejeta developed a drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum hybrid. The lethal parasitic Striga weed, also known as witchweed, has devastated African crop yields for years. Dr. Ejeta’s scientific breakthroughs in defeating the Striga scourge have made a significant contribution to the productivity of corn hybrids in sub- Saharan Africa.
Genetic Engineering and the Failure of Science
A new peer-reviewed article by Dr. Don Lotter, Genetic Engineering and the Failure of Science has been making waves as of late. The article is a stark reminder that the jury is very much still out about the long-term health effects of GM foods. Lotter chronicles the history of “red flags” that should have prompted independent research into adverse health effects of GM foods and goes on to explain the academic culture behind the paucity of independent studies. Watch for an upcoming Food First Backgrounder on Dr. Lotter's findings or check out a lecture by Dr. Lotter covering the content of his new paper.
One in Nine Americans on Food Stamps
By Christine White
The numbers are in, and the reality is harsh. According to a recent USDA report, one in nine Americans are using federal food stamps. This bleak statistic reflects the intensifying food crisis that plagues our nation. In March 2009, enrollment jumped 2 percent to 33.2 million people. And in the wake of a deep recession and high unemployment, the numbers will continue to grow. In a privileged nation of plenty, threatened by a chronic obesity epidemic, how is it that millions are going without?
Will new legislation end excessive commodities speculation?
By Christine White
Today both the House and Senate are holding hearings on calls to re-regulate commodities markets.
The National Animal Identification System: Are they listening?
The extremely unpopular National Animal Identification System would require that all livestock animals be registered with the government, tagged and tracked, ostensibly to better trace disease outbreaks. This would mean that small farmers would have to tag and register every cow, pig, or chicken on the farm, while industrial feedlots would be assigned a lot number for each large grouping, further driving up the marginal costs to small producers.
You'll Never Look at Food in the Same Way Again
The new documentary, Food, Inc. by filmmaker Robert Kenner has the potential to change the eating habits of Americans in much the same way that Frances Moore Lappé’s book Diet for a Small Planet opened people to a greater understanding of our food system for another generation when it was published in the 1970s. The Food, Inc. preview I attended in San Francisco was well received by a rapt audience.
Permaculture gardens now wrap around the Food First Office in Oakland, CA USA
Food First’s new permaculture garden is planted, mulched, and watered thanks to 35 energetic volunteers. In two months we will be eating the garden's bounty in our daily vegetarian lunches. If you are in the Oakland/Berkeley area, feel free to call and stop by to have lunch with us. We planted table grapes, guava, kiwi, and thornless blackberries, hazelnut and fig trees, plus corn, beans, pumpkins and squash, peas, tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, basil and much more. Next we need to learn to cook with some of the more exotic perennial crops just planted. Ever eaten daylillies? Me either.