Modern practices mean that more than ever, people are disconnected from nature, writes Damitha Rajapakse. In Sri Lanka - a biodiversity hotspot which is full of endemic plants with unique properties - a conservation programme is under way to teach the new generation about the rich heritage of native fruits which surrounds them.
Conserving and popularizing wild fruits in Sri Lanka - the Native Forest Foundation Damitha Rajapakse | 1st March 2016 Ethical Living Sri Lanka Heritage Fruits Farming sames as in present …
Extensive, long running evidence for the cancer-causing effects of glyphosate, and other toxic impacts, have been ignored by regulators. Indeed as the evidence has built up, permitted levels in food have been hugely increased, writes Dr Mae Wan Ho.
Glyphosate is a disaster for human health Dr Mae Wan Ho | 30th April 2014 News Farming Toxics Regulation Health USA EU Science roundup-ultra-cut.jpg Extensive, long running evidence for the …
The troubled project to develop GMO 'golden rice' cultivars has just hit a serious obstacle. An attempt to breed the 'event' responsible for carotenoid production into a commercial rice variety has produced widespread genomic instability, causing weak plants and poor grain production. Has the golden rice hype bubble finally burst?
GMO golden rice trials fail: stunted plants, reduced grain yield GMWatch | 1st March 2017 News GMOs Farming Science Technology Food golden-rice-cut.jpg The troubled project to develop GMO 'golden …
Contamination of food grade or animal feed supplements with genetically engineered bacteria is illegal in the European Union. A German enforcement laboratory alerted EU officials to illegal genetically engineered bacterial contamination of a riboflavin supplement intended for animal feed.
Illegal genetically modified bacteria found in animal feed supplement Jonathan Latham Allison Wilson | 30th June 2017 News Gm GE Genetically Modified Genetically Engineered Animal Farming …
Wales has an enviable record of declining BTB in cattle - without having to kill a single badger. Jan Bayley explains how Wales's combination of frequent testing and exacting biosecurity has succeeded - and how England can learn from Wales's experience.
How Wales is defeating bovine TB without killing badgers Jan Bayley | 14th April 2014 News Badgers Natural World Farming Health Wales UK welsh-cow.jpg It's about the cattle, much, much more than it's …
The Soil Association's Catering Mark scheme promises 'fresh food you can trust'. This sounds great, writes Lynda Brown. But what does it really deliver? The truth, she finds, is much less than the promise might suggest, considerably more complicated, and threatens to erode the public's trust in the Soil Association's organic brand and values.
… of industrial trans fats, undesirable additives including many food colourings, and … head in the sand. Processing aids and additives: Whereas organic processing … only allow a handful of processing aids and additives (36 out of the 290 currently …
Is it worse than Mc Donalds? The BLT sandwich is an icon, the ultimate symbol of convenience culture. Tesco alone sells 5 million a year. This is what the £1.80 you pay for your BLT buys...
… Factory Farming Organics Agribusiness Additives Organics Biotechnology Risk Food And … became infertile within just 4 generations. Additives Modern mills can produce more flour … than that of many small countries. Dough (Additives) Traditional bread needs nothing …
A new wave of ‘next generation' GM crops resistant to multiple herbicides, may be approved for import into the European Union, writes Helen Wallace, even though the health impact of the herbicide combinations is unknown. Regulators and retailers must refuse to authorise these GMOs or allow their use in any part of the food chain.
… to be washed off by rain. Some of these additives have repeatedly been shown to … these formulations, such as POE-tallow amine additives, can significantly increase …
The new Commission may have dropped environmental protection from its 2015 work plan - but it's pressing ahead with a new Directive to protect corporate secrecy, threatening consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers.
… (chemical, pesticide, seed, biotech, and additives), which argue that this …
Fifteen EU states have now joined the GM-free movement as the 3rd October deadline for registration nears, along with four regions. They collectively account for 65% of the EU's arable cropland, and 65% of its population, and Greenpeace expects more to sign up.
Two thirds of EU cropland, population ditch GM crops The Ecologist | 1st October 2015 News GMOs EU Farming Regulatin Corporations farm-germany-cut.jpg Fifteen EU states have now joined the GM-free …
Below-par farm biosecurity should block farmers from participating in England's badger culls, writes Anna Dale. But a large body of evidence of poor and negligent biosecurity by farmers suggests that Natural England, the government's official regulator, is turning a blind eye to this strict requirement - and undermining the purpose of the cull.
Is Natural England granting unlawful badger cull licences to farmers with poor biosecurity? Anna Dale | 29th March 2017 Activism Badgers Farming Regulation UK England Health Science badger-2-cut.jpg …
Thirty-five distinguished scientists urge the US-EPA not to register new mixtures of the herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate, intended for use on herbicide-tolerant GMO crops. Approval of the herbicide mixtures would endanger both human and environmental health.
Scientists write: EPA, ban 'agent orange' herbicide mix and GMO crops! The undersigned | 3rd July 2014 Comment Farming Toxics USA GMOs Regulation windy-day-spray-cut.jpg Thirty-five distinguished …
The dominant story about the future of the world food supply is logical, well known and widely disseminated, writes Jonathan Foley. It is also completely wrong.
Changing the global food narrative Jonathan Foley | 1st January 2014 Comment Food Farming GMOs Gm Food Population water-apple-kerala.png The dominant story about the future of the world food supply …
A new study sets out the huge benefits of organic farming to people and the environment, writes Peter Melchett, including more wildlife, healthier consumers and farm workers, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced soil erosion and increased water retention. We need more of it, fast!
We need more organic farming! Peter Melchett Soil Association | 23rd March 2017 Comment Farming Food Organic Pesticides Health Water beetroot-cut.jpg A new study sets out the huge benefits of organic …
The increasingly militant protests by dairy farmers against low prices forced on them by the corporate 'free market' represent serious and effective resistance against the 'free trade' agenda being forced on the world by neoliberal governments, writes David Miller. They are the first steps to building a new global food system that respects food, people, culture and environment.
Dairy farmers' uprisings lead the way to a democratic world food system David Miller | 17th February 2016 News Protest Farming Food Trade EU Canada USA Labour Corporations Law Politics …
Dow's teratogenic pesticide chlorpyrifos is a human and environmental disaster, writes Janette D. Sherman. It causes serious, irreversible damage to the human foetus even at low concentrations that may be harmless to the mother, resulting in severely and permanently disabled and mentally damaged children. But it's still sprayed in vast quantities on America's farms.
Chlorpyrifos - cause of birth defects, mental impairment - sprayed on farms across the US Janette D. Sherman | 15th November 2014 News Farming USA Toxics Regulation spraying-lorsban-cut.jpg Dow's …
Secret documents leaked to Greenpeace from the EU-US TTIP negotiations show that environmental protection, climate change mitigation, consumer protection, public health and sustainability are sacrificed throughout to corporate profit and commercial interests.
Leaked TTIP papers reveal 100% corporate sellout Oliver Tickell | 3rd May 2016 News Trade Corporations US EU Politics ttip-leaks-cut.jpg Secret documents leaked to Greenpeace from the EU-US TTIP …
India's food system, essentially clean just a generation ago, has been comprehensively contaminated with sugar, bad fats, synthetic additives, GMOs and pesticides under the country's neoliberal 'great leap forwards', writes Colin Todhunter. The result? a surge in obesity, diabetes and cancer incidence, but no let-up in the under-nutrition of those too poor to join in the over-consumption.
… contaminated with sugar, bad fats, synthetic additives, GMOs and pesticides under the … in the Guardian reveals the cocktails of additives, colourants and preservatives that … unnatural preservatives and harmful additives. In India, it also involves calling …
Growing coffee is both a point of pride and a significant economic driver for Colombia but a changing climate is now threatening the harvest. FOREST RAY reports on the new challenges facing growers from that country
Ecologist Special Report: Colombian Coffee Growers Adapt to a Changing Climate Forest Ray | 21st March 2017 News Climate Change Farming Colombia Coffee img_4018.jpg Growing coffee is both a point of …
Biogas digesters are a key technology for global sustainable development, writes John M. Hawdon. They simultaneously combat parasites that infect a billion people, reduce deforestation and methane emissions, and deliver vital energy to rural communities.
Biogas - the global green solution for health, energy, environment John M. Hawdon | 8th May 2014 Comment Health Energy Climate Change Forests Farming biogas-digester-meru-cut.jpg Biogas digesters are …
Something important just happened at Cornell's Alliance for Science, writes Steven M. Druker. Long known as a keen promoter of genetic engineering, the organization has experienced a profound change of direction. Its new director, Sarah Davidson Evanega, has opened an inclusive scientific dialogue on the safety of GMO crops. Who says it's all 'over'?
Surprise - Cornell is taking the GMO safety debate to a new level! Steven M. Druker | 19th October 2015 Comment GMOs Science Health Food Farming USA cornell-gates-cut.jpg Something important just …