The way food is produced has a profound impact on its nutritional profile, according to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Not only is organic farming better for animal welfare, the environment and wildlife, writes Peter Melchett, but organic meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables all have tangible health benefits for the people who eat them.
… Organic food is well worth paying for - for … | 4th March 2016 News Food Farming Regulation Organic UK Health organic-boxes-cut.jpg The way food is produced …
Organic farming has changed, but for the better, writes Soil Association head of policy and Norfolk organic farmer Peter Melchett. As never before, organic inspections are central to the delivery of environmental and animal care, and food you really can trust.
… Organic inspections, organic growth Peter Melchett | 24th May 2014 Comment Food Farming Regulation Organic UK farm-cut.jpg Organic farming has changed, but for the …
Those opposed to the mass release of GM crops and foods inadequately tested for health and ecological safety are routinely accused of being anti-science, writes Elizabeth Henderson. But it's the GM corporations and their academic allies that are suppressing scientific research, and organic farmers that are building alliances with independent scientists for a future of safe, healthy food.
… Organic farmers are not anti-science - we … that are suppressing scientific research, and organic farmers that are building alliances … brainstorming sessions for the New York Organic Action Plan, an organic farmer made an …
The apparently lower productivity of organic farming systems is caused by research bias, writes Lauren C. Ponisio, and the far greater research spending on 'conventional' agriculture. Funds should be redirected to agro-ecological methods that are highly productive, sustainable and maintain biodiversity.
… Organic farming can close the gap on … | 28th December 2014 Comment Farming Food Organic Science organic-tomatoes-cut.jpg The apparently lower …
The EU is considering the exclusion of gene-edited plants and animals from GM regulations, write Janet Cotter & Ricarda Steinbrecher. However gene-edited organisms clearly fall within the definition of GMOs in both European and international law. They also present real risks to the environment and human health - and must be regulated like any other GMOs.
GM 2.0? 'Gene-editing' produces GMOs that must be regulated as GMOs Janet Cotter Ricarda Steinbrecher | 13th January 2016 News Science Technology GMOs Regulation EU canola-seed-cut.jpg The EU is …
Organic certification used to be carried out by real farmers in wellies, who knew all the tricks and could spot dodgy practice on the land at 100 paces, writes Julian Rose. Today's certifiers arrive in patent leather shoes and get no further than the office - and this is meant to be an improvement?
… Organic certification - inorganic bureaucracy Julian Rose | 17th May 2014 Ethical Living Food Farming Organic Regulation UK organic-sow-piglets-cut.jpg Organic …
Advocates claim that synthetic biology and the so-called New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) are distinct from genetic engineering (GE), write Helena Paul, Elisabeth Bücking & Ricarda Steinbrecher. In fact synthetic biology and NBTs carry similar risks to old-style GE, and even create novel hazards. The 'new GE' techniques - as they should be named - and their products deserve regulation at least as strict as those applying to GMOs.
'New Breeding Techniques' and synthetic biology - genetic engineering by another name Helena Paul Elisabeth Bücking Ricarda A. Steinbrecher | 4th April 2017 News GMOs Technology Regulation Farming EU …
New EU regulations forbid the use of herbal remedies and plant essences to maintain animal health instead of antibiotics, reports Sandra Saadi. An organic ewe breeder in France has already been threatened with the loss of EU farm support payments.
… EU outlaws animal use of herbal remedies on organic farms Sandra Saadi | 11th July 2014 … News Farming Food France Regulation EU Health Organic sandrine-cut.jpg New EU regulations … of antibiotics, reports Sandra Saadi. An organic ewe breeder in France has already been …
Building on a talk prepared for the Resurgence 'One Earth, One Humanity, One Future' conference, (although not presented at that event) Fritjof Capra explains new scientific evidence supporting the long-held supposition of Buddhists and others that humans are interconnected and part of nature.
… large-scale industrial agriculture to organic, community-oriented, sustainable … to grow and process food. • The healthy, organically grown food would hugely improve … and so on – are linked to our diet. • Organic farming would contribute significantly …
Field studies show that the intense radioactivity released by the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters is seriously and unequivocally damaging to wildlife, writes Timothy A. Mousseau - in stark contrast to theoretical studies that show little or no impact on plant and animal health and populations.
At Chernobyl and Fukushima, radioactivity has seriously harmed wildlife Timothy A. Mousseau University of South Carolina | 27th April 2016 Comment Natural World Nuclear Radiation Health Science …
A broad community of independent scientific researchers and scholars challenges claims of a 'consensus' that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are 'safe' to grow and eat. The claims - which continue to be widely and often uncritically aired - are a false and artificial construct that have been misleadingly perpetuated through diverse media.
There is no scientific consensus on GMO safety Angelika Hilbeck colleagues | 23rd February 2015 News GMOs Food Farming Health Science corn-storm-iowa-cut.jpg Are GMO crops safe? We don't know. …
The EU Commission has caved in to US pressure in TTIP trade talks by deciding to consider organisms modified by new 'gene editing' techniques as non-GM - in violation of the EU's own laws. The move could make the 'new GMOs' exempt from labeling and from health and environmental testing.
… organisations, small-scale farmers and the organic sector have called on the Commission …
Cutting-edge molecular profiling analyses reveal that the popular weedkiller Roundup causes serious liver damage to rats at low doses permitted by regulators, reports Claire Robinson. The findings suggest that residues of glyphosate-based herbicides in food could be linked to rises in the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetes and 'metabolic syndrome'.
Roundup residues in food cause fatty liver disease Claire Robinson GMWatch | 9th January 2017 News Science Health Pesticides obesity-cut.jpg Cutting-edge molecular profiling analyses reveal that the …
The very term 'genetic engineering' implies high precision in the alterations made to genes and deep understanding of their consequences, writes Jonathan Latham. In fact, we have never had either. And even with the arrival of CRISPR and other 'gene editing' systems, that remains the case: technologists are thrashing about in a perilous sea of unfathomable complexities and unknowable outcomes.
CRISPR and the three myths of precise genome editing Jonathan Latham Independent Science News | 25th April 2016 Comment GMOs Science Technology Media Health 741px-crispr-cut.png The very term …
The end of the Triassic era 200 million years ago was marked by a surge in CO2 and anoxic oceans saturated with toxic hydrogen sulfide, writes Jessica H. Whiteside - enough to finish off half of all known organisms. Could humans now be embarking on a similar experiment?
… oceans We extracted and analysed fossilised organic molecules - known as biomarkers - that …
160 global groups have called for a moratorium on new 'genetic extinction' technology at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Gene drive technology, they say, poses serious and irreversible threats to biodiversity, national sovereignty, peace and food security.
… the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, the …
As scientific evidence grows of the many ways in which glyphosate - pipe-cleaner, herbicide and antibiotic - damages the environment and health, governments and regulators turn a blind eye, writes Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, and the EU has even raised allowable residue levels. It's time for us all to put bans in place wherever we can!
… respectively. Those who ate predominantly organic food had lower levels, along with … residues from their foods by buying organic. Environmental toxicity a concern for …
A growing body of scientific evidence show that cell phone users suffer a range of negative health impacts from infertility and brain tumors to hyperactivity and memory loss, writes Gary Null. Yet the Center for Disease Control has taken a weak and ambiguous stance on the issue, reflecting industry interests at the expense of citizens. We deserve - and must demand - better.
Radiating corruption? The frightening science and politics of cell phone safety Gary Null | 8th February 2016 News Radiation Health Regulation Science USA cellphone-cut.jpg A growing body of …
At what point are technologies so complex, uncertain, or unmanageable as to be beyond regulation? The question is key to human and ecological health, writes Jonatham Latham. But instead of learning from successful approaches, such as aviation safety, we are throwing the lessons away when faced with truly complex problems - like chemicals, GMOs, and now 'gene drives'.
Gene drives: the scientific case for a complete and perpetual ban Jonathan Latham | 13th February 2017 News Regulation GMOs Health Toxics Ecology Pesticides chemical-valley-cut.jpg At what point 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 …
The US EPA has approved new GMO corn and soybean varieties resistant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D, writes Jim Goodman - and the highly toxic herbicide mix itself. In this latest escalation of the chemical war against nature there is one clear winner - Dow AgroSciences. But everyone else loses - farmers, consumers and our increasingly endangered wildlife.
… Regulation Law Natural World USA Toxics GMOs Organic milkweed-monarch-cut.jpg The US EPA … suit. When people ask me why we switched to organic farming, that swirling yellow tank mix … available to growers." (These are tactics organic farmers have always used). But for …
While the fossil fuel industry and Republican states and senators step up legal and political challenges to Obama's Clean Power Plan, protests have also been flooding in to the EPA's ten regional offices from climate activists - demanding that it cut out dirty biofuels and 'carbon trading' loopholes, and protect vulnerable communities from fossil fuel pollution.
Climate Justice activists to EPA: make Clean Power Plan work for fossil fuel afflicted communities! Kate Aronoff Waging NonViolence | 24th January 2015 Activism Climate Change Fossil Fuels Community …