When you think of insecticides you probably think of dangerous chemical compounds that allow modern industrial agriculture (and its high yields) to occur, but that also have some negative effects on the environment and also on human/animal health. The effects of a certain class of insecticides on honeybees, for instance, may well be what comes
This is part 2 of a 4 part series by Brad Walker of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment analyzing The Nefarious Connection Between Agriculture and Our Rivers. Read Part 1 Part 2: The major culprit There are many well-documented critiques of the industrialized agricultural system, so we will not dwell in detail about why
Here’s some text from a PBS interview with Michael Pollan, entitled “Modern Meat.” This covers the need for the holes (“Rumen Fistula”) and more. Read the whole thing via the link, this snippet is just the beginning. The problem with this system, or one of the problems with this system, is that cows are not evolved
[UPDATED – Oct. 15, 27, 2012; see below] The results of a controversial French study on the health effects of GM corn and Roundup-tainted drinking water on rats were released this past Wednesday, triggering a Euro-wide ‘media storm’ in the process. The news is barely making a ripple here in the U.S. The study tested
A recent exposing of government emails between White House, USDA officials and Agribusiness industry executives, reveals the on-going planting of GE crops in over 50 wild life refuges throughout the U.S. The rationale for this effort — as described in the emails – is “habitat restoration” where Roundup ready crops are being allowed to grow so as to prevent invasive weed growth and rebuild lost vegetation cover, presumably. Many conservation and environmental groups doubt that this policy reflects “sound land management practices” and worry that it is in fact a dangerous ecological experiment. Some critics assert that it is part of a broader public relations campaign for the bio-tech crop industry on behalf of the present administration.
on June 22, the Brazilian Bureau of Indian Affairs announced confirmation of a group of uncontacted people living in the western part of the Amazon’s Javari Valley, which is near the border of Peru. The existence of the group of about 200 or so people were confirmed following an over-flight expedition of the region; a series of aerial photographs clearly show several rounded-top huts in small clearings dotting the forested land. Analysis of the photos also showed that the tribe is growing a variety of crops, including corn, bananas, and peanuts.
More info on organic farmers vs. Monsanto
The benefit of wind turbines is going to be a very long debate that carries on for many years, but new research led by a researcher at the US Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and his co-researcher from the University of Colorado could swing the balance of discussions just a little bit. According to the
The resurgent interest in alternative fuels has propelled interest in using biomass “feedstocks” as an energy source for liquid fuel and bio-electricity generation. But bio-fuel (and other ‘commodity chemicals’) derived from biomass faces one big technical challenge: how to separate the useful constituents of cellulose-based biomass (i.e., its its six-carbon, building block sugars) from the not so useful ones (such as lignin and hemicellulose)? REcetn research has confirmed that the key to biomass conversion to fuel is a fungus with the less-than-appealing name of brown rot fungus.
Following up on a post in April by Josh, “Productive Farmland Should Grow Food not Fuel,” and a post this week by Beth, “Is Biofuel Always a Green Option? EU Regulations Indicate Not,” in this guest post below, Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute discusses how cars and people compete for our cropland
The National Research Council reports that the use of genetically engineered crops results in less harm to wild life, less soil erosion, and greater cost savings. Its findings could impact agricultural practices in other nations.
Grow food not fuel (biofuels), scientists say.
BMO Financial Group strategist Donald Coxe warns that the current credit crunch and soaring oil prices will pale in comparison to a looming shortage of food. Again, I’ve included a podcast, just in case you’d rather listen: food-prices.mp3 Investors are being warned, a global food catastrophe is emerging, a dire prediction he dropped on the
