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Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts

Growing Climate Refugee Crisis in the US and Around the World

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The refugees pouring out of Syria and Iraq have focused global attention on migrants however the unfolding human catastrophe will be dwarfed by the coming climate refugee crisis. The issue of climate refugees is an international problem that is already impacting the US. The refugees are streaming from Syria and Iraq was caused in part by climate impacts in the Levant. However, the refugees that streamed out of Syria and Iraq in 2015 is nothing compared to the number of climate refugees we can expect in the years to come.

Climate refugees are people who are forced to leave their homes and their communities due to global warming. The number of people who fall into this category is destined to get far worse in the coming years. Although climate change is not new, warming attributable to human activities is a recent phenomenon.

The so called age of the Anthropocene started with the dawn of the industrial revolution and specifically the burning of fossil fuels and cutting down forests which serve as carbon sinks. Together these forces have increased the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This in turn has caused global temperatures to rise, which exacerbates drought and causes the ice to melt and the seas to rise.

Flooding, droughts and other forms of extreme weather will force massive migrations in coming years. Climate refugees are a subset of environmental refugees. Environmental refugees include immigrants forced to flee because of natural disasters, the numbers of these types of refugees is on the increase. By some accounts there may be hundreds of millions of such refugees in the coming decades. Climate change is killing people and compromising health, livelihoods from tourism, fishing and agriculture are also in jeopardy.

People have been suffering and dying due to drought in parts of Africa, however parts of China and the state of California has also been suffering from massive droughts in recent years. Under drought conditions agriculture becomes much more difficult and in places without access to irrigation it is impossible. Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya each lose more than 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of productive land every year to desertification. Residents near the Horn of Africa are especially vulnerable to drought and desertification. Most rural residents in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Drought is particularly severe and causing mass migrations in Ethiopia's Somali region.

Many coastal cities throughout the world are located in low-lying areas vulnerable to sea level rise. This includes: Manhattan, New York; London, England; Shanghai, China; Hamburg, Germany; Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mumbai, India; Manila, Philippines; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Flooding is already inundating some island nations like the Maldives. Large populations in countries like Bangladesh could also be directly impacted by flooding. Developed countries are also at risk including Italy and the US. Residents of Chesapeake Bay's Tangier Island are expected to become climate refugees in the few decades.

Scientists estimate that due to climate change, the village of Kivalina, in northwestern Alaska, will be under water by the year 2025. A total of more than 180 villages are already feeling the impacts from rising seas. The Yupik community of Newtok, is expected to be completely under water by 2017.

Rising seas from climate change are already causing the some people to relocate in the US. Climate migration is already underway in the bayous of Louisiana, about 80 miles southwest of New Orleans, the Isle de Jean Charles, is disappearing into under the rising waters in the Gulf of Mexico forcing many of its residents to flee.

The tiny island was inhabited by the Isle de Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Native Americans. The climate related problem of rising seas and coastal erosion has swallowed 98 percent of the land and the situation has been compounded by the oil and gas industry which is the root cause of global warming. The island used to be 22,000-acres but only 320-acres are left.

Here is a UN map of areas around the world where we can expect to see climate refugees.



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The Problem of Food Waste is Being Addressed in France

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France has just passed legislation designed to help minimize food waste. Reducing food waste reduces agriculture's environmental impacts including greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing food waste is also an important part of managing world hunger which is destined to worsen as climate change increasingly impacts global food production.

Around 40 percent of the world's land is taken up by food and agriculture and together they produce almost one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing waste will decrease the amount of food required and by extension reduce some of the adverse environmental impacts associated with agriculture.

Almost one quarter of the food produced is wasted. Such waste occurs at every stage of the food chain. In total we throw out between 30 and 40 percent of our food. In Europe and North America almost one half of food waste occurs at the final consumption phase. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that we waste 1.3 billion tons of edible food at a cost of $750 billion annually.

American consumers throw away around 20 percent of all the food they buy. The problem of food waste is also a concern in France where the average French person throws out 44 to 66 pounds of food each year. Much of that food (15 lbs) is still in its wrapping

Supermarkets commonly discard food which is still edible. In France supermarket food waste represents around 10 percent of the 7.1 million tons of food wasted annually in the country. Last summer French supermarket chain Intermarche decided to do something about the problem of discarding edible food. They launched a clever campaign to sell what they call "ugly" produce at a 30 percent discount.

Now the French have passed legislation that will forbid grocery stores from throwing away unsold food. Under the new law produce that is still safe to eat must be donated to charity or if it is no longer fit for human consumption it must be given to farmers for use as animal feed or compost.

As of July 2016 large stores in France must sign agreements with charities or face very significant fines amounting to as much as $85,000.

While the French law targeting supermarkets is a good start, there are other even larger sources of food waste. Restaurants waste 15 percent of food but consumers are by far the biggest problem as they waste a staggering 67 percent of the food they purchase.

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Video - Food By the Numbers: Feeding our Hungry Planet

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Showing Support for Family Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture

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Family farmers are extremely valuable yet they are under siege and need our support. World Food Day 2014 shines a spotlight on the world's 500 million family farmers. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that based on data from 93 countries, family farmers account for an average of 80 percent of all holdings, and are the main producers of food that is consumed locally. Family farmers are also sustainable farmers. Sadly family farmers are disappearing at an alarming rate. Family farms that used to be an important source of rural jobs.

As explained in a foodtank article

"The world cannot do without the family farmer," says Amy McMillen, Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator for FAO. "It’s because of the family farmer that we eat a variety of healthy foods every day. And yet, family farmers still make up the majority of poor and hungry people in the world. We must do more to incentivize, celebrate and exponentially improve the lives of family farmers to ensure all people have access to fresh, healthy food."

While family farms are critical to food security and sustainable agriculture, they are having an increasingly hard time making ends meet. More need to be done to support them with tools and resources that address the cost of land, labor costs, government regulations and policies, climate change and the inherent risk of farming, as well as the disproportionate amount of work required given the financial returns.

As explained by Nabeeha M. Kazi, President & CEO of Humanitas Global and Chair of the Community for Zero Hunger, we must work to preserve family farmers.

"We do not want the universe of family farmers to shrink, and we must have policies, programs and resources to enable family farmers to stay on the farm if they desire to do so and perform at their potential," says Kazi.

We must help farmers to develop tools for designing sustainable agricultural systems based on the diversity and stability of local ecosystems. We all have a vested interest in supporting the family farmer. We simply cannot afford to lose family farmers if we are to address issues of food security and engage sustainable agricultural practices.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Infographic - Biodiversity for Family Farming

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World Food Day 2014: Assessing US Agricultural Risks and Focusing on Family Farms

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October 16th is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ designated World Food Day. This event was first celebrated thirty three years ago. The theme for 2014 is Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”, drawing global attention to the importance of smallholder farmers. Family farms are key to improving food security and better management of natural resources. As explained by the CGIAR Consortium, "Family farming plays a significant role in reducing poverty and hunger, by providing the household and communities with nutrition rich food and livelihoods."

The resource demands from agriculture are considerable and we will never be able to reign in climate change and transition to a green economy without addressing the issue of food.

The future of agriculture will be challenging. As explained in the Risky Business report, alarming losses are predicted for America's agricultural industry. These concerns represent a salient economic concern for the US and the world.

According to the report climate change may diminish agricultural yields by as much as 73 percent in some states. Some of the most productive agricultural lands will be ravaged by extreme heat, prolonged spring downpours, and widespread and extended drought.

The effect of climate change on agricultural productivity will have staggering economic impacts. One of the areas expected to suffer agriculture declines due to climate change is the Upper Midwest. This area contains more than 520,000 farms which produced nearly $136 billion worth of crops in 2012. More than half (65 percent) of nation's corn and soybeans come from this area.

If we fail to act places like Missouri and Illinois will see average yield losses up to 73 percent by the end of the century. The report also indicates that we can anticipate short-term average yield losses up to 15 percent in the next 5 to 25 years. The Midwest region faces yield declines of up to 19 percent by mid-century and 63 percent by the end of the century.

Family farms can readily adapt to changing weather conditions through agricultural practices such as crop switching and double or triple cropping. Other cropping practices that may help include no-till, cover crops, and riparian and wetland buffers.

We must begin building agricultural resilience to climate change by improving soil health, water quality and protective habitat.

Economic incentives from emerging environmental markets and the greening of the commodity supply chain also provide new opportunities for producers to earn revenue while conserving vulnerable natural resources.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Think Eat Save Student Challenge

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Sensitizing children to the ecological impacts of food waste is important and the Think.Eat.Save Student Challenge is a great example of an powerful educational project. Vast quantities of food are wasted each year and this phenomenon is sadly a part of many western cultures. To help reorient children to this issue, UNEP has launched a new campaign that calls schools and students to start a wasteless revolution.

The campaign challenges students and to find out how much food gets wasted in their schools. Then students are encouraged to organize a project and take action to reduce or eliminate food waste.

Each student is asked to think of the food items that they discard. Then they are asked to multiply these items by the number of students in their school, and the number of schools worldwide. Students are also asked to assess how much food is wasted in their cafeterias and then take action to reduce waste.

The goal is to reduce food waste by sensitizing children to the fact that when they throw away food they are wasting money and the earth’s precious resources.

Students are encouraged to raise awareness among classmates and teachers at their school as well as friends, and families outside of school. Social media also factors prominently in the initiative as students are encouraged to spread the word through their digital networks using the hashtag #ThinkEatSave!

In addition to doing something positive for the sustainability of our planet, winning schools will be awarded cash prizes to further support the initiative. Winners will also gain online exposure.

For more information click here.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 200 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student's eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Event - Responsible Business Forum on Food and Agriculture 2014

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The Responsible Business Forum on Food and Agriculture, will take place on July 14th & 15th, 2014, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati, Manila. Feeding a global population of 9 billion by 2050 will require transformational changes to our farming and agricultural systems, already under pressure from climate change and water scarcity. This year’s Responsible Business Forum on Food and Agriculture is being held in partnership with WWF.

The forum will explore innovative and collaborative approaches to improving agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability across the following commodity value chains; corn, coffee and cocoa, fisheries and aquaculture, palm oil, , rice and sugar.

Global leaders will gather from business, government and NGOs to make recommendations for increasing agricultural productivity, whilst improving rural livelihoods and reducing environmental impacts. Agricultural commodities addressed will include – rice; poultry; fisheries & aquaculture; palm oil; coffee & cocoa and sugar. Working groups will produce recommendations on sustainable land use, equitable opportunity for small-holder farmers, increasing productivity and improving rural livelihoods.

For more information or to register click here.

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Video - The Rebirth of Food Waste into Fuel in South Korea

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In densely populated South Korea food waste is being reborn as methane. Through a process that reduces climate change causing greenhouse gases, the nation is developing new technologies that are transforming daily waste into energy.

The Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation is one of the firms that is generating biogas from food waste water. This alternative source of energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollution in the water and the air. For every 1,000 tons of food waste water, 14,400 cubic meters of biogas can be produced. The facilities produce fuels that have been used for about 300 city buses and street cleaning cars.

There are many benefit of biogas, over other fossil fuels. Compared with diesel, biogas is about 45 percent cheaper and in terms of the environment, biogas produces only one third of the air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxides. Thanks to this technology, South Korea has reduced the food waste water it dumps into the ocean.

The fuels produced create 2 billion won of economic value every year, while reducing 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emission each year.

Other local governments are also working to establish facilities that transform food waste, livestock excretions and other organic wastes into biogas. The South Korean government is also active in providing support.

Facilities produce about 130 million cubic meters of biogas annually, which is used as automotive fuel, gas or power generation.

As reported in a March 2014 Guardian article, Steven Borowiec explains South Korea's high-tech solutions to reducing food waste.

High-tech food waste management programs are being piloted in two districts in Seoul. The program works by giving each household a card that has a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip embedded in it containing the user's name and address. They scan their card on a small card-reader on the front of the high-tech bin to get the lid to open, then dump the food waste into the bin and onto the scale at the bottom, which gives a numerical reading of the waste's weight and disposal cost.

Getting rid of food waste is a matter of particular urgency in South Korean households. Last year, the government started a nationwide program to charge residents according the weight of what they were throwing away, a change that officials hope will lead to a nationwide reduction in food waste.

The Ministry of Environment has said that the goal is to eventually reduce total national food waste by 20 percent, thereby cutting waste treatment costs.

Officials in Seoul hope that the program will eventually be implemented throughout the country.

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New US Farm Bill is Good News for the Environment

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A long awaited farm bill is finally set to be passed and it contains good news for farmers looking for protection against crop losses, land conservation, hemp farming, organics, renewable energy, biofuels, biorefineries and biomass. While the bill preserves programs that foster local agriculture, it does not tackle the biggest environmental issue of agriculture's huge carbon footprint which is responsible for around 33 percent of US carbon emissions. It specifically ignores addressing the massive footprint of agricultural fertilizers and factory farms.

Rather than giving direct cash subsidies to farmers at fixed rates farmers will now have a choice between protection against crop losses or protection against falling crop prices.

The new bill will entitle farmers and ranchers to be eligible for subsidies only when they conserve their lands, such as wetlands, grasslands and erodable land.

The legislation includes pilot research programs for hemp farming in 10 states to grow the crop. The US has one of the fastest growing markets for hemp but it is forced to import the product from China due to federal drug laws which prohibit cultivation.

The bill also includes $881 million that continues funding the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) rural renewable energy and biofuels programs (REAP) which funds up to 25 percent of a renewable energy system (solar, wind, biogas) or energy efficiency upgrade and provides additional support through loan guarantees. A total of 8,250 projects have been installed under the Obama administration to date.

The Biorefinery Assistance Program supports young companies in getting their biofuel technologies off the ground. For the first time, the bill also supports bio-based chemicals as part of biorefinery and biomass assistance programs.

The bill contains more funding for the National Organic Program. It will be used to enforce organic standards, improve technology and negotiate international trade agreements, as well as funding research on organic farming practices and providing financial assistance for small farms to afford organic certification. Organic farmers, distributors and marketers will now have access to the same agriculture research and promotion programs as conventional farmers.

The compromise Agriculture Act of 2014 will now go back to the Senate for a final vote where it is expected to pass without much opposition.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Event - Creating a GMO-Free Holiday

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Creating a GMO-Free Holiday will take place on December 19, 2013, from 6:30 pm - 8 pm at Collingswood Library, 771 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, New Jersey. GMO Free NJ meets to explore ways to avoid the genetically modified organisms that are in our food supply.

From 7-8, they will discuss creating a GMO free holiday, the latest on GMO labeling legislation and other projects.
From 6:30-7, we will have a holiday cookie exchange. Participation in the cookie swap is optional--bring a batch of your favorite non-GMO cookies to share (along with an ingredients list) and leave with a variety pack!

There will be plenty of time to mix and mingle. Free and open to the public.

To learn more click here, to RSVP write to GMOfreeNJ@gmail.com.

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Event - Sustainable Ag Expo

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The 9th Sustainable Ag Expo will take place on November 18-19, 2013 at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, California.

This event provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ag professionals, and pest control advisors representing a variety of operations to learn about the latest in farming research, resource issues, and business trends related to sustainable agriculture. This two-day educational meeting provides ample continuing education credits, an innovative trade show, and an exhibitor showcase.

Program Highlights

A total of 10 DPR Continuing Education (CE) units will be provided for PCA/CCA (including 2 Laws & Regulations), and and total of 12 CCA CE units will be provided at the 2013 Ag Expo.

Keynote Speaker

Brian Leahy Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation

Agenda

Monday, November 18th

7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Registration 8:00 - 12:00 General Sessions

8:00 Balancing Water Resources in Expanding Communities (General Session) Competition for water resources by irrigated farmland and developing communities is inevitable as the number of land owners and farm acres grows. Balancing finite water resources, such as the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, is essential to the long term sustainability of farms, their surrounding communities, and the local economy. A general session will address tools and resources to allow growers to best position themselves for responsible management of water.

Paul Sorensen, Principal Hydrogeologist, Fugro - Geological Framework of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Paavo Ogren, Director, SLO County Public Works - Political and Practical Issues in Considering Future Groundwater Management for the Paso Basin Tim Quinn, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies - A Statewide Water Action Plan: Implications for the Central Coast Kris Beal, Executive Director, Vineyard Team - Vineyard Team Water Conservation Initiatives Session Moderator: Kris Beal, Executive Director, Vineyard Team

10:00 - 10:30 Trade Show & Break

10:30 Agriculture Impacts on Groundwater Nitrate (General Session)

Understanding the nitrogen cycle and proper budgeting of nitrogen fertilization in dynamic cropping systems is essential for reducing nonpoint source pollution of nitrates in groundwater. Seasonal nitrogen management practices can have lasting impacts on aquifer sustainability. Speakers in this session will discuss the best management practices for plant recovery of nitrates, the influence of irrigation management on nitrates, and some management tools for the field.

Kristin Dzurella, Research Analyst, UC Davis Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources - Nitrogen Budgeting and Plant Recovery of Nitrates Tim Hartz, UC Cooperative Extension, Vegetable Specialist - Field Specific Nitrogen Management

Michael Cahn, UC Cooperative Extension, Farm Advisor/Irrigation Water Resources - Irrigation Management and Leaching of Nitrates - Tools and Technologies Eric Morgan, Morgan Consulting - Technologies in Action: A Grower and Consultant's Perspective on Nitrogen Management Session Moderator: Jean-Pierre Wolff, Owner & Vintner, Wolff Vineyards

12:00 - 1:30 Lunch (Provided) - Sponsored by On-Target and PG&E

1:30 - 4:00 Breakout Sessions A &  B

1:30 - 3:00 Laws Regulations (Breakout Session A) In this session, crop advisors and farm managers will learn about the latest laws and regulations.

George Daniels, Farm Employers Labor Service - Labor Update in Agriculture Laura Hebert, Agricultural Commission - Vertebrate Control & Pesticide Regulations Update

Amy Wolfe, AgSafe - Trends in Agriculture Safety: Looking Back & Forecasting What Lies Ahead Session Moderator: Fritz Westover, Technical Program Manager, Vineyard Team 3:00 - 4:00 Environmental, Economical, and Human Return on Sustainability Initiatives (Breakout Session A) In this session a panel will discuss the return on "effort" for investing in the environmental, social, and economic components on sustainability.

John Petroff, Sustainability Manager, Taylor Farms - Sustainability and Competition Carolyn O'Donnell, California Strawberry Commission - Investing in the People = Reduced Risk Kirk Story, Operations Director, Stockman's Water and Energy - The Financial Case for Sustainable Initiatives Rich Smith, Paraiso Vineyards - The Value of Proactive Sustainability Efforts in the Regulatory Framework Session Moderator: Kris Beal, Executive Director, Vineyard Team 1:30 - 4:00 Time Tested Topsoil - Ag Roads and Slopes (Breakout Session B) Controlling erosion and maintaining your topsoil are an essential part of a healthy, productive farm. In this breakout session, growers will learn about design strategies and management practices that will reduce the loss of topsoil and prevent costly repairs to roadways and cropland. Participants of this session will be eligible for certification after participating in coursework and an outdoor interactive tour. This breakout session will be directed by the Upper Salinas Las Tablas Resource Conservation District, incorporating speakers from the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, the Natural Resources Conservation District, North Coast Engineering, and Earth Systems Pacific.

4:00 - 6:00 Exhibitors' Showcase & Wine Reception

Tuesday, November 19th

7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Registration

8:00 - 10:00 General Session

8:00 Keynote Speaker: Brian Leahy Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation - DPR: Past, Present, and Future

8:30 Managing Resistance by Pests, Diseases, and Weeds (General Session) The development of chemical resistance to insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides by pests, diseases, and weed species is a continuous challenge in agriculture. Specialists in each of these fields will discuss the best management practices for preventing and overcoming resistance development.

Doug Gubler, UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology - Fungal Disease Resistance Management Surendra Dara, UC Cooperative Extension Strawberry & Vegetable Crops Advisor & Affiliated IPM Advisor - Insect & Mite Resistance Management John Roncoroni, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Weed Science - Napa - Weed Resistance Management in Vineyards & Orchards Session Moderator: Fritz Westover, Technical Program Manager, Vineyard Team

10:00 - 10:30 Trade Show & Break

10:30 - 12:00 Breakout Sessions A & B

10:30 Grape Pests & Disease Management Updates (Breakout Session A) A breakout session will be devoted to the latest developments in pest and disease management for vineyards. More to come on topics and speakers.

Keith Striegler, National Clean Plant Network - Red Blotch Virus Update & Efforts of the National Clean Plant Network

Kent Daane, Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Berkeley - Managing Mealybugs as Vectors of GLRaVs, and New Virus Problems for Vineyard Managers Doug Gubler, UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology - Progress Towards Eutypa & Canker Disease Management Session Moderator: Fritz Westover, Technical Program Manager, Vineyard Team

10:30 Rethinking Crop "Waste" (Breakout Session B)

Reducing and re-purposing of crop waste from farms is a challenge with any crop. Many businesses are learning how to turn crop waste into value added products. This breakout session will explore some of the latest innovations in re-purposing crop waste.

Zach Anderson, Milepost Consulting - Crop Shrink & its Environmental, Social, & Economical Implications Ron Clark, Owner, Better Harvest - Food Banks and Retailer Markets for Row Crop Seconds Torey Arvik, Science Director, WholeVine Products - Closing the Loop on Winery Sustainability Session Moderator: Beth Vukmanic Lopez, SIP Certification Manager, Vineyard Team 12:00 - 1:30 Lunch (on your own) & Trade Show

1:30 - 4:00 General Session

1:30 Holistic Management Practices for Orchards and Vineyards (General Session) The need for labor saving cultural practices and use of on-farm resources has driven many innovative growers to integrate animals into their orchard and vineyard systems. The Holistic Management session will overview the concepts of integrating animals into orchard and vineyard systems, providing practical experience from top industry experts and farm managers.

Robert Rutherford, Professor Emeritus/Sheep Specialist, Cal Poly - Holistic Management & Vineyards
Kelly Mulville, Holistic Management Educator, Vineyard Grazing Consultant - The Economical & Ecological Benefits of Extended-Season Vineyard Grazing

Chris Kerston, Director of Marketing & Communications, Savory Institute - Integrating Animals into a Diverse Orchard System Speaker & Industry Panel: Practical Application of Holistic Farm Management Practices. Above speakers plus Lino Bozanno - Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, John Roncoroni - UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor

Session Moderators: Fritz Westover, Technical Program Manager, Vineyard Team & Rob Rutherford, Cal Poly 4:00 Closing Remarks and Adjourn

To register click here

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Video - Sustainable Meat: Trailer from the Documentary "American Meat"

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American Meat, is a feature documentary about a grass-roots revolution in sustainable farming. This film explains how America arrived at its current industrial system, and shows you the feedlots and confinement houses, not through hidden cameras but through the eyes of the farmers who live and work there. The story shifts to the burgeoning movement of farmers, chefs and everyday folks.

"The film makes a powerfully persuasive case for the benefits of small, grass-based organic farms and local sourcing…. it presents its arguments forcefully but without strident didacticism." – Fred Scheck, the Hollywood Reporter

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Event and Seminar - GMO Labeling at the Natural Products Expo and All Things Organic

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The event and seminar GMO Labeling at the Natural Products Expo and All Things Organic takes place on Friday, September 27, 2013, 10:00 - 11:00 am EDT at the Baltimore Convention Center, Room 319. Washington State's I-522, the Federal Just Label It effort and Lessons Learned from California's Prop. 37 GMO labeling advocates are rallying to support Yes on 522, the People's Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, in Washington State.

Washington's I-522 is the only GMO labeling bill heading to voters this fall, and is a critical front in the battle to label genetically engineered foods. Learn how I-522 can withstand opposition from big biotech and the junk food industry, which considers the I-522 GMO labeling bill a serious threat and has already raised more than $11 million to defeat it. Also, hear from leaders about lessons learned from California’s Prop. 37 and what’s happening on a federal level to require labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Speakers 

* Elizabeth Kucinich, Director of Policy, Center for Food Safety; Executive Producer of the documentary film GMO OMG
* Delana Jones, Campaign Manager, Washington State Yes on 522 Campaign
* Scott Faber, Executive Director, Just Label It; VP of Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group * David Bronner, CEO, Dr. Bronner’s; Finance Chair, Yes on 522 Moderator
* Steven Hoffman, Director, Compass Natural; Finance Committee, Yes on 522; Former Organic Industry Fundraising & Outreach Director, Prop. 37

For more information and to contribute to the Yes on 522 Campaign to label GMO foods, contact Steve Hoffman, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.

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Agricultural Costs of Climate Change, Land Degradation and Water Scarcity

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According to one study the combined impacts of Climate change, land degradation and water scarcity could cost as much as $8 trillion in agriculture assets each year. This is the finding of a study from the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

Agricultural impacts of climate change, land degradation and water scarcity are complicated by increased production. This increased production is due to growing investment in agriculture which is intended to capitalize on high commodity prices. According to the Oxford Smith School study capital stock could lose between $4.4 trillion and $8 trillion in a single year.

The study also found that the total natural capital cost from agriculture is $2.369 trillion each year in terms of lost ecosystem services.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Invitation to Comment on the USDA GHG Climate Report

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A call for comments on the recent USDA greenhouse gas (GHG) climate report titled, Science-Based Methods for Entity-Scale Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks from Agriculture and Forestry Practices, and was published by the Climate Change Program Office of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist.

The report is the work of 38 scientists from across academia, USDA and the federal government. These researchers are experts in GHG estimation in the cropland, grazing land, livestock and forest management sectors.

The report outlines a set of consensus methods for quantifying GHG emissions and carbon storage at the local farm, ranch or forest scale. The methods reviewed have undergone peer review and exhibit both scientific rigor and cost effectiveness.

Click here to download the report.

The public is invited to comment. The website includes a Federal Register Notice which includes detailed instructions for comment submission. Comments must be received within 45 days of the August 28, 2013 publication of the Federal Register Notice.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video - The Passage of the "Monsanto Protection Act"

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A new law protects GMO companies from liability and takes away American's right to know what is on their plates. Congress approved and President Obama signed a bill that gives Monsanto and other GMO companies immunity from liability against the deleterious effects of the foods that they provide. The Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA), is an amendment inserted into the 2013 Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee. It revokes the ability of individual states' lawmakers to pass GMO-labeling laws.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Steve King, a California Republican, protects companies that make genetically modified and genetically engineered seeds, which grow into GMO crops and find their way into an estimated 70 percent of processed foods in American grocery stores.

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Video - International Day Of Protest Against Monsanto & GMO Foods MAY 25, 2013

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An international protest is planned for May 25, 2013 against biotechnology company Monsanto in more than 250 cities in six continents and demonstrations are planned in tens of countries. Monsanto, a titan of the emerging biotech industry, has come under attack from environmentalists, agriculturalists and average consumers over the company's conduct in the realm of genetically-modified organisms and genetically-engineered foods. Monsanto has lobbied hard in Washington and around the globe to be able to continue manufacturing lab-made foods without the oversight that many have demanded. This protest comes in the wake of the passage of the "Monsanto protection act" that will protect GMO companies from assuming any liability.

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Organic Produce and Sustainable Seafoods

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Organic and certified sustainability seafoods are increasingly popular, they are also healthier and environmentally less damaging than traditional foods. Organically grown foods are less destructive to the land, and because they do not require chemical fertilizers and they have a lower greenhouse gas profile.

According to a recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Green Economy and Trade-Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, The global market for organic food and beverages is projected to grow from $62.9 billion in 2011 to $105 billion by 2015.

The total value of seafood that has been farmed according to certified sustainability standards is forecast to increase to $1.25 billion by 2015, up from $300 million in 2008, according to the report.

In order for consumers to make informed decisions, labeling on all seafood should indicate:

• the exact species name
• place of origin of catch and processing
• whether the fish is farmed or wild
• the fishing method used.

Making choices about sustainable seafood is difficult as they are commonly mislabeled. Here are Here are six tips for buying sustainable seafood:

1. Choose fish that feed low in the food chain (ie Sardines, mackerel, dab, pouting, herring, tilapia)

2. Know your fishing methods: Choose hook-and-line, pole-and-line, handpicked, trap-caught Avoid: Trawls, dredges, drift nets

3. The good, the bad and the ugly of aquaculture: Choose cultivated oysters, cultivated mussels, farmed tilapia, and fish farmed in recirculating or closed systems. Avoid: Farmed shrimp, farmed salmon, and other fish species farmed in open-net pens and cages

4. Use guidelines and tools available: Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise App is a great tool to help you make sustainable seafood choices.

5. Support local markets and restaurants that are providing sustainable options: Use the Ocean Wise website and app which has a great location finder for shops and restaurants that provide certified sustainable products.

6. Ask Questions Find out if the seafood you want to buy is wild or farmed, what fishing methods were used, and in which country it was caught. Also ask is the species in trouble where the animals were caught? Does fishing for the species damage or alter ocean habitats? Is there a large amount of by-catch taken with the target species?

In 2011 The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has reported that seventy–eight percent of US families say they purchase organic foods.

“In a time when the severity of the economy means making tough choices, it is extremely encouraging to see consumers vote with their values by including quality organic products in their shopping carts,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director and CEO. “Nearly half – 48 percent – of parents surveyed revealed that their strongest motivator for buying organic is their belief that organic products “are healthier for me and my children. Other motivators for purchasing organic included concern over the effects of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics on children, and the desire to avoid highly processed or artificial ingredients.”

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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