GRACE Communications Foundation
Our mission is to create a farmer-controlled and consumer-oriented food and fiber system, based upon democratically controlled institutions that empower farmers to speak for and respect themselves in their quest for social and economic justice.
The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children’s health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics.
A growing body of scientific research suggests a link between drinking rBGH-treated milk and certain types of cancer in humans.
Industrial livestock operations (aka factory farms) threaten human health, damage the environment, degrade rural communities and compromise animal welfare. This series explores the issue... in all its manure-spewing, pestilent repugnance.
The latest calculations from Compassion in World Farming suggest that we farm around 70 billion animals worldwide every year - nearly 10 animals for every single person on the planet. Around 70% of these animals (that's nearly 50 billionare factory farmed, which is bad news for the farm animals, as well as people and planet.
PALO ALTO - For 48 hours on June 21-23, leading entrepreneurs, technologists, creatives,academics and policymakers will team up to develop hardware and software solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing sustainable meat.
Our Heroes is a weekly series that highlights the work and the daily lives of people who are making major changes in the world of food, water and/or energy.
When it comes to climate change and the ocean, we often think of the impacts to water temperature, sea level rise and coastal storms. However, Dr. Chris Gobler of Stony Brook University calls ocean acidification a "game-changer in the way we think about how climate change can affect the functioning of our oceans."
The chemicals in your hand soap and deodorant have been tested and proven safe, right? Probably not. Regulation of such industrial chemicals falls under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which asks little of companies and puts safety testing requirements on the overstretched EPA. Having tested only a tiny fraction of the 85,000 (that's right) industrial chemicals in use today, maybe it's time for a Control Act update considering it hasn't been touched since its 1970s-era adoption. Whadya think? [NY Times]
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) rejected a petition to extend the expiration date for the use of oxytetracycline to treat fire blight in apple and pear production beyond October 21, 2014. The decision is a victory for the organic standard and advances efforts to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Climate Change 350.org
On Monday the Senate passed its version of the farm bill (which is 353 days overdue), and lawmakers will still have to reconcile it with the version making its way through the House before it becomes a law. Unfortunately the major reform we had hoped for (removing the subsidies supporting giant monocultures and moving that money to support sustainable ag) will not happen. Direct payments were cut but added back in the form of crop insurance and disaster relief, no major food safety amendments were passed and senators reduced the money for food stamps by $4 billion and cut conservation programs by $3.5 billion. [New York Times]
Most of us would prefer to feed ourselves and our families good, healthy, local, sustainably produced and affordable food. Unfortunately, there are many things that get in our way and don't allow this to happen. Sign the petition below to show your support for making our food system fair for all! We'll deliver it to your members of Congress.
Kathleen Merrigan, will be stepping down at the end of April as the USDA's deputy secretary. She has been a longtime supporter of local food, and many are concerned about her departure. She is known for her initiative "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" and her support for local and organic farmers. [Mother Nature Network]
Mark Bittman weighs in on the ever growing trend of "healthy" options on fast food menus. Bittman divises two categories - "Improved Fast Food" chains such as Chipotle, and emerging "Good Fast Food" chains such as Lyfe that provide healthy, sustainable options, but are still quite pricey. [New York Times]
NYC and Mayor Michael Bloomberg are at it again, this time subway riders are being advised to pass on the salt. A court just struck down his beverage size rule last month, but New Yorkers have been cautioned about smoking, sugar and teen pregnancy in the past.
