GMOs
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USDA ‘partially deregulates’ GM sugar beets, defying court order
Big Ag — can’t beet ’em.A week ago, the USDA shocked the organic-farming community by “fully deregulating” genetically modified alfalfa, after acknowledging that organic farmers had legitimate concerns about the move and hinting they’d be taken into account. On Friday, the agency didn’t simply skulk away from its own words in an apparent attempt to […]
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White House pressured Vilsack to approve GMO alfalfa, media reports suggest
According to reports from Wall Street Journal ag-policy reporters and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, the USDA's recent decision to green-light GMO alfalfa was based on political pressure from the White House. Brings back memories of the Clinton and Bush administrations, when ag policy toed the the agrichemical industry line.
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'Bio-based': organic’s sketchy new cousin
Will the USDA's new "bio-based" label, for products made with renewable ingredients, actually just enable greenwashing?
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In a stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa
After weeks of hinting that the USDA would restrict planting of GMO alfalfa to protect organic growers, the USDA chief jarringly reversed course, giving Monsanto's latest seed a full green light. I guess it's all part of Obama's push to prove he's business-friendly.
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Why the banana crisis doesn't make me stop worrying and love GMOs
The banana export market is dominated by a single variety that's being stalked by a ruinous blight, as a recent New Yorker article chronicles -- and even some sustainable-food folks think maybe a little genetic engineering is OK in this case. I take a look.
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Worldwatch report highlights how lopsided discussion is about Africa, food, and biotechnology
How come we hardly see op-eds on what paved roads, improved sanitation, more efficient distribution networks, soil conservation and a reduction in food waste might do for world hunger?
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Industrial ag once again demanding free pass to crap in your backyard
What do vast polluting chicken factories on the Chesapeake Bay and genetically modified alfalfa have in common? In both cases, industrial agriculture is freely admitting that it needs to trash its neighbors and surrounding ecosystems to thrive.
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WikiLeaks: State Dept. wants intel on African acceptance of GMOs
State Department documents released by WikiLeaks reveal insight into how deep the U.S. government's commitment to genetically engineered crops really is.
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The Onion serves up some 'wrath-minded' GM taters [VIDEO]
Joad Cressbeckler has just heard that genetically modified potatoes have been approved (they're actually being planted in the E.U.), and fears that they're coming for us.