Why Hydroponics Is Not Organic [This article was previously published in the fall issue of The Cultivator, Cornucopia’s quarterly newsletter.] by Linley Dixon, Senior Scientist at The Cornucopia Institute Source: Adobe Stock Every year, after the first frosty cold rolls over the mountains and puts an end to the outdoor growing season here in Colorado, I dust… Read more »
Search Results for: GMO
Saving Heirloom Rice in India
Cornucopia’s Take: The new varieties of rice pushed in India for decades now are tasteless, provide less nutrition, require high inputs of pesticides and fertilizer, and do not grow well in India’s changing climate. Conservationists and farmers are wisely saving and growing heirloom varieties for practical reasons. Why India’s farmers want to conserve indigenous heirloom… Read more »
Battling BPA
Controversies Over Its Use in Organic Food [This article was previously published in the summer issue of The Cultivator, Cornucopia’s quarterly newsletter.] by Anne Ross, JD, Farm and Food Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute Source: Adobe Stock The basic principle of organic food and farming is one of health, whether it be in promoting health… Read more »
Rotational, Multi-species Grazing Shows Promise for the Prairies
Cornucopia’s Take: Farmers in the Midwestern prairie are taking a cue from Georgia’s regenerative pioneer Will Harris. Different species eat different plants, and grazing them rotationally encourages biodiversity in wildlife, plants, and soil. It also improves animal welfare. These practices can rejuvenate used farm land, therefore helping pristine prairie ecosystems to remain wild. How, And… Read more »
Grass-fed Dairy an Expanding Market
Benefits Animal Welfare and Nutrition [This article was previously published in the spring issue of The Cultivator, Cornucopia’s quarterly newsletter.] by Kestrel Burcham, JD, Farm and Food Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute Source: Adobe Stock Images Consumers are now starting to look for “grass-fed” dairy, following exponential growth in the 100% grass-fed beef sector. So… Read more »
Syngenta Facing Thousands of Lawsuits for GE Corn
Cornucopia’s Take: Syngenta released its GE corn variety, Viptera, prior to approval in China, leaving U.S. farmers vulnerable to rejection of their exports by that trading partner. Many farmers have sued Syngenta – so many, the lawyers are not sure of the numbers. The first court case has begun this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1st… Read more »
Community Supported Agriculture
How to Choose a Farm Share [This article was previously published in the spring issue of The Cultivator, Cornucopia’s quarterly newsletter.] by Linley Dixon, Ph.D, Farm and Food Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute Source: Adobe Stock Congratulations, you’ve decided it’s time to join a CSA, arguably the best way to support local, diversified food production!… Read more »
Heirloom African Peanut Rediscovered and Marketed to Chefs
Cornucopia’s Take: This oily peanut is said to have intense flavor, and was nearly extinct four years ago. This year, the first commercial fields are being harvested and sold to chefs and artisanal oil makers. Biodiversity is key to a healthy ecosystem. The Lost Ancestral Peanut Of The South Is Revived NPR – The Salt… Read more »
Food & Power: The Walmart of Organics? Whole Foods Moves to Centralized Purchasing
Cornucopia’s Take: As access to organic food has increased, as mainstream retailers respond to consumer demand, specialty retailers like Whole Foods, which have historically been the go-to outlets for accessing better food are losing out. This has also been true for the nation’s approximately 300 member-owned co-op grocers (the gold standard in organic retail). It would… Read more »
Ice Cream Trail Helps Boost Agricultural Tourism in Maryland
The Baltimore Sun by Lorraine Mirabella Source: Susy Morris People will travel miles and miles to sample fresh-off-the-farm ice cream and learn about the treat’s origins. “People really like to be able to come out to a farm and see the animals,” said Megan Keyes, who, along with her parents, runs Keyes Creamery in Aberdeen, one… Read more »
