Transition to a New System: Index

A. Problem: System of industrial agriculture is fatal to consumers, rivers and lakes, genetic diversity, wildlife, community. We must not replace patriotism about our country for greed of large-scale industrial farming.

— The Economics of Low Price

— Scathing letter from an agvocate

— Obama has not helped organic farmers (Tumblr) (we have been penalized/ small farmers have not been helped/ however, these local and organic farmers are the hope for our future)

— What we know about GMO (Tumblr)

— Glyphosate (Roundup)

—  Leafy green problems , “natural” problems, Raw food raids

— Sustainability (lack of)

B. Organic agriculture was fastest growing sector, why? It’s entrepreneurial spirit, optimism, timely, news.

— What I am thinking is, Farm Economy

— Guest blogger Amanda Garant: A Farmer for Always

— Corn Planting around the corner: A Different Option for Farmers

— Organic is Modern

C. But we must go beyond the USDA certification to save small farming, the wilderness, and our wildlife. We must conquer a mechanistic and reductionist worldview, to understand that our food decision creates our children’s future.

Wendell Berry: ‘Soil is not usually lost in slabs or heaps of magnificent tonnage. It is lost a little at a time over millions of acres by careless acts
of millions of people. It cannot be solved by heroic feats of gigantic technology, but only by millions of small acts and restraints.’

— Response to @TheFarmersLife, High Tech Ag is Not Natural

— The need for “99% Sustainability:” John Jeavons and Ecology Action

— Some goals for the food movement to work with (global perspective, morals..)

— Parks, Ecology, Business

— Elk Migration Routes, and a Permaculture-Ecology Project

— How the Amish React to New Technology

— Government, Scientific, Technology adaptations for development (From the IAASTD)

D. Posit a new system. Method:

— “Anarganic” norms for the twenty-first century

— The #Organic Pages

— Beyond Organic

E. And ask them for seeds. Cook and grow your own food.

(Some of my favorite recipes: butternut squash, egg torta, best cornbread)

ConAgra Sued for Calling GMO Canola “Natural”

Thought I’d reblog this: Look for a original post that’s in draft now, soon! E

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—
By Emily Main
Could this finally be the end of “natural” labels on genetically modified foods? A law firm in New York City has launched a class-action lawsuit against mega-agribusiness ConAgra Foods for using a “100% Natural” label on its canola oil, which is made from genetically engineered canola. According to Food Safety News, the plaintiff in the case says he relied on Wesson oils “100% natural” label to make what he thought was a healthier choices, only to find out it contained genetically engineered ingredients (which have been linked to allergies, accelerated aging, and, in animal studies, reproductive problems).

The lawsuit alleges: “The “100% Natural” statement is, like much of the label on Wesson Oils, displayed in vibrant green. The “Wesson” name is haloed by the image of the sun, and the canola oil features a picture of a green heart.”

Ironically, it could be Monsanto’s own definition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that could be the last nail in the coffin for labeling genetically modified foods as natural. Monsanto, the world’s largest producer of genetically modified seeds, defines GMOs as “plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs.”

It’s not immediately obvious when or whether this case will go to trial, but the law firm suing ConAgra, Milberg LLC, is asking people who feel as though they’ve been deceived by natural labels on GMO foods to submit their claims on its website. As part of the basis for the lawsuit, the firm cites numerous studies that show nearly everyone in the U.S. wants GMO ingredients to be labeled on foods.

For more information, see: “ConAgra Sued Over GMO ‘100% Natural’ Cooking Oils,” foodsafetynews.com, Aug. 24, 2011

“ConAgra Sued Over ‘Natural’ Claims,” Environmental Leader, Aug. 26, 2011