Musings on sustainable food systems, agriculture vs. agroecology, and more!
Remember the failure of the Farm Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives? And the uncertainty of the way forward? Two weeks ago, I wrote: “Fiscal conservatives are suggesting to split the bill in two, thereby divorcing the historically-married issues of farm support and food stamp programs. However, the combination of these two in one bill has … Continue reading The Food Bill Divorce
Again, please bear with me while I only post short links to other interesting sources – exam season is upon us! If you need something to listen to while cooking a leisurely Friday dinner to start this weekend in a relaxed fashion, consider this episode of Greenhorn Radio, where a young farmer interviews Joel Salatin … Continue reading Joel Salatin on the "Regeneration Generation" and Young Farmers
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6qVKsf0ETdA] The Generation Food Project sounds like a really awesome documentary idea that will highlight grassroots initiatives that are fixing the food system where it matters. They describe their mission as follows: Together, we want to show how ordinary women and men the world over are setting the table for themselves, their communities, and generations to … Continue reading Explore, Follow, Support: The Generation Food Project
“The appetite for grain to fuel cars is seemingly insatiable. The grain required to fill a 25-gallon fuel tank of a sport utility vehicle with ethanol just once would feed one person for a whole year. The grain turned into ethanol in the United States in 2011 could have fed, at average world consumption levels, … Continue reading Full Planet, Empty Plates: Free Chapter on Food Vs. Fuel Online!
You may have heard by now that the US Farm Bill has spectacularly failed in the House of Representatives, making it the first time in at least 40 years that a Farm Bill was voted down in the House. The $500 billion bill was voted down with 234 to 195 votes, leaving lawmakers baffled and farmers … Continue reading What Future for the Farm Bill?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9] We are so consumed with our current system and possible improvements that we tend to forget that humans were not always agriculturalists. Why did they turn away from foraging and herding and start to grow crops? This hilarious video might not give all the answers, but definitely asks the right questions and is extremely … Continue reading Why Did Agriculture Even Start?
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/59404290] I was fortunate enough to attend a talk by Vandana Shiva the other day. If you haven’t heard about her, make sure to check out her initiative Navdanya, a network of seed banks, farm schools and across India – she has become somewhat of an icon of the anti-GMO movement in the wake … Continue reading Vandana Shiva – A Figure As Inspirational as Controversial
Have you ever heard of the World Food Prize? It is supposed to be an alternative ‘Nobel Prize for Agriculture’ that honors “outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world“. The 2013 laureates have just been announced, and have caused a splash – since … Continue reading The World Food Prize Winners 2013 – Anybody Surprised?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ-iWUkg4t0] These past days, dramatic scenes have unfolded all over Germany and Central Europe in general: after unrelenting rainfalls had overburdened the natural absorption capacity of soils and riverbeds, massive floods spread throughout Central European lowlands and threatened the lives and livelihoods of thousands of persons. People had to be evacuated, some even died, and … Continue reading Floods in Central Europe – Caused by Human Activities?
This morning, I found an exciting piece of news in my inbox: “Connecticut Passes Nation’s First GMO Labeling Law“! That should be a cause of celebration, especially after the industry-financed defeat of a similar law in the California polls. However, wait until you hear all the stipulations attached to the bill. The main big catch: … Continue reading GMO Labeling Laws: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back