Category Archives: Global Ag Issues
this is my land: rwanda
“Visit a village in Rwanda and hear from small farmers telling their story of how their lives have changed since they received a title to their own plot of land.”
more information here
good move, whole foods!
npr on quinoa in the u.s.a.
Quinoa Craze Inspires North America To Start Growing Its Own
by Alastair Bland
The explosion in world popularity of quinoa in the past six years has quadrupled prices at retail outlets. But for all the demand from upscale grocery stores in America to keep their bulk bins filled with the ancient grain-like seed, almost no farmers outside of the arid mountains and coastal valleys of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile grow it.
But plant breeders and scientists who study the biology and economics of quinoa say that is about to change.
“We’re going to see quinoa being grown all over the place soon,” predicts Kevin Murphy, a Washington State University grain breeder who has spent several years developing quinoa varieties suited to America’s diverse geography and climates. Murphy says it’s already clear that quinoa can flourish and produce high yields in many parts of North America, and he sees “no reason why quinoa production won’t take off in the next few years.”
Small-scale farmers in the Northwest are currently testing the crop, harvesting a few pounds of quinoa each fall among their rows of vegetables and fruits and selling the seeds at farmers markets, but quinoa farming in the United States has not yet taken off in a big way for multiple reasons.
european farmers stage mega protest
Setting fires and spraying thousands of gallons of milk to protest unsustainable milk prices. Prices which are lower than the cost of production.
Europe Milk Quota Protest: Police Sprayed With Thousands Of Litres Of Fresh Milk
Here in The United States, we cannot even pass the Farm Bill
young farmers in greece make their media move
Greece’s New Farmers
by Victoria Bouloubasis for The Huffington Post
Popular perception of Greece teeters between two extremes. One is based on serene, mystic island landscapes and a carefree gusto for life. The other extreme, the most present, is a daunting and glaring depiction of a dire economic crisis rife with violent civil riots, political rancor and an unrelenting sense of despair.
A new generation of young food activists strives to portray a more balanced idea of Greece. Pavlos Georgiadis, a 29-year-old PhD student and farmer, is leading a charge to portray a Greece that honors her ancient land and rich agricultural traditions bearing thousands of years of experience. Continue Reading →
farmer oriented aid
One Acre Fund is a young organization with big dreams.
Our purpose is to serve small-scale farmers. In everything we do we put the farmer first. We measure success in our ability to make more farmers more prosperous. Since our founding in 2006, we have built animpressive track record, growing to serve 130,000 farm families.
Here’s an excerpt from a book featuring the project - The Last Hunger Season - which you can purchase HERE.
mapping a GMO free europe
As you may know, recent studies conducted in France have shown significant toxic effects from the use of Roundup. And particularly tumors in rats in feeding studies.
since our screening at the sydney botanic garden
there are lots more Australians in our ranks.
Check out this post from some Australian greenhorns: http://milkwood.net/2012/07/29/greenhorns-stickers-and-badges-and-kerchiefs-and/
action against land-grabbing, april 24 NYC
Over 1000, 1-percenters are meeting at Waldorf Astoria (April 23-25), for a major farmland investment event that will decide the fate of millions of
Africans.
Dubbed as “the next big thing in finance” some of the largest hedge funds, private equity groups, university endowment managers, and other high rollers will meet to discuss how to continue to make money from food and water shortages. The event is organized by HighQuest Partners, a heavy hitter in the hedge fund market of big agro, bio-tech and bio-fuel companies. Entrance fee to attend is a mere $3,000.
These money managers are there because they are promised to make more than 25% return on investments in areas of the world where there exists incredible food insecurity. In 2009 only, nearly 60 million hectares of arable land – an area the size of France – was purchased or leased, 70 percent of it in Africa. It’s impossible to acquire that much of land without the continued taking of land previously held by small indigenous farmers. Continue Reading →
occupy monsanto action
the press release is great – how was the action? If you were there we’d love tohear from you – send testimonials and photos to blog@thegreenhorns.net
Occupy-Monsanto to Wear Bio-Hazmat Suits as They Protest a Genetically Modified Congress
On Friday, March 16, 2012, Occupy Monsanto’s agents of change with the Genetic Crimes Unit (GCU), a group designed to protect America from genetically modified foods, will wear bio-hazmat suits when they visit Congress. The group will gather at Capitol South Metro station at noon on March 16 to highlight how chemical company Monsanto is contaminating our political process. The GCU opposes Monsanto’s bid to increase spraying of food with toxic weed killers like 2,4 D (the main ingredient in Agent Orange), genetic contamination of the organic food supply, and other risks associated with genetically modified food (GMOs). Continue Reading →
many of us never even think about rio, and UN governance
but then there are these lovely campaigners, who are championing it.
On June 22, U.N. delegates from around the world will gather in Rio at the Earth Summit to define priorities of action in support of sustainable development. Food has been identified as one of the 7 critical issues to be discussed.
In fact, a coalition of some 160 NGOs (IAASTD RIO+20 including Millennium Institute and Biovision Foundation, has recognized food security as the top priority. Continue Reading →
consider joining this listserv to learn about ag policy
It’s called Farm Policy. To subscribe, send an email to: farmpolicy-on@list.farmpolicy.com.
Here’s their latest:
Ag Economy (USDA Outlook Forum); Farm Bill; Regulations; and Political Notes
Posted By Keith Good On February 24, 2012
Agricultural Economy (USDA Outlook Forum)
Reuters writer Charles Abbott reported yesterday that, “Global crop prices will retreat sharply this year as farmers around the world expand production to bring stability back to commodity markets and ease fears of food inflation, the U.S. government forecast on Thursday.
“After two years of razor thin stocks, world crop supplies, led by wheat, are recovering. Continue Reading →
GE sweet corn on its way
From Food & Water Watch:
Genetically engineered Monsanto sweet corn is approved and could be on your plate next year. Genetically engineered sweet corn, the first Monsanto crop designed to be consumed by people, is genetically engineered to produce pesticides and resist herbicides. Sign the petition to make sure your grocery store doesn’t sell you genetically engineered sweet corn.
Why should you be concerned about Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered (GE) Sweet Corn?
1) This is the first GE Crop Monsanto that is marketing for direct human consumption.
2) It will not be labeled.
3) It hasn’t been tested for human safety.
Monsanto’s sweet corn variety flew through the approval process, because it combines two genetically engineered traits that were approved in 2005 and 2008. The USDA does no independent testing of GE crops, and the “stacked” combination of these traits for herbicide resistance, and pesticide production has never been through a safety evaluation of any kind. Continue Reading →
say for intance you wanted to do agroforestry work in africa
you’d want to be involved with these folks: Trees for the Future
Since 1989, Trees for the Future has been helping communities around the world plant trees. Through seed distribution, agroforestry training, and our country programs, we have empowered rural groups to restore tree cover to their lands. Planting trees protects the environment and helps to preserve traditional livelihoods and cultures for generations.
