U.S. Agriculture Proposal Falls Short at the WTO

A proposal for new agriculture trade rules made today by the U.S. Trade Representative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) includes nothing to benefit developing countries. The proposal contains provisions and escape hatches that would continue a damaging farm policy that hurts family farmers in the U.S.

Store-bought Fish in MN Tests Unsafe For Mercury: National Study Finds High Levels in Tuna and Sword

A swordfish purchased in a Minnesota grocery store contained mercury levels more than 60 percent above what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe, according to a major 22-state mercury-testing project.

U.S. Food Aid Needs Major Reform

U.S. food aid programs are plagued by inefficiency and are not addressing the long-term causes of hunger and food insecurity in the developing world, according to a new report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

CAFTA's Impact on U.S. Ethanol Market

The U.S. ethanol industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Much of this growth in the Midwest has been financed and fueled by local investments, primarily from family farmers, who own collectively over half of the 84 ethanol plants. These plants provide risk mitigation and a preferred market for corn farmers, new jobs and income streams for rural communities.

Eye on America: Social Watch 1997-2004

IATP has compiled our contributions to SocialWatch between the years 1997-2004.

CAFTA-NAFTA: Don't Be Fooled Again

The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is modeled directly on NAFTA. The supporters of NAFTA's deregulation of national borders promised farmers they would "export their way to prosperity". After eleven years of NAFTA this line of thinking was exposed as a myth as farmers watched crop prices for major commodities decline, and now CAFTA would continue the same pattern.

Minnesota Ranks Third in Use of Medically Important Antibiotics in Animal Feed, New Report Estimates

Minnesota ranks third in the country in its estimated annual use of antibiotics important in human medicine as feed additives for chicken, swine and beef cattle, according to a new report released today by Environmental Defense.

Healthy Food, Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Communities

Hospitals around the country are starting to follow their own advice to patients about the importance of a beneficial diet by offering fresh, healthy food at their facilities.

Sweet or Sour? The U.S. Sugar Program and the Threats Posed by the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Program

The U.S. sugar program is the only major U.S.commodity program that guarantees fair prices to farmers, operates at no cost to tax payers and prevents export dumping at below the cost of production. In other words, it balances supply and demand.

Smart Meat and Dairy Guide for Parents and Children

The industrial factory-style that dominates meat and dairy production can create environmental pollution that contaminates our food.