Publication archives

Apr 2, 2012

Public agricultural research needs to benefit the public

by
Mark Muller
The importance of the Farm Bill’s Research Title is hard to overstate. It may not have a direct impact on people’s lives as the food assistance programs and farm programs do, but it is a crucial driver in the long-term direction of U.S. agriculture. Its impact goes far beyond the USDA research institutions and also drives research at land grant universities and many other entities.
Public agricultural research needs to benefit the public
Mar 30, 2012

FDA misses the mark on BPA

by
Katie Rojas-Jahn
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a decision about the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and its use in food packaging. Their decision affects everyone’s health and our right to be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals in our food, our homes and our environment.
Mar 30, 2012

Urging support for energy programs in the 2012 Farm Bill

Yesterday our Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken introduced a bill in the Senate to protect energy programs in the Farm Bill that are critically important for rural communities. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa led the bill’s introduction, and Sen. Kent Conrad from North Dakota was also a co-sponsor.
Mar 29, 2012

What's at Stake in the 2012 Farm Bill?

by
IATP
The U.S. Farm Bill—arguably the nation’s largest and most influential food policy tool—is written by Congress every five years. It includes far-reaching programs for crop production, farmers, rural development, energy, conservation and international food aid—the largest portion going to food assistance programs.
Mar 29, 2012

WEBINAR: Arsenic, Organic Formula and the Food System

A new study by Dartmouth finds high-level arsenic in rice, particularly brown rice syrup -- a sugar substitute used in formula, cereal bars and other kids' foods.  Levels in organic formula were 20 times higher than in non-organic varieties.
Cereal boxes with cartoon characters
Mar 28, 2012

Everyone at the Table: Local Foods and the Farm Bill

by
JoAnne Berkenkamp
Bill Wenzel
The local foods movement in the United States has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, but still represents a small portion of the overall food system. How can local food systems continue to grow and remain sustainable?
Everyone at the Table: Local Foods and the Farm Bill
Mar 28, 2012

Local Foods, Global: Food Aid and the Farm Bill

The U.S. food aid program is hugely important at the global level. At $2.3 billion in 2010, the U.S. provides just over half of emergency food aid deliveries to millions of beneficiaries around the world suffering from famine, natural disaster and conflict.1 There is little doubt that food aid has saved countless lives, but with significant improvements, it could save countless more.
Mar 26, 2012

Why the Right to Water is Under Attack

by
Shiney Varghese