Philadelphia organic farm buying Nebraska farmland to convert to organic

Belltown Farms, a Philadelphia-based company, has emerged as the second-largest buyer of farmland in Nebraska, purchasing around 19,000 acres for $41 million between 2018 and 2022. Unlike many large corporate farm buyers, Belltown operates its farms directly and focuses on organic farming. Their Nebraska holdings, including a 9,000-acre organic farm near Holstein, produce a variety […]

AI + synthetic biology: What could possibly go wrong?

By Kurt Cobb Science fiction films are replete with human space travelers visiting far-away planets that have atmospheres suitable for those humans to breathe. Thus, the bother of wearing a space suit or other protective gear is dispensed with, and the encounters with alien races, both hostile and friendly, can proceed without such cumbersome gear […]

Friend or foe? Environmental advocates eye Kennedy nomination warily

By Shannon Kelleher In the wake of last month’s announcement that President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), some leading environmental and public health advocates say they’ve found themselves in a “weird” position. On the one hand, Kennedy is a lifelong environmental […]

From Grassroots to Global: Non-GMO Project’s October initiative highlights 17 years of progress

The Non-GMO Project, North America’s most trusted seal for GMO avoidance, recently announced the launch of its annual Non-GMO Month celebration for October 2024. This event marks 17 years of the organization’s dedication to transparency in the food system, a mission that has become increasingly crucial as an estimated 80% of groceries now contain GMOs. […]

Kansas State study finds: Treating soil with organic fertilizers leads to more carbon storage

As climate-related events become increasingly common and destructive, the urgency to find ways to capture carbon is ramping up. Kansas State University scientists recently studied the impact of different farming practices on carbon storage, concluding that soil management practices using manure/compost fertilizers store more carbon than soil treated with chemical or no fertilizer. “We were […]