The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

What a year it was for organic grains; 2021 year in review

By David Becker, Fast Markets/The Jacobsen The twists and turns of organic grain prices were extraordinary in 2021. While organic corn prices saw sizeable gains, organic soybeans and byproducts made the headlines. It would be hard to write a script that mirrored reality. The first stone to drop was a ban of the largest certifiers from the U.S.’s most […]

CCOF now offers Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) program

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is partnering with the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) to offer the Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) program. ROC™ certification encompasses environmental protection, animal welfare, and fair trade, representing the highest standard for organic agriculture worldwide. The three pillars of the program are Soil Health, Animal Welfare, and Social Fairness; performance levels include Bronze, Silver, […]

Farmers Business Network and Environmental Defense Fund launch farmer line of credit to incentivize regenerative agriculture

Farmers Business Network (FBN) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have initiated the FBN Regenerative Agriculture Finance Fund (RAFF)—a unique U.S. financing program rewarding farmers who meet soil health and nitrogen efficiency standards through access to lower rates and fees. Participants gain agronomic insights to optimize on-farm benefits of regenerative practices. RAFF credit lines will offer a one-year line of credit […]

Fashion industry adopts regenerative agriculture

Despite clothing fabrics touting “organic” or “sustainable” labels to lure ethically minded customers, many of the environmental claims are not accurate. Changing Markets Foundation revealed that over half the claims from leading retailers like Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo were “unsubstantiated.” Levi’s and Reformation also fell short. A newer trend targets how fabrics are grown, prioritizing […]

RIP Arpad Pusztai: Scientist who discovered toxic effects from GMO potatoes

A meticulous scientist who woke up the world to the dangers of GM foods The eminent scientist Dr. Arpad Pusztai passed away last December. As the lead author of the landmark 1999 study that found that genetically modified insecticidal potatoes had toxic effects on rats, Arpad woke up the world to the fact that some GM crops […]