The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Conservation farming can boost soil lifespans, research finds

Soil is a living organism, with its own lifespan. Soil lifespan is defined as the time it would take to erode 30 centimeters of topsoil. Recent joint research from China, the U.K., and Belgium has found that global soil can be healed and feed humanity for over 10,000 years, if soil conservation practices are put […]

Crop diversity improves the health of our water—and our climate

Agriculture in the Upper Mississippi River Basin remains far too reliant on just two crops—corn and soybeans. These crop monocultures have decreased the economic, social, and environmental health of the region. In 2017, 96% of the harvested cropland in Illinois and 94% in Iowa were dedicated to corn and soy. Greater agricultural diversity is needed […]

Soil degradation costs U.S. corn farmers a half-billion dollars every year

One-third of the fertilizer applied to grow corn in the U.S. each year simply compensates for the ongoing loss of soil fertility, leading to more than a half-billion dollars in extra costs to U.S. farmers every year, finds new research from the University of Colorado Boulder published last month in Earth’s Future. Long-term soil fertility is on […]

Plant-based food trend favors more non-GMO soybean production in Canada

Non-GMO soybeans offer Canadian farmers the opportunity for price premiums and higher demand from the growing non-GMO market. But there are also challenges such as weed control and the need to segregate non-GMO soybeans from GMO varieties to preserve non-GMO purity. Canada’s non-GMO soybean production has decreased over the years, going from 81% of Canada’s […]

Non-GMO soybean meal prices surge

India’s non-GMO soybean meal exports triple Prices for non-GMO soybean increased significantly in the second half of 2020. In July 2020, non-GMO soybean meal with 48% crude protein was selling for $552 per ton. Six months later the price had increased to $729 per ton. The rise was sparked by sharp price increases in Chicago […]