The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Israeli invents device that can test pesticide residues on food in real time

Imagine locating pesticide residues instantaneously, with a simple device. Food advocate Avner Avidan has created a hand-held device to do just that. Alarmed by the amount of invisible contaminants in food, Avidan developed a system for food manufacturers, farmers, and retailers. In 2016, he and Yair Moneta founded Inspecto after researching at The Kitchen Food/Tech […]

University of California, more U.S. cities ban Roundup/glyphosate

The growing trend of organizations and cities banning the use of glyphosate herbicide continues as the University of California, Watsonville, CA, Key West, FL, and Denton, TX are halting use of the weedkiller on campuses, public land and city recreational areas. University of California President Janet Napolitano recently halted the use of glyphosate on all […]

Robotic weeders are racing to replace glyphosate and dicamba

Weeds remain the largest culprit in farmers’ yield losses. Herbicides sprayed on genetically modified crops worked magically for a while, but resistant weeds have evolved, requiring use of even more toxic chemicals. Tech companies are turning to weeding robots. At Betteravia Farms (California and Arizona), Dylan Bognuda oversees operation of five automated weeders to help […]

Glyphosate cancer lawsuits expand to Canada as farmer leads class action against Bayer-Monsanto

A farmer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan who was diagnosed with cancer five years ago is leading a class action lawsuit against Bayer and Monsanto. The lawsuits alleges that the farmer’s exposure to Roundup herbicide contributed to his cancer and the cancer of other Canadians participating in the class action. The suit also claims that Monsanto, […]

Climate change being fueled by soil damage—report

A key strategy for reducing climate change focuses on restoring soil, a new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) emphasizes. Soil contains three times more carbon than the atmosphere, and deforestation and farming practices are releasing that carbon. Soil erosion, compaction, over-watering, and building on top of soil are […]