The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Oregon legislature may let farmers sue for contamination from GMO crops

The Oregon legislature is considering a bill that would let farmers sue companies such as Bayer and Syngenta if those companies’ genetically engineered (GMO) seeds contaminate other crops. Such contamination hurts farmers of organic and non-GMO crops because they lose premium prices for their crops if they are tested and found to contain GMOs. GMO […]

EPA backs industry, defending carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate

Contradicting findings from a recent internal report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared that exposure to glyphosate is safe for humans. But the Department of Health and Human Service’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found it harmful. In three high-profile cases, it has been linked to cancer, resulting in multi-million dollar payouts […]

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 […]