The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

USDA publishes Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. This update to the USDA organic regulations strengthens oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. This final rule implements 2018 Farm Bill mandates, responds to industry requests for updates to the USDA organic regulations, and addresses […]

Company genetically engineers fruit flies to be “biofactories” for fake meat production

Future Fields’ EntoEngine insects have serious environmental and ethical downsides. Report by Claire Robinson; technical advice by Dr. Michael Antoniou The biotech company Future Fields has notified the Canadian authorities of its intention to commercialize EntoEngine, a genetically modified fly. The flies are engineered to produce foreign proteins—in this case, growth factors, which are cell signaling molecules […]

Chasing future biotech solutions to climate change risks delaying action in the present—it may even make things worse

By Tessa Hiscox, Microbiology PhD Candidate, University of Canterbury and Jack Heinemann, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Canterbury The world is under growing pressure to find sustainable options to cut emissions or lessen the impacts of climate change. Technology entrepreneurs from around the globe claim to have the solutions—not just yet, but […]

Ancient farming strategy holds promise for climate resilience

Nikoloz Lomsadze, senior pastor of a church in Dedoflis Tskaro, in eastern Republic of Georgia, looks over his field of mixed barley and wheat. He uses the mixture to make holy sacrament and church feasts. Credit: Alex McAlvay/New York Botanical Garden by Susan Kelley, Cornell University Morgan Ruelle was living in the remote mountains of Ethiopia […]

California unveils bold plan to sustainably manage pests and eliminate high-risk pesticides by 2050

Leaders representing diverse interests reach consensus on a path to move the state to sustainable practices in urban and agricultural settings The State of California recently joined leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds to unveil a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s systemwide transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized […]