The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

FAO promotes dangerous advice on Syngenta’s deadly paraquat herbicide—compromising its independent status

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has partnered with pesticide lobby group Croplife International—and is now nodding approval regarding the formula of a deadly herbicide associated with Croplife member Syngenta. The partnership has been condemned by civil society organizations with critics saying it is like the World Health Organization teaming up […]

New film exposes Roundup’s ubiquity in Napa Valley wine country

Documentary filmmaker Brian Lilla has revealed the motivation behind his new film about the herbicide Roundup in Napa, CA, vineyards—his kids. Since moving to Napa nine years ago, Lilla has noticed the omnipresence of Roundup application—even in a vineyard across from his daughters’ school. “When I learned how toxic wine country is, I needed to […]

U.S. organic crop acreage increased by 3% in 2022

Non-GMO corn and soybean acres declined USDA-certified organic land is expected to reach nearly 8.7 million acres across the U.S. during 2022, according to organic and non-GMO market data firm Mercaris. “Following a decline in certified organic pasture and rangeland, area dedicated to organic field crop production is expected to account for the largest share […]

Hot foam: eco-friendly alternative to Roundup weed killer?

The perennial question—do the benefits of a solution outweigh the price? The cost for weed-killing superstar Roundup (main ingredient: glyphosate) is an increasingly steep one—glyphosate has been linked extensively to cancer, biodiversity loss, and environmental harm. A potential replacement beckons—a biodegradable hot foam, called Foamstream V4, made from a blend of plant oils and sugars […]

Cornell study links sustainable practices to farm size in organic production

A study recently published in Nature Plants surveyed 542 organic fruit and vegetable farmers about the use of eight agroecological practices that promote sustainability. “We wanted to look at how the practices differ between small-scale organic farms… and those huge farms that supply organic produce to big box stores,” said Jeffrey Liebert, PhD, who studied […]