The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Flowering cover crops offer a win-win: weed suppression and food for pollinators

A recent study found that when cover crops are allowed to flower, not only do they provide vital food for pollinating insects, they also help suppress weeds in future crop rotations. Published in Environmental Entomology, the research compared floral resources, weed diversity, and economic weed abundance in crop fields across five cover crop treatments: one […]

New “Bioengineered” (BE) food standard may cause confusion about non-GMO and GMO foods

Just as Americans were learning to distinguish genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from non-GMO ingredients, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard will likely muddy the waters, making it harder for consumers to identify what they’re eating. Manufacturers also are challenged, as the BE standard conflicts with requirements for Non-GMO Project verification. By January 1, 2022, bioengineered […]

Consumers Brands group requests delay on GMO labeling compliance, citing supply chain issues

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, urged the Biden administration to delay the compliance date for food companies to complete labeling of GM foods, due to disruption of supply chains during COVID. The mandatory compliance date is Jan. 1, 2022; regulated entities may comply voluntarily until Dec. 31, 2021. The USDA […]

Organic food might be getting cheaper than conventional food

Magnify Money recently released a study showing that prices of conventionally grown food items might soon be higher than organic ones. Since 2019, prices for select conventional meats, dairy items, fruits, and vegetables have risen 13.9%, on average—12 percentage points more than the 1.6% increase in organic varieties. Organic foods are still more costly; on […]

New report details why gene editing in not a solution to climate change

A new report from Friends of the Earth Europe, “Editing the Truth: Genome Editing is Not a Solution to Climate Change” describes how proponents of new gene editing techniques are making the same empty claims that were made about “older” genetic engineering techniques about feeding the world. Agriculture is caught in a vicious loop. Industrial […]