Proposed labels for genetically engineered foods aim to put smiley face and sunshine on bad technology
In early May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its draft proposal for labeling foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, and the 106-page document was met with criticism and many unanswered questions. The…
In this issue
Whole Foods postpones GMO labeling requirement
In response to concerns from suppliers about complying with Whole Foods Market’s GMO labeling policy in time for the company’s September 1,…
1 min read
Organic agriculture is going mainstream, but not the way you think it is
As organic food has increasingly become mainstream and a multi-billion dollar industry, some critics, including noted food writer Michael Pollan, say that…
1 min read04 · The Organic & Non-GMO Report NewsletterOrganic-approved produce coating promises to extend shelf life of fruits and vegetables, open new markets for farmers
A new company has developed an all-natural, virtually invisible coating that could significantly increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables such…
1 min readGeneral Mills spotlights healthy soil, traceable organic ingredients
They’re known for Cheerios and Betty Crocker mixes—but are taking a radical turn to focus on the fertile territory of regenerative agriculture.…
1 min read06 · Organic NewsOrganic trade group blames USDA for “pattern of hostility” toward organics after termination of Organic Check-off
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) recently denounced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s action to terminate the rulemaking process to establish a national…
1 min read
Study finds conventional rice production has 10 times more negative environmental impacts than organic
A study published recently in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that conventional rice production has significantly more negative environmental impacts than…
1 min read
SILT Protects Farmland for Sustainable Food Production, Not Factory Farms
She’s retired, but she’s not spending her days tinkering with the orchards on her 80-acre property in Cedar County, Iowa. Since her…
4 min read
These Farmers Switched to Organic After Pesticides Made Their Families Sick
Some farmers transition to organic production to earn premium prices. Others switch to make their farms more sustainable. But for some farmers,…
1 min read10 · The Organic & Non-GMO Report NewsletterWeedkiller found in granola and crackers, internal FDA emails show
Scientists with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have detected a weedkiller linked to cancer in a wide range of food products,…
1 min read
Glyphosate study shows negative effects to microbiome at “safe” dosage
A new global study examined the impact on rats of the EPA’s acceptable daily dietary exposure level of the herbicide glyphosate, and…
1 min read
EU approves total ban on insecticides harming bees
Neonicotinoid insecticides are implicated in dramatic losses of bee pollinator colonies, and the European Union has voted to ban the three primary…
1 min read13 · The Organic & Non-GMO Report NewsletterHawaii may ban neurotoxic pesticide that EPA kept on the market
In May, the Hawaii legislature made a momentous decision to pass a bill that would ban the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos. The bill,…
1 min read
Ensuring non-GMO and organic flour for bakers
Consumers want their baked goods to be as honest and nutritious as their dairy, fruits, and vegetables—so they look for logos such…
1 min read
New zinc-enriched non-GMO corn set to improve nutrition in Colombia
The first zinc-enriched corn variety developed for South America was released in Colombia this past February in an effort to combat malnutrition in…
1 min read
Non-GMO and organic seed trial data now online
The US Testing Network (USTN) announced that its non-GMO and organic seed yield trial data is now available online. USTN was launched…
1 min read
BYF Brands builds secure non-GMO corn supply chain for PopCorners snack product
Three years ago, BYF Brands, maker of PopCorners snack product, took a big step to improve its supply chain and secure non-GMO…
1 min read
Organic feed demand to achieve double-digit growth again over 2018
By Ryan Koory, Mercaris senior economist In the recently-released Mercaris Annual Organic Commodity Reports, Mercaris reported that the 2017/2018 marketing year will…
2 min read19 · The Organic & Non-GMO Report NewsletterChina reportedly not buying any U.S. soybeans
Amid trade tensions between the U.S. and China resulting from President Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, and electronics from China, the…
1 min readGlobal non-GM soybean demand to rise, driven by EU: Rabobank
By Rei Geyssens Demand for “specialized” beans, such as organic, certified or plain non-GM beans, are expected to rise as consumers want…
1 min read
Demand rises for non-GMO, EU-sourced feed
Feed compounders and dairy farmers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria are looking for locally sourced and produced ingredients for feed—that are not…
1 min read
Scientist deconstructs “Zombie GMO Myths”
In a recent popular blog, Dr. Jonathan Foley, a global environmental scientist and executive director of the California Academy of Sciences, debunked the most…
1 min readEnvironmentalists and farmers seek court decision halting use of Dow’s “Agent Orange” pesticide
A coalition of environmental organizations and farmers represented by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and Earthjustice recently filed new legal papers in federal…
1 min read
Monsanto name gone but Bayer’s commitment to GMOs and pesticides remains
Bayer and Monsanto are completing their $66 million merger or “marriage made in hell” as activists call it, and Bayer will ditch…
1 min read25 · The Organic & Non-GMO Report NewsletterMonsanto stops Bt GMO soybean launch in U.S.
Monsanto has halted indefinitely introduction of Intacta 2 Xtend soybeans to U.S. farmers—a second-generation product boasting multiple genetically modified Bt proteins and…
1 min readNew research shows risks to insects from Rothamsted’s GMO “fishy” camelina
A camelina plant genetically engineered to produce omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA may reduce the learning ability of bees and other…
1 min read
Mail-order DNA, DIY gene tinkering: looming catastrophe?
Gene editing technology has become accessible to biohackers of all ages and stripes—sending ripples of alarm through academic and non-scientific circles alike.…
1 min readFind the suppliers behind these stories
Every company lists what it supplies, with certifications checked against public registries.