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Deciding how America will nourish itself and sustain its farms would seem a top policy priority— yet as the US Farm Bill demonstrates, sustainably grown, healthy food and livable incomes for farmers and workers remain an afterthought in a process controlled almost entirely by agribusiness and a handful of farm-state legislators. Despite strong public opinion supporting local food, farmer’s markets, organic agriculture, food workers’ rights and access to fresh produce, agribusiness and commodity interests continue to dominate food and farming policy.

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today called on all members of Congress to reject the King Amendment and any other amendments or riders to the 2013 Farm Bill that would take away states’ rights to enact laws requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Reliable sources in Washington D.C. have informed the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) that Monsanto has begun secretly lobbying its Congressional allies to attach one or more “Monsanto Riders” or amendments to the 2013 Farm Bill that would preempt or prohibit states from requiring labels on genetically engineered (GE) foods.(Photo: via OSGATA.org)

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today called on the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to ban the use of carrageenan in all organic products. Carrageenan, an additive commonly used in foods, and allowed in certified organic foods, is linked to gastrointestinal inflammation and higher rates of colon cancer. Under NOP rules, carrageenan’s approval is set to expire, or “sunset.” However, the NOP is recommending approval of carrageenan in organics for another five years.

Today Food & Water Watch and its European project Food & Water Europe released the first comprehensive analysis of the U.S. government’s strategy, tactics and foreign policy objectives to promote pro-agricultural biotechnology policies worldwide. Biotech Ambassadors: How the U.S.

If you have a feeling that genetically modified (GM) foods are being forced upon the population by a handful of business interests and vociferously defended by the scientists that work in the agriculture industry or at the research institutions it funds, you might be onto something.

Monday’s veto by Tennessee governor Bill Haslam of legislation that would have required anyone recording animal abuse to turn over the footage to law enforcement within 48 hours is the latest point scored by the opposition in the controversy that has erupted over so-called ag-gag bills, which have been passed or proposed in 17 states.  Critics