The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
2/15: UPI, Europe, WTO battle over biotech crops
2/15: City Pages, Peaceable Kingdom
2/8: AP, U.S. EU, Again at Loggerheads Over Trade
2/8: Inter-Press Service, WTO Biotech Ruling Reveals Special Interests, Say Critics
2/5: New York Times, Trans-Atlantic battle of biotech
1/26: AP, Cities look at WTO, see political hot potato
1/14: Irish Examiner, Dumping threat to rights of world's poorest producers
1/14: Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, Seeking more honesty on world trade
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Help us celebrate
our 20-year anniversary on April 22!
 Twenty years ago, IATP founder Mark Ritchie returned to Minnesota from a full year of traveling across Europe meeting with farm leaders and trade experts. He had a clear mission: establish a U.S.-based organization that would work with others globally to explain how international trade institutions would impact farmers and rural communities.
With an international board composed of leaders from farm and consumer movements in Japan, Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, IATP began to sound the alarm about something called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and later the World Trade Organization.
Twenty years later, IATP is still challenging global trade institutions and developing cutting edge solutions to many of the problems plaguing rural communities and food systems around the world. On April 22, Earth Day, IATP's friends will gather in Minneapolis to celebrate 20 years of hard work. Our civil society partners, supporters, friends and current and former staff will also thank IATP President Mark Ritchie for his amazing work at IATP. Mark will be stepping down from IATP at the end of the year.
So, don't wait—make sure you have a place at the table on April 22. Long-time family farm supporter and author Jim Hightower will give the keynote speech. IATP will honor Lucia Watson, for her pioneering work as a local chef who has supported local family farmers. And we will honor Dr. Edgard Pisani, noted international agricultural leader, for his more than 60 years of work on behalf of farmer-friendly agriculture and democracy.
Preventing learning disabilities, conference considers environmental contributors
 Learning or developmental disabilities affect one in six U.S. children under age 18, including attention deficit disorder, autism and mental retardation. Research indicates that early-in-life exposure to common brain toxins like lead, mercury, some pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and solvents may contribute to learning and developmental disabilities.
Experts from around the country gathered in Minneapolis on January 21 to discuss how to prevent such disabilities by lowering children's exposure to common environmental contributors, like lead, mercury and pesticides. The conference, "Preventing Harm to Growing Brains: Environmental Contributors to Learning and Developmental Disabilities in Children," attracted over 250 people.
"Investing in healthier, smarter children should be a top priority for Minnesota, starting as early as possible," said conference organizer Kathleen Schuler, Senior Associate in IATP's Food and Health Program. "Why should we continue to allow coal plants to spew mercury, for example, when we already have the technology to curb this pollution and better protect kids from exposure to this brain toxin in their mother's womb and from eating contaminated fish."
The conference was sponsored by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment and IATP.
IATP hires new trade director
 IATP announced that starting in April, Alexandra Spieldoch will be the new Director of the Trade and Global Governance Program.
"We are very lucky to have Alexandra direct our trade team," said IATP President Mark Ritchie. "She brings a wealth of international experience, both in analyzing the impact of trade on sustainable development, and working within national and international networks to effect change."
Before coming to IATP, Alexandra co-directed the Gender, Trade and Development Project at the Center of Concern in Washington, D.C. She also served as the Global Coordinator for the International Gender and Trade Network secretariat.
"IATP is a leading voice in its advocacy for sustainable rural livelihoods, not only at the local and national level, but globally where international rules are being designed," said Spieldoch. "I am excited to join the Trade and Global Governance team and to build on our efforts to reshape U.S. farm policy and global trade rules toward a more sustainable, fair trade system."
WTO ruling on GE crops could undermine environmental and health protections
 A preliminary ruling on regulating genetically engineered crops issued by a World Trade Organization dispute resolution panel earlier this month would be a major step back for the democratic rights of national and local governments to set their own environmental and human health protections when there is scientific uncertainty, said IATP. While the ruling has not officially been made public, IATP was the first to post a leaked copy of the ruling's conclusions on its Web site.
The ruling concerns a U.S., Canadian and Argentine government challenge of a European Commission regulatory system that delayed the commercialization of genetically engineered crops until further scientific evidence of their environmental and health safety was available. The EC system has approved GE crops for commercialization since the dispute was filed in 2003.
"Beyond GE crops, the WTO ruling could set a broad precedent to inhibit the ability of WTO member states to set food safety, public health and environmental health measures where there is scientific uncertainty about the adequacy or quality of data submitted for commercialization approvals," said Steve Suppan, IATP's Research Director and author of a backgrounder on the case.
Minnesota's forests take big first step
Last month, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the environmental certification of Minnesota's state forests-over 4.8 million acres of woodland across the state. But according to a new commentary by IATP's Don Arnosti and Katie Marshall, "now, the hard work begins. If Minnesota wants to reap the environmental and economic benefits that come with certification, some big improvements will have to be made in how our forests are managed."
IATP's Community Forestry Resource Center is certified under Forest Stewardship Council standards and certifies private forestland in four states in the Upper Midwest.
WTO faces big challenges in 2006
The World Trade Organization has its back up against the wall in 2006. It has set a deadline to complete a highly contentious trade round by the beginning of 2007. But at December's Hong Kong ministerial, it was clear that major divisions remain between rich and poor countries. At the center of the talks is a heated debate on the merits of trade liberalization itself in improving peoples' lives.
IATP sent a delegation of 10 staff to Hong Kong to advocate for fair trade rules within the WTO, and to showcase the success of the certified fair trade system. Prior to the ministerial, IATP produced a number of backgrounders on key aspects of the negotiations, including agriculture subsidies, export dumping, food aid and human rights. Inside the convention center where the ministerial was held, IATP worked closely with government delegates and other nongovernmental organizations to press for trade rules that protect the interests of farmers, workers and rural communities.
In the weeks leading up to and during the ministerial, IATP produced Radio Hong Kong, an Internet radio podcast that covered events at the fair, on the streets and inside the convention center. And IATP's Trade Observatory site (tradeobservatory.org) attracted visitors from around the world interested in following the negotiations.
In the end, WTO members reached agreement on a very watered-down declaration, leaving most of the big issues for 2006. "It is not surprising that the Doha Round can't achieve meaningful progress. The agenda is promoting a vision for liberalization that is not supported by most members. Even those that use free trade rhetoric, like the U.S., aren't ready to commit to it in practice," said IATP's Sophia Murphy.
A fair trade lighthouse in Hong Kong
 Caught between protesters and government negotiators, fair trade offered a beacon of hope during the Hong Kong ministerial. With major support from the Swiss and Canadian governments, IATP and an international steering committee hosted the 2005 Hong Kong Fair Trade Fair and Symposium. It featured over 50 fair trade producers and NGOs from 20 countries, a welcoming reception with a traditional lion dance, high-profile speakers such as Mary Robinson and trade ministers from India and Germany, and the highlight:: a fair trade fashion show.
The fair trade events were designed to illustrate how international trade can benefit those who have been hurt the most by the negative affects of the WTO: the marginalized, those living in rural communities and the small farmers who are suffering from low global commodity prices. By highlighting an economic development system that works and can be scaled up, fair trade supporters aimed to raise awareness, increase financing and affect policy that promotes fair trade.
Top chicken producers reported
to have slashed antibiotic use
IATP and the Keep Antibiotics Working Coalition applauded recent news reported in USA Today that four of the nation's top 10 poultry producers have dramatically cut use of antibiotics in producing chicken for human consumption, with one producer reportedly reducing its antibiotic use by more than 90 percent.
"This is a key step for keeping the crisis in antibiotic resistance from further depleting our arsenal of antibiotics effective at treating bacterial infections, in sick humans as well as in animals," said David Wallinga, M.D., Director of IATP's Food and Health Program.
The article reports that Tyson Foods, Inc., the nation's largest chicken producer, has cut its antibiotic use in chicken production by 93 percent since 1997, and quotes Tyson's chief veterinarian as stating that fewer than 1 percent of the company's broiler chickens received any antibiotics in 2004 (broilers are chickens produced for human consumption). According to the article, the other top poultry producers which also dramatically reduced antibiotics use include Perdue, Gold Kist and Foster Farms. Overuse of antibiotics in agriculture promotes development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria via food, air, water and soil.
Donate to IATP! You can help. IATP does very important work to keep family farmers on the
land, to ensure the safety of our food supply and to preserve biodiversity
and the environment for future generations. We cannot do this work without
you. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us secure a sustainable
world. Please make your tax-deductible contribution today. If you would
like more information about our programs, or if you would like to discuss
different contribution options, please contact Kate Hoff, Development
Director, at khoff@iatp.org or (612) 870-3404. We appreciate your interest in
our work. Thank you for your support.
You can help support IATP by contributing online.
We thank you for your continued support!
IATP News is an occasional publication reporting on recent events and activities at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). It is sent to board members, supporters, partners and friends. To manage your subscription—including removing your name from this list—visit: IATP's listservs. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
Mark Ritchie, President
2105 First Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 USA
Tel. 1 (612) 870-0453 Fax. 1 (612) 870-4846
Email: iatp@iatp.org Web: iatp.org
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Check out what the Star Tribune had to say about IATP's award-winning, 100% organic and fair trade coffee company, Peace Coffee.
2105 First Avenue South | Minneapolis MN 55404 USA