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.
5/7: WCCO 11 Eyewitness News (Minneapolis), The chicken you buy may contain arsenic
5/6: Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, Let's support farmers and consumers, not agribusiness
5/3: KENS 5 Eyewitness News (San Antonio), Many brands of chicken contain arsenic, study shows
4/30: Des Moines Register, Studies Say Crop Subsidies Make Us Obese
4/23: Boston Herald, Supersized farms, diets: Group: Crop aid feeds bad habits
4/16: St. Paul Pioneer Press, Chicken Council Cries Foul Over Arsenic Study
4/15: The Australian, Kickbacks Blow Our Leverage in Trade Talks
4/14: River Falls (Wis.) Journal, Meticulous logging operation done with eye to future
4/5: New York Times, Chicken With Arsenic? Is That O.K.?
4/1: The American Prospect, The Green Economy: Business As Usual?
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IATP announces new president:
Jim Harkness
 The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy is proud to announce Jim Harkness as its new president. Harkness, a Minnesota native, will replace current IATP president and founder, Mark Ritchie, who is resigning to run for public office in Minnesota.
Harkness joins IATP from the World Wildlife Fund in China, where he oversaw the growth of WWF China from a staff of 10 in 1999 to a staff of 70 in 2005. Previously, Harkness worked for five years for the Ford Foundation in China as its Environment and Development Program Officer. Jim has also served as an advisor for several United Nations agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he majored in Asian Studies. He received his graduate degree in Development Sociology from Cornell University.
"Jim's remarkable experience in Asia will be a tremendous asset for IATP as we respond to the challenges of globalization for rural communities," said outgoing IATP President Mark Ritchie.
"IATP already has a well-earned reputation as a leader in supporting sustainable development and rural communities with information, innovation and advocacy," said Harkness. "I look forward to continuing this great work to build social and environmental values into global institutions, and promote innovative solutions for rural communities in the Midwest and around the world."
IATP celebrates 20 great years
 On April 22, 850 people gathered in downtown Minneapolis to help IATP celebrate its 20th anniversary. The event's master of ceremonies was Winona LaDuke of the White Earth Land Recovery Project. Guests were welcomed by Megan O'Hara, wife of Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak, and Connie Coleman, wife of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Attendees heard a rousing talk from former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and author Jim Hightower. Minneapolis chef Lucia Watson and former French Agriculture Minister Dr. Edgard Pisani were awarded IATP's Commitment to Community Award. Watson was honored for her pioneering work supporting local family farmers and Pisani for more than 60 years of work on behalf of farmer-friendly agriculture and democracy.
IATP Board of Directors Chair Arie van den Brand presented IATP President Mark Ritchie with a statue to honor Mark's work on behalf of farmers throughout the world over the last 20 years. The High 48 Bluegrass Band, featuring IATP's Eric Christopher, concluded the evening's festivities by leading the crowd in square dancing.
It was an amazing evening and we thank everyone who came to support IATP.
Testing finds arsenic widespread in chicken
 Brand-name chicken products sold in American supermarkets and fast food restaurants are widely contaminated with arsenic, according to independent test results released by IATP. Arsenic in chicken meat appears closely linked to the decades-old practice of intentionally and routinely putting arsenic into chicken feed.
Testing of 155 samples from uncooked supermarket chicken products found 55 percent carried detectable arsenic. Arsenic was more than twice as prevalent in conventional brands of supermarket chicken as in certified organic and other "premium" brands. All 90 fast food chicken products tested by IATP also contained detectable arsenic.
"Adding arsenic to chicken feed is a needless and ultimately avoidable practice that only exposes more people to more of this ancient poison," said Dr. David Wallinga, a physician, author of Playing Chicken: Avoiding Arsenic in Your Meat and director of IATP's Food and Health program. "There is good news. Consumers can limit or eliminate their arsenic intake in chicken by making smart choices about which chicken to buy."
U.S. farm policy, food companies and health
U.S. farm policy geared towards driving down prices of corn and soybeans for food companies is a significant contributor to the nation's obesity epidemic, according to a report released by IATP.
Food without Thought: How U.S. Farm Policy Contributes to Obesity, written by Heather Schoonover and Mark Muller, found that low prices paid to farmers by food companies for corn and soybeans over the last several decades has spurred investment into high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans fats). The introduction of HFCS and trans fats directly mirrors alarming increases in obesity rates in the U.S. And while prices for crop ingredients for HFCS and trans fats have decreased, prices for fruits and vegetables—grown with relatively little government support—have steadily increased, according to the report.
"Food companies and consumers are following the distorted market signals driven by our farm policy," said Muller, director of IATP's Environment and Agriculture program. "If we want to seriously deal with obesity, let's create markets that promote healthy food production and consumption. Right now, farm policy is doing just the opposite."
The report found that farmers also lose from the current system, which favors the production of low value bulk commodities over higher value food crops.
New avian flu primer for small-scale farmers
 Avian flu's rapid spread across Asia and Europe has heightened concerns that the disease will arrive in North America soon. By acting now, small-scale poultry farmers in the U.S. can reduce the risk to their operation of contracting the disease, according to a new primer by IATP.
Dead Birds Don't Fly: An Avian Flu Primer for Small-Scale Farmers, by Lindsey Hillesheim, Ph.D., educates farmers with free-range or pastured poultry operations about the basic biology of avian influenza in birds and humans to help evaluate the risk of an avian flu infection in their flock. Although every farm is unique and its response will be different, the primer offers a basic description of H5N1 avian flu, how it can spread, how to reduce infection risks in poultry and workers, and appropriate responses during an outbreak.
"Free-range and organic poultry have an advantage over their caged-raised counterparts in regards to the resilience of their immune systems," said Steve Suppan, Ph.D., IATP's Director of Research. "Free-range birds are constantly exposed to low levels of pathogens that naturally reside in the environment and this exposure further strengthens their immune system. Many of the poultry lines employed by free-range farmers have been bred to live outdoors and resist infection."
Peace Coffee named best by City Pages
 Peace Coffee, IATP's 100 percent fair trade and organic coffee company, was named Minneapolis-St. Paul's best coffee sold by the pound by the editors of the City Pages. Peace Coffee also won the readers' choice award for the same category. City Pages, a Minneapolis-based weekly, publishes a "Best of the Twin Cities" issue annually.
Future markets for Midwest agriculture
We are continually told that prosperity for Midwest grain farmers is just around the corner—once China enters the World Trade Organization, or the European Union gets over their aversion to genetically modified organisms, or other alleged barriers to trade are removed. But the truth is that Midwest grain and oilseed exports have been flat or in decline for the past 20 years. The trends show little sign of reversing.
Fortunately, U.S. farmers have a better alternative: 290 million Americans looking for more energy and industrial products that help protect the environment and are produced domestically.
Defending water
 Over 12,000 delegates gathered in Mexico City for the fourth World Water Forum was held this March. The forum—an international gathering of national and local governments, the private sector, NGOs, academic institutions, international financial institutions and UN agencies—is viewed by many in civil society as promoting the privatization of water systems around the world.
In response, an alternate forum, the International Forum in the Defense of Water, was held during concurrently in Mexico City. Almost 20,000 people marched more than six miles tot he site of the World Water Forum during a a rally organized by the International Forum in the Defense of Water. IATP's Shiney Varghese participated in the alternative forum as a panelist discussing water and the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).
Codex standards and consumer rights
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, which develops international food quality and safety standards, is increasingly concerned about how its standards will play at the World Trade Organization. Instead of public health, Codex is focusing more on the trade impact of its standards. In a new article for Consumer Policy Review, IATP's Steve Suppan outlines challenges for consumer organizations that believe Codex standards should have more functions than to serve as possible evidence in potential trade dispute rulings at the WTO.
Community wind energy
 IATP partner Windustry held a national conference, Community Wind Energy 2006, in Des Moines this month. More than 500 people from 32 states attended to advance opportunities for locally owned clean energy production and rural economic development. The conference focused on two main goals: First, expanding the market by opening a dialogue on national, state and local public policies for community wind, engaging the wind and energy industry and exploring financing opportunities. Second, expanding the know-how to put together a wind project by gathering experts, providing in-depth practical information and creating numerous chances for questions and answers.
GE wild rice debated in Minnesota House
The Minnesota state legislature is debating a two-year moratorium on genetically engineered wild rice as soon as an application for a test plot is submitted. The bill would require the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to hold public hearings and solicit public comment on the potential agronomic, environmental and cultural impacts that could result from the introduction of genetically engineered wild rice.
At a Minnesota House agriculture committee hearing in late March, IATP's Dennis Olson testified in favor of the moratorium.
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Director, at khoff@iatp.org or (612) 870-3404. We appreciate your interest in
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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