Agriculture

How U.S. climate policy treats agriculture

We can expect that the U.S. government's position on agriculture at the global climate talks in Copenhagen will reflect how agriculture has been treated in climate bills being written by Congress. Thus far, Congress has seized upon agriculture and forestry-related sequestration as a key tool to reduce the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate and Agriculture Series: Copenhagen

Government representatives from around the world--including President Obama--will gather in Copenhagen for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to talk about how to address climate change. The focus will be on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the effects of climate change.

As Climate Talks Begin, Obama's Change Mandate in Question

The potential confirmation of controversial former pesticide lobbyist Islam Siddiqui as the U.S. trade representative for agriculture threatens to further undermine this administration’s credibility in international forums by privileging U.S. corporate interests over the global public interest and common good.

Climate agreement must support shift toward sustainable agriculture

To effectively address global climate change, policy solutions must support a transition toward more sustainable agriculture systems that recognize the critical role agriculture plays in the world, concludes a series of issue briefs released today by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

Antibiotics, Animal Agriculture and MRSA: A New Threat

Widespread use of antibiotics leads to the development and spread of more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, like MRSA. When used, antibiotics kill off susceptible bacteria leaving resistant ones to multiply and spread; greater use of antibiotics—wherever that occurs—translates into greater numbers and different varieties of drug-resistant bacteria.

U.S. groups call for Obama leadership at world food summit

Looking for integrated solutions to climate at UN talks

From November 2–6 last week, negotiators met in Barcelona as a lead up to UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

JoAnne Berkenkamp Farm to School in Minnesota

Farm to School Forum with USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan on November 3, 2009.

Bt refuge rules being ignored at our peril

The adoption of transgenic, or more commonly termed genetically modified (GM) crops, has greatly transformed the crop industry.

U.S. Groups Call for Leadership from the Obama Administration at the World Summit on Food Security

At the World Summit on Food Security in Rome, U.S. civil society organizations expressed concern with the Obama administration's support for increasing intensive, large-scale agriculture production and trade expansion as a solution to rising global hunger - failed approaches that have actually contributed to the global food crisis.