Sow the Seeds Announces Grants to Support Local Food Systems in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa

Sow the Seeds, a project of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in partnership with the Wedge Co-op, announced a series of small grants today to support farmer education and outreach on season extension for fruit and vegetable production in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Mobilizing Political Will to Eradicate Hunger

Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup

Mercury is a potent brain toxin and for decades high fructose corn syrup, an increasingly common ingredient in processed foods, has been made using mercury caustic soda. This study looks at the mercury content in foods that list high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient.

Obama's Trade Rep. Must Fix Broken U.S. Trade Policy

President-elect Barack Obama's choice for the next U.S. Trade Representative, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, must fix a broken U.S. trade policy, which has caused enormous harm to farmers, workers, communities and the environment, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

New Trade Rep. Must Fix Broken U.S. Trade Policy

President-elect Barack Obama's choice for the next U.S. Trade Representative, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, must fix a broken U.S. trade policy, which has caused enormous harm to farmers, workers, communities and the environment, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

New Ag Secretary Faces Big Challenges

The U.S. agriculture economy is undergoing a transition on many fronts.

Speculation a Major Contributor to Global Food Crisis, New Report Finds

Excessive speculation in agriculture commodity markets has played a major role in the rapid rise and fall in global food prices, contributing to a massive increase in undernourished people and commodity market instability, according to a new report by IATP.

First Rural African Summit to Meet in St. Cloud on October 26-27

The opportunities and challenges facing African immigrants living in Minnesota's rural communities will be the subject of the first Rural African Summit on October 26-27 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There are currently over 20,000 Africans living in rural areas of Minnesota.

Smart Guide on Sludge Use and Food Production

Several million dry tons of sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, are used as fertilizer on agricultural lands and given away or sold for use by homeowners and landscape contractors annually in the United States. Currently, there are no labeling requirements for food produced on land treated with sewage sludge.

New Consumer Guides to Safe Plastics and Children's Products Now Available

New science on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), found in many plastics and children's products, links elevated BPA concentrations to an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities. This compelling new science has made the search for safe plastic products increasingly important, but good information for consumers is hard to find.