The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Mini Farmers Market Project has kicked off another successful season, doubling in size from six markets in 2008 to 12 markets in 2009.
I doubt you missed it, even if you only caught a headline out of the corner of your eye: the G-8 leaders gathered for three days, July 8-10, (in what looked like a splendid meeting room) in L'Aquila, Italy (63 miles east-north-east of Rome).
G-8 discussions on the food crisis must include more than additional money, and should prioritize agriculture and food policies that improve the position of small producers—particularly women.
When the sharp rise in food prices hit in 2007, countries and corporations began looking for land around the world that could produce both food and biofuels. The focus of so-called "land-grabs" has been on countries in Africa, South America and Asia.
The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution today put forth by the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative to support the production, sale and consumption of local, sustainably produced foods in the city and surrounding region.
A report issued today by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that excessive speculation by commodity index traders drove up wheat prices and disrupted the market. The report confirms the urgent need for new regulatory safeguards on excessive speculation in commodity markets, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
Remember when the cost of a loaf of bread rose rapidly last year due to skyrocketing wheat prices? A new Senate report says excess speculation by financial investors with no connection to actual wheat markets drove up prices for profit.
The group of 19 agricultural exporters known as the Cairns Group will meet June 7-9 in Bali, Indonesia. They will be discussing their position as a force within the WTO Doha negotiations on agriculture.
