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> Local, Organic Farming and Food Production
Research, Reports, and News
The Organic Green Revolution - a report by the Rodale Institute
This new 16 page report by Tim LaSalle, Paul Hepperly, and Amadou Diop of the Rodale Institute answers the question, "Can organic food production feed the world?" The opening sentences of the report signify its message.
"We can feed the world and must restore the ecological health of our planet. To do this we need to launch an Organic Green Revolution -- that fundamentally changes the way we grow our food to maximize yield while mitigating climate change, restoring clean water, building soils, and protecting agricultural production in times of drought."
Within the Muskegon farm-to-school campaign, we have had deep discussions about "why is organic food on our agenda?" This report answers that question.
The Organic Green Revolution should be mandatory reading for every policy maker dealing with land use, public health, economic development, educational achievement, nutrition and food systems. That's just about everyone. The URL link appears below.
Alachua County, Florida Local Food System Plan
On August 25, 2008, the government of Alachua County, Florida adopted a series of recommendations on how to secure their community's food system. These recommendations parallel many of the questions we face in our Business Plan work. They are comprehensive and visionary. You can find them at the URL below. This is an important document.
Alachua County is home to the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Michael Pollan's Letter to the Farmer in Chief
On October 9, 2008 author and food activist, Michael Pollan, wrote a letter to the next President to promote consideration of "food policy" at the national level. This "Letter to the Farmer in Chief" was published in the NYTimes. President-elect Obama has reported he read the piece. It is a valuable and short description of where our food policy is now and what changes need to be made.
Wal-Mart Declares War on Organic Farmers
Partners with Agribusiness for Corporate Takeover
A report released today by The Cornucopia Institute, the
nation's most aggressive organic farming watchdog, accuses Wal-Mart of cheapening the value
of the organic label by sourcing products from industrial-scale factory farms and Third World
countries, such as China.
Wal-Mart announced earlier this year that they would greatly increase the number of organic
products they offered and price them at a target of 10% above the cost for conventional food.
"We have received scores of press inquiries over the past few months asking us if Wal-Mart's
organic expansion was ‘good news or bad news’ for the industry,” stated Mark Kastel, Senior
Farm Policy Analyst for the Wisconsin-based farm policy research group. "My stock answer has
been: If Wal-Mart lends their logistical prowess to organic food both farmers and consumers
will be big winners by virtue of a more competitive marketplace. However, if Wal-Mart applies
their standard business model, and in essence Wal-Marts organics, then everyone will lose."
The Institute's white paper, Wal-Mart Rolls Out Organic Products—Market Expansion or
Market Delusion?, makes the argument that Wal-Mart is indeed poised to drive down the price
of organic food in the marketplace by inventing a "new" organic—food from corporate
agribusiness, factory farms, and cheap imports of questionable quality. "Organic family farmers
in this country could see their livelihoods disintegrate the same way so many industrial workers
saw their family-supporting wages evaporate as Wal-Mart and other big-box retailers put the
screws to manufacturers—forcing a production shift to China and other low-wage countries,"
Kastel added.
The Rodale Institute was created by visionary J.I. Rodale who moved to rural Pennsylvania in the late 1930's where he was able to realize his keen personal interest in farming. He learned about organic food-growing concepts being promoted by Lady Eve Balfour and Sir Albert Howard and theorized that to preserve and improve our health we must restore and protect the natural health of the soil.
In 1947, J.I. founded the Soil and Health Foundation, forerunner to the Rodale Institute. He also created publications including Health Bulletin, Organic Farming and Gardening and Prevention magazines.
The concept of “organic” was simple but revolutionary in the post World War II era. As J.I. Rodale communicated the idea of creating soil rich in nutrients and free of contaminants, however, people began to listen and acceptance grew. "Organics is not a fad'" J.I. wrote in 1954. "It has been a long-established practice - much more firmly grounded than the current chemical flair. Present agricultural practices are leading us downhill."
www.rodaleinstitute.org »
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