The farm-by-farm fight between China and the United States to dominate the global food supply by Ted Genoways | New Republic | 18 Aug 2015 China | United States | corporations | food sovereignty | laws & policies Activists in both China and the United States have raised concerns about just two corporations having so much influence over the world food supply, with so little transparency. But these fears miss the larger point of what such companies represent: the intent of the U.S. government to use food as an ever-more powerful point of leverage to wield over large, increasingly hungry nations like China. Activists in both China and the United States have raised concerns about just two corporations having so much influence over the world food supply, with so little transparency. But these fears miss the larger point of what such companies represent: the intent of the U.S. government to use food as an ever-more powerful point of leverage to wield over large, increasingly hungry nations like China.
The color of food: stories of race, resilience, and farming in the United States by Natasha Bowens | 28 May 2015 United States | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity A collection of portraits and stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latina farmers in the United States, digging into critical issues at the intersection of race and food to challenge the status quo of agrarian identity. A collection of portraits and stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latina farmers in the United States, digging into critical issues at the intersection of race and food to challenge the status quo of agrarian identity.
Agroecology: putting food sovereignty into action by WhyHunger | 15 May 2015 Brazil | Guatemala | Haiti | India | Mali | United States | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity Agroecology is an agricultural method based on the traditional knowledge of those who cultivate the land and a way of life. WhyHunger release its first agroecology publication that shares the knowledge and perspectives of social movement leaders that are working to “scale up” agroecology around the world. Agroecology is an agricultural method based on the traditional knowledge of those who cultivate the land and a way of life. WhyHunger release its first agroecology publication that shares the knowledge and perspectives of social movement leaders that are working to “scale up” agroecology around the world.
How a national food policy could save millions of American lives by Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, Ricardo Salvador and Olivier De Schutter | 10 Nov 2014 United States | corporations | technologies | climate crisis | laws & policies | food safety How we produce and consume food has a bigger impact on Americans’ well-being than any other human activity. Yet we have no food policy — no plan or agreed-upon principles — for managing American agriculture or the food system as a whole. That must change. An appeal for a US food policy. How we produce and consume food has a bigger impact on Americans’ well-being than any other human activity. Yet we have no food policy — no plan or agreed-upon principles — for managing American agriculture or the food system as a whole. That must change. An appeal for a US food policy.
China detains five in meat probe by Financial Times | 6 Aug 2014 China | United States | corporations Chinese authorities have detained five employees of a US-owned company accused of relabelling expired meat amid allegations of systemic violations at a key supplier to McDonald’s, KFC and other fast-food chains in China and Japan. Chinese authorities have detained five employees of a US-owned company accused of relabelling expired meat amid allegations of systemic violations at a key supplier to McDonald’s, KFC and other fast-food chains in China and Japan.
The Gates Foundation's hypocritical investments by Alex Park & Jaeah Lee | 16 Jan 2014 United States | corporations According to its website, the Gates Foundation "works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives." So how do the investments of the foundation's $36 billion investing arm, the Gates Foundation Trust, match up to its mission? Alex Park and Jaeah Lee of Mother Jones dug into the group's tax returns to find out. ExxonMobil, Walmart, and McDonald's are just a few of the companies that the mega-charity supports. According to its website, the Gates Foundation "works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives." So how do the investments of the foundation's $36 billion investing arm, the Gates Foundation Trust, match up to its mission? Alex Park and Jaeah Lee of Mother Jones dug into the group's tax returns to find out. ExxonMobil, Walmart, and McDonald's are just a few of the companies that the mega-charity supports.
Dust to dust: a man-made Malthusian crisis by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | 2 Dec 2013 United States | food crisis | seeds & biodiversity We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine
Factory Food From Above: Satellite Images of Industrial Farms by Brandon Keim | 17 Sep 2013 United States | corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty Seen from a satellite, an industrial feedlot has a sort of abstract beauty. The washes of colors, the juxtaposition of organic and rigid geometries, initially obscure the subject. Then comes the realization: That’s where our food comes from. Seen from a satellite, an industrial feedlot has a sort of abstract beauty. The washes of colors, the juxtaposition of organic and rigid geometries, initially obscure the subject. Then comes the realization: That’s where our food comes from.
Half of China's antibiotics now go to livestock by Mother Jones | 10 Sep 2013 China | United States | corporations Tom Philpott explains how China's booming use of antibiotics in meat production stems from its following of a model of industrial livestock farming developed by US corporations. Tom Philpott explains how China's booming use of antibiotics in meat production stems from its following of a model of industrial livestock farming developed by US corporations.
Our coming food crisis by Gary Nabhan | 24 Jul 2013 United States | climate crisis So you thought that the climate crisis will mostly affect poor farmers in the tropics? Here's a sobering account in the New York Times on what's happing to farmers in the US South West, by Gary Nabhan. Pluse a battery of sensible proposals of what could be done. Problem is that the main farmers organisations and agribusness aren't interested. So you thought that the climate crisis will mostly affect poor farmers in the tropics? Here's a sobering account in the New York Times on what's happing to farmers in the US South West, by Gary Nabhan. Pluse a battery of sensible proposals of what could be done. Problem is that the main farmers organisations and agribusness aren't interested.
Global threat to food supply as water wells dry up, warns top environment expert by John Vidal | 8 Jul 2013 food crisis | China | Saudi Arabia | United States Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown
GE trees to fight climate change? by Dr. Rachel Smolker | 9 Apr 2013 United States | corporations | climate crisis | GMOs The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees. The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees.
USA: The meat industry now consumes four-fifths of all antibiotics by Tom Philpott | 28 Feb 2013 United States | corporations | laws & policies | food safety | actions Antibiotic overuse is breeding new and resistant strains of bacteria that infect people. But industrial farms haven't got the message. In 2011 almost 30 million pounds of antibiotics were sold in the US for meat and poulty production. Almost four times as much as those sold to treat sick people! An excellent reflection by Tom Philpott. Antibiotic overuse is breeding new and resistant strains of bacteria that infect people. But industrial farms haven't got the message. In 2011 almost 30 million pounds of antibiotics were sold in the US for meat and poulty production. Almost four times as much as those sold to treat sick people! An excellent reflection by Tom Philpott.
Seeds of freedom - the movie by Gaia, ABN | 13 Jun 2012 Ethiopia | India | United States | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see! Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see!
"Corporate person" Cargill, Inc. under arrest by Occupy Cargill | 23 Jan 2012 United States | corporations A colorful crowd of 40 Occupy activists, food justice advocates, farmers, and anti-corporate-personhood protestors braved below freezing temperatures to voice their grievances and stage a mock citizen’s arrest of Cargill Inc. in downtown Minneapolis, USA. A colorful crowd of 40 Occupy activists, food justice advocates, farmers, and anti-corporate-personhood protestors braved below freezing temperatures to voice their grievances and stage a mock citizen’s arrest of Cargill Inc. in downtown Minneapolis, USA.