Episode 160: Dialogue on drawdown, why a Microsoft exec took a job at National Geographic

Plus, an excerpt from our interview with former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.

Excerpt from:
Episode 160: Dialogue on drawdown, why a Microsoft exec took a job at National Geographic

8 types of ag-tech startups with the right ingredients for sustainability

Here are some of the promising ventures being backed by the likes of Tyson, Campbell Soups and Danone.

View original post here:
8 types of ag-tech startups with the right ingredients for sustainability

Earth911 Podcast, August 13, 2018: Sustainability in Your Ear

Join the Earth911 team to hear about the rapidly changing … The post Earth911 Podcast, August 13, 2018: Sustainability in Your Ear appeared first on Earth911.com.

Excerpt from:
Earth911 Podcast, August 13, 2018: Sustainability in Your Ear

USDA releases controversial GMO food label prototypes

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently unveiled label prototypes for food with genetically modified ingredients . The fight for labels was controversial, but in 2016, Congress passed a bill in favor of required labeling. Now, the proposed label designs are also facing controversy. “I mean, they look like a little smiley face,” said George Kimbrell , legal director of the  Center for Food Safety . “They’re very pro-biotech, cartoonishly so, and to that extent are, you know, not just imparting information but instead are essentially propaganda for the industry.” The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard will increase the transparency of our nation’s food system & give consumers uniform information about the bioengineered status of their foods – learn how you can provide input https://t.co/0wmR15Mkpr pic.twitter.com/qZ6hR0Jorc — USDA Ag Mktg Service (@USDA_AMS) May 9, 2018 The USDA has been working for a while to develop a mandatory national system for cluing consumers in to the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food — and a request for feedback garnered 112,000 responses from farmers, manufacturers and consumers. Now, the department is  asking for comments on its  proposed rule for the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard . Related: Genetically engineered apples that never brown are hitting store shelves next year Many of the proposed labels feature bright colors like yellow or green and include images like suns or plants. They all have the letters BE, which stands for bioengineered . Critics complain that term is unfamiliar to American shoppers, who tend to be more familiar with terms like GMO or genetically engineered . NPR pointed out that some products in supermarkets already have a non-GMO label; Kimbrell said it’s “misleading and confusing” to “now switch that up and use a totally different term, bioengineered, that has not been the standard commonplace nomenclature for all of this time.” In 2016 , the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine  analyzed more than 900 research papers and found that scientists have not uncovered hard evidence that genetically engineered crops are worse for people to eat than other crops. Still, many consumers want labels. People have until July 3, 2018 to provide comments on the proposed labels. To submit a comment, visit the Regulations.gov website . + USDA + BE Disclosure and Labeling Via NPR Image via Depositphotos

Read the original post:
USDA releases controversial GMO food label prototypes

How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

The transgenic technology that produces fast-growing fish soon could come to the U.S. Will it live up to its claims of making seafood more sustainable?

Read the original here:
How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

The transgenic technology that produces fast-growing fish soon could come to the U.S. Will it live up to its claims of making seafood more sustainable?

Read the rest here:
How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

The transgenic technology that produces fast-growing fish soon could come to the U.S. Will it live up to its claims of making seafood more sustainable?

Go here to see the original:
How genetically engineered salmon swims onto our plates

This Arctic Apple has been genetically engineered to never brown

The Arctic Apple, a variety of fruit that has been genetically engineered to never brown, even when cut into pieces, may be coming to a grocery store near you. The fruit was first envisioned as a means to increase apple consumption among picky consumers while decreasing food waste. “There’s an awful lot of apples that go to waste,” said Neal Carter, president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, which designed the Arctic Apple. “We were looking for ways to rebrand apples to make them more convenient.” Starting in November, the Arctic Apple will be sold in approximately 400 supermarkets throughout the United States . Carter estimates that this year’s harvest of 180 pounds of apples will be on the market for about 12 weeks; the first variety of Arctic Apple available will be Golden Delicious, followed by Granny Smith in 2018. Okanagan hopes that this novel approach will catch on among the fruit-consuming public “We’ve seen apple consumption decline on a per capita basis over the last few decades, because they’re not seen as convenient,” said Carter. “When they started selling cut baby carrots, it more than doubled consumption.” Just like baby carrots , the Arctic Apple will be sold pre-sliced. Related: 5 Mouthwatering plant-based fall recipes Apple flesh begins to turn brown when it’s cut or bruised because of enzymes that turn copper upon oxidation. Although the bite-sized, forever-unblemished Arctic Apple may appeal to those who can’t stand to see an apple “go bad,” its status as a GMO may turn off some concerned consumers. “There are certainly people against what we do,” said Carter. “But there are less people against it than two years ago or five years ago. Once people experience the apple, generally they say, ‘Hey this is just an apple.’” Via Gizmodo Images via Wikimedia and Okanagan Specialty Fruit

Read more:
This Arctic Apple has been genetically engineered to never brown

When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice

CRISPR gene editing can fight crop disease far more benignly than conventional practices.

View original post here:
When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice

To feed 9 billion, will we need ‘GMO 2.0’?

The directors of the new documentary, “Food Evolution,” share an inconvenient truth: For safe, sustainable food, we may have to turn to GMOs.

See the rest here:
To feed 9 billion, will we need ‘GMO 2.0’?

Next Page »