In a classic example of how shamelessly Big Agribiz pivots its marketing, the current US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was part of the legal team that scored the first major court victory against Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller, is being used as an unwitting front man for “biologicals”. These are substances derived from living organisms that agribusiness companies are increasingly promoting to farmers with claims of improving soil or crop health or controlling pests and diseases – all supposedly with the added benefit of reducing use of the chemical pesticides that still provide the largest chunk of the companies’ profits. “Biologicals” can be genuinely natural. For example, the biocontrols used in organic farming include ladybirds employed to combat aphids and nematodes used against slugs and snails. But they can also be genetically engineered organisms, such as GM microbes – which can pose serious risks to human and animal health and the environment. GMWatch

 

 

A compelling new e-book titled Power Play: The Future of Food by Colin Todhunter has been released. This concise, open-access book serves as the third instalment in a trilogy by the author that critically examines the dynamics of food production, distribution and consumption in a rapidly changing world. Power Play: The Future of Food intricately links the global food system to broader political and economic power dynamics. It examines how corporate consolidation and political centralisation intertwine to undermine democratic processes, emphasising the implications of these trends for food production. GMWatch

 

 

North Dakota’s Senate passed a bill Monday that would make it harder for individuals to sue pesticide manufacturers, sparking protests from opponents who argue it weakens consumer protections. Opponents say “it will be almost impossible for someone to win a case” against chemical companies over the 16,000 or so different chemicals registered for use with the Dept of Agriculture. EHN

 

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