This week's dose of organic headlines, updates, resources, goodies, and recipes courtesy of DSnodgrass...

New research shows that the use of genetically modified crops have put more pesticides on consumers dinner tables. 

The rapid adoption by U.S. farmers of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton has promoted increased use of pesticides, an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and more chemical residues in foods, according to a report issued Tuesday by health and environmental protection groups.

The groups said research showed that herbicide use grew by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, with 46 percent of the total increase occurring in 2007 and 2008.

The report was released by nonprofits The Organic Center (TOC), the Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Center for Food Safety (CFS).

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), which counts Monsanto as it's most famous member, responded with a script which is This is Spinal Tap worthy.

"Herbicide resistance crops are incredibly popular with farmers. They help them manage their weed problems in ways traditional crops don't," said Mike Wach, BIO managing director of science and regulatory affairs.

"If a farmer feels a crop is causing them more trouble than it is worth they will stop using it," Wach said. "Farmers are continuing to adopt these crops because they provide benefits, not liabilities and problems."

A bit of perspective on the BIO's spin. It doesn't matter whether they believe what they say, no matter how inane. Their jobs, their very livelihoods, are based on selling their product. As a point of comparison, nobody argues the safety of cigarettes anymore, yet cigarette manufacturers still have marketing departments.

Here is some welcome legislative action in the Senate that appears to be aimed directly at supporting independent organic farmers.

Monday the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released Chairman Tom Harkin's (D-IA) draft markup of the pending S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which contained new provisions to protect organic and sustainable farmers.

Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) sent a letter to Chairman Harkin last week urging the inclusion of provisions to help organic farms and sustainable agriculture comply with the new legislation.

"Specifically, we request that the Chairman's mark include language to streamline food safety guidelines and regulations governing organic and sustainable farms," said the senators in the letter to Harkin.

The letter, which noted that organic food sales have been growing between 15 and 21 percent annually, cited concerns over whether the legislation might unintentionally burden the small and sustainable agriculture sector.

"We are concerned that following enactment of S. 510, organic farms and sustainable agriculture will be subject to two potentially conflicting or duplicative sets of regulations issued by the two agencies," the HELP committee said in its letter. "In order to avoid potential regulatory conflicts or duplication, we urge you to include language...to require the FDA and USDA to work together in developing food safety regulations."

"We believe that a cohesive set of regulations will help ensure the viability or organic and sustainable food producers, while also increasing the safety of the foods these producers bring to market," the letter added.

Good news. Harkin has now included the suggested provisions.

Hey Aussies, send some of this good mojo our way.

A Commitment by four major food brands to avoid genetically modified organisms is a win for consumers wishing to avoid GMOs in their diet, according to the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA).

With a large number of common foods now containing GMOs and in the absence of comprehensive GM labelling laws in Australia, consumers are increasingly opting to go organic, BFA claims.

The 2010 Truefood Guide released by Greenpeace recently, which rates over one thousand of Australia’s top food and beverage brands for the presence of GM ingredients, claims four leading food brands are turning their back on genetically modified (GM) ingredients – for the Australian market.

BFA claims Nestlé, Foster’s, Schweppes and Lindt have undertaken to keep their Australian brands free from GM ingredients, joining other prominent Australian brands that include Milo, Uncle Toby’s cereal, VB and Peters Ice Cream.

I'll be trying this organic apple cider recipe this weekend, which looks insanely good. Go to the original link, the site as a boatload of great organic recipes.

16-18 whole cloves
8 small organic apples, such as gala
2 oranges, thinly sliced
2 quarts organic apple juice (fresh organic apple juice, if you can find it, is the best)
1/4 cup raw sugar
1 teaspoon allspice
whole nutmeg
cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Stud apples with cloves. In a large pot, combine remaining ingredients except for the cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat.

Related Reading:

GM Foods, or How to Forge a New World Order
Organic Food - The Benefits and Pitfalls

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