Senate vote on historic financial reform critical for agriculture
The Senate’s approval of a historic financial reform bill was a first step toward preventing the excessive financial speculation that has wreaked havoc in agricultural commodity futures contracts over the last several years.
U.S. agriculture and carbon offsets
Agriculture has a real and significant role to play in combating climate change but these opportunities are not being optimized, and in fact, may be squandered in current legislation under consideration.
Food Systems and Public Health
There is a disconnect between agriculture policy and public health. The latest issue of the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition offers a great collection of ideas on how to make our food system healthier, including contributions from IATP's Dr. David Wallinga and Mark Muller.
Market Deregulation and Food Prices
The Spring 2010 issue of Food Ethics Magazine examines how our global finance system has undermined food security. IATP's Steve Suppan reports on how commodity market deregulation in the U.S. affects food prices.
Biomass Crop Assistance Program needs clarification, improvement
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) must undergo significant revision and refinement before the program's next phase is launched. IATP has submitted comments to the USDA Farm Service Agency providing recommendations for improving BCAP.
USDA & DoJ Workshops on Ag Concentration
The USDA and Departmant of Justice are holding a series of nationwide workshops on concentration in agriculture. IATP submitted comments outlining our concerns and put together a fact sheet on the role of NAFTA in increasing agribusiness concentration.
Allow EPA to protect health, climate
Over 25 agriculture and rural organizations sent a letter urging Senators to reject attempts to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect the climate and public health.
Big Price, Little Benefit
A proposal to build seven new locks on the Mississippi River would be costly for taxpayers and provide little benefit for the environment or farmers, finds a new report by the Nicollet Island Coalition and IATP.
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Supremely important: Genetically engineered crops
Fifteen years after farmers and agribusinesses began planting genetically engineered crops in out nation's fields, we still know very little about their long-term environmental, economic and social consequences.
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Patent Reform for Farmers
Farm groups from around the country, including IATP, have written Senate leaders asking for protections against dubious patent infringement lawsuits filed by biotech companies.
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Lessons from Forest Biomass
A new study by IATP finds that forest biomass harvests could reduce the cost of fire prevention while providing work for loggers and fuel for renewable energy.
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Bioeconomy Blog
IATP's blog has the latest news and analysis on the bioeconomy.
Biofuels Affecting Biodiversity
A new report by IATP finds that increasing production of crops for biofuels is exacerbating agriculture's impact on biodiversity in many parts of the world.
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Farm Bill is Lost Opportunity
The 2008 Farm Bill continues a path of deregulation that has increased market volatility to the benefit of global food companies. IATP comments on the Farm Bill conference agreement of May 13.
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Videos: Child Nutrition Act & Farm to School
IATP Food & Society Fellows Shalini Kantayya and Nicole Betancourt have created two new short videos on the Child Nutrition Act and Farm to School. They are available at a site created by another fellow, Deb Eschmeyer, Onetray.org.
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