Revise GMO corn decree or face U.S. challenge, Vilsack warns Mexico
Ahead of a visit by Mexican government leaders, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Thursday that the Biden administration was ready to challenge Mexico under North American trade rules unless it “rectifies” a presidential decree that would ban imports of genetically modified corn at the start of 2024.
Food-system reform is crucial, but controversial, piece of biodiversity deal
At the UN Biodiversity Conference, currently underway in Montreal, delegates from 196 countries are trying to craft a plan to reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. And food production, which is responsible for 70 percent of terrestrial biodiversity loss and half of the loss of freshwater species, is proving to be a key but contentious variable in fulfilling that goal.
Last-chance farmworker reform bill is proposed
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced a new farmworker reform bill on Thursday that would give legal status to undocumented farmworkers and reform the H-2A guestworker program, including, for the first time, visas for year-round agricultural work.
Organic sales climb 13 percent in two years
California leads the nation with $3.55 billion in sales of organic agricultural products, one-third of the U.S. total, said the USDA on Thursday. The 2021 Organic Survey listed total organic sales of $11.2 billion, an increase of 13 percent in two years.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Food aid for Africa: At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, President Biden pledged an additional $2.5 billion in emergency aid and announced a strategic partnership on food security between the United States and the African Union. (White House)
More biofuels, more emissions: Although the EPA proposal to increase the Renewable Fuel Standard by 10 percent over three years would temporarily boost greenhouse gas emissions due to increased tillage, they would be offset by lower tailpipe emissions in the future. (Reuters)
‘Big Cannabis’ bankrolled research: Harvard, MIT, and UC-San Diego are among the universities that accepted multimillion-dollar gifts in recent years from a marijuana investor and foundations with ties to the marijuana industry for marijuana research. (Los Angeles Times)
Renewable energy funds: The USDA announced $285 million in grants for 844 projects in 44 states through the Rural Energy for America Program and invited applications for an additional $300 million in grants for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects. (USDA)
