soil

What Would a Monsanto-Bayer Merger Really Grow?

What Would a Monsanto-Bayer Merger Really Grow?

By Courtney Lindwall A megamerger between two of the world’s biggest agricultural corporations looms on the horizon. The seed and pesticide giant Monsanto is inching closer to uniting with the German pharmaceutical and chemical company Bayer—a consolidation that could spell disaster for farmers, pollinators, and affordable, healthy food. Here’s why the Monsanto-Bayer merger is a […]

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    5 Reasons Getting USDA Organic Certification Is Really Difficult

    5 Reasons Getting USDA Organic Certification Is Really Difficult

    As the only government-administered label that addresses farming practices, the organic emblem is vitally important. There literally is no other badge that carries as much weight. USDA certified organic-food sales topped $43 billion in 2016—emphasis on “USDA certified.” Ask around at your local farmers market and you’re likely to run into a few “all-but-certified” farms […]

    Healthy Soil: Good for the Farmer, Good for the Planet

    Healthy Soil: Good for the Farmer, Good for the Planet

    Many people believe that if you just focus on soil health, everything else will follow. This principal is prominently featured in a recent New York Times Magazine article, “Can Dirt Save the Earth?” which examines the practicality of regenerative agriculture. Moises Velasquez-Manoof begins his lengthy piece with John Wick and his wife, Peggy Rathmann, two […]

    ‘The Dirt Cure’: Why Human Health Depends on Soil Health

    ‘The Dirt Cure’: Why Human Health Depends on Soil Health

    By Julie Wilson Our connection to nature is sacred, dating back to the beginning of our existence. It’s no wonder then that our health is intimately intertwined with the earth—from the soil beneath our feet, to the food we eat, to the water we drink and to the air that fills our lungs. In other […]

    Monsanto’s Roundup Destroys Healthy Microbes in Humans and in Soils

    Monsanto’s Roundup Destroys Healthy Microbes in Humans and in Soils

    By Julie Wilson We’re only beginning to learn the importance of healthy gut bacteria to our overall health—and the relationship between healthy soil and the human microbiome. We know that the human microbiome, often referred to as our “second brain,” plays a key role in our health, from helping us digest the food we eat, […]

    Creating a Sustainable Future: 5 Essential Reads

    Creating a Sustainable Future: 5 Essential Reads

    By Jennifer Weeks Much news about the environment in 2017 focused on controversies over Trump administration actions, such as proposals to promote more use of coal and budget cuts at relevant federal agencies. At the same time, however, many scholars across the U.S. are pursuing innovations that could help create a more sustainable world. Here […]

    10 Ways to Be a Better Environmental Steward in 2018

    10 Ways to Be a Better Environmental Steward in 2018

    Protecting the natural environment may seem overwhelming with increased natural disasters, melting sea ice, and threatened wildlife. But your choices can truly go a long way for your community and your health. Here are ten ways to be a better steward in 2018 and help others do the same! 1. Reduce the Carbon Footprint of […]

    What Does U.S. Withdrawal From UNESCO Mean for the Environment?

    What Does U.S. Withdrawal From UNESCO Mean for the Environment?

    By Giovanni Ortolani The U.S. is quitting UNESCO, the United Nations organization that coordinates international efforts to foster peace and sustainable development, and to eradicate poverty. The Trump administration made the announcement on Oct. 12. The withdrawal takes effect Dec. 31, 2018, and the U.S. will remain a full member until then. “This decision was […]