Friday, September 23, 2016

Canola Farmers Worried About Bayer-Monsanto Merger

Manitoba Co-Operator















PinP photo.
The fear is the new company’s market power will result in higher seed prices and less innovation unless regulators order some divestiture of assets. STORY HERE.


Superbug Explosion Triggers UN General Assembly Meeting

Scientific American















A confined animal feeding operation. "Unnecessary or incorrect antibiotic use in...agricultural production has worsened the problem." USGS photo.
Several times a week Brad Spellberg struggles with a difficult decision. A patient stumbles into his emergency room in southern California suffering from familiar symptoms: pressure when she urinates, pain in her side, fever and nausea. Based on these clues Spellberg can quickly diagnose the problem as a kidney infection, but the trouble lies in deciding what he should do next. He knows the patient is hurting and of course he wants to help, but more than his patient’s health hangs in the balance. Story here.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Indonesia's Illegal Deforestation Fires Killed Over 100,000: Study

CommonDreams  

Indonesian forests being burned for agriculture. NASA satellite image.

Illegal fires used to deforest land for palm oil and pulpwood plantations are raging again today. Story here.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Hesitance to Link Some Weather Events to Climate Change 'No Longer Appropriate'

inside
climate
news
Baton Rouge in Aug. USDA photo
Fast study showed climate change's influence on Louisiana's devastating floods. The method is being used to more quickly assess some types of extreme weather. Story here.

The Monsanto–Bayer Tie-Up is Just One of Seven Mega-Mergers That Threaten Seeds, Food Security

etc

              GROUP
Organic hemp seed. PinP photo.
Policymakers could still block the agri biz mergers; peasants and farmers will continue the fight for seeds and rights. Story here.

Health Canada probes claim that government officials helped pesticide company overturn a ban

CANADA'S                                                                                                                                ...