The voice of rural America roared in this election. Rural Americans have been talking, but we haven’t always heard…or listened. I suspect more will listen now. The urban-rural divide has …
Cuba is in a period of profound change, which is impacting all aspects of life — including the food system. UC Food Observer learned about some of these changes, when …
Think tank calls on Congress to prioritize ag research
AGree, a leading agricultural think tank which is co-led by former USDA secretary Dan Glickman, has released a report detailing “how to improve the food and agricultural research system. The …
Pope calls for climate action in leaked encyclical
Pope Francis has rightfully earned a reputation for advocating for the world’s marginalized. Now he’s coming out with a major message that will urge the world to tackle climate change. …
Senate committee passes bill that overturns EPA clean water rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a challenge from the U.S. Senate. A 2006 Supreme Court decision laid the groundwork by “requiring the EPA to prove significant connections between …
Food industry braces for trans fat ban
The use of trans fat in foods – already down by about 85% in the last decade – is expected to be mostly banned by the FDA in a ruling …
Before we can address the drought, we need a geography lesson
In a must-read piece, LA Times political columnist George Skelton writes about the California drought. He tackles the convenient but inaccurate sound bites we’ve become accustomed to hearing. He challenges …
Michelle Obama looks to the future of “Let’s Move”
Five years after launching Let’s Move, Michelle Obama’s campaign to end childhood obesity is highly visible. She’s danced with Big Bird, with late night television host Jimmy Fallon and has …
Obama nominates Gayle Smith to lead USAID
President Obama has nominated senior White House official Gayle Smith as the next administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Smith, who has a background in international …
In Brazil, indigenous peoples battle land law change
A battle is shaping up in Brazilian politics that is pitting that nation’s indigenous peoples against powerful agribusiness, timber and mining interests. Brazil’s indigenous peoples are organizing against PEC 215, …