Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture
9200 Edmonston Road, #117
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 441-8777
E-mail: hawiaa@access.digex.net
Web site: http://www.hawiaa.org
* * *
If You Are Interested in Sustainable Agriculture...
In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace Institute for
Alternative Agriculture publishes the American Journal of Alternative
Agriculture, a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative
agriculture. It is a scientific forum for disseminating technical,
economic, and social research findings about the character and requirements
of alternative agriculture systems.
The factors, challenges, and obstacles in organic farmers' decision-making
are featured in the new issue (Volume 14, No. 1). Other articles cover
evaluation of farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators, farmers'
attitudes towards sustainable agriculture issues and environmental quality
in a selected area of Bangladesh, rice and wheat production in Pakistan
with effective microorganisms, a profile of an organic farm in Sweden, and
commentary on whether precision agriculture is sustainable. Subscriptions
to AJAA are $44 for libraries, $24 for individuals, and $12 for students;
contact the Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Rd., #117, Greenbelt, MD
20770; (301) 441-8777; e-mail <hawiaa@access.digex.net>.
Table of Contents
Canada Introduces National Organic Standard, p. 1
Rockefeller Foundation Asks Monsanto to Stop "Terminator" Gene, p. 2
U.S. Farm Policy Has Caused "Accelerating Damage" Writes Berry, p. 3
USDA Commission to Hold "Listening Sessions" in September, p. 3
Organic Standards Board Seek Nominations, p. 3
Resources, p. 3
Glickman Calls for Review of USDA's Biotech Approval Process, p. 4
Leopold Center is Requesting Proposals, p. 4
Biocontrols Will Tackle Saltcedar Weeds, p. 4
Positions, p. 4
Upcoming Events, p. 5
CANADA INTRODUCES NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARD
The Government of Canada has introduced a new National Standard of Canada
for Organic Agriculture that "can be recognized and applied in markets
around the globe," according to John Manley, the Minister of Industry who
is responsible for the Standards Council of Canada. "For Canadian producers
of organic agri-foods produce, this will translate to greater and easier
access to international markets that demand these kinds of standards."
The standard was developed through the Canadian General Standards Board's
Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture, which includes various
technical experts, and announced through the Standards Council of Canada,
which promotes efficient and effective standardization. The standard
"outlines principles for organic agriculture that endorse sound production
and management practices to enhance the quality and sustainability of the
environment and ensure the ethical treatment of livestock." Specifically,
it prohibits the use of ionizing radiation in the preservation of food,
prohibits the use of genetically engineered or modified organisms,
encourages maximum use of recycling, and encourages maximum rotation of
crops and promotion of biodiversity.
The scope of the standard includes production plans and records; crop and
livestock production; production requirements for maple products, honey,
greenhouse crops, mushrooms, sprouted plants, and wild and natural
products; the production and processing of organic products; and the
packaging, labeling, storage, and distribution of organic food products.
"This new National Standard of Canada will provide consumers with a
consistent meaning for 'organic,' helping them to make more informed
choices," said Lyle Vanclief, Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
An abstract of the Standard is available on the Internet at
<www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb>; to order copies of the entire Standard (listed as
CAN/CGSB-32.310), contact CGSB Sales Centre, Ottawa, Canada K1A 1G6; (819)
956-0425; e-mail <ncr.cgsb-ongc@pwgsc.gc.ca>.
ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION ASKS MONSANTO TO STOP "TERMINATOR" GENE
The Rockefeller Foundation has asked the Monsanto Company to stop using
the "terminator" gene, which makes plant seeds sterile, according to The
Wall Street Journal (June 28, 1999). "Work on the terminator gene is
controversial among rural development groups because it would prevent
farmers from keeping some of their harvest for seed, a common practice in
poor regions," the article said. "Gordon Conway, president of the New York
foundation, appealed to Monsanto's directors at a board meeting in
Washington. Dr. Conway's speech was the first time the Rockefeller
Foundation has taken a public stand on the terminator gene, and it is now
the most prestigious organization to turn against it."
Dr. Conway said in an interview that he is worried that the backlash over
the terminator gene is damaging public support for crop biotechnology in
general, which might slow research that could benefit poor farmers
overseas, according to the article. The Rockefeller Foundation is spending
more than $100 million on crop biotechnology projects. Dr. Conway said that
putting labels on foods that contain ingredients from genetically modified
crops would help ease consumer fears about biotechnology. "I'm very worried
we'll see a movement to ban field trials," he said. "If we don't have field
trials, we can't figure out the benefits and risks."
U.S. FARM POLICY HAS CAUSED "ACCELERATING DAMAGE," WRITES BERRY
This country's farm policy has failed farmers, "as demonstrated by the
past 40 or 50 years of accelerating damage," according to an op/ed piece in
The New York Times by Kentucky farmer and writer Wendell Berry (July 6,
1999). "We have lost farmers in staggering numbers, mainly because of
economic adversity," he wrote. "For generations we have given nothing to
farm-raised children but reasons to leave home. Our farm communities have
disintegrated everywhere. Ninety percent of our cropland is losing topsoil
to erosion faster than the replacement rate. Our failed small farms have
been replaced by chemical-dependent monocultures and animal factories,
which have become major sources of pollution....I cannot see why a
healthful, dependable, ecologically sound farm-and-farmer-conserving
agricultural economy is not a primary goal of this country. I know that I
am not alone, and that farmers are not alone, in wishing to see such a
policy....Any politicians who now think that only farmers care about
farming or have an interest in it are wrong. They will have to think again."
USDA COMMISSION TO HOLD "LISTENING SESSIONS" IN SEPTEMBER
The Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture will hold three
public listening sessions in September "to gather stakeholder input on the
future of agricultural policy in the United States after 2002." The
sessions will be in Chicago, IL, September 21; Montgomery, AL, September
23; and Scranton, PA, September 25. To appear before the Commission,
participants must register through the Commission's Web site at
<www.agcommission.org>, or by contacting the Commission, Public Listening
Session Sign-Up, Room 3702 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW,
Washington, DC. 20250-0524. More information is available on the Web site
or from Tim Peters at (202) 720-4860.
ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD SEEKS NOMINATIONS
The USDA seeks nominations to fill four upcoming vacancies on the National
Organic Standards Board. Written nominations and resumes must be postmarked
by September 20. More information is available on the NOSB's Web site at
<www.ams.usda.gov/nop>, or from Keith Jones, National Organic Program,
(202) 720-3252.
RESOURCES
"Organic Agriculture: The Credible Solution for the XXIst Century," the
proceedings of the 12th international IFOAM scientific conference, is $28
from IFOAM's Web site at <ecoweb.dk/ifoam/letter.html>; for more
information, e-mail <ifoam@t-online.de>.
"The Benefits of Biodiversity" is $15 plus $3 shipping from Council for
Agricultural Science and Technology, 4420 West Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
50014-3447; (515) 292-2125.
"Impacts of Adopting Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S.--Preliminary
Results" is available on the USDA Economic Research Service's Web site at
<www.econ.ag.gov/new-at-ers/>.
"Farmer Grants, 1993 to 1999," a summary of grants in the Northeast SARE
Region, is free from Northeast SARE, 10 Hills Building, University of
Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405- 4656; (802) 656-0471; e-mail
<nesare@zoo.uvm.edu>.
"Hoop Structures for Gestating Swine" is $5 from Andrea Jahn, 219 BioAg
Eng, 1390 Eckles Ave., University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108; (612)
625-9733.
GLICKMAN CALLS FOR REVIEW OF USDA'S BIOTECH APPROVAL PROCESS
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman last month called for an independent
scientific review of the USDA's biotech approval process to ensure that
"our scientists have the best information and tools to ensure our
regulatory capabilities continue to evolve along with advances in the new
technology." In a speech at the National Press Club, Glickman said the USDA
will propose establishing regional centers to evaluate biotech products
over a long period of time and to provide information to growers,
consumers, researchers, and regulators. He also requested "all developers
of biotech products to report any unexpected or potentially adverse effects
to the Department of Agriculture upon discovery," and established a
Secretary's Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology. The committee
will include people from government, academia, production agriculture,
agribusiness, and ethical, environmental and consumer groups to provide
advice on biotech issues and policies.
LEOPOLD CENTER IS REQUESTING PROPOSALS
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is seeking proposals for
its Competitive Grants Program, which funds research, education, and
demonstration projects. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, September
2. Funding for approved projects will begin on July 1, 2000. More
information is available from the Center, Iowa State University, 209
Curtiss Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1050; (515) 294-3711; e-mail
<leocenter@iastate.edu.; on the Internet, <www.leopold.iastate.edu>.
BIOCONTROLS WILL TACKLE SALTCEDAR WEEDS
Researchers at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service have placed about
3,000 eggs of Chinese leaf beetles in experimental field cages in six
states as the first step in a biological control program for the invasive
weed saltcedar, according to the USDA. Saltcedar has infested rivers and
streams in the West and increases soil salinity, changes streamflows, and
increases wildfire frequency. Saltcedar was brought to this country in 1837
to protect streambanks from erosion, but has spread enough to be crowding
out plants crucial to wildlife. The leaf beetles eat only Old World species
of saltcedar, according to the ARS. When the beetles are ultimately
approved for release outside cages, they should spread out several hundred
feet a year to infest other saltcedar plants.
POSITIONS
Organic Crop Improvement Association seeks an Internal Director and an
External Director; for more information, contact OCIA Board of Directors
Search Committee, 1001 Y St., Suite B, Lincoln, NE 68508-1172; (402)
477-2323; or e-mail Dave Welsch, <dw32737@navix.net>.
Center for Rural Affairs seeks a Project Leader for its Agriculture Policy
Project; contact CRA, P.O. Box 406, Walthill, NE 68067; (402) 846-5428; or
e-mail Jon Bailey, <jonb@cfra.org>.
McGill University seeks applications for an Assistant Professor,
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology;
contact Dr. Diane Mather, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Plant
Science, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd.,
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada H9X 3V9; e-mail
<infoplsci@agradm.lan.mcgill.ca>.
West Virginia University seeks a research assistant in organic farming
research; contact Dr. B.S. Baker, P.O. Box 6108, WVU, Morgantown, WV.
26506-6108; (304) 293-4817; e-mail <bbaker2@wvu.edu>.
Louisiana State University seeks an Assistant/Associate Professor, Natural
Resource Economics; contact Dr. Kenneth W. Paxton, Professor and Head,
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
70803-5604; (225) 388-3282.
Drumlin Farm seeks a livestock manager; contact Stacy Miller, Drumlin
Farm, South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773; (781) 259-9506 ext. 7700; e-mail
<stacymiller@massaudubon.org>.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 27-29, "Seed Saving: From Seed to Seed" will be held in Occidental,
CA; contact Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Rd.,
Occidental, CA 95465; (707) 874-1557.
August 28-September 12, permaculture design course will be held at the
Black Foot Nation Indian reservation, Montana; contact International
Institute for Ecological Agriculture, 834 West California Way, Woodside, CA
94062; (650) 365-2993; e-mail <permaculture-institute@igc.org>.
September 9-11, "Income Opportunities from Specialty Products:
Agroforestry in the Northeast" will be held in Portland, ME; contact Mark
Hews, Threshold to Maine Resource Conservation and Development Area, 67
Shaker Rd., Gray, ME 04039; (207) 657-3131.
September 10-12, Biointensive Sustainable Mini-Farming Workshop will be
held in Willits, CA; contact Ecology Action, 5798 Ridgewood Rd., Willits,
CA 95490; (707) 459-0150.
September 10-13, 11th International Exhibition of Natural Nutrition,
Health, and the Environment will be held in Bologna, Italy; contact Fiere E
Comunicazioni, SANA Secretariat, Via San Vittore, 14-20123 Milano, Italy;
e-mail <info@sana.it>; phone 39/02/86451078-867408.
September 13-15, "Composting and Organics Recycling--Strategies for
Project Success," the BioCycle Northeast Conference, will be held in
Portland, ME; contact BioCycle, 419 State Ave., Emmaus, PA 18049;
1-800-661-4905.
September 14-16, USDA's Rangeland, Pasture & Forages National Program will
hold a workshop in Kansas City, MO; contact Nadine Kessler, ARS-National
Program Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 4-2270D, Beltsville, MD
20705-5140; (301) 504-4636; e-mail <nmk@ars.usda.gov>.
September 18, "From Farm to Fork: Reclaiming Our Food System From
Corporate Giants" will be held in Bloomington, MN; contact Suzanne
McIntosh, Clean Water Action, 326 Hennepin Ave. E., Minneapolis, MN 55414;
(612) 623-3666.
September 23-25, "Reweaving the World," the 11th Annual International
Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, will be held in San
Francisco, CA; contact SER, 1207 Seminole Highway, Suite B, Madison, WI
53711; (608) 262-9547.
September 27-29, "Alliance for Environmental Stewardship: A Comprehensive
Approach" will be held in St. Louis, MO; contact Richard Reynnells,
USDA/CSREES, (202) 401-5352, e-mail <rreynnells@reusda.gov>; or Nickolas
Zimmerman, University of Maryland, (410) 651-9111, e-mail
<nz6@umail.umd.edu>; on the Internet,
<www.inform.umd.edu/ManureNet/workshops/workshop.htm>.
September 30-October 3, "The Hope of the Harvest is in the Seed," the 20th
Annual Conference of the American Community Gardening Association, will be
held in Philadelphia, PA; contact Patricia Schrieber, Philadelphia Green,
(215) 988-8841; e-mail <pschrieb@pennhort.org>.
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