From Treehugger: Monsanto Takes Fight To Control Your Food To Supreme Court

Image: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos via Wikimedia Commons

The battle over the non-regulated status of genetically modified crops has reached the US Supreme Court. Monsanto has, not surprisingly, appealed a lower court decision that halted the continued unregulated release and planting of the agrifood giant's Roundup Ready Alfalfa.

Background and implications of the case, after the jump.

In 2004 Monsanto and their partner Forage Genetics petitioned the USDA for the go-ahead to commercially release Roundup Ready alfalfa. A year later the USDA granted non-regulated status. Between 2005 and 2007 300,000 acres of the seeds were planted in the U.S. Meanwhile, in 2006, Geertson Seed Farms and Trask Family Farms filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Agriculture on the grounds that the USDA department responsible for the deregulated approval of the crop had violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not preparing an Environmental Impact Statement.

In a position paper posted on their website Geerston Seed Farm explains the rationale for the original lawsuit.

Geertson Seed Farms opposes the commercialization of Roundup Ready alfalfa because the USDA failed to properly consider the environmental impacts and associated economic effects of commercialization.

The deregulation and commercialization of Roundup Ready alfalfa poses significant problems that must be considered and resolved in particular concerning biological contamination and weed resistance development.

Agriculture Law reports that the district court agreed with the plaintiffs that the environmental assessment undertaken by the USDA was inadequate and a full impact statement is necessary. The court allowed Monsanto to join the suit as a defendant which is how the case arrived at the Supreme Court.

msnbc reported on the tone of the Supreme Court hearing.

Several justices appeared skeptical that the lower court had the authority to fully ban the sale of the product because of the pending environmental review. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned why the court issued the injunction instead of simply remanding the matter back to the USDA.

The hearing also gave Justice Antonin Scalia an opportunity to share his decidedly unscientific assessment of the situation by stating "This isn't the contamination of the New York City water supply," No, no it's not. He continues, "This isn't the end of the world, it really isn't." Let's hope.

With thoughts such as those - and the fact that the USDA has now completed an Environmental Impact Statement that backs up their initial assessment to give the crop non-regulated status - I'd wager that come June when the court delivers its ruling that Monsanto will be back in the genetically modified alfalfa business. Shareholders will be pleased with the bump in share price while the rest of us hold our breath and hope that Justice Scalia's words remain true.

More on Monsanto
Study Finds Monsanto's GMO Corn Causes Organ Damage in Rodents
The Fight Over the Future of Food: Monsanto, GMOs, and How to Feed the World
Monsanto "Seedless" Corn Sold To South African Farmers
Germany Bans Planting of Monsanto GM Corn
Out, Monsanto! No GMOs in National Wildlife Refuge, Says Federal Judge
Monsanto and Michael Pollan Talk About Creating a World That Can Feed Itself

Algae biofuels for war

Cost-Competitive Algae Jet Fuel Just Months Away: Pentagon

by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.16.10

Image credit: US Department of Defense

I'm not sure whether the Pentagon's clean energy projects count toward the idea that environmentalism is socialist, or whether they get a free pass because, well, they are the Pentagon and they know a thing or two about the importance of energy independence—but I guess we'll see in the comments that follow. Matthew reported early last year on the Pentagon's investment in algae-based jet fuels. At the time, claims by insiders that the air force could get itself very close to a zero carbon footprint within a decade seemed somewhat optimistic, to say the least. But the Defense Department is reporting that its development of algae-based fuels is well ahead of schedule. In fact, it is claimed that it could be cost competitive with fossil fuels within months.

Suzanne Goldberg over at The Guardian tells us that Pentagon researchers are claiming they are only months away from producing jet fuel from algae that is cost competitive with its fossil fuel counterpart.

Given that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa)—the department responsible for this project—previously played a key roll in developing both the internet and satellite navigation systems, this could for once be much more than just hot air. In fact, says Goldberg, this is an innovation that could have huge implications for global transportation:

"Darpa's research projects have already extracted oil from algal ponds at a cost of $2 per gallon. It is now on track to begin large-scale refining of that oil into jet fuel, at a cost of less than $3 a gallon, according to Barbara McQuiston, special assistant for energy at Darpa. That could turn a promising technology into a ­market-ready one. Researchers have cracked the problem of turning pond scum and seaweed into fuel, but finding a cost-effective method of mass production could be a game-changer."

Of course there were recent reports that algae biofuels may not be as green as they seem—but that particular study seemed to be based on some pretty astoundingly worst-case scenarios. With the potential to locate algae biofuel production to soak up power-station emissions, or waste-water runoff, algae holds some significant promise as a biofuel feedstock—especially when compared to corn ethanol or palm oil biodiesel.

Meanwhile, there's no word on how Exxon's investment in algae is paying off.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/cost-competitive-algae-jet-fuel.php

5 Food Films That Deserved an Oscar Nomination (part 2)

by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 01.22.09

Buzz up!

(Page 2 of 2)

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

Whenever we report on the success of Cuba's organic and urban farming revolution we get a flurry of comments denouncing Fidel Castro and his policies. Amongst the debate a couple of readers have also pointed to this film as reason to look to Cuba for inspiration as we all approach (or fly by) peak oil.

Here is TreeHugger reader Indigo's take on the film:

It's great, inspiring, and scary. Basically, the reason they were able to successfully bring their food production up to speed without fossil-fuel based fertilizers, was because the people believed that sharing what little they DID have (food, land, resources) with each other was more important and for the greater good than hoarding it for themselves. Also the government was very encouraging, and allowed all unused urban land to be turned into incredibly productive gardens. The somewhat repressive culture they had been living in for for the last several decades allowed this team spirit to work.

How Cuba Survived Peak Oil should be watched with a suspension of political ideologies. It shows a microcosm of our possible future. Almost overnight, Cuba was thrown into a crisis by the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it was average people who took it upon themselves to make sure they not only survived, but prospered.

We may not be as vulnerable to a sudden collapse of our current agricultural systems, but then again we might. If global warming kicks it up a notch or the oil runs out sooner than we thought, we might all be scrambling for a copy of this DVD to help show us how it's done. Watch this one for some inspiration.

Food Fight

Kelly reviewed Food Fight just before the premiere a couple of months ago. As she mentioned, there's a point in this film where it all feels a bit too elitist and you kind of feel like the director is missing the point. Don't worry, it all ties together nicely. Will Allen - who you see in the clip above - shows up to keep it real by showing how he's helping feed people in the inner city that don't traditionally have access to the variety and quality of fresh seasonal food that Michael Pollan does from his perch in Berkeley. (Pollan is one of many sustainable food system advocates making an appearance in this film.)

That being said, the history lesson on the evolution of "California cuisine" and the local food movement is interesting. It's a positive example of the trickle-down theory. Local food pioneer Alice Waters wasn't interested in high ideals when she started sourcing ingredients locally, she was looking for quality. At the time, any chef worth his salt cooked with imported ingredients from Europe. Alice changed all that with her Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse. Enter Wolfgang Puck down south in L.A., who had the same ideas but used his locally ingredients on pizzas, and a revolution was born.

Food Fight moves past the California love-in to an explanation of former Nixon appointed USDA head Earl Butz's "get big" agriculture policies that are often blamed for the current state of U.S. agriculture. (Butz also makes an appearance in King Corn but cuts a more sympathetic figure there as a frail 98 year-old.)

But for me, the star of the show is Allen and his organization Growing Power. He's not concerned with running a world-renowned restaurant or creating the most efficient food system in the world. Allen wants to feed people, or more to the point he wants to show people how to feed themselves.

Despite a few awkward scenes that should have been cut, director Chris Taylor does a great job of showing how a few people with vision can make a big difference. Food Fight is worth watching because it offers hope for an alternative food future.

More on green movies
Three Green -Themed Films Worth Seeing For Yourself
5 Environmentally Themed Blockbusters of 2008 and How They Rate
Snow White was Really Green

More on our food system
The Future of the Global Food System
Affordable Health Care Is Key to Innovation in our Food System
The Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture

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From treehugger.org

5 Food Films That Deserved an Oscar Nomination

by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 01.22.09

Buzz up!

Now that this year's Oscar nominations are out, debate will rage about which films deserved it, which actors should have received a nod, and who should (or shouldn't) win. While these food films flew under the Academy's radar, at least when it came time to nominate, that doesn't mean they all didn't deserve a nod, or at least a closer look.

If you watch all of these films you'll understand where our food system stands today, a little bit about how it got that way, and you'll have some insight into what it might look like in the future. There's a scary, uncertain future built on greed and there's a bright, progressive future built on community. I reckon we end up with the latter, and I hope these films help you make choices to become a part of that future.

Read on for the list, including a clip from each film.

The World According To Monsanto

When TreeHugger Kimberley reviewed French journalist Marie-Monique Robin's film back when it was released, she summed up the biggest concerns with Monsanto quite nicely.

Monsanto claims that their genetically modified seeds will solve the food crisis, especially in developing countries, where it will provide significant economic benefits, higher quality and better yield. Nevertheless, the film compellingly shows the unsettling possibilities of genetic contamination of conventional or local varieties of seeds by their genetically-engineered cousins, pointing to a horrific future where global plant biodiversity is nil and farmers are not able to grow anything but genetically contaminated food.

It’s a terrifying thought. But perhaps Monsanto’s agenda is even simpler than all their lofty claims put together. As one farmer puts it, “The reason they do it is control. They want to control seed. They want to own life. I mean, this is the building blocks of food we are talking about. They are in the process of owning food, all food.

I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but The World According to Monsanto is a frightening film that makes it clear that there are people in the world that see everything as a market opportunity. And, what could bring more wealth and power than controlling food?

The revelations in this film are too many to mention. But, one of the most telling scenes shows George H.W. Bush visiting a Monsanto laboratory during his time in the Reagan administration. He jokes with the Monsanto management about how they should talk to him if they have any trouble getting permits to test GMO crops because he's in the deregulation business. Add to that the almost unbelievable career path of Michael Taylor who must be dizzy from all his time in the revolving door between Monsanto and Bill Clinton's FDA and USDA - who is incidentally a current member of Obama's transition team - and the future looks very scary indeed.

Watch this film to get informed, take a deep breath, and keep reading to the bottom of the list for some positive inspiration.

King Corn

King Corn is the closest thing we have to a film companion to The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan's investigation into the American food system. In the film Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney drive to Iowa to plant, grow and harvest an acre of good ol' American industrial corn. As Lloyd explained when he reviewed the film when it was released on DVD, their hope to follow the crop all the way through the food system quickly fades as their corn disappears into the maw of the industrial food machine soon after harvest.

A review of King Corn on Grist, written by Nicole de Beaufort, demonstrates the potential power of this film.

After gently drawing viewers in with the narrators' earnest quest, King Corn lays bare some of the causes and effects of our relationship with corn: what happens on feedlots, how high fructose corn syrup changed our diet, and how one well-meaning but misguided bureaucrat altered our collective fate because he dreamed of "fields of plenty."

The film forces us to question why our national farm policy perpetuates untold devastation to people, places, and things -- ultimately shortening our lives and widening the prosperity gap. If King Corn manages to gain the audiences and backing of An Inconvenient Truth, it has the power to focus our nation's attention on changing the way we feed ourselves.

A must see film for anyone trying to understand how the U.S. food system works and why America grows so much corn.

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread blew my mind. Shot in a similar style to other non-narrative films like Baraka or Manufactured Landscapes, director and cinematographer Nikolaus Geyrhalter takes the camera inside the industrial food system to offer an unfiltered look at how most of our food is produced.

Manohla Dargis writes in the New York Times:

It’s hard to imagine what a voiceover could possibly add. Part of the film’s brilliance is how it lays out the images and their wells of meaning with such cool deliberation, showing rather than telling through the long tracking shots of which Mr. Geyrhalter is a master and which underscore the ongoing, mechanized flow of work. Much like his scrupulous use of perspective, which directs your gaze toward the center of each image, the tracking shots reveal the filmmaker’s artistry as well as a deliberate ethics. In “Our Daily Bread” Mr. Geyrhalter wants us not only to look at the world we have made with care and with consideration, but also to contemplate a reality newly visible that is all too easy to ignore and just as impossible to look away from.

Geyrhalter's film is hypnotic, although for some it may be unbearable to watch. (The squeals of the piglets in the above clip are close to heartbreaking.) I spent much of the film with a dropped jaw and was constantly puzzled by what the people in the film were actually doing.

Unless you know where every bit of your food comes from chances are that some of it is produced using the methods shown in this film. Powerful stuff.

Two more to go; read more about food fights and what Cuba is doing well when it comes to food.

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