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A Remarkable New Technology That Will Diminish A Global Cancer Threat

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The Food Waste Solution That You Might Not Know You Are Using

Do you buy bagged bread in the grocery store?  There are usually several options including...

Yes, We May Have No Bananas, But Monoculture Wasn't So Easy To Avoid

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Nature: The Original Chemist

We frequently see a contrast drawn between what is “natural” and what is “chemical.” Sometimes...

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Steve SavageRSS Feed of this column.

Trained as a plant pathologist (Ph.D. UC Davis 1982), I've worked now for >30 years in many aspects of agricultural technology (Colorado State Univ., DuPont, Mycogen, independent consultant).... Read More »

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What Would A Real Right To Know Initiative Look Like?

What Would A Real Right To Know Initiative Look Like?

Nov 05 2012 | comment(s)



If California Proposition 37 is really about a "Consumer Right To Know," then why is it talking about a few words in a tiny font on the back of a package? Why are we only talking about one question (GMO or not) when there are so many more issues people could care about? Why are we talking about something that only involves selected types of food in only one state? None of this sounds like a sincere or even rational way to let people "know" something about their food. It also sounds so "last century!"  
Why Accept Minimal Information? 
USDA Organic Crops: New Data Shows No Net Growth 2008-11

USDA Organic Crops: New Data Shows No Net Growth 2008-11

Oct 28 2012 | comment(s)

Can The Damage From Agenda-Driven Junk Science Be Undone?

Can The Damage From Agenda-Driven Junk Science Be Undone?

Oct 23 2012 | comment(s)

When Increased Pesticide Use Is A Good Thing

When Increased Pesticide Use Is A Good Thing

Oct 08 2012 | comment(s)

A recent study published in Environmental Sciences Europe has attracted attention because it documents a net increase in pesticide use on genetically engineered crops in the US.  The author, Chuck Benbrook, is certainly qualified to consider pesticide issues, and I have had positive interactions with him over the years; however as an organic advocate he has a very different perspective on pesticides than I do.
Pesticides: Probably Less Scary Than You Imagine

Pesticides: Probably Less Scary Than You Imagine

Sep 21 2012 | comment(s)

Do You Really Need To Buy Organic To Avoid Pesticide Residues?

Do You Really Need To Buy Organic To Avoid Pesticide Residues?

Sep 10 2012 | comment(s)

Last week, a meta-analysis from a highly credible academic source (Stanford University, its medical school and nearby institutions), raised serious questions about the often-touted nutritional advantage of organic food.  They digested the contents of 237 peer reviewed articles comparing organic and conventional foods and diets.  They concluded that "the published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods."