Longtime food policy observers are having a difficult time squaring the Department of Agriculture’s entrenched preference for high-tech industrial agriculture that emphasizes biotechnology and genetically engineered crops with its newfound interest in helping those who favor low-tech ag: small farmers, advocates of organic and local food and champions of sustainability.
When former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was tapped as agriculture secretary by President Barack Obama, the presumption was that he would lean toward an emphasis on biotech. After all, Vilsack was once named governor of the year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
But Vilsack threw the agriculture community a curveball by naming as his deputy Kathleen Merrigan, an outspoken advocate for farm policies that favor conservation and sustainable land use. She drafted the 1990 act that produced federal organic standards.
President Obama agriculture picks sow confusion -
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
WARNER ROBINS — The city’s remaining candidates for mayor sparred over the proper ways to enhance diversity and tackled panel and audience q...
-
Here are some of the Hottest Democratic Women of Georgia. I had to sort thru photo after photo that were sent to me by Peanut Politics viewe... -
Down in HD 138, G. Bardin Hooks, son of former State Senator George Hooks will run for the seat currently held by Bill McGowan of Americus i...
No comments:
Post a Comment