Profitability of Organic Farms

From a University of Georgia press release:
Research at the Agroecology Laboratory at the UGA Odum School of Ecology has led to the creation of organic farming enterprise budgets. Prior to this development, the economic decision-making tool used to estimate profitability was not widely available for organic production.
“Centuries of extensive tillage to produce crops like [...]

Square Watermelons to Eco-Rigs

I recently posted about the Japanese growing square watermelons….well here is another initiative….and this one looks to solve energy and food problems.
Battered by soaring energy costs and aghast at dwindling fish stocks, Japanese scientists think they have found the answer: filling the seas with giant “eco-rigs” as powerful as nuclear power stations.
The project, which could [...]

Square Watermelons

Those creative Japanese! They’ve determined a method for growing square watermelons….I wonder what the European fruit and vegetable regulators would think of this puppy.
By the way, it costs $83.

Genetically Modified Foods

John Phipps must spend a lot of time surfing the Internet….for gosh sake I thought he had enough to do!
An interesting article on his blog advocating for new thinking on genetically modified foods.
http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2008/08/green_revolution_20_1.php

Dead Zones

This morning National Public Radio reported on the rapid expansion of global marine ‘dead zones’ in the past thirty years. In order to better understand this problem:
What is a “Dead Zone?”

The Shape of Things….

The EU is working on changes to regulation on the shape, color, etc. of fruits and vegetables. Currently, there are measured standards…. leading to significant food waste. France, Spain and Italy are expected to oppose the changes, citing the positive impact standards have in market operations while protecting consumers.
Maryellen and I ate some pretty ugly [...]

August Corn Prices

Farmers are on pace to produce the second largest corn crop and fourth largest soybean crop in history, which may lead to lower prices for the key grains, the government said Tuesday.
For the article:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080812/crop_report.html

Agricultural Ecosystems: Facts and Trends

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and IUCN have recently released this valuable overview of global agricultural practices and the potential of sustainable practices.
From one section:
As wealth increases so does per capita calorie intake. The demand for a more diverse diet that includes animal protein such as meat and milk products requires more land [...]

Rising Food Prices

The Economist has an interesting debate site. The proposition… “There is an upside for humanity in the rise of food prices”
http://www.economist.com/debate/index.cfm?source=most_commented&action=hall&debate_id=10#

Owning Structure

Jim Hightower, who calls himself America’s Number 1 Populist, has recently written an editorial called ‘Speculators and our food’. From Mr. Hightower:
Speculators have long messed with farmers by artificially manipulating prices on everything from corn to soybeans. But now they’re pooling up billions of dollars from global investors to go after the farms themselves, [...]