10 Reasons Why Consolidation Is Bad for Our Food System
The US Department of Justice has greenlighted Bayer's purchase of Monsanto. The deal appears to be moving forward.
GRACE Communications Foundation
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Ecocentric Blog ]
Robin Madel
Robin Madel works on food, agriculture and water issues, including water footprints, sustainable seafood, urban and innovative forms of agriculture and personal actions people can take to help improve the food system. She produces blog posts, issue pages, reports, videos and other online content. Prior to GRACE, Robin worked for the city of Boulder Public Works Water and Transportation Departments and at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. She received an MS in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, a BS in Civil Engineering and a BA in Geological Sciences - both from the University of Colorado at Boulder, as well as a professional certificate in Journalism from New York University. She is an avid photographer and an actor, so she's usually not too far away from a camera of some sort.
World Water Day Shows How Agriculture and Nature Can Work Together to Protect Water
Agriculture, water and nature don't always have the best relationship. But we can take cues from nature to lessen agriculture's impacts on nature and our waterways.
Sustainable Seed Starting and Sharing: A How-to Guide
Spring is coming and that means it's time to order and start your seeds. Find out what you need to know about seed starting in this how-to guide.
How Water Footprints Can Help Us Eat Less Water
By learning about the water footprint of the food, people can make more sustainable choices and discover many ways to eat their way to water savings.
Animal Rights Versus Animal Welfare; What's the Difference? Harvard Law Breaks it Down
Is there a difference between animal rights and animal welfare? This Harvard Law School professor is here to explain the difference.
Ag-Related Nitrate Common in Small Town Water Supplies, Says New EWG Report
A new report by Environmental Working Group indicates that drinking water from systems serving over 1,600 small towns in the US is contaminated with nitrates.
Nat'l Chicken Council Wants to Increase Poultry Slaughterhouse Speeds; Comment Period Open
Make your voice heard on whether the National Chicken Council should be able to further increase the speeds that companies slaughter and process chickens.
How Transportation Infrastructure Spending Impacts the Food System
Underfunded transportation infrastructure could seriously impact your ability to buy food locally through farmers' markets, grocery stores and CSAs.
Big Ag Doesn't Want Its Manure Problem Regulated
If you live near a CAFO, under newly proposed legislation, your ability to fight water pollution from those facilities might become much more limited.
If WOTUS Is Repealed Will My Water Be Safe? Maybe Not.
The Trump administration listed the WOTUS repeal on the Federal Register and they're taking comments. Meanwhile, EWG released its Tap Water Database.
Plastic in the Ocean. Microplastic in Your Fish.
Of the 13 million metric tons of plastics that make their way into the oceans every year, much of it ends up as microplastics - sesame seed-sized particles that contaminate our fish, shellfish and even sea salt. In honor of World Oceans Day 2017, find out what you can do to turn the tide of plastic trash.
The USDA Wants to Hear From You About the New Organic Animal Welfare Rule
The USDA is taking public comments on the twice-delayed implementation of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Final Rule, which is designed to make improvements to certified organic animal welfare standards. The deadline of June 9, 2017 is fast approaching.
''Reducetarians'' Hold Summit to Ask You to Eat Less Meat
"The Reducetarian Solution," Brian Kateman's new book about eating less meat, is a collection of essays about how large-scale, factory-farmed meat production is hard on the planet, bad for health and causes animal suffering. At an upcoming summit, Kateman and other leaders of the reducetarian movement will explore how individuals, organizations, communities and societies can work to decrease meat consumption.
WOTUS and Agriculture: What Happens Next?
What's next for Obama's 2015 Clean Water rule (aka, the Waters of the US rule) - will it be repealed and replaced? Find out what WOTUS actually is and what it entails, how it impacts agriculture and why it's controversial.
Hydroponics, Aquaponics and the World of Venture Capital
Agriculture and venture capital have joined forces to take the centuries-old concepts of hydroponics and aquaponics to new heights, turning them into what some are calling the future of urban agriculture.
What I Learned in Cider Making School
After trying a bunch of hard ciders and learning what they're all about, one of us decided to make her own, because making hard cider is easy, right? Maybe.
