PROMOTING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR FAMILY-SCALE FARMING

NEWS FROM THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE FALL 2014

Eye in the Sky Cornucopia’s Aerial Photography Investigates Factory Farm Cheating

BY WILL FANTLE

hen The Cornucopia Insti- tute was founded in 2004, a W primary goal of the fledg- ling organic watchdog was to draw attention to and rein in abuses from the rise of factory farm confinement dairy operations in organic agricul- ture. Not only were these industrial- scale operations squeezing out the op- portunity for family farmers to make nstitute a real living in organics, they were I also cheating consumers who thought ornucopia they were purchasing a healthy food C he T produced humanely with sustainable practices. Chino Valley’s poultry operation in Texas is estimated to confine hundreds of thou- Cornucopia’s spotlight focusing on sands of laying hens in barns that appear to offer little, if any, outdoor access, as the scofflaws and abuses led to the required by organic law. Cornucopia has captured hundreds of images of massive loss of organic certification for several “organic” livestock operations in 12 states (and counting). operations, as well as to the creation of a farmer and consumer drive that McEvoy, told me he had personally FACTORY FARMS continued on page 10 ultimately won the passage of new visited some of the huge complexes lo- regulatory benchmarks for pasturing cated in Texas that we photographed,” for dairy herds and other ruminants. says Mark Kastel, Cornucopia’s Yet confinement-style factory farms, Senior Farm Policy Analyst. “And,” INSIDE THIS ISSUE like a stubborn weed, persist in organ- continues Kastel, “he further told me Third Bee-Friendly City...... 2 ic agriculture. These giant operations that, and I quote: ‘all the farms we The Power of the Farmer-Eater Coalition . . . 3 have become widespread and domi- visited in Texas were in compliance.’” Organic Seed Purity...... 4 nant in egg production, and continue “Obviously, Mr. McEvoy and The Interview with Jean Richardson...... 5 to produce a significant amount of the Cornucopia Institute have a starkly NOSB Voting Record...... 6 organic milk. different interpretation of the organic Jim Gerritsen Elected Policy Advisor. . . . . 7 Regulators at the USDA have been regulations and enabling legislation asked how these operations can be passed by Congress,” Kastel adds. Nanoparticles in Organic Food...... 8 considered to comply with federal “And the majority of the organic com- Position Open at Cornucopia...... 9 organic law. “The head of the USDA’s munity shares Cornucopia’s interpre- Farmer Profile: Fizzle Flat Farm...... 11 National Organic Program, Miles tation.” Another Bee-Friendly Burg Minnesota City Becomes Third in the U.S. to Ban Neonics

BY ELIZABETH WOLF Conventional corn and soybeans kill 80,000 honey bees. Neonics are dominate agriculture in Minnesota, harmful not only to bees and other horewood has become the first as in much of the Mid- pollinators but also to birds, earth- city in Minnesota to pass a reso- west. The endless fields worms, aquatic insects and other hoto.com lution to become a “bee-safe” P don’t need bees for pol- beneficial insects. tock S

S i municipality. The Minneapolis/St. lination, but that hasn’t “Research is voluminous linking Paul suburb follows in the footsteps of stopped the crops from hurting the neonicotinoids to bee memory loss Eugene, Oregon, and Spokane, Wash- state’s honey bee population. Like and learning, weakened immunity, ington, in banning certain pesticides California and other states, Minneso- developmental injury, impaired forag- and encouraging the planting of bee- ta is coping with massive annual bee ing, diminished navigation and hon- friendly plants. A neighborhood in die-offs and, in the past decade, the ing ability, and the loss of reproduc- Boulder, Colorado, also pledged this state’s honey production per hive has tive production of bumblebee queens,” year to become a bee-safe locality, as plummeted by one-third. explains Dr. Linley Dixon, Farm and has the campus of Emory University The main culprit, according to an Food Policy Analyst with Cornucopia. in Atlanta, Georgia. increasing number of scientists and The European Union passed a Springtime used to be the season beekeepers, is a class of pesticides continent-wide ban on certain neonic- when Minnesota bee colonies flour- used to coat over 95% of the corn and otinoids in 2013. Bayer CropScience, ished on wildflowers, dandelions, and soybean seeds planted. Called neo- the largest manufacturer of these the sweet clover and alfalfa farmers nicotinoids (“neonics” for short), these insecticides, continues to insist that once grew. It’s what made Minnesota pesticides are made from synthetic they are safe for bees. one of the top five honey-producing nicotine and were developed in the Honey bee pollination, responsible states in the country. But in the span mid-1990s. Today they are the most for one in three mouthfuls of food of a couple decades, GMO mono- widely used insecticides in the world. we eat, is estimated to be worth $215 cropping has transformed the state’s A single kernel of corn with a high billion annually. Some would call central landscape into a flowerless level of neonicotinoid seed treatment the work of these industrious insects one with few sweet spots for bees. contains enough active ingredient to priceless.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Goldie Caughlan Francis Thicke, PhD STAFF PCC Natural Markets (ret.) Organic Dairy Producer Mark Kastel, Codirector & Senior Farm Policy Analyst Helen Kees, President Cooperative Retail Educator NOSB Member Will Fantle, Codirector & Director of Research Organic Livestock Producer Former NOSB Member Fairfield, IA Pamela Coleman, PhD, Farm and Food Policy Analyst Durand, WI Seattle, WA Tom Willey Linley Dixon, PhD, Farm and Food Policy Analyst Kevin Engelbert, Rebecca Thistlethwaite, Farm and Food Policy Analyst Dave Minar Organic Vegetable Grower Vice President Madera, CA Gayle Nielsen, Membership Coordinator Organic Dairy Producer Organic Dairy Producer Therese Laurdan, Membership Assistant Former NOSB Member New Prague, MN Mitch Blumenthal Melody Morrell, Data Analyst and Research Specialist Nichols, NY Amanda Love Organic Distributor Jason Cole, Research Associate Sarasota, FL Roger Featherstone, Natural Foods Chef Tyler Derosier, Research Assistant Treasurer Nutrition Educator Jim Gerritsen Elizabeth Wolf, Communications & Development Director Environmental Organizer Austin, TX Organic Vegetable Grower Zuri Allen, Social Media Specialist Tucson, AZ President, OSGATA Celeste Gibson, Accountant, HR Manager Bridgewater, ME Jeremy Vossman, Webmaster Barry Flamm, PhD, POLICY ADVISORY PANEL

Secretary Tony Azevedo CONTACT US THE CULTIVATOR Conservation Consultant Organic Dairy Producer (ret.) The Cornucopia Institute Elizabeth Wolf, Editor Former NOSB Member San Joaquin Valley, CA Polson, MT P.O. Box 126 Tim J. Hill, www.drafthorsestudio.com, Newsletter Design Michael James Cornucopia, WI 54827 Special thanks to Steven McFadden. William Heart Community Leader www.cornucopia.org Wildlife Conservationist Organic Restaurateur 608-625-2000 Ashland, WI Chicago, IL [email protected] 2 10 Years, 10,000 Members & 100,000 on Facebook Cornucopia in 2014: The Power of the Organic Farmer–Organic Eater Connection

COMMENTARY BY MARK A. KASTEL are essential to organic production. However, this process has been corrupted by corporate money and lobbyists. But ome of our members have probably heard me say Cornucopia is making headway. this before: Farmers have no clout in Washington or Recently, WhiteWave Foods (formerly Dean Foods’ S the marketplace. With less than 2% of our population branded product division) announced they would pull the engaged in production agriculture, after the presidential dangerous food additive carrageenan from their Horizon candidates get done kissing the rear ends of the ethanol and Silk products over the next two years. Carrageenan is lobbyists in Iowa during the primary season, you will a derivative of red seaweed that independent research has never hear about food or farming again. shown causes intestinal inflammation and even cancer in But organics is different. Although farmers continue laboratory animals. WhiteWave now joins a list of other to make up the base of our constituency and membership, organic marketers who lobbied for carrageenan’s use but Cornucopia’s secret weapon is partnering with who have acquiesced after being pounded with millions of our urban-allies who passionately questions by their customers. care about the quality and authenticity of The Cornucopia Institute will peti- their food and are willing to stand with tion the NOSB to remove carrageenan farm families they respect. from all organic food. Most of you who receive this newsletter are financially support- USDA Enforcement ing our mission at Cornucopia. Unfortunately, the records of the You have our sincere thanks. The Bush and Obama administrations remaining recipients, generally have been uneven when it comes to staff or board members of other cracking down on organic scoff- nonprofits, have complimentary laws. As an example, six years after subscriptions because we appre- filing a complaint on the 16,000-cow ciate their service to the organic Shamrock Dairy in Arizona, and community. three years after the USDA informed It’s hard to believe it was 10 years us that they upheld our allegations and ago that Will Fantle and I co-founded banned Shamrock from organics, the com- The Cornucopia Institute, in response to the pany is still selling milk and appealing the increasing corporate encroachment upon and USDA’s findings. Shameful. erosion of organic values. While we are celebrating our At the same time, we need to give the USDA credit when anniversary, I thought I would mention a few incremental they are executing their duties as Congress intended. successes we’ve had lately: When one of our “intelligence agents” (members) informed us that organic cows waiting to be auctioned off Organic Labeling Deception in the San Joaquin Valley of California, were being fed In August, the USDA, four years after receiving a formal conventional feed, USDA investigators intervened and legal complaint from Cornucopia, agreed that companies shut down the auction before it could even happen. Good using the word “organic” in their brand name, prominently for them! on their packaging, but not selling certified organic food, More recently, when another intelligence agent let us are misleading the public. This will force companies like know that a Saskatchewan, Canada farmer, Bob Thomas, Newman’s Own Organics to discontinue their deceptive was applying banned agrichemicals on “organic” crops marketing practices. bound for the U.S., his organic certification was, likewise, suspended. (No word on any monetary fines.) Removing Carrageenan from Organic Food Our power comes from you—a unique farmer-consumer Congress charged the National Organic Standards Board coalition. With your help, we will continue to fight, over (NOSB) with reviewing all synthetic and non-organic the next 10 years, to help maintain the integrity of organic materials used in organics to make certain they don’t farming and food production. ollarphotoclub.com D

endanger human health or the environment and that they

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Protecting Organic Seed Integrity onathan Understanding and Reducing Contamination Risk S pero, Lupine Knoll Farm Knoll Lupine pero,

BY PAMELA COLEMAN, PhD During planting and harvest, GE seed can be mixed with organic seed, rganic seed should be free of if the equipment is not thoroughly genetically engineered (GE) purged of conventional seed before O DNA, because organic regula- it is used for organic seed. Commin- Anasazi sweet corn. Corn is especially tions prohibit genetic engineering. gling can also occur after harvest, at risk for GE contamination as its pol- Unfortunately, organic crops are during transport and storage of the len moves long distances. threatened by inadvertent contami- harvested crop. nation from GE crops. In response to Long after a crop is harvested, a the threat, the Organic Seed Growers reservoir of GE DNA can exist in Since laboratories can only test for and Trade Association (OSGATA) volunteer plants that sprout the fol- known DNA sequences, they may be published Protecting Organic Seed lowing years, or weedy relatives of the unable to detect contamination that Integrity: The Organic Farmer’s Hand- crop that were cross-pollinated with occurs from crops in test plots. book to GE Avoidance and Testing. the GE crop. Proximity to GE crops may be Although the workbook itself is unavoidable. After GE crops are geared primarily to seed growers, Why is contamination a threat? commercialized, they may be grown consumers will be interested as well, The spread of GE DNA can happen anywhere, even near seed crops, because the integrity of our seed quickly. For example, within a year of and farmers who grow them are not supply is important to all of us. Con- the release of GE alfalfa, contamina- required to notify their neighbors. tamination of seed planted by organic tion was found in the non-GE plant- Although organic seed corn should be farmers will result in GE DNA in ings of alfalfa. isolated from GE corn by a distance of organic food and feed. This causes Possible sources of GE contamina- two miles, conventional growers have an economic loss for the individual tion can be difficult to identify. For no responsibility to maintain this iso- farmer, when buyers refuse to pur- example, test plots of unapproved GE lation distance from organic farms. chase contaminated crops. Contami- crops can be a source of unknown and nation on a wider scale can destroy unsuspected GE DNA. Before crops How can risk be mitigated? the genetic purity of seed varieties are deregulated and commercialized, Growers of organic seed crops are used by organic farmers. they are field tested at undisclosed taking a proactive stance to prevent OSGATA membership voted on locations. More than 8,000 field trials contamination. They’re educating and approved this policy to protect have been planted, throughout the themselves about the sources of the organic seed supply: “GE con- U.S., often near seed-producing areas. contamination, how to detect it, and tamination of organic seed constitutes Since the location of the test plots is how to prevent it. Growers are imple- irreparable harm to the organic seed secret, farmers may have no idea that menting management practices, and industry and undermines the integ- a new experimental crop being tested testing their own seed crops to verify rity of organic seed. Any detectable near their farm is contaminating seed purity. level is unacceptable.” their organic crop. Consumers can support these Genetic contamination may be im- efforts by purchasing organic food How do crops become contaminated? possible to detect, particularly if the and garden seeds. This is particularly During the growing season, pol- source is test plots of a new variety important for corn, canola (and canola len from a GE crop can travel long that has not yet been approved. Test- oil), soybeans, beets (and beet sugar), distances and pollinate organic crops. ing for GE crops is based on detecting and squash. To help prevent this, seed compa- the novel DNA that has been inserted, Without action, organic seed, the nies require a minimum separation or the proteins made from that DNA. foundation of organic agriculture, distance between organic seed crops Testing laboratories can use DNA se- could be permanently contaminated and conventional crops. Organic seed quences of the approved, deregulated with GE DNA. The integrity of the corn, for example, should be at least crops, but they do not have access to organic food system is vitally impor- two miles from any plantings of con- the DNA sequences of unapproved tant, not only to organic farmers, but to ventional corn. varieties being grown in field tests. all of us.

4 Dr. Richardson was appointed to Building Bridges the NOSB in 2012 in one of the three “Consumer/Public Interest” The Strategy of NOSB Chair Jean Richardson positions. In May she was elected chairperson for a one-year term. BY ELIZABETH WOLF

f the USDA can make radical changes to the National Richardson takes a broad Organic Standards Board (NOSB), without seeking view of the changes forced I public comment, under a friendly administration, what upon the NOSB by the USDA. could happen to the citizen advisory body mandated to “I taught environmental law to scientists and environ- protect organic integrity under an unfriendly one? mental science to lawyers. I can see both sides,” she notes. That’s the question on Jean Richardson’s mind as she Vilsack is under pressure from the expanding organic takes the helm under the new changes imposed on the processing industry, which was in its infancy in the 1990s NOSB by the National Organic Program (NOP). Last fall, when OFPA was passed, she explains. The even larger the USDA unilaterally reversed the “sunset” policy by context is the cheap food policy in the U.S., which forces all which synthetic, non-organic materials are reapproved industry participants to compete for small profit margins. for inclusion on the National List. Now, rather than auto- Ironically, since the USDA relieved the NOSB of re- matically dropping off, every material will stay on the list sponsibility for its own work plan, the board can now focus unless the board moves to delist it. The USDA also re-em- almost exclusively on reviewing materials up for sunset in phasized the NOSB as a purely advisory committee, when 2017 or before, says Richardson. The NOSB’s review will be it had been created as a permanent body with statutory “very rigorous. I can assure you, many synthetics will come authority. off the list,” she promises. “We don’t want to end up with a rubber-stamp NOSB,” Ideological positions on the board vary greatly (see says Richardson, who will chair the board for the first time related story on page 6). The newly elected chair aims for at the fall meeting, October 28–30 in Louisville, Kentucky. inclusion: “Whether you’re a huge manufacturer or a fam- The USDA’s power grab has been widely criticized by the ily farm with 50 cows, everyone has a voice and must be organic community, including by the authors of the Organ- heard. I strive for common ground.” ic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter DeFazio of Oregon. As NOSB chair, Richardson’s strategy is one of unity. Behind the Scenes “We’re so small, the more we can work as partners, the bet- What are the responsibilities of the 15 volunteers who ter for organics,” she says. Just how small is organics? Of make up the National Organic Standards Board? “You the USDA’s total 2014 budget of $146 billion, the NOP gets think you have a good idea of how much work it will be, 0.006%. On this budget of $9.04 million the NOP is charged but the reality is kind of a shock,” says Richardson. with providing oversight of an industry forecast to reach Board members typically spend 8 to 12 hours per $40 billion in 2014. The NOSB’s share of the NOP budget is week on NOSB business. Most members serve on three a paltry $190,000. of the six subcommittees; each teleconferences every Richardson brings a surprisingly varied background to other week. The chair speaks with NOP chief Miles the NOSB. Born and raised in Northumberland, ​the rural, northernmost county of England, she came to the U.S. to McEvoy and NOP staff at least once a week. The execu- pursue graduate studies in biogeography at the University tive committee meets monthly by phone. of Wisconsin–Madison, followed by reading law with the The subcommittees are requesting technical evalua- State of Vermont. An organic inspector, Richardson is tions now for materials that will sunset in 2017 or before, Professor Emerita of Natural Resources at the University with 54 listings for crops materials, 42 for livestock, and of Vermont and consults on rural land use planning. She a staggering 104 for handling/processing. also works with her family on their certified organic maple Materials review is “grueling work,” says Richardson. It syrup operation. The ten-year rural development project requires reading hundreds of pages of technical docu- she directed helped establish farmer-run organizations ments, numerous phone calls to scientific experts, and that continue today. A Clinton appointee to the Commis- lengthy discussion and, often, debate among board sion on Environmental Cooperation with NAFTA, Rich- members. “We don’t always agree, but we try to reach ardson currently serves on Vermont’s District Environ- consensus,” she explains, “or at least compromise.” mental Commission.

5 NOSB Voting Scorecard Released Corporate Lobbyists and Influence Peddlers Eroding Organic Standards

BY WILL FANTLE Many critical issues

comprehensive voting analysis deliberated by the Na- of members of the National Or- tional Organic Standards A ganic Standards Board (NOSB), Board have been decided the expert body formed by Congress to insulate the governance of the by very narrow margins. industry from undue corporate influ- Cornucopia’s new score- ence, clearly illustrates how illegal card outlines the voting appointments to the board by current and past USDA Secretaries have sub- records of current and verted congressional intent. past board members.

The study reviews each individual ollarphotoclub.com D board member’s votes over the past five years, including those of corpo- Kastel affirmed. (See sidebar on the Pesticides; and Colehour Bondera, a rate representatives who were placed Policy Positions Scorecard at right.) certified organic farmer from Hawaii. on the NOSB in seats specifically set Cornucopia’s Voting Scorecard On the other end of the ideological aside for farmers and other indepen- comes two years after release ofThe spectrum, the agribusiness voting dent organic industry stakeholders. Organic Watergate. That report docu- bloc all had voting records under “In recent years, just as with the mented how a number of risky and/or 50%, with one member voting with polarized U.S. Supreme Court, many gimmicky synthetic or non-organic mainstream positions on maintaining critical issues were decided by one- materials were approved for use in organic integrity only 10% of the time. vote margins,” said Cornucopia’s Co- organics. Voting scores of NOSB agribusi- director and Senior Farm Policy Ana- Of the four seats reserved for farm- ness representatives include those of lyst Mark Kastel. “Almost universally, ers on the current board, one is held Harold Austin (10% — handler with the NOSB is split along ideological by an employee of the giant Califor- Zirkle Fruit), John Foster (16% — han- lines (corporate agribusiness versus nia berry marketing firm, Driscoll’s dler with WhiteWave/Earthbound farmers and consumers) on whether (which does not grow organic straw- Farms), Carmela Beck (17% — “farmer” to allow controversial synthetic and berries but rather relies on contract with Driscoll’s), and Wendy Fulwider non-organic additives in organic food farmers), and one by an individual (34% — “farmer” with Organic Valley/ or weak animal husbandry standards who, when appointed, worked for the Whole Foods-GAP). utilizing the ‘factory farm’ produc- country’s largest organic marketing Dominic Marchese, a long-time tion of organic meat, eggs and dairy cooperative, CROPP ($928 million in certified organic beef producer from products,” Kastel added. annual revenue). The voting records Farmdale, Ohio, observed: “If the The study’s analysis was based on of these two agribusiness employees USDA had complied with the law, and Cornucopia’s policy positions over the are significantly lower than those appointed somebody like myself, a past five years, prepared by experi- of the actual farmer members of the working organic farmer who met the enced organic farmers, policy experts, NOSB. qualifications to serve on the NOSB former certification officials, and staff Voting records for the current scientists with doctorates in related 15-member NOSB board members Continued on page 7 agricultural disciplines. include three independent members “The policy positions Cornucopia with a history of voting over 90% of has publicly taken are clearly in the the time to block practices eroding or- The NOSB Voting Scorecard and mainstream of thought within the or- ganic integrity. These board members the Policy Positions Scorecard are ganic community and are consistent are Jennifer Taylor, public interest/ available under the “Projects” tab with those taken by the vast majority consumer representative and aca- at www.cornucopia.org. of other consumer, environmental demic; Jay Feldman, environmental- and farmer-supported organizations,” ist and executive director of Beyond

6 set up by Congress, instead of cor- The Cornucopia Institute’s policy Gerritsen Elected porate imposters, many of the close positions taken with the NOSB over votes over the last five years would have gone the other way.” the past two years are consistent as Policy Advisor

Marchese had applied for the with those of the vast majority of P he Cornucopia OSGATA of courtesy hoto NOSB three times in past years. One other consumer, environmental and of those years saw USDA Secretary T Institute has Vilsack choosing Driscoll’s Carmela farmer-supported organizations. elected organic Beck for the farmer seat. pioneer Jim “We also want to make sure we hold Gerritsen to the the corporations accountable that ton — an all-too-common cozy work- organization’s have employees on the board, corpo- ing relationship between agribusiness official Policy Jim Gerritsen rations like Whole Foods, WhiteWave and the USDA. Advisory Panel. (Earthbound Farms/Horizon/Silk), Observed Barry Flamm, immedi- Jim, along with his wife Megan, General Mills (Cascadian Farms/ ate past chair of the NOSB and now has owned and operated Wood Prai- Muir Glen), and Driscoll’s,” said Kas- a Cornucopia board member, “I hope rie Farm in northern Maine for 38 tel. “If you want our patronage, the the Cornucopia analysis of voting years. Certified organic since 1982, performance of your employees on records, which will continue going this board has to be consistent with forward, will forewarn NOSB mem- the farm produces seed potatoes, your marketing rhetoric in support of bers that their voting behavior will vegetables and grain. organics.” be closely scrutinized and, if they are In addition to farming, Jim has Many organic farming pioneers employees of corporations or certi- been active in the organic commu- would never have supported the fiers with economic interests, that nity with nonprofit organizations for USDA’s overseeing the industry they some of their customers will also be four decades. He co-founded and founded if Congress hadn’t agreed judging their service on the board as now serves as President of the na- to create a strong NOSB as a defense well.” tional farmer-run membership trade against business as usual in Washing- organization, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA). OSGATA acted as lead plaintiff in Stakeholders’ Policy Positions Tallied the landmark organic community Supreme Court case, OSGATA et al v. separate scorecard prepared by Cornucopia compared the industry watch- Monsanto. A dog’s official written and oral public testimony on issues before the NOSB Jim formerly served as President with the official written testimony of other nonprofit public interest groups. of the Organic Seed Alliance and This analysis shows that Cornucopia’s also was a member for over 20 policy positions were 100% compatible with years of the Certification Commit- 10 of the 12 nonprofit groups actively lob- tee of Maine Organic Farmers and

bying at NOSB meetings over the past two D

ollarphotoclub.com Gardeners Association (MOFGA). In years, including the Center for Food Safety, 2013, Jim helped MOFGA pass Food and Water Watch, Organic Consumers Maine’s GMO labeling law, the sec- Association, Beyond Pesticides, and Consum- ond such law passed in the U.S. ers Union. A frequent speaker at farmer Cornucopia scored an 86% compatibility conferences, Jim has cooperated in with the policy positions of the National Organic Coalition, an umbrella group numerous on-farm research trials made up of farm organizations, retailers, and organic businesses. with scientists. In 2011, Utne Read- er named Jim one of “25 Visionaries This scorecard also shows the policy positions of additional organic stakeholders: Who Are Changing the World” (a 1. distributors/retailers, 2. processors/handlers/manufacturers, 3. trade associations/ distinction shared by Cornucopia consultants/research groups, and 4. organic certifiers. co-founder Mark Kastel).

7 Nanomaterials in Organic Food? The USDA Is Looking the Other Way

BY PAMELA COLEMAN, PhD Nanomaterials in familiar foods Many people are unaware that engi- t their October 2010 meet- neered nanomaterials can be added ing, the National Organic to foods, fruit and vegetable coatings, A Standards Board (NOSB) food packaging materials, supple-

unanimously approved a guidance ments, and cosmetics. Titanium ollarphotoclub.com D document recommending that “Engi- dioxide increases the whiteness of neered Nanomaterials be prohibited mints, milk, yogurt, and dairy sub- There is overwhelming agreement from certified organic products as ex- stitutes. Nanomaterials are also used within the organic community to peditiously as possible. We respectful- in chocolate, salad dressings, cereal, ly request that the National Organic pasta, and other common foods. prohibit nanotechnology in organic Program take immediate actions to Many food companies have invest- production and processing, yet the implement this guidance document.” ed heavily in nanotechnology, the sci- USDA National Organic Program As of today, the USDA National ence of creating and using nanoma- Organic Program (NOP) has taken no terials. There are many applications has taken no action. action to implement this recommenda- for food use, but, according to a 2014 tion. Engineered nanomaterials are report by Friends of the Earth, “the several items have recently been being added to food, while consumers, extent to which nanomaterials are removed. Foods listed in May 2014, who have put their trust in the safety of used along the food chain continues after they were mentioned in aMother organic food, are being kept in the dark. to be shrouded in mystery because of Jones article, were later removed Nanomaterials are tiny particles the lack of publicly accessible product from the database. Because labeling measured in nanometers, or bil- registries or product labels.” is not required, manufacturers have lionths of a meter. Nanoparticles have In 2005, the Project on Emerging removed references to nanomaterials at least one dimension of less than Nanotechnologies (PEN) established from their product labels; as a result, 100 nanometers (nm). As a compari- an inventory of consumer products it’s no longer possible to verify that son, a strand of DNA is about 2 nm that advertise having ENM content. the products contain nanomaterials. across; a red blood cell is 7,000 to The inventory at one point contained Use of nanomaterials in food is not 10,000 nm across. Due to their small more than 1,000 entries. However, regulated by any U.S. federal agency. size, nanoparticles ingested in food funding for the inventory has run The Food and Drug Administration may move throughout the body in out, and PEN has not added to the unknown ways. database since August 2009. In fact, Continued on page 9 There are naturally occurring nanoparticles, such as smoke from wildfires, and incidentally produced Unique Expertise nanoparticles, such as those cre- When National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) members invest a significant ated in the process of flour milling. amount of time investigating an issue and collaborating with organic stakehold- Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), in ers, the USDA National Organic Program has a responsibility to act in a timely contrast, are not naturally occurring or incidental; they are intentionally manner. Since every board member serves for only five years, expertise on any manufactured. unique issue is quickly lost. Common ENMs include titanium Cornucopia is fortunate to have on its board of directors three former dioxide, nanosilver, zinc oxide, alu- members of the NOSB: Goldie Caughlan (2001–2005), Kevin Engelbert minum, and carbon nanotubes. The (2006–2010), and Barry Flamm, PhD (2008–2012). Current NOSB member properties of ENMs differ signifi- Francis Thicke, PhD (appointed in 2013) serves on Cornucopia’s Policy Advi- cantly from the properties of larger sory Panel. Both Barry Flamm and Kevin Engelbert, NOSB members during the particles, even those of the same nanotechnology debate, have expressed concerns that engineered nanomateri- chemical composition. als may currently be added to organic foods.

8 (FDA) does not require nanomateri- document that concluded, “There is hazards of nanotechnology “[g]iven als to be listed on the product label. overwhelming agreement within the the refusal of industry to submit food Consumers may assume that the lack organic industry to prohibit nano- and agri-nanotechnology product of federal oversight means that nano- technology in organic production and data for risk assessment and regula- technology has been well studied and processing at this time.” tory review.” proven safe, but such is not the case. Several public interest groups The Friends of the Earth report urged an immediate prohibition on NOP’s (non)response concludes that nanoparticles in food nanotechnology: the Center for Food The USDA National Organic Pro- can harm human health, although Safety, Consumers Union, Food and gram’s only response to the NOSB the specific effects are not well under- Water Watch, Institute for Agricul- recommendation came in a December stood. The report explains that ENMs ture and Trade Policy, International 2010 memo stating the NOP “intends are more chemically reactive and Center for Technology Assessment, to gather additional information more bioactive than larger particles National Organic Coalition, Organic about how nanomaterials are regu- of the same chemicals. Several other Consumers Association, and True lated and used in agricultural produc- organizations have written reports Food Network. Consumers Union tion and handling. …[T]he NOP will urging caution regarding the many elaborated that the USDA National gather information from other agen- uses of nanotechnology in food, and Organic Program should consider cies…and report back to the NOSB.” requesting oversight from federal nanotechnology to be an excluded Four years later, it has yet to do so. After regulatory agencies. method, rather than debate whether two years of volunteer effort by board Due to their very small size, each unique chemical is a prohibited members, and overwhelming agree- nanoparticles are more likely than material. ment from the organic community, larger particles to enter human cells, Trade organizations and industry why would the NOP fail to act? cross the blood brain barrier, or move groups, on the other hand, oppose any Engineered nanoparticles are across the placenta from mother to prohibition on engineered nanoma- clearly synthetic, and the organic fetus. They’ve been shown to damage terials in organic food. As a compro- community clearly wants to prohibit DNA, cause lesions on the liver and kid- mise, the NOSB suggested a sympo- them from organic food and pack- neys, and disrupt cellular functions. sium to aid in evaluating the uses and aging materials. Congress gave the regulation of nanotechnology, rather NOSB specific power to regulate NOSB’s proactive deliberations than an immediate prohibition of synthetics used in organic food pro- The NOSB was concerned about this nanomaterials. duction. It’s time for the USDA to take new technology being used in organic Consumer groups recommended a action on this NOSB guidance docu- food. In four consecutive meetings, firm stance to prohibit nanomaterials ment—prohibit ENMs, and ensure nanotechnology was on the NOSB in organic food, rather than waiting that certifiers prevent this threat to agenda (spring and fall, 2009 and for a symposium. The Institute for organic food. 2010). The NOSB commissioned a Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) technical evaluation, listened to pub- noted that a symposium would not A version of this article with references is available at www.cornucopia.org. lic comments, and wrote a guidance yield any new information on the

The Cornucopia Institute Is Hiring! Cornucopia is seeking individuals with a true passion and enthusiasm for protecting the integrity of organic food and agriculture, and the family farmers who produce it. If you possess an impressive track record, along with relevant academic degrees, in the areas of livestock policy, agronomic practices and inputs, food ingredients and nutrition, or organic certification and regulation, please contact us. Although we seek seasoned professionals, with a high degree of technical experience, we would entertain applications from recent graduates with master’s and/or doctoral degrees in programs that directly relate to Cornucopia’s scope of work. Duties include research, writing, and conducting investigations into organic and sustainable food and farming production practices as well as networking and communicating with farmers, consumers, other organizations, and the media. We seek individuals who will strengthen our knowledge base. The Cornucopia Institute is formally based in Cornucopia, Wisconsin, but is “virtually officed”—staff members telecommute from home offices around the country. Because of this, applicants must be highly motivated and able to work independently. Please visit www.cornucopia.org for a full job description.

99 FACTORY FARMS At left: Some of the thousands of cows Continued from page 1 in the feedlot at one of Aurora Dairy’s Reports and evidence gathered by “organic” farms in Cornucopia continue to contradict Texas the USDA’s assessment. To further nstitute I buttress this case, Cornucopia this scale operators, allows summer began using aerial photogra- them to squeeze out ornucopia phy across the United States to gather C competitors who fol- he T direct and dramatic graphic evidence low the letter of the that animals on these factory farms totally inappropriate for their density law. Sadly, some family farmers are are not being managed in accordance even if they had actually been outside. even exiting organics due to the low with organic law. Hundreds of images from Texas farm gate prices they receive for their Federal regulations explicitly state to Massachusetts have been cata- commodities and foodstuffs. that living conditions for organic live- logued by Cornucopia and are being So how can real food advocates stock must “accommodate the health evaluated and assessed. The opera- and conscious consumers know that and natural behavior of animals.” For tions under aerial examination were the organic food they are purchasing chickens, that means the birds are identified from farm visits, industry is coming from farmers faithfully outdoors, foraging and feeding, dust sources, satellite imagery, and tips following the best organic practices? bathing, and scratching about. Cows from Cornucopia “intelligence agents” This question is especially poignant should be out grazing on pastures. (members) across the country. given that legal actions filed by Cor- All species, according to organic “We intend to use these photos to nucopia against suspected organic regulations, are to have year-round demonstrate, where applicable, how scofflaws can drag on for years before access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, and why organic regulations are final resolution. In one case, Sham- exercise areas, fresh air, clean water being broken,” says Kastel. “If the rock Dairy in Arizona, USDA investi- for drinking, and direct sunlight. USDA fails its congressionally man- gators confirmed Cornucopia’s initial While temporary confinement is al- dated enforcement responsibilities, allegations that Shamrock was op- lowed, it is only intended for circum- we will likely ask for congressional erating illegally, yet nearly six years stances such as inclement weather, hearings and/or end up in court. We since the initial filing, due to appeals safety, care for illness or injury, and will continue to protect the interests the scofflaw operation is still selling risks to soil or water quality. of ethical organic farmers and their “organic” milk. Cornucopia’s eye in the sky is dedicated customers who choose food To help the public make wise revealing that violations to the spirit from animals that are cared for in a marketplace decisions, Cornucopia’s and the letter of federal organic law humane manner resulting in nutri- researchers have created commodity appear to be occurring. At one factory tionally superior products.” scorecards grading brands of or- dairy in Texas, all of the cows are con- Ten years ago, when Cornucopia ganic egg, dairy, soy foods and other fined in a feedlot; none are out grazing first began raising awareness about products found in grocery aisles. By and moving about on the surrounding the creep of factory farm, confine- consulting these scorecards (www. fields. In fact, these nearby fields have ment-style livestock operations into cornucopia.org), consumers and been freshly mowed with the feed organics, the organic industry pulled wholesale buyers can identify foods already baled for future use. “We see in $12 billion a year. Today it has available in their region that they can thousands of cows at this operation tripled in size. purchase with confidence. without any pasture as organic law But that explosive growth in the According to Jason Cole, Cornuco- requires,” Kastel observes. size of the organic market has not pia Research Associate, the score- Overhead of a massive egg lay- fostered a similar increase in the cards are updated in real-time. “It’s ing facility in Texas, Cornucopia’s number of farmers involved with an ongoing project,” he says. “We are aerial images capture an absence of organics. One big reason that a cor- making several updates on a monthly chickens outside the rows of barns in responding growth in organic farms basis. We want consumers to have which they are confined by the tens of in the U.S. hasn’t materialized is the most current information so they thousands. The plane’s camera also the lack of a level playing field. The can support the true farmer heroes records a grossly inadequate amount cheaper confinement-style manage- engaged in sustainable, ecologically of land allocated for the hens and ment model, employed by industrial- sound and humane agriculture.”

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The Sizzle of Fizzle Flat Farm

BY MELODY MORRELL cultural chemicals. Young Illinois farmers were izzle Flat Farm, LLC is a 1,000-acre organic farm dying of cancer. Carol’s that has been in the family for four generations. It mother got colon cancer, F was given this quirky name over 100 years ago for likely from her contami- the effect of heavy spring rains on its absolutely flat fields nated well; the chemical of newly planted crops. Marvin and Carol Manges took the tanks had been filled farm over from Carol’s parents in 1977, adding acreage. there for years. At the Marvin quickly realized that conventional farming time, Marvin was reading was going to be expensive: the cost of fertilizer for a single Organic farmer Marvin Manges studies on water quality year was equivalent to the price of the land itself at that suggesting that 80% of time. When the universities couldn’t answer his questions, wells in Iowa were contaminated with agricultural chemi- he helped start the Illinois cals. After years of spraying 2,4-D from a barrel behind his Concerned about the Sustainable Agriculture tractor, Marvin’s father contracted Parkinson’s. His doctor Society and the Southeast- told Marvin that welders and farmers were most common- dangers of agrichemicals ern Illinois Sustainable ly afflicted, likely due to contact with industry chemicals. and topsoil loss from Agriculture Association One of the SISAA farmers suggested organic certifica- runoff, Marvin Manges (SISAA). Three operators in tion, and by 1990 all of the farmed acres the Manges family each of 14 counties conduct- owned at that time were certified. began to realize he was ed their own research, from A few years ago, Fizzle Flat Farm’s grass-fed beef was “looking for something water research to field days discovered by a Chicago-area oncologist who began recom- more sustainable than on their farms. Marvin says mending it to his patients. The cattle are not certified but he began to realize he was the land is, and Fizzle Flat Farm was one of the few grass- ‘sustainable agriculture’.” “looking for something more fed beef operations of its kind in Illinois at the time. Word sustainable than ‘sustain- got around. Marvin now has a cow-calf operation of almost able agriculture’.” 300 head, many of which are raised to maturity and sold It was a string of personal experiences that led the directly to consumers. Manges family to organics. On a visit to New Orleans, Marvin also grows food-grade grains and soybeans Marvin and Carol saw a plaque on the Mississippi noting for individuals, grist millers and other processors, and how many gallons of water passed by every second. At the the farm has a certified grain cleaning facility for cus- same time, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers barge was tom cleaning for other organic farmers and end-users. dredging organic matter out of the river to facilitate the His white, yellow and blue corn are ground for grits and navigation of the Queen Mary. Marvin thought about what distributed across the United States and Europe, and have experts call “tolerable loss of soil,” and wondered if some even made it to the White House table. Leftover cleanings of what was being dredged up had come from his farm. He are sold for feed ingredients. went home determined to conserve and build soil. As an organic farmer, Marvin’s concerns include over- When the next spring rains hit his first hairy vetch spray from cropdusters taking off from the nearby air- crop, the runoff ran clear. The runoff from the neighbor’s port and cross-pollination from neighboring GMO crops. farm that flowed through a ditch near his farm was muddy. When he hears Monsanto’s commercials on the radio, he Marvin still shows those water samples to visitors today. shakes his head and muses, “If the consumer only knew…”. The Mangeses were also aware of the dangers of agri- Because liability for GMO contamination rests with the organic farmer, Marvin grows popcorn which cannot cross-pollinate with the GMO corn his land is surrounded FIZZLE FLAT FARM by, and he plants his other corn late enough to avoid si- Yale, Illinois multaneous pollination. A good deal of consideration and www.fizzleflatfarm.com preparation go into organic farming. (618) 793-2060 Marvin has spent his life observing the land and its health, and he gladly shares his bountiful knowledge with anyone who is interested.

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P.O. Box 126 Cornucopia, WI 54827 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 322

Address Return Service Requested

WhiteWave to Dump Food Additive

i S tock P hoto.com

Bowing to consumer pressure Choices for Charitable Giving largely driven by social media, ith giving season just around the corner, it’s a good WhiteWave Foods has announced W time to consider the many alternatives you have for it will remove the controversial supporting your favorite charities and causes. Your employer is a good place to start. “Certainly inves- food additive carrageenan from tigate if your firm has a charitable donation program, and its Silk and Horizon products in certainly take advantage of it,” urges Cornucopia member Inoki Suarez, a former VP with General Electric who made the most of his 2015 and 2016. Animal studies company’s generous match. “Even if you only donate $100, you can double have linked the ingredient to your impact.” Every dollar matters, especially to smaller nonprofits such as Cornucopia, “because they find a way to stretch every cent,” Suarez notes. serious gastrointestinal illness If you realize a gain on appreciated assets, consider contributing the stock and even cancer. or other asset directly to a tax-exempt charity. You’ll save on taxes and make a difference to a cause important to you. The Cornucopia Institute’s A third option is to set up a donor-advised fund. One of the fastest grow- popular report, Carrageenan: ing charitable giving vehicles in the U.S., a donor-advised fund offers many benefits, says Jennifer Southard, VP with the Maine Community Founda- The “Natural” Food Additive That tion. “It’s very easy to set up, low cost to maintain, and requires much less Is Making Us Sick, and activist- paperwork than a private family foundation,” explains Southard, who works with over 50 donor advisors. This vehicle allows you to direct grant dollars to bloggers such as “Food Babe” the charities of your choice, ensures anonymity, if desired, and offers certain Vani Hari helped drive the people tax advantages. For more information about these and other ways to give, please visit the power to score this important “About” page at www.cornucopia.org or send us an email to cultivate@cornu- win for the good food movement. copia.org. We sincerely hope you will include your trusty organic watchdog in your giving plans this year. (See related story on page 3.) —ELIZABETH WOLF