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Separating the Grain from the Chaff in Agriculture & Food
Browsing All Posts published on »April, 2013«
It’s Time to Re-Focus the GMO Debate
Dear friends (anti-GMO and pro-GMO), I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of the debate over genetically modified crops and food. Tired of the constant claim and counter-claim, the hyperbole, the exaggerations, the fear-mongering, the mis-quotes, the lack of context, the narrow perspectives, the sniping and snarking, the name-calling, the disrespect – all […]
The GMO Song: A Ditty About Co-Existence
April 18, 2013
I discovered this video last week over on the Biofortified Blog (a good place to visit for science-based information and discussion on GMOs, despite – or because! – of the pre-dominance of those who support the technology). The video is a good reminder that despite differing opinions, at the end of the day, we’ve all […]
Thoughts on GMO Alfalfa’s Potential Release in Eastern Canada
April 8, 2013
The issue of GMO alfalfa is a hot topic in Canada these days, especially considering the series of protests planned for tomorrow, April 9th, across the country. There’s been a lot of hype around the issue, but here I’ll try to boil it down to a few key points: The End of Organic Farming? Some people claim […]
Does Mark Lynas Represent Leadership or Divisiveness in Agriculture?
April 4, 2013
Background A lot has been said and written about Mark Lynas since his infamous speech to the Oxford Farming Conference in January. To the pro-biotech community, he’s their latest hero: a self-declared “leader” of the anti-GMO movement who “suddenly discovered science” and now offers his unwavering support to genetically-modified crops. To others he’s a “traitor” […]
Wordless Wednesday: Old-Fashioned Manure Handling
April 3, 2013
In honour of yesterday’s post on manure, I thought I’d share this photo of my son helping me clean out the barn last fall. With only 2 cows sheltered in a log barn well over 100 years old, we handle manure the “old-fashioned” way and apply it to our hay fields to build and maintain […]
Is Manure Use on Organic Farms a Food Safety Threat?
April 2, 2013
One of the most frequent criticisms or concerns I hear expressed about organic food is the suggestion that organic farmers “rely” on animal manures for fertility, so therefore, organic food is at higher risk of microbial contamination. The statement contains a number of assumptions, and I’d like to take some time to explore them. 1) […]
The Blog of Rob Wallbridge
Occasional posts on food, farming, and related topics from an organic farm in Western Quebec, Canada.
The Fanning Mill 
April 20, 2013
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