As Rodolfo Martinez-Mota well knows, from the cactus spines in his clothes and skin, white-throated woodrats love to eat prickly pear cactus (from the Opuntia genus). They like the cactus so much that their gut microorganism community, or microbiome, is specially equipped to break down…
By John Anderer The refrigerator is an integral part of the quintessential American home, and many people make it a priority to keep their fridge stocked with food. Normally there’s nothing wrong with picking up an extra carton of eggs at the market, but according…
By Mayukh Saha Italian designer Stefano Boeri is planning to bring about the first vertical forest in the New Administrative Capital, currently being set up in the deserted and barren region of Cairo. The three buildings designed for this would involve trees and plants that…
By Children’s Health Defense The Facts: This article was written by By Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN, President of Children’s Health Defense. Reflect On: How did our federal health regulatory agencies ever approve something so dangerous and damaging to human health? In Part I, “The Disturbing Increase…
By Tyler Durden A new study shows how “insect apocalypse” is unfolding across America’s farmland since neonicotinoid pesticides were introduced several decades ago. Researchers found that farmland across the country is 48 times more toxic to insect life than 25 years ago, and neonicotinoid pesticides account for a…
Patients with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to regulate their blood sugar levels if they eat food with a reduced carbohydrate content and an increased share of protein and fat Patients with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to regulate blood sugar levels if…
Urban sprawl has led to the creation of food deserts in metropolitan areas across the United States, according to a published study by a researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington. Shima Hamidi, director of UTA’s Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions and Dollars, published…
Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) caused by tomato yellow leaf curl virus-like viruses is the most destructive disease of tomato, causing severe damage to crops worldwide and resulting in high economic losses. To combat this disease, many farmers opt for intensive application of insecticides….
Adjuvants not as benign to honey bees as previously thought Adjuvants are chemicals that are commonly added to plant protection products, such as pesticides, to help them spread, adhere to targets, disperse appropriately, or prevent drift, among other things. There was a widespread assumption that…
By Julian Rose The director of development at Ericcson, Marcin Sugak, is excited. He has a new toy to sell to agribusiness farmers. This particular toy, he claims, is going to ‘overcome’ all the difficult new challenges facing agriculture today. It will be ‘A revolution’,…
By Children’s Health Defense Chlorpyrifos—described by some as “the most dangerous pesticide you’ve never heard of”—is an insect-killing organophosphate. Organophosphates trace their roots back to Nazi-era IG Farben nerve gases; contemporary scientists still describe the compounds as “junior-strength nerve agents” that have a mechanism of action comparable to sarin. Dow Chemical—the…
Americans are overexposed to products that are high in calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt Americans are overexposed to products that are high in energy, saturated fat, sugar and salt, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study that reports the United States packaged food and…
Garlic and spearmint essential oils most effectively repelled pests in a study to help organic brassica farmers Agricultural insect pests seek out familiar scents to find their plant hosts. However, they can also be repelled by odors from other plant species. A new study from…
By Sara Tipton Whether we are climate change activists or skeptics, we can all agree that we should all be doing our part to leave our Earth in the best condition possible. Sustainability isn’t always the easiest thing to accomplish considering our consumerist lifestyle in…
By Michael Snyder I know that this headline is alarming, but it is actually a direct quote from a notice that was recently posted in a Kroger supermarket. And as you will see below, similar notices are being posted in the canned vegetable sections of…
More “intensive” beekeeping does not raise the risk of diseases that harm or kill the insects, new research suggests. Intensive agriculture – where animals or plants are kept crowded together in very high densities – is thought to result in higher rates of disease spreading….
When cabbage looper moth larvae infest a field, sustainable growers will often try to control the pests by releasing large numbers of predators, such as ladybugs. That way they can avoid spraying expensive and environmentally harmful insecticides. Still, farmers have mixed results when they supplement…
By Amanda Froelich If you visit the UK this summer, be sure to stop by the best (and only) vegan pizzeria: Purezza. Not only does the award-winning restaurant offer delectable pizzas but it has also committed to donating 100% of the profits from its new…
By Children’s Health Defense The Facts: Comprehensive Test Results Show Beech-Nut Naturals line of baby foods contain residues of synthetic pesticides including glyphosate, acetamiprid and captan. Reflect On: Why do food company’s lie and deceive the public so much. Why do we simply believe them…
New research suggests that global trends in farming practices are undermining the pollinators crops depend on and putting agricultural productivity and stability at risk, particularly in some Asian and South American nations A multinational team of researchers has identified countries where agriculture’s increasing dependence on…
