Just Label It, News Roundup, 4-27

A California state appeals court dealt Monsanto a legal defeat on Thursday, ruling the state was well within in its legal bounds when it decided to list a weed-killing chemical as a possible cancer-causing agent. Chipotle has announced a new waste diversion program, with the goal of diverting 50 percent of its waste from landfills by 2020. On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court ruled that Monsanto couldn’t claim patents for Bollgard and Bollgard II, its genetically modified cottonseeds, in India. Canadian farmer Travis Heide turned a 40,000-acre conventional farm into a certified organic producing farm. One of the world’s greatest chefs, Massimo Bottura, is fighting hunger and food waste at the same time with his inventive soup kitchen. Also in this week’s news, there was some inspiration for the urban gardening movement: A Miami local turned four unused acres surrounding an Episcopal church into a thriving urban organic farm. On Tuesday, German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said she was finalizing a draft regulation to end use of the weed-killer glyphosate in household gardens, parks and sports facilities, and to set “massive” limits for its use in agriculture. Meanwhile, Tucson, Ariz., is modeling affordable food access in the desert. In Detroit, the buzz in the air comes from a healthy population of bees – both wild and domestic. Lastly, the Chicago Tribune helped break down all the food labels out there, including organic, cage-free and natural.

CA Appeals Court Hands Monsanto a Legal Setback

A California state appeals court dealt Monsanto a legal defeat on Thursday, ruling the state was well within in its legal bounds when it decided to list a weed-killing chemical as a possible cancer-causing agent.

 

Chipotle To Divert Half of Its Waste from Landfills by 2020

Chipotle has announced a new waste diversion program, with the goal of diverting 50 percent of its waste from landfills by 2020. “Increasing our waste diversion rate to 50 percent is an ambitious goal, but we feel it’s important to be assertive in our efforts to advance our purpose,” said Chipotle’s head of sustainability, Caitlin Leibert. “We remain deeply dedicated to bringing guests great tasting food while upholding Chipotle’s values and commitment to food made with respect for the land and environment.

Report: Monsanto May Leave India After Losing GMO Cotton Patent

On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court ruled that the biotech giant couldn’t claim patents for Bollgard and Bollgard II, its genetically modified cottonseeds, in the country. Citing India’s Patents Act of 1970, the court said that plant varieties and seeds couldn’t be patented, thereby rejecting Monsanto’s attempt to block its Indian licensee, Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd., from selling the seeds.

40,000-acre farm goes organic

There are 25-grain bins in Travis Heide’s farmyard, including six massive ones with a capacity of 70,000 bushels each. In total, the bins can store around 550,000 bu. of grain. That’s enough for 10,000 acres of spring wheat, assuming an average yield of 55 bu. per acre. For most prairie farmers, 550,000 bu. of storage would be more than enough. Not for Heide.

How One of the World’s Greatest Chefs Is Fighting Hunger and Food Waste at the Same Time

Imagine getting 60 of the world’s greatest chefs to fly out and meet you. It sounds impossible, right? But you’re not Massimo Bottura. “You know what this is?” the chef of three-Michelin-star Osteria Francescana says as he extracts an iPhone from his pocket, holding it up in front of him. “This is a phone. I look at the phone. I start to put in the numbers of all my friends. Not even 45 minutes, every single one said, ‘We’re going to be there.’” He laughs and tucks it away again. “That was the process. It was unbelievable.”

They turned this Miami church into a farm — and now their produce is available at Whole Foods

Moses Kashem had a crazy idea — or so everyone else thought. The son of a Muslim Indian father and a Catholic Italian mother, he wanted to turn the four unused acres surrounding a Miami Episcopal church into an urban organic farm. His vision was that it could provide income for St. Simon’s Episcopal church, for him, and, eventually, it would provide fresh produce at your local Miami grocery store.

Germany to Put ‘Massive Restrictions’ on Monsanto Weed killer

German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner on Tuesday said she was finalizing a draft regulation to end use of the weed-killer glyphosate in household gardens, parks, and sports facilities, and to set “massive” limits for its use in agriculture.

In the Arizona Desert, Tucson Models Affordable Food Access

UNESCO’s first City of Gastronomy in the U.S. relies on its built-in biodiversity and a wide network of food justice organizations to feed its most marginalized residents.

How to be smarter about buying organic

You see the labels out there — organic, cage-free, and natural — but what does it all mean?

If you’re trying to make better shopping choices for the environment by choosing “greener” or ethically made products, you’re going to be bombarded by dozens of labels purporting to measure up to a certain standard, and probably charging more money for the goods.

Detroit’s Newest Industrial Workers: Bees

The buzz about Detroit has been its resurgent development. Historic buildings are being renovated into bars and hotels as new stadiums rise along Woodward Avenue, the city’s central corridor. But there’s a literal buzz as well: Detroit is home to a healthy population of bees, both wild and domestic.