Just Label It News Roundup 10-19

This week, Stuart City, Florida voted to ban the use of the chemical glyphosate. Calling Monsanto’s efforts to hide the alleged cancer-causing nature of the Roundup weed killer “reprehensible,” attorneys for a school groundskeeper dying of cancer urged a San Francisco judge late Monday to keep uphold a $289 million jury verdict for their client. Nearly one-third of all food produced for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tons—is lost or wasted from farm to fork each year. Food loss and waste tend to be insidious—losses track from the farm to transport to grocery stores and at restaurants, and finally, some is wasted in our homes Austin, Texas has implemented a new rule that prevents restaurants from tossing wasted food straight into the trash. Austin businesses now have the option to donate extra food to feed people, send food scraps to local animal farms or ranches or compost. Plans in the U.S. to genetically alter crops via insects is feared to be a biological war plan. The program says it will use virus-carrying insects to engineer crops, but some worry it’s a way to develop biological agents.

Stuart city, Florida votes to ban city use of chemical glyphosate

Stuart city commissioners voted to ban city use of the chemical glyphosate. Glyphosate is commonly found in the weed killer Roundup. It has been considered possibly carcinogenic and other research links the chemical to algae growth.

10 Beneficial Insects That Will Actually Help Your Plants

Some insect species can help you wage the war against harmful blights. If you spot one of these ten helpful critters, know that they’re here to help, not hurt.

The Co-op Farming Model Might Help Save America’s Small Farms

Amid a nationwide rise in worker-owned businesses of all types, small farms across the country are foregoing traditional farm ownership and reaping the benefits of cooperative farming.

Austin Bans Restaurants From Throwing Food Waste Into Landfills

The city of Austin, Texas implemented a new rule that prevents restaurants from tossing wasted food straight into the trash. Businesses have the option to donate extra food to feed people, send food scraps to local animal farms or ranches or compost. Additionally, owners and managers of the establishment must provide regular education for employees, post informational signage and submit an annual “organic diversion plan” to the city government.

28 Inspirational People Working to Reduce Food Waste

Nearly one-third of all food produced for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tons—is lost or wasted from farm to fork each year. Food loss and waste tend to be insidious—some is lost on the farm, some is lost in transport, waste occurs in grocery stores and at restaurants, and some is wasted in our homes.

Cancer Victim’s Attorneys Blast Monsanto’s Request for New Trial

Calling Monsanto’s efforts to hide the alleged carcinogenicity of its Roundup weed killer “reprehensible,” attorneys for a school groundskeeper dying of cancer urged a San Francisco judge late Monday to keep intact a $289 million jury verdict for their client.

US plan to genetically alter crops via insects feared to be biological war plan

The program says it will use virus-carrying insects to engineer crops, but some worry it’s a way to develop biological agents.