Leaders in the sustainable agriculture community are not the only ones trying to bend the Obama Transition Team’s ear toward a healthy, sustainable food system (see blog post from 12/23/08). As a recent New York Times article pointed out, everyone from foodies to farmers , chefs to consumers, has high hopes for how Obama will [...]

The use of antibiotics in animal agriculture and the FDA’s recent decision to reverse a proposed rule on their use was the topic of an op-ed that began running in daily newspapers during the past week. The op-ed is authored by John Carlin, former governor of Kansas and chairman of the Pew Commission on Industrial [...]

Today leaders in the sustainable agriculture community, organized by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, briefed members of the Obama transition team on priorities.  It was great to have the transition team’s ear, and to hear so many positive action ideas for the administration’s initial work.  CLF director, Dr. Bob Lawrence spoke of the [...]

Last Saturday my family and I went to check out Bragg Nature Center, soon to be the Baltimore school system’s working organic farm. They were having an open house and plant sale fundraiser. I thought I’d share some pictures and info. 
As a CLF’er and a parent of a Baltimore city schoolkid, I have high hopes [...]

Tomorrow, Dec 23rd, is the deadline to get your comments to the USDA about the Organic Pasture Proposal. This proposal would require organic dairy cows to be pastured during the entire grazing season.  Organic standards already require some access to pasture, but depending on the producer, the standards have been interpreted differently.
For a brief overview [...]

In response to the blog post below, it is worth expanding, to clarify the reasons many in the sustainable agriculture community - and others who are concerned about sustainability, justice and public health - are feeling let down by the choice of the new secretary of agriculture, even as we try to remain hopeful [...]

 
In Sept 2008, Scientific American launched a new special issue series titled Earth 3.0, aimed at addressing issues and technology affecting our environment. The second issue of this series has just been released, and the Center of Livable Future is again one of the sponsors. The issue is available at newsstands and at the series web site below.
 
This [...]

While many in the sustainable agriculture community are still in shock today over President-elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of Agriculture—former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack—some are saying it’s not a bad move.
In yesterday’s New York Times, Lee Schipper, a project scientist in global metropolitan studies at the University of California at Berkeley, said that Mr. Vilsack [...]

A new report released exposes how industrial hog and dairy operations are subsidized through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  The report, entitled Industrial Livestock at the Taxpayer Trough, estimates that between 2003 and 2007, roughly 1,000 industrial hog and dairy operations have captured at least $35 million per year in taxpayer support through [...]

Shifting the focus toward a Secretary of Agriculture with a more sustainable outlook was last week’s topic of New York Times Op-Ed columnist Nicholas Kristof. Readers of the LivableFuture blog can sign a petition and help guide the president-elect in his decision.