Here's your latest agricultural biotechnology news in review:

Agriculture ministers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland want their entire island to be declared a "GM-free zone." The Scottish government and Welsh Assembly have made similar claims.

Greenpeace International scientists report findings from a study conducted by the University of Vienna and sponsored by the Austrian Ministries for Agriculture and Health that found mice fed transgenic corn had less offspring in the third and fourth generations. Mice fed non-transgenic feed reproduced more efficiently.

The Hawaii County Council for Big Island is set to establish a GMO advisory commission tomorrow. The resolution aims to "further research and discussion of genetic engineering to determine the appropriateness of the use of transgenic crops."

President-elect Barack Obama is considering former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as a potential pick for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Consumers Association provide six reasons for why a vote for Vilsack is not a vote for sustainable agriculture.

Subway recently committed to selling non-rBGH milk in at least 21,000 of its restaurants. The milk is being supplied by Phoenix-based Shamrock Dairy, the 52nd largest dairy processor in the U.S.

Gourmet magazine writer, Jocelyn C. Zuckerman, describes her two-day field trip with BASF plant scientists in her piece, "Up Close and Personal with the Genetic Modifiers."

Syngenta buys SPS Argentina, one of the country's most established soybean, corn, and sunflower companies. And Monsanto acquires two sugarcane breeding and technology companies, Brazil-based CanaVialis and Alellyx, to ehance production of sugarcane and biofuels.

Our posts appear to have a theme lately: allowing animals to stretch their legs, be it small cages or large confined feeding operations. Some time ago, we told you about allegations that Dean Foods, owner of the largest organic dairy company, Horizon, was exploiting a loophole in the organic rules by not providing dairy cows access to pasture.

In response to these and other complaints, USDA has proposed new regulations specific to pasture for organic animals. The rule clarifies that lactating animals must receive access to pasture year-round (with a few exceptions). USDA hopes the clarification will make it easier for certifiers to enforce regulations. (And I'm sure the agency wants to avoid lawsuits that argue it's not providing and enforcing strong organic standards.)

You can read the proposed rule and learn more here. The deadline for public comments is December 23.

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists

With all the excitement during election week -- especially a presidential election with a blissful ending (whew) -- it's hard to keep track of all the state measures that passed or didn't pass. Here at Envirovore, we've been keeping tabs on Proposition 2 in California, which aims to phase out livestock confinement systems. YES on Prop 2 was a campaign organized by Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Society of the United States. If you haven't heard, it passed!

In 2015, when the law becomes effective, livestock operations will be forced to phase out systems that keep animals from standing up, stretching limbs, and turning around. These include gestation crates for breeding pigs, veal crates for calves, and battery cages for laying hens. The measure affects 20 million farm animals in California -- the first state to ban all three systems of confinement.

Animal activists say it's a huge precedent and step in the right direction. The New York Times not only endorsed the measure, it said: "We urge every state to enact similar laws." And it seems there's enough attention and evidence to urge other states in this direction. We told you about a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that requires more humane treatment of livestock and a report by the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production that says many current practices in confined animal operations should be phased out.

Californians had their turn this week to vote for a more humane food system. Let's hope it doesn't take another four years for other states to act. In the meantime, remember to vote with your food dollars every day.

Source: MarketWatch, OpEdNews

"Farming and wildlife are not easy bedfellows," says the Economist. There's plenty of evidence for this, as you read in a recent post. But we also know that farming systems can encourage rather than destroy biodiversity, like the magazine reports.

Findings by Stanford University researchers, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide insight into a mountain range in south-west India that has been farmed for 2,000 years yet remains a biologically diverse "hotspot."

Looking at birds, they found that local plantations of areca palms retained 90% of the area forest's native birds. Areca palms? That's what I said. The fruit, referred to (apparently incorrectly) as "betel nuts," are used in medicines and also chewed with betel leaves as a "mild, coffee-like stimulant." The practice, which will stain your teeth red, is common in India and other parts of Southeast Asia and Melanesia.

Here's why birds stick around these plantations, which are better referred to as ecologically diverse, forest-friendly farms:

Because the fruits...come from tall stands of lush trees, farming them provides habitat for the forest birds in the region. In addition, areca-palm plantations are usually intercropped with species such as vanilla, pepper, bananas and coconuts. All this makes those plantations structurally complex. And structural complexity is something that makes forests hospitable to lots of species. The plantations also rely on mulches made from leaf litter deposited in nearby forests. This form of agriculture therefore depends on having reasonably intact local forests to provide the mulch. That, too, is biodiversity-friendly.

The multiple cropping system means areca plantations are profitable, so the benefits are both environmental and economical.

Source: The Economist

High food prices and the end of farmers market season got you down?

Some people are ensuring that healthy, affordable food remains on their table by joining buying clubs in their neighborhoods. These clubs purchase food in bulk directly from suppliers, which cuts down on food and fuel costs. Take Rebecca Andersson, who started a buying club in her Portland community. She hasn't been to a grocery store since February, she says. Her neighborhood buys from Azure Standard, a supplier that specializes in organic and "earth-friendly" food. The company requires a $550 minimum per neighborhood.

An even better option is to support your local farmer by joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in the spring. CSAs sell you a share of the farm for the season, and in return, you are provided fresh produce weekly throughout the growing season. In warmer climates, this can mean most of the year. Find one near you, and plan for next year.

Source: KGW.com

Amphibians are on their way out - nearly one-third of the 6,300 species of amphibians are in danger of extinction. Amphibians, because they respirate through their skin, are highly vulnerable to absorption of pollutants. But not all chemicals act directly on amphibians – some cause chain effects through ecosystems that scientists are only beginning to decipher.

A new study at the University of South Florida on the widely used broadleaf herbicide atrazine found this: Atrazine is applied to fields and lawns to kill broadleaf weeds. When it rains or the fields are irrigated, the herbicide runs off into the nearest waterway. In that body of water, the atrazine swirls around, killing free-floating algae. The water becomes clearer, providing more sunlight for the algae that is attached to rocky surfaces. Snails get fat and multiply on with this increased food source. Unfortunately, so do their parasites – including a trematode that is passed in the snails’ droppings to frogs, causing higher infection rates.

Atrazine, as an s-chlorotriazine, also feminizes frog species – causing many male frogs to develop ovaries through endocrine disruption during development.

In 2001, at least 30 million pounds of atrazine were applied to crops (primarily corn and soybeans) and lawns throughout the United States. The NRDC sued the EPA to restrict usage of atrazine (produced by the corporation Syngenta) in 2003 in light of the threat to endangered amphibian species, but to no avail.

Via NPR

Food waste gone gourmet? That's what happened when a butternut squash processor asked researchers at Cornell's Food Venture Center to evaluate the company's waste products. Their squash seeds have been turned into tasty oil and will now be used in local restaurants.

After Cornell's researchers recommended pressing the wasted squash seeds for oil, the processing company approached a local business, Stony Brook Cookie Co., as a potential market. The oil didn't make the best baking ingredient, but Stony Brook did see potential for the oil to become a specialty product. Because the roasted seeds make excellent food-grade oil for salad dressings, sauteing and such, Stony Brook has decided to sell the oil in stores and directly to restaurants under a new brand name, Stony Brook WholeHeartedFoods.

Food innovation centers are playing an important role in localizing our food system and helping farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs discover creative ways to process and market their products. Many states already enjoy these centers, while others, like Montana, are working hard to establish them.

Source: New York Ag Connection

Here are a few Envirovore tips for pumpkin carving this Halloween season.

1. Picking your pumpkin: Go local. Lots of farmers markets and farm stands sell locally produced pumpkins. Better, head to a patch and pick your own.

2. Carving your pumpkin: Eat the seeds. They're nutritious, with high levels of essential amino acids and zinc. Here's an easy recipe. And for carving ideas, there are a host of stencils out there to show your support for conservation, like these cool landscape and wildlife scenes from the World Wildlife Fund.

3. Trashing your pumpkin: Don't! (Unless neighborhood kids have beat you to it.) Compost your pumpkin after that toothy grin begins to sag. We've already told you why and how. Or feed it to an elephant. Seriously. Some zoos take jack-o-lantern donations to use as animal feed. Give your nearest zoo a call.

Of course, the more delicious option is to skip carving altogether and make a pie. Depending on your baking skills, this may be the scariest route.