Bush’s support of local food

I know I’m late on this, but it’s too intriguing to pass up.

As reported by many, President Bush, at an April 29 White House press conference, talked about a variety of issues, but said some particularly intriguing things about the current high food prices and the Farm Bill. One statement that caught the attention of a lot of sustainable ag folk’s was this…

“One thing I think that would be — I know would be very creative policy is if we — is if we would buy food from local farmers as a way to help deal with scarcity, but also as a way to put in place an infrastructure so that nations can be self-sustaining and self-supporting. It’s a proposal I put forth that Congress hasn’t responded to yet, and I sincerely hope they do”

There was the usual Hate-Bush tripe flying around the blogosphere in response, but no one really seemed to know what the President was referring to — this “proposal” he put forth to Congress. Turns out it doesn’t have anything to do with the US food system. From a follow up White House press release…

The President has repeatedly asked Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world. This flexibility would not only get food to people in emergency situations faster, it would also build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine.

It would also help with global warming, NOT shipping all that food across the globe. That’s just one reason why local food is a positive anywhere! So how about our own local food system? It would be “creative policy” for US as well! But that’s a whole new level of awareness yet to dawn on our federal leadership’s consciousness.

Still, what was the response from Congress on the food aid proposal? Yesterday Reuters released this…

Advocates of buying food in and around the countries that need aid, instead of shipping U.S. crops, argue it will save money and deliver assistance more quickly.

“Congress failed to meaningfully address the crisis of rising food prices overseas and the need to increase the efficiencies of our food aid programs,” Oxfam America said in a statement.

But crop producers, shipping companies, and their allies on Capitol Hill have resisted the change for years, fearing it will undermine the bedrock of support for aid programs and even making things worse in countries with fragile food markets.

Wonder what the rationale for that is? Sounds like an invented concern thrown out by the people with vested financial interest in the current system. Is that always the way it is?

US gov going organic

The General Services Administration…”helps federal agencies better serve the public by offering, at best value, superior workplaces, expert solutions, acquisition services, and management policies. On April 30th the EPA reported that the GSA has begun using organic fertilizer on the grounds of all its federal buildings in the National Capital Region.

GSA is using 100-percent organic pelletized chicken manure at 64 sites, covering 84 acres. The poultry litter is being collected by a private company and converted to usable organic fertilizer – then transported by truck to the region, and properly applied at the GSA properties.

This is the agency that tells other federal agencies how to do a better job. Wonder what they’re serving in their cafeteria?

One of illinois’ best farmers

Click here and read about Jack Erisman, a large-scale organic farmer and fantastic human being.

Two major universities ramp up organic programs

Just as Illinois’ programs are crumbling, other ivory towers are starting to get it. Yesterday Washington State University announced they will offer the first on-line certificate on organic agriculture in the US…

“The program’s first core course, Soils 101, “Organic Gardening and Farming,” will be available summer semester, which begins May 5. The foundation course was developed by WSU Regents Professor John Reganold, an international leader in organic agriculture.”

Now today I learn that…

“[t]he University of Minnesota has approved a plan that will create new resources and programs for sustainable and organic agriculture. This is the result of an overall increase in funding for agricultural research and outreach that the University received from the 2007 Minnesota Legislature.

Read the whole U of M article HERE.

The science of good food

The Union of Concerned Scientists have a new on-line feature called Green Cuisine that features stories and recipes from “chefs and farmers working together to put healthy, seasonal, and environmentally friendly foods on tables from coast to coast.”  UCS recognizes that food production and consumption has environmental implications. In addition to Green Cuisine, the Food and Environment section focuses on antibiotics and food, genetic engineering, and sustainable food choices, all treated with scientific rigor. It’s science with a purpose!