The current Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30th, and if it does without re-authorization for research funding and programs that support sustainable agriculture, then we’re in big trouble…Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill out of the Agriculture Committee (HAC) that would eliminate the Conservation Stewardship Program, and curb support for environmental efforts on ‘working lands’.

Moreover, the bill, introduced by HAC Chairman, Mike Conaway (R-TX), expanded the list of people who are eligible for crop and conservation payments to include people who operate Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). Do you think that industrialized meat production counts as environmental conservation??? All democrats voted against the bill, and all Republicans for the bill.

“Every Voice Matters” -Check out Northeast Organic Farming Association-NY Action Alerts to make calls to YOUR Senators and representative and tell them you want a strong bill for organic! See some high points and low points of the House bill HERE. Read Civil Eat’s full report concerning the organic label, “soiless” farming, and animal welfare standards here.

 

Seaweeds have been cultivated and harvested as food for decades; most basically, we have used natural patches which grow in estuaries and other shallow, brackish waters. Originally developed in Japan, the Philippines, and other places around the globe, farming seaweed has become increasingly popular, especially here in the US. It has proven to be a successful practice (and industry) which “improves economic conditions, reduces fishing pressure and over-exploited fisheries, and mitigates the effects of climate change.” Not only is eating seaweed alone delicious, but it is a popular export commodity for the production of agar and carrageenan–both of which are used widely in the food industry as a thickener, stabilizer, and substitute for gelatin. (Carrageenan has been in the news quite a bit of late, because studies have shown it to be carcinogenic, and the Organic Standards Board has recommended it be removed from the list of approved organic ingredients. But big food lobbyists pushed hard, and it has not been removed.)

Long Island’s own, Future of Fish founder, Bren Smith, is also aiming to transform food production with his 3D vertical farms. “Requiring zero inputs, [a polyculture vertical farming system beneath the water’s surface which grows a mix of seaweed and shellfish] is the most sustainable form of food production on the planet, and it also sequesters carbon and rebuilds reef ecosystems. The crops can be used as food, fertilizer, animal feed and even energy.” Read more from Aljazeera here: http://aje.io/5tye9

 

“Seaweed aquaculture is an emerging “green industry” that has the potential to benefit our region, both environmentally and economically. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County has recently become involved in a project called “The Peconic Estuary Seaweed Aquaculture Feasibility Study.” Two main goals of this study are to determine the viability of commercial seaweed farming in our local waters, and to analyze the interest and demand for kelp products in local markets.” Read the full report by Suffolk County here.