Biosecurity breaches probably caused one of the worst animal disease crises in the United States. Fast moving outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 21 states resulted in the destruction of 50 million turkeys and chickens last year. More cases affecting 400,000 birds were reported in Indiana at the beginning of this year. The rapid spread of the disease showed increased vulnerability in the animal population, said John Clifford, chief trade adviser for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [node:read-more:link]

The company doesn't seem too keen on old-school GMOs anymore. Fraley accompanied us to the biotechnology wing of the research center, the first stop on our tour. Strikingly, we didn't hear a peep about the GM wonder crops that the industry used to claim were just around the corner: corn that grows well in drought conditions, say, or thrives with minimal amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. [node:read-more:link]

There has been a "sea change in the last five years, led by forward looking companies",particularly in the clothing, food and drink industries. [node:read-more:link]

A new mobile tool created by a Canadian producer co-operative offers producers the ability to capture livestock data in the field with the device that is already in their pocket [node:read-more:link]

Use of antibiotics in animal production is leading to clustering of antibiotic-resistant genes says a US research team. [node:read-more:link]

The issue of antibiotic resistance is very real and very serious.  By their nature, bacteria, when their existence is challenged, mutate to resist the challenge.  Antibiotics when used in human medicine or in agriculture present such a bacterial challenge so overuse in either sector leads to an increase in bacterial resistance and can render routine antimicrobial treatments ineffective. [node:read-more:link]

As much as 90% of Florida’s citrus acres are infected with the citrus greening disease. According to a report from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences,  citrus greening, also known as HLB and huanglongbing, has also infected 80% of Florida’s citrus trees.The survey, conducted in March 2015, represents the first grower-based estimates of the level of infection in Florida and the effect it is having on the state’s citrus operations. [node:read-more:link]

When faced with the question of continuing to allow the planting of genetically engineered seed on open space agricultural land, there was an evidence-based path available to the commissioners. The county staff had gathered local data on the sustainability impacts of various cropping systems, presented to the commissioners as a white paper. [node:read-more:link]

Food manufacturers should be aware that private litigants may also enforce Act 120 (as it is codified in a part of the Vermont code that has a private right of action), and would likely exercise less restraint than the state AG in the first few months, predicted Hahn.

“There is a bounty hunter provision that allows individuals in the state of Vermont, lawyers for example… to enforce the law. We are concerned that bounty hunters will take action as soon as Act 120 goes into effect. [node:read-more:link]

There is nothing inherently different about food from GMO crops than food from conventional crops. Just the fact that a crop has been genetically modified does not make it more allergenic. [node:read-more:link]