Cognitive Dissonance No Problem For Clintons

by: Jill Richardson

Sun Sep 27, 2009 at 16:24:49 PM PDT

Where's the cognitive dissonance? When Bill Clinton spoke (he was there to introduce Hillary), he brought Will Allen up on stage and called Allen his "hero." Will Allen is one of my heroes too. I just got back from Allen's farm, a few hours ago actually. Growing Power, founded by Will Allen, is located in Milwaukee, WI. I've heard about it and written about it and finally I've seen it. They use sustainable, low input techniques to grow TONS of food. Year round, with relatively little fossil fuel heat, in a climate that is very cold for much of the year. They provide healthy food to a neighborhood that is 2 miles away from a grocery store in any direction.

Their first and foremost "crops" are compost and worms. Growing Power uses food waste and municipal waste (such as wood chips) to feed their worms and their methane digester. The methane then fuels furnaces, which heats water to 85F to allow tilapia to thrive. Tilapia are a warm water vegetarian fish. At Growing Power, they are grown in aquaponics systems that grow three crops stacked on top of one another - tilapia and two layers of plants such as watercress. The fish waste feeds the plants and the plants clean the water. The fish are highly productive, producing 1 lb of flesh per 1 lb of food. They also produce perch, cold water fish, also in aquaponics systems that grows crops on top of fish ponds. The perch eat soldier fly larvae, which live in Growing Power's compost. Using such agroecological, innovative systems, they produce a LOT of food in a very small amount of space. In addition to the plants (watercress, arugula, wheatgrass, other microgreens, spinach, tomatoes, and more), they also raise chickens for eggs, ducks and turkeys for meat, bees for pollination and honey, and goats (eventually for milk).

The inputs to Growing Power's farm are waste products (food, roots from harvested crops, manure, wood chips). They use some energy from the grid, I believe. But most of what they use can be gotten from their own livestock and plants, plus some rainwater harvesting. The innovations they showed us today did not involve GM crops, pesticides, or commercial fertilizer. They fertilize with compost and worm castings and they deal with pests with compost tea. So why, if the Clintons consider Will Allen their hero, are they pushing a form of agriculture that runs entirely counter to what Will Allen has proven so successful?

You can see a video of the Clintons' speeches here.

Is Obama's Plan for Tackling Hunger Just Another Chance for Big Ag and Biotech to Cash In?

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 05:42:22 AM PDT

Much of the piece follows the money and connections behind Obama's current policy to "help" Africa by helping Monsanto. It's not just a money and influence problem, it's also an ideology problem. And it's really tragic because real lives are at stake here.

Hillary and Vilsack To Promote GMOs in Africa

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Aug 04, 2009 at 15:10:15 PM PDT

Also during the high-level tour, the top US diplomat will on Wednesday afternoon visit the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) laboratories along Waiyaki Way.

She will be accompanied by US Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsack, together with U.S. Representatives Donald M. Payne and Nita M. Lowey.

"The visit will focus on KARI's contributions to Kenya's food security and agricultural development. It will include a laboratory tour, discussion with KARI staff and collaborating partners, observation of a maize research plot, and ceremonial tree-planting," according to a brief from the US embassy in Nairobi.

Here's what the USDA says about Vilsack's trip to Africa:

As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to enhance global food security, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will attend the 8th U.S.-Sub-Saharan African Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Nairobi, Kenya from Aug. 4-6, 2009. At the forum, Vilsack will highlight the USDA's ongoing food security efforts in Africa and other places throughout the world which is focused on building the agricultural industry in developing countries.

Here's what the press release says about his visit to KARI with Secretary Clinton:

Finally, he plans to visit the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and meet with women scientists receiving African Women in Agricultural Research and Development fellowships.

Who are those research grant winners that Vilsack is meeting with? If you scan the list, you'll notice several are involved with biotechnology. One works with the Uganda agency that is partnering with Monsanto to create drought tolerant corn.

Below I've included a press release from the U.S. Food Crisis Working Group about Clinton and Vilsack's trip and visit to KARI.

UPDATE: A few more links...  "KARI Adopts Genetically Modified Maize" and a post about pros and cons of a Kenyan biosafety bill

Hillary Clinton Talks About Food

by: Jill Richardson

Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 06:00:00 AM PDT

1.  We will seek to increase agricultural productivity, by expanding access to quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation tools, and the credit to purchase them and training to use them.

5. We will seek to increase trade so small-scale farmers can sell their crops far and wide.