Don't hold your breath, Secretary Vilsack

by: desmoinesdem

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 10:50:54 AM PDT

[USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service administrator Michael] Michener declined to discuss the department's strategy for promoting international acceptance of biotechnology, saying it's still in the works. But he argues that the Obama administration can be more effective than the Bush administration, which went to the World Trade Organization to unsuccessfully break European resistance to the genetically engineered crops.

Vilsack is taking a lighter approach, Michener said, recounting a discussion the secretary had with his German counterpart.

Vilsack "made this very creative argument on how during the eight years of the Bush administration, the Europeans would lecture us on how we had to bring our citizens along and educate them on the science of climate change. He turned that around and said, 'You know, you've got a similar responsibility on biotech'" Michener said.

That certainly is a "creative" analogy. Getting Americans on board with serious policies on climate change may be our only hope for avoiding a catastrophic global warming scenario. Gaining European acceptance for genetically-modified crops has no comparable global benefit (no, these crops won't magically end world hunger).

But a more important point is after the jump.

USDA Appointee Update

by: Jill Richardson

Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 06:00:00 AM PDT

The most recent news is the choice of Doug O'Brien as Kathleen Merrigan's Chief of Staff. O'Brien is one of the Sustainable Dozen advocated for on the Food Democracy Now petition, so that's two down and ten to go on our list of twelve. Also recently announced are the nominations of Michael Michener as Administrator of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Dave White as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Someone who knows White and has worked with him said to me, "I don't think we could have found a better person to run the agency." Yay!

Last, recently confirmed by the Senate are Kathleen Merrigan as USDA's Deputy Secretary, Jim Miller as Under Secretary of the Farm Service & Foreign Agricultural Service, and Joe Leonard as assistant secretary for civil rights.

Details below...