Food Regulations & Policy Archives

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Food Regulations & Policy

Digging into GMOs: Mintel's Megan Stanton

Dirt to Dinner talked with Megan Stanton of Mintel's Food & Drink division to hear why consumer perceptions on GMOs are changing.

Food Regulations & Policy

Bobo's Global Balancing Act at TNC

We're talking with Jack Bobo, TNC's Food & Water Policy Director, who works with global food producers and conservation organizations to find solutions for mutual growth. Listen in to hear how small changes can have rippling global effects.

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security

Can food packaging & global health coexist?

Every day, plastic’s value shines through by keeping our global food system safer while reducing transport costs and decreasing food waste. But is it too late to correct unrecycled waste’s disastrous trail across the globe?

Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy

Fertilizer Restrictions' Unintended Consequences

Want to cut greenhouse gases? Mandate less fertilizer use...right? Farmers and others ask if we know what that really means for our food security. Beware the perils of unintended consequences.

Food Regulations & Policy, Soil and Crop Management

Is Ag the Key to Future U.S.-China Relations?

Tariffs on Chinese goods have become the quiet political rage in Washington. But can a successful trade relationship in agriculture and food products help teach us another way of thinking about what’s best for both countries?

Food Regulations & Policy

Will more ethanol fight inflation...or fuel it?

Prices for gasoline, food and other staples continue to rise and rise. The latest initiative is to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in our gas tanks. But will this temper gas prices? Or just increase food prices for consumers?

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Trade

Goodbye “GMO”, Hello “Bioengineered”

Have you seen the new GMO labels? As of January 1st, the USDA requires food companies to label products as “bioengineered” if any ingredients are genetically modified. What will this mean for GMOs and consumer acceptance?

Food Regulations & Policy, Health

Keeping Score on Biden's Ag Initiatives

Six months into the Biden Administration, Washington claims a mixed scorecard of fulfilling the promises made during the 2020 campaign. Let’s take a look at some of the food and ag-related hits and misses recorded so far.

Food Regulations & Policy

5 Things ‘Seaspiracy’ taught me about Seafood

Aside from its distorted facts and questionable agenda, the Netflix film, 'Seaspiracy', smartly spotlights glaring issues in the sustainable seafood industry. However, options exist that support a healthy seafood system -- we just need to ask the right questions.

Agricultural Technology, Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy

Why are my groceries so expensive right now?

We’re seeing the largest increases in inflation in years. It’s happening across the board in apparel, vehicles, housing, insurance, recreation - you name it. And, needless to say, our food supply isn't immune to these increases, either...

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security

Are Farmer Protests in India a Cautionary Tale for Americans?

India aims to provide subsidies for farm producers while maintaining artificially low food prices, but it's created an explosive situation. It's a cautionary tale for all food systems to keep policy and economics aligned.

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security

What is the Biden Era Agricultural Agenda?

Congress and the new Biden Administration are targeting social issues and climate change, but Covid, the farm economy, and trade relations with China must remain front and center. With all of these critical issues in the balance, what ag policy changes can we expect?

Climate Change, Food Regulations & Policy

Digging into the Biden Era Agricultural Agenda

The 2020 elections ushered in a new era of leadership – and a different set of priorities – for food and agriculture. Expect to see a much more aggressive focus on social issues and climate change from both Congress and the new Biden Administration. While Covid, the farm economy, and trade relations with China also will remain front and center on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, don’t look for radical change in agricultural policy that will substantively change the food picture for American consumers or foreign customers.

Food Regulations & Policy

Blue Zones: Long & Healthy Living

We all want to live long, healthy, happy lives…but how? “Blue Zones” are regions where populations live longer and healthier than the rest of the world. So what can we learn from them to improve our health?

Food Regulations & Policy, Health

Meeting Demand: A New Type of Salmon

There's a new breed of salmon that requires less food and water, takes less time to grow, and supports the rural American economy all while having the same health benefits as farmed or wild-caught salmon. Will you buy it?

Animal Welfare and Health, Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy

5 Top Issues Important to Farmers

We asked hundreds of farmers and ranchers across the U.S. to tell us their thoughts on the 2020 presidential election. Here are the 5 issues they identified as most important to farmers in America.

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Trade

Farmer & Rancher Election Survey Results

D2D set out with a goal to better understand the issues affecting American farmers - their concerns, hopes, and thoughts about the next four years. Here are our results...

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Trade, Health, Soil and Crop Management

Trump vs. Biden: Comparing Ag Platforms

Election Day is almost here. So where do Trump and Biden stand on American food and agriculture? We compare the candidates' views on the major issues affecting farmers and ranchers today.

Agricultural Labor, Conservation, Food Regulations & Policy

Chlorinated Chicken: Public Health or Politics?

Trade talks between the U.S. and the U.K. have centered on a food safety practice for poultry products that positions science against good food policy. So, at what point should science govern our food supply?

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Safety, Food Trade

How COVID Affects Global GM Crops

COVID-19 has ramped up vaccine production using genetic modification technologies, but ag has seen the opposite effect on GM approval for crops. And no one's been hit harder than farmers in developing countries where significant progress came to a screeching halt.

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security

Learning to live with - or without - Ethanol Click for poll results!

What is ethanol, and why is it such a big deal? And should we act to preserve an established program important to farmers, rural America and environmentalists, or look for other ways that make better economic sense?

Food Regulations & Policy

Coronavirus and Our Food: Should We Be Scared?

As coronavirus COVID-19 spreads globally, how concerned should we be for our safety? And should we fear transmission of the virus via our food, especially among imported products?

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Safety

D2D's "Nice List" for the Holidays

Here's our "nice list" of helpful posts to keep you healthy, happy and in-the-know through the holidays and into the new year. Everything from delicious, low sugar recipes to global trade and alternative proteins, we've got you covered!

Food Regulations & Policy, Health, Soil and Crop Management

2 Trade Deals and Plant Food in a Pear Tree: Top News in 2019

2019 has been a wild ride! News about our food and how we get it – from dirt to dinner – have had us on the edge of our seats...

Animal Welfare and Health, Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy, Food Safety, Food Trade, Soil and Crop Management

5 Surprising Facts about Our Organic Foods

Why do we all have a different definition for organic foods? Is it really pesticide-free? Hormone-free? Grown locally? We took a look at how the USDA monitors organic products and what the term really means.

Food Regulations & Policy

How Blockchain is Disrupting the Ag Supply Chain

There is no doubt the ag industry needs a way to accurately and securely track and monitor its entire supply chain, and it needs to be scalable to handle the needs of one of the largest logistical operations in the world - a feat not for the faint of heart. Enter Blockchain.

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Technology

Back to Business: D2D News Recap

With summer winding down and kids returning to school, it’s time once again to catch up on some food & ag news from around the world. It’s been a busy time, with lots of news we at Dirt-to-Dinner found to be important, interesting, sometimes outrageous and occasionally funny. Here it is, in case you missed it...

Climate Change, Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security, Food Trade

Packing Social Concerns in the Lunchbox

As a scientist and mom of three young kids, back to school to Dr. Evanega means preparing her kids' lunches with their tastes - and global considerations - in mind.

Agricultural Technology, Food Regulations & Policy, Food Technology

Don’t Be Fooled by Food Labels

There are so many food labels today: Organic, Grassfed, No Hormones or Antibiotics added, Non-GMO, Certified Humane…the list goes on. D2D's here to help you understand them and to know when you’re being fooled!

Food Ingredients, Food Regulations & Policy

My Nightmare Meal: A Personal Reflection of Our Food System

Ag Secretary Perdue recently told us not to fear our food. Have we really come to the point that people must be told by a cabinet-level government official that their food supply is okay to eat?

Food Regulations & Policy, Food Safety

What's Happening in Ag?

Agricultural Technology, Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy

Rallying for our Flooded Farmers

The ongoing flooding in Nebraska and Iowa has pushed many over the edge, making the next harvest an impossibility for some. Many have lost their homes, their farms, and their livelihood. Here is how you can help.

Food Production, Food Regulations & Policy, Food Security

The Green New Deal: Where's the Beef?

The Green New Deal calls on the U.S. to take a leading role in reducing emissions through “economic transformation.” The references to farming and agriculture’s footprint have generated a lot of discussion among the farming community.