Category: Food Activism

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Louise O. Fresco

Touch the Soil News #1021 (Feature photo – Aerial Drone – CCA SA 3.0 Unported) Most of us have never heard of Louise O. Fresco. She recently made news when she challenged why the world still measures agricultural productivity in terms of land and not water use. One of the most accomplished researchers and scientists from the nation of the Netherlands, Louise challenges the future of food as we know it. Her biography and experience are so extensive, it compels attention. So why is what Louise says important today? She explains that the foundations of food have eroded in ways unanticipated in the past and we are unprepared for what’s…

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Seeds of a Different Economic Order?

Touch the Soil News #537 Oklahoma State Senator Kevin Matthews has a problem. His small voter district( #11 in northern Tulsa, Oklahoma) is mostly a food desert. Many of his constituents have limited or no access to fresh produce and meats. Ditto for 32 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Kevin Matthews’ district #11 – an area of approximately 70,000 people – has financial and economic shortcomings – affordability and ready access to food have been compromised. Matthews is exploring the possibility of creating an urban farming system that bypasses the grocery stores that financially cannot come into the area. He has raised the topic in the State Senate and is now…

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NGOs – A Power Behind Keeping Food Companies Honest

Touch the Soil News #411 NGO means non-governmental organization. An NGO can be as simple as a one-person campaign such as Vani Hari (Food Babe). Vani has been successful in investigating and bringing food issue to the press forcing large corporations to make changes. Then there are the anti –GMO organizations that can bring pressure to label GMO foods. Recently, one of the world’s top agricultural commentators – Jonathan Kingsman – provided some insights at an Agrimoney Investment Forum. Talking to food manufacturers and large agricultural companies, Kingsman made some warnings: Top agriculture and food companies face a huge “brand” risk if they ignore growing campaigns for health, sustainability and…

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City Councils – Helping Food Activism

Touch the Soil News #290 Sixteen years ago Hurricane Floyd devastated portions of North Carolina, including the city of Greenville. Established in 1774, Greenville is part of a metro area of some 175,000 people. In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, FEMA purchased 32 acres of devastated land on which no permanent structures could be built. Eventually, the city of Greenville purchased the 32 acres with the no-building restrictions. Over the years, the land has remained vacant. A Greenville food activist group called Coalition for Healthier Eating recently sought the city to let them lease the land to create an urban agriculture enterprise for purposes of funneling the food to folks…

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