agriculture

Is Genetically Modified Food Really Safe For Us To Eat?

Many environmentalists still question whether all the genetically modified organisms in our food supply is good for us or the environment…

Does Monsanto’s Roundup cause cancer or not?

Dear EarthTalk: My neighbor uses Roundup in her yard routinely and tells me it’s harmless to people and pets, but I’ve heard that it is carcinogenic. Can you set the record straight? —Maise Alexander, New Hope, PA Monsanto’s Roundup herbicides contain three key components: the […]

What advantages do vertical farms have over traditional gardens and farms?

Dear EarthTalk: What advantages do so-called “vertical farms” have over traditional gardens and farms? —Sylvia Pleasant, Washington, DC When Dickson Despommier’s book The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century was first published, there were no vertical farms. Now, it’s an exciting movement in U.S. food production, providing pesticide-free leafy greens and herbs to […]

Is global warming making our crops less nutritious?

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that global warming is causing our crops to be less nutritious? — William Persson, Glendale, OH It’s difficult to say whether or not the climate change we are now experiencing is negatively impacting the nutritional quality of our food, but researchers warn that it may be only a matter of time. […]

Genetic Engineering in Our Food Supply

Dear EarthTalk: What are the potential health and environmental impacts of so many genetically engineered organisms in our food supply? — Frank C., Charlottesville, VA Proponents of genetic engineering (GE)—whereby DNA from unrelated species is combined to produce improved or novel organisms—insist that the benefits of increased crop yields and less agricultural waste outweigh the potential […]

Climate Change and Food’s Nutrition

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that global warming is causing our crops to contain less nutrition? —William Persson, Glendale, OH It is difficult to say whether or not the climate change we are now experiencing is negatively impacting the nutritional quality of our food, researchers warn that it may be only a matter of time. […]