By Rachel Benbrook (Hygeia) and Dr. Michelle Perro (GMOScience.org) A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, doctors, and epidemiologists crafted a fascinating study that looked at how adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, impact the gut microbiome and stress response of pregnant women. The paper on their findings, published in 2019 in the peer-reviewed journal Brain, Behavior, and […]
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By: Brian Baker Brian is a scientist specializing in organic practices, standards, and regulations. He has analyzed the impacts of organic food and farming on the environment and human well-being for several decades. Demand for organic food in the US continues to grow, but the domestic supply has been unable to keep pace. Sales […]
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A new video features lush pastures, grubby farmers, and happy cows showing off the benefits of pasture-based animal agriculture. Produced by the Real Organic Project, a “a farmer-led movement created to distinguish soil-grown and pasture-raised products under USDA organic,” the video Raising Animals on Pasture highlights the animal welfare, nutritional, and environmental advantages of animals on pasture. […]
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Recent market reports suggest that American consumers are beginning to understand that organic milk is healthier for them and the environment. But first, a little background… In 2013 we worked on a paper that reported significantly higher concentrations of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids in organic vs. conventional milk. A follow up study in 2018 revealed […]
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“Forever chemical” contamination of groundwater is both extremely hazardous and difficult to clean up or otherwise mitigate. They don’t break down, and can continue to move through the hydrogeological system for years, often ending up in wells used for human and livestock drinking water, and crop irrigation. In a compelling, detailed story by Chris Clayton, […]
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The US and Canada closed the deal on an updated NAFTA trade agreement last week. One of the key concessions by Canada is opening their dairy sector to more imports of U.S. milk and dairy products, including some from cows given the genetically-engineered hormone rBST. Canadian dairy farmers and some consumers are less than thrilled. […]
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The oldest running monthly magazine in the US and one of the staples of popular science highlighted the declining nutritional value of American produce in a 2011 blog post called “Dirt Poor: Have Fruits and Vegetables Become Less Nutritious?” Here at Hygeia we are a part of this discussion, having recently created a new Nutrient […]
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Blog by Chuck Benbrook and Don Davis We started our research in 2011 comparing the fatty acid profile of whole milk from cows managed conventionally and on organic farms, and now in our new paper, on grassmilk farms. Our first paper in December 2013 describes how organic management improves the fatty acid levels and quality […]
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Thanks to Mark Keating for sharing these sage words on the ODairy listserv. “Many people blame science for our surplus of farm products. They say that science taught us how to grow two blades of grass where one grew before. I think the trouble is that is exactly what science did not teach us. Instead, […]
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Note — The following comments were submitted by Chuck Benbrook to the AMS/USDA today, in response to the Department’s proposal to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule. I am writing to urge the Department to quickly finalize the OLPP rule, rather than withdraw it. If the USDA continues on its proposed course of […]
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