Farmers in Ohio expressed strong support for crop insurance during a listening session with members of the House Agriculture Committee on Monday, but some producers wanted the policies to be means-tested or more focused on encouraging climate-smart practices.

Bill Myers, a farmer in northeast Ohio, urged Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., and Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, not to reduce premium subsidies, noting that farmers were dealing with increased input costs and rising interest rates.

He said the disaster programs that predated the current crop insurance system failed to provide aid when farmers needed it most.

"I would suggest you look really strongly at not lowering the amount of the subsidy because its going to be tough on ag at this time with rising inputs, fuel, everything else that's happened to us, he said.

He added, Let's be proactive and make sure that we don't create a problem or pull the rug out from the producer at the time we can't afford it.

Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan told the lawmakers the program needed to be reformed to address climate change.

I think we probably need to reconfigure crop insurance in a way that rewards farmers for building soil health," Logan said. "That is a way that we can both improve the overall resilience of agriculture and also save money on the crop insurance payments."

He didnt elaborate on that idea; the witnesses were only allowed to address the lawmakers for a couple of minutes.

Eli Dean, an organic grower whose family has a 750-acre operation near Sandusky, said the crop insurance program ensures that producers are compensated quickly after a disaster, but he suggested reducing the amount of benefits going to very large operations.

Congress should put some limits, caps, in place so that the largest farms in the country don't keep getting larger, while the smallest and the barely midsize ones like ours can't compete, Dean said.

But Paul Herringshaw, a member of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, said a top priority for Ohio farmers is protecting the current insurance system, which he said had been attacked from both the left and the right. He said lawmakers should look at ways to enhance the program both in terms of effectiveness and cost.

Herringshaw, who farms near Bowling Green, also called for raising the reference price for wheat, saying the current price is not aligned with the current cost of production.

According to a recent analysis by economists at The Ohio State University and University off Illinois, the 2022 cost of producing wheat far exceeds the projected reference prices in the Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage programs because market increases for wheat lagged well behind price rises for corn and soybeans. The 2024 PLC reference is estimated to remain at $5.50, the statutory minimum, while the ARC price is estimated at $5.39 a bushel.

Some producers also pressed the lawmakers to consider the needs of farmers who raise fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops.

Kristy Buskirk, who grows organic produce and cut flowers near Tiffin, said local facilities for flash freezing were needed to make it easier to market food locally.

We want increased investments in local and regional food systems, she said.

Vegetable grower Bob Jones of Huron, Ohio, noted that specialty crops receive a relatively small percentage of the funding in the farm bill thats directed toward agriculture; the vast majority of funding goes toward the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and farm commodity spending is largely directed toward row crops and dairy producers.

We get the tick on the tail at the end of the dog, Jones said of specialty crop growers.

The sugar program also got some attention. Kirk Vashaw, CEO of Spangler Candy Co. in Bryan, Ohio,which makes a number of popular candies and is the only manufacturer of candy canes in the United States, appealed to the lawmakers to overhaul the sugar program to lower the price of the commodity.

Vashaw said the company has 40 jobs in Ohio and would like to bring back 200 more that are located at a manufacturing plant in Mexico. To do that, the company need ssts be able to buy sugar in the United States at free-market prices, he said.

The USDA supports domestic sugar prices by regulating sugar imports.

For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.

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Lawmakers hear mixed messages on crop insurance in Ohio - Agri-Pulse

After they were introduced in the mid-1990s, GMO crops were met with a buzzsaw of regulations and skepticism because they involved the transfer of genes between species, thus giving rise to concerns of potential health hazards to humans and animals and harm to the environment. These concerns were never given validity by any scientific evidence.

There has never been one reported instance of harm caused to humans by eating GMO foods. Nevertheless, opponents of GMOs were able to manufacture concerns and distrust which slowed their acceptance among the public. In addition, the heavy hand of regulation that most countries imposed on GMOs boosted the cost of research and development and deterred their cultivation. As a result, GMOs were largely developed by large agri-business multinationals for a few major crops such as corn, sugar beets and soybeans with Bayer (which owns Monsanto), Corteva (formed via the merger of the agribusiness divisions of Dow and Dupont) and Syngenta (a Swiss company that was purchased in 2015 by China National Chemical Corporation) dominating the GMO seed market. This has led to charges that GMOs are controlled by an oligarchy of giant multinationals who have developed biotechnology crops that are not in the interest of consumers but instead are in the interest of large farmers.

New Plant Breeding Technologies, particularly gene-editing tools such as CRISPR, are generally coming under less government scrutiny and regulation because they are perceived as being less potentially dangerous since the changes that occur mimic mutations that could happen naturally. Also, the changes are not a product of the transference of DNA between species which sparked unwarranted concerns that GMOs were an out of control science experiment that could create unintended consequences.

Reduced regulation and cost of entry has resulted in a plethora of new companies entering the gene-editing crop field. They are involved in researching and developing new and innovative foods such as:

This lighter touch of government regulation for gene-editing is occurring at a time when GMOs are becoming more acceptable and being adopted by a growing list of developing countries. Perhaps the most important recent development was the decision by China to approve new regulations to set out a clear path for the approval of GMO crops.

Since 1997, China has commercialized six GMO products; cotton, tomato, sweet pepper, petunia, poplar, and papaya, but only papaya and cotton are currently in commercial production.

The decision to accelerate the commercialization of GMOs was prompted by the realization that hesitancy towards GMOs was stifling the seed industry, the need to reduce dependency on foreign imports of food, particularly corn and soybeans, which are used extensively as animal feed, and the need to increase food production to reflect the growing affluence of the population. Under the new regulations, if a GM trait has been approved as safe by the Agriculture Ministry, it only requires a one-year production trial to verify its safety. Production of GMO corn is expected to begin sometime in 2023.

On January 25, the Chinese government issued draft rules that reduced regulations for gene-edited crops. The new rules stipulate that once gene-edited crops have completed pilot trials, a production certificate can be applied for. As a result, gene-edited crops could take only a year or two to get formal approval. Although no gene-edited crops have been commercialized, Chinese scientists have conducted extensive research in the field, and Chinas research institutes have published more research reports on gene-edited crops than any other country.

Despite a well-funded campaign by anti-GMO and anti-GE advocates to spread dis-information more and more nations, particularly developing countries, are adopting GE crops:

In 2021, Nigeria started growing GMO insect resistant cowpeas and is currently conducting confined field trials for GM insect-resistant and drought-tolerant corn, bio-fortified Sorghum, Virca Plus Cassava (resistant to Brown Streak Disease) and Nitrogen-and Water-Use Efficient and Salt Tolerant rice.

Kenya has authorized the approval of field performance trials for a disease resistant cassava and will begin growing GMO corn this year. Ghana is likely to follow Nigeria and approve the growing of GMO cowpeas in 2022. Two required regulatory field trials have been successfully concluded in Ghana for Nitrogen Use Efficient Rice.

The USDA Biotechnology Report for Indonesia for December, 2021, noted, to date, 20 GE corn, 14 GE soybean, three GE sugarcane, one GE potato, four GE canola, and five GE cotton varieties have undergone risk assessment for either food, feed, or environmental safety. Of these, a GE sugar cane variety, has undergone all three assessments. The GE sugar cane developed by state-owned PT Perkebunan Nusantara XI, is the first GE crop to meet all existing regulatory requirements for public release. A GE blight resistant potato is expected to be commercialized by 2025.

In 2021, the Philippines approved the cultivation of golden rice, which enhances the vitamin A content of the crop, thus helping to reduce the health problems associated by an insufficient amount of Vitamin A in the diet. Bangladesh is expected to follow the Philippines and approve the growing of golden rice in the near future. In addition, it is conducting research and field trials for disease resistant potatoes, tomatoes and wheat and insect resistant cotton (Bt).

On March 24, 2021, Vietnam issued a Master Plan outlining the development of agricultural biotechnology to 2030. According to the USDA biotechnology report for Vietnam, the plan calls for the facilitation of research and application and of biotechnology in a group of key agricultural products to increase quality and productivity, adapt with climate change, and resist pests and disease; increase investment in local agricultural biotechnology industries; and upgrade capacities in plant breeding technologies, gene technologies, and animal and plant cell technologies. The plan also sets objectives in applying gene technologies, plant cell technologies and new technologies to create new varieties with high-quality, high-yield, climate-resilient and disease-resistant traits for key crops.

With some exceptions, the countries that cultivate GMOs have adopted a lighter brush of regulations for gene-edited crops while those that do not grow GMOs have shut the door on gene-edited crops.

The largest grower of GMOs is the United States which accounted for 37.6% of all acreage in 2019. In March of 2018, the USDA issued a statement that said, Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques as long as they are not plant pests or developed using plant pests. This includes a set of new techniques that are increasingly being used by plant breeders to produce new plant varieties that are indistinguishable from those developed through traditional breeding methods. The newest of these methods, such as genome editing, expand traditional plant breeding tools because they can introduce new plant traits more quickly and precisely, potentially saving years or even decades in bringing needed new varieties to farmers.

USDA Secretary Perdue, said Plant breeding innovation holds enormous promise for helping protect crops against drought and diseases while increasing nutritional value and eliminating allergens.

Brazil, the second largest grower of GMOs, Argentina, the third largest and Paraguay, the sixth largest have adopted a policy in which gene-edited crops and food are regulated as conventional plants unless they contain foreign DNA.

Canada is the fourth largest grower of GMO crops. On May 18, Health Canada issued new guidelines regarded genetically engineered crops which essentially deregulate them. Under the new regulation regime Health Canada will no longer regulate or conduct safety assessments for foods produced from genetically edited plants unless they contain foreign DNA. With regards to concerns about the possible health and environmental impact of gene-edited crops, Health Canada said, Theres a consensus that the use of gene editing technologies doesnt present any unique safety concerns compared to other more conventional methods of plant breeding. As such, Health Canada should regulate gene-edited products of plant breeding in the same manner as all other products of plant breeding. The new regulations will mean that crops produced via gene-editing technologies will be considered to be safe and will not require a pre-market safety assessment. GMO crops however will still require pre-market approval.

Commenting on the decision, Rick White, chair of the Canada Grains Council, said, This will open up the very real possibility of dramatic improvements for small- and large-acre crops alike, from productivity improvements to new solutions for emerging pest pressures to advances in food and fuel crops that will benefit the entire value chain including consumers.

India is the fifth largest growing of GMO crops all of which are Bt cotton. There have been attempts to widen the scope of GMO crop production by growing GMO mustardand Bt brinjal but a strong and vocal anti-GMO movement in India has made it impossible to sanction the cultivation of additional GMO crops. A draft proposal that would regulate gene-editing crops similar to conventionally bred crops was pending with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee for over two years before being largely approved by the government at the end of March. Under the terms of the new regulations, genome edited plants or organisms that do not contain any foreign DNA will not be subjected to the same biosafety standards as genetically modified crops and they will no longer be regulated by the Genetic Engineered Appraisal Committee.

Public Research laboratories in India are conducting gene-editing research to develop nutritionally improved oil seeds, drought tolerant rice and corn, a beta-carotene banana, high oleic and low linoleic acid ground nuts, blast-resistant rice, high yielding rice that is nitrogen and water use efficient and anthracnose (a fungal disease) resistant pepper.

China, the seventh largest growing of GMO crops, has, as indicated, recently taken measures to relax regulations of GMOs and gene-edited crops to encourage their development.

South Africa is the eight largest grower of GMO crops. It however has decided to regulate gene-edited crops as if they were GMOs which is likely to slow down their development.

Expectations on the part of scientists that the EU would adopt a more friendly attitude towards gene-edited crops were dashed by a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2018 that placed them under the same harsh regulatory procedures that have stifled the development of GMO crops. Many scientists were confounded by the ruling as it was contrary to the consensus of the scientific community that gene-editing is a safe and effective means of altering the DNA of a plant and thus did not require heavy handed regulation. The ECJ decision also went against the growing trend in the world of applying the same guidelines and standards to gene-edited crops that apply to conventionally grown crops.

Anti-GE organizations, which are highly influential in the EU, strongly applauded the decision. Greenpeace EUs food policy director, Franziska Achterberg, said

the courts ruling had prioritized the protection of human health and the environment. Releasing these new GMOs into the environment without proper safety measures is illegal and irresponsible, particularly given that gene-editing can lead to unintended side effects. The European commission and European governments must now ensure that all new GMOs are fully tested and labelled, and that any field trials are brought under GMO rules.

Recognizing the potential benefits of gene-editing for crops, the EU has recently tried to leave open the possibility of revisiting in the future a more favorable ruling for gene-edited crops. A May 2021 EU Commission report for example, recommended updating EU legislation to allow the use of gene-editing. The report noted that CRISPR can help make food production more sustainable, create plants that are resistant to diseases and hasher environmental conditions that may result from climate change and that do not require pesticides and fungicides.

From a practical standpoint however, it will be very difficult to change the regulation approval regime for gene-edited crops for a number of reasons.

In their party platform for the 2021 elections, the Green Party said, Our guiding principle is further developing ecological agriculture with its principles of animal justice, freedom from genetic engineering and freedom from chemical-synthetic pesticideswe want to advance the breeding of robust varieties and research into organic seeds, as well as strengthen research into alternative approaches that rely on traditional and organic breeding methods. With respect to old and new genetic engineering methods, the Greens pledged to adhere to a strict authorization procedure and the precautionary principle anchored in European law and called for continued binding labelling that protects GMO-free production and consumers freedom of choice. Accordingly, risk and detection research need to be strengthened.

The Social Democrats, who became the largest political party in Parliament in the 2021 election, ran on a platform of, We will continue to say no to genetically modified plants, while the Left party, which won 9.6% of the vote, adopted a platform that was anti-genetic engineering calling for a ban on the cultivation, trade and import of GMOs.

Antipathy to GE for crops is embedded in the German bureaucracy and as such will be very difficult to dislodge. The Federal Office for Nature Conservation, which is a division of the Environment Ministry, for example funds the Expert Office of Genetic Engineering and Environment, which is dominated by people who are opposed to genetic engineering and sympathetic to anti-GMO NGOS such as Testbiotech, Genethisches Netzwerk and Save our Seeds.

Testbiotech, one of the most influential anti-GE organizations in Germany, is opposed to gene-editing. A report paper put out by the group said,

The technical potential of New GE can be used to achieve profound changes in the biological characteristics of organisms without introducing any additional DNA sequences. These changes can exceed the range of characteristics developed gradually through evolution or previous breeding methods. It is obvious that specific risks are connected to these organismsRisks associated with the release or usage of the genetically engineered organisms for food production need to be thoroughly examined in every case. If strict regulation of New GE is not in place, the uncontrolled release of large numbers of organisms with characteristics not gradually developed through evolution can be expected within a short period of time. This would result in the substantial likelihood of damage to ecosystems, agriculture, forestry and food production. Without sufficient regulation of New GE, Testbiotech warns that severe damage to biological diversity is likely; risks to food production may be introduced and accumulate unnoticed; access to data needed for risk assessment by independent experts will not be made available; no measures can be taken against the uncontrolled spread of the organisms in the environment; no data will be available to track and trace the New GE organisms and products derived thereof; agriculture and food production relying on GE free sources can no longer be protected.

As Germany is the largest economy and the most populous nation in the EU, its opposition would make any change in the regulations of gene-editing virtually impossible.

Among the specific targets for 2030 are reducing the use of chemical pesticides by 50%, lowering fertilizer use by 20% and increasing the share of agricultural land devoted to organic farming to at least 25%. According to the farm to fork strategy report,

There is an urgent need to reduce dependency on pesticides and antimicrobials, reduce excess fertilization, increase organic farming, improve animal welfare, and reverse biodiversity loss.

It should be noted that the F2F strategy is not a specific piece of legislation but instead is an outline for a future food system. As a result, the strategy report was not accompanied by an environmental or economic impact statement nor was there any public consultation. Although the European Parliament did vote decisively in favor of the strategy in October 2021 with a majority of 452 of the 699 members, the vote had no legislative value.

By 2023, the European Commission is expected to present a proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems that will set common definitions and requirements for all actors in the food system. There are 37 different measures in the strategy that range from avoiding marketing campaigns advertising meat at very low prices, supporting the reduced dependence on long-haul transportation to deliver food, developing an integrated nutrient management action plan to address nutrient pollution at the source and increase the sustainability of the livestock sector.

As can be expected, the F2F strategy was warmly welcomed by the organic food industry. The Organic Processing and Trade Association European President, Stefan Hipp, said,

We all know that we have to enhance our relationship with nature to fight climate change and restore biodiversity, quality of water and soil fertility. The organic sector has been fighting for these purposes for many years. I think for all pioneers in organic farming, processing and trading this Farm to Fork strategy is a recognition of the contribution they bring to the tables and plates across Europe.

Many of the assessments of the F2F have been highly critical because of concerns it would lead to reduced food production and drive-up food costs to consumers. Tim Cullinan, the President of the Irish Farmers Association, said,

the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies are unrealistic and will make European farming uncompetitiveIt is not credible for the EU to drive up production costs for European farmers while at the same time looking for low food prices. They want food produced to organic standards, but available at conventional prices.

The USDA performed a number of simulations on the impact of the F2F strategy and concluded, Under all these scenarios, we found that the proposed input reductions affect EU farmers by reducing their agricultural production by 7 to 12 percent and diminishing their competitiveness in both domestic and export markets. Moreover, we found that adoption of these strategies would have impacts that stretch beyond the EU, driving up worldwide food pricesWe estimate that the higher food prices under these scenarios would increase the number of food-insecure people in the worlds most vulnerable regions.

An analysis of F2F by Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, noted that,

According to the assessment at macro level, the realization of the objectives of the F2F strategies will result in a decrease of the produced volumes per crop in the entire EU on average ranging from 10 to 20%. The production volume can decline up to 30% for some crops such as applesPrices of products such as wine, olives and hops will increase. By consequence, international trade will change significantly: EU exports were found to decline and EU imports will increase.

Potentially, the EUs F2F policy and its opposition to genetic engineering of food threatens to create a chasm of conflict between those countries, led by the US, who want to utilize new methods of biotechnology to grow food and those, mainly the EU, who do not. The US in this regard is determined not to allow the EU to set global agricultural standards which conflict with those of the US and not to allow F2F to become a barrier hindering US agricultural exports to the EU.

To counter F2F and the EUs anti GE stance, the US created the Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation which includes Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Liberia, Mauritania, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of North Macedonia, Turkey, United States and Vietnam.

According to the Declaration of Support statement, We recognize that given tightening natural resource constraints, raising the productivity of existing natural resourcesis the only viable option to meet food security needs of current and future generations. Only through sustainable productivity growth can we meet the worlds growing nutrition needs without bankrupting farmers, consumers, and nature.

An article in Food Policy by Robert Paarlberg highlighted some of the difficulties that the EU will face in implementing its F2F policy. It said,

With its new Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, the EU plans to expand organic farming, an approach that rules out both synthetic chemicals and modern biotechnology, and it intends to use trade and assistance policies to pursue this strategy not just at home but also through Green Alliances abroad. The United States, by contrast, is emphasizing agricultural innovations based on the latest scienceincluding gene-editingand is now organizing with other countries a Coalition for Productivity Growth as a counter to European influence. Environmentalists in Europe believe their new vision is green, but on closer inspection it is not. If organic farming scaled up to replace 25 percent of conventional farming in Europe, much more land would have to be converted to food production, with damaging results for wildlife habitat and the climate. In its earlier rejection of GMOs, Europe caused environmental harm by foregoing options to cut insecticide use and adopt no-till practices. Europes regulatory example also discouraged the adoption of GMO food crops around the world. Europe is now inviting similar harms by classifying and regulating gene-edited crops as GMOs, but this most recent aversion to agricultural science is less likely to enjoy global influence.

The EU F2F policy may ultimately be derailed by the war in Ukraine which has made many of its goals impractical in the face of soaring prices for barley, corn, sunflower seeds and oil, wheat and fertilizers, which both Ukraine and Russia are major producers of. The EU obtains half of its corn from Ukraine, and a third of its fertilizers from Russia.

An article in the Financial Times in March noted,

The EU is reviewing the blocs sustainable food strategyBrussels agreed two years ago to reform its farm practices as part of a drive to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050. But Russias invasion of Ukraine has seen a drop in grain and fertilizer exports from those countries and raised concerns over food security. The blocs agriculture ministers meetto discuss both short-term measures to alleviate the risk of shortages and price rises and possible changes to its Farm to Fork sustainable food strategy. There is a desire to make sure that the objectives we have in our public policy are consistent with the need for food security...and sovereignty, said an EU diplomat. French president Emmanuel Macron said the sustainable food strategy was based on a pre-Ukraine war world and should be reviewed Copa-Cogeca, the EU farmers lobby group, has sent a list of demands to Janusz Wojciechowski, the European agriculture commissioner. A paradigm shift is needed...starting with the objectives, targets and timeline of the Farm to Fork strategyIt wants to increase fertilizer imports, pesticide use and cultivation of crops for animal feed while calling for opt-outs from ecological schemes and climate-linked animal welfare standards. Pekka Pesonen, secretary-general of Copa-Cogeca, said the best way to reduce carbon emissions was to increase productivity. He wants new technologies permitted that would allow gene editing to improve the output of animals and plants.

In the long-term, the EU position against genetic engineering is unsustainable because it will place European farmers at a severe disadvantage to farmers in other countries who will have the tools to create drought, disease, browning, disease and insect resistance and more nutritious and tastier crops. These crops will be far superior to the ones grown in the EU. Disease resistant GE crops for example will result in a huge cost savings in terms of waste and spoilage and substantially less fungicide use.

Paradoxically in this regard, Dutch and Irish scientists have created a cisgenesis potato resistant to late blight disease. It is unlikely though EU farmers will ever be able to cultivate the potato if the prevailing regulatory environment that strangles research and development of GE crop persists. They will also not be able to take advantage of research that is likely to lead to wheat resistant to wheat rust, tomatoes resistant to powdery mildew, apples resistant to fire blight and grapes resistant to powdery mildew.

An article in Trends in Plant Science, outlined the benefits that adopting GMO crops could bring to Europe. It said,

Genetically modified (GM) crops can help reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition to possible decreases in production emissions, GM yield gains also mitigate land-use change and related emissions. Wider adoption of already-existing GM crops in Europe could result in a reduction equivalent to 7.5% of the total agricultural GHG emissions of Europe. The public debate about GM crops and new genomic breeding technologies remains contentious, especially in Europe. Critics focus primarily on hypothetical risks, while ignoring actual and potential benefits. Various reviews of the scientific literature show that the adoption of GM crops leads to economic, environmental, and health benefits through higher crop yields, higher farm profits, and, in some cases, lower chemical pesticide use. A few studies also show that certain GM crop applications help reduce GHG emissions and support carbon sequestration in the soil by facilitating reduced tillage farmingAs global demand for food production continues to grow, crop yield increases can reduce the need to add new land into production, thus preventing additional CO2 emissions from land-use change.

Garlich von Essen, the Secretary-General of the European Seed Association, has warned that if the EU does not alter its stance on genetic engineering of crops, EU based crop breeding companies will be compelled to relocate their advanced breeding programs to more friendlier countries in order to remain at the cutting edge of technology, attract the best breeders and develop the advanced plant varieties we all want to see. He also said farmers in the EU expect

the EU Commission to give them access to the same innovative tools as their competitors in other parts of the worldThe pressure on the EU will be growing as more and more countries around the world take a different approach and will probably see the EUs approach as a protectionist one that blocks market access and trade.

By continuing to reject GE technology, the EU will make it more difficult for the EU to reach its farm sustainable goals and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions as genetic engineering is an important tool in reaching those goals because disease resistant crops use much less fungicides, insect resistant crops use much less insecticides, crops that create their own nitrogen require much less fertilizers, drought resistant crops can survive warmer temperatures and browning resistant crops will cause much less waste. Genetic engineering will provide the tools to achieve many of the objectives the EU desires in agriculture but foregoing biotechnology will make it much more difficult to attain these goals.

On September 29, 2021, the UK government, relaxed regulations regarding research and development of gene-edited crops thereby freeing scientists from the straightjacket of restrictions and red tape that had stifled such research when the country was a member of the EU. In announcing the move, Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said,

Our departure from the EU has given us the opportunity to adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the way that we do things like the regulation of organisms produced by genetic technologies such as gene editing.

The government indicated that for now, GMO regulations will continue to apply where DNA from one species is transferred to another but such regulations will be reviewed more broadly in the future. It also indicated that it will strive to pass legislation in 2022 that will regulate gene-edited crops on the same basis as crops developed via traditional breeding methods, thereby allowing their commercialization.

As part of the move to deregulate crop biotechnology, effective the end of 2021, researchers who want to conduct field trials of gene-edited crops will no longer have to submit a risk assessment. This will reduce the costs of the trials. They still though will need to register their plans with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The relaxation of rules on gene-edited crops only applies to England while Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland will continue to maintain tight controls.

The scientific community warmly welcomed the change in regulations. Angela Karp, director and CEO of Rothamsted Research, which has conducted crop gene-editing research, applauded the move saying,

We very much welcome this important announcement that regulation of gene-edited crops for research and development will now be approached in an appropriate, evidence-based manner.

Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Gideon Henderson, said:

Gene editing is a powerful tool that will help us make plant breeding more efficient and precise by mimicking natural processes that currently take many years to complete. With the new rules now formally in place, scientists will be able to assess new crops in real-world conditions more easily. This will increase our ability to harness the potential of gene-editing to efficiently help grow plants that are more nutritious, beneficial to the environment, more resilient to climate change, and resistant to disease and pests.

Professor Nick Talbot, the executive director of the Sainsbury Laboratory, in Norwich, said,

We can achieve the outcomes of plant breeding which has been so successful in controlling diseases and improving yields but in a much more precise manner to produce nutritious crops requiring much lower fertilizer inputs and with greater resilience. We need innovation to help us escape from the chemical treadmill of current agriculture. In the face of the climate emergency, doing nothing is no longer an option.

As expected, opponents of crop genetic engineering and the organic industry denounced the government action. Liz ONeill, director of GM Freeze, said,

Genetic engineering whatever you choose to call it needs to be properly regulated. The government wants to swap the safety net of proper public protections for a hi-tech free-for-all but our food, our farms and the natural environment deserve better.

Joanna Lewis, the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Soil Association, said

gene editing was the wrong approach and the government should instead focus on helping farmers become more sustainable. What would help is a reversal of the lack of investment in agro-ecological, nature-friendly methods and farmer-led technology.

Dr Helen Wallace, of Genewatch, described the changes as a

weakening of standards meant to protect human health and the environmentPeople wont be fooled. GM crops are GM crops. Whether they are made with new or old techniques, they can lead to unintended consequences.

Although there has been no commercialization of gene-edited or GMO crops in the UK because of stifling EU regulations, UK scientists have conducted a great deal of research on genetically engineered plants which should expedite their commercialization when regulations and guidelines are further relaxed. Rothamsted Research, the Sainsbury Laboratory and the John Innes Centre have been in the forefront of that research.

Rothamsted Research is conducting field testing of gene-edited wheat that has a lower content of Asparagine, which can be converted to acrylamide, a toxin, when flour prepared from the grain is used to make food. Acrylamide is regarded as a probable cancer-causing agent. Reduced asparagine concentration in wheat grain could therefore lower the exposure of consumers to acrylamide, thus reducing the risk of cancer.

In conjunction with Yield 10 Bioscience of the US, Scientists at the Rothamsted Institute,have been able to genetically modify Camelina sativa, a relative of oil seed rape, to produce omega-3 which is normally sourced from fish oil. Field trials indicate the fish oil contains high levels of EPA and DHA, both of which are important ingredients of fish oils. They are highly beneficial to human health and are linked to improvements in blood lipid levels, reduced tendency for thrombosis, blood pressure and heart level improvements, improved vascular functions and helps with eye and joint health and infant development.

Scientists at the John Innes Centre have identified via gene-editing technology a gene in wheat that is responsible for 50% of the yield of the crop. This opens up the possibility of breeding high yield wheat varieties. In addition, gene-editing could introduce other variable traits to wheat such as resilience and disease resistance.

Gene-editing research on glucosinolate levels is being conducted on cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and kale at the John Innes Centre. Glucosinolates are believed to have health promoting effects, including anti-carcinogenic properties, promoting improved glucose control and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Increasing the levels glucosinolates via gene-editing techniques could as a result lead to the cultivation of more healthy vegetables.

In 2020, scientists at the John Innes Center were able to confer resistance to a deadly fungal disease by transferring genes from wheat into barley. Dr. Asyrak Hatta, said,

We have shown that wheat stem rust resistance genes work in barley which is something that has not been achieved by wide crosses between grass relatives. Given that we know that wheat resistance genes work in barley it is likely that barley resistance will also work in wheatThis might therefore expand the reservoir of resistance genes available to wheat for engineering resistance to its major diseases.

The Sainsbury Laboratory is conducting field trial of a cisgenic potato that is resistant to blight. The potato was developed by inserting a gene from a wild potato into the Maris Piers potato variety.

Researchers at the University of York have partnered with the Universidad Austral de Chile to genetically modify wheat plants by increasing the amount of a protein that control the growth rate thus producing grains that are up to 12% larger than conventional varieties.

Tropic Biosciences is a Norwich based company that develops high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops which promote cultivation efficiencies, enhance consumer health, and improve sustainable environmental practices, using cutting edge genetic-editing technologies.

On November 4, 2021, the company received confirmation from the USDA that its gene-edited potato with reduced browning characteristics were determined to be exempt from regulations. This was the first regulatory approval of a crop developed by the company using its proprietary Gene-Editing Induced Gene Silencing technology. This technology is being utilized to develop valuable traits in coffee and rice and is being used to develop bananas that are resistant to Panama Disease.

While the measures taken by the British government to deregulate gene-editing are encouraging, full deregulation that will allow the commercialization of gene-edited crops faces several hurdles. First, there will be ferocious opposition from the anti-GE lobby and the organic food industry. Despite the scientific evidence indicating genetically engineered foods are safe for humans and animals and the environment, the forces against genetic engineering have learned the lesson that it is easier to scare people than to reassure them.

In response to the governments announcement of changes in the law for field trials for gene-edited crops, Pat Thomas, Director of Beyond GM said,

Theres a lot of techno optimism about what kind of gene-edited foods might materialize one day, eventually, in the fullness of timeThe reality is that after 35 years of use genetically engineered crops have not delivered much in terms of real value and they have largely been a distraction from more meaningful discussions about what kind of food system we want and need to transition toThere are no clear scientific criteria for deregulation and no plan to develop social, ethical or values-based criteria that will enrich and guide the approval process for genetically engineered plants.

Second, the issue of labelling gene-edited crops is likely to prove to be contentious. At present all foods that contain GMOs must be clearly labeled. Beyond GM and Slow Food have been lobbying supermarkets to refuse to sell unlabeled gene-edited food.

Third, although England is taking the lead on deregulating gene-edited crops, it does not necessarily mean that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow. With regard to Scotland, the ruling Scottish National Party has its eyes on another independence referendum and if it is successful its objective would be to join the EU. As a result, even though many in the scientific community are urging the Scottish government to follow England and deregulate gene-editing, this is unlikely to happen because if Scotland gains its independence it will have to follow EU regulations if it wants to become a member.

It may well ultimately be the case that each of the four nations comprising the UK will have a different regulatory regime. This will impose additional costs for food producers in terms of sale, transportation and tracing of food within the UK.

Fourth, there are fears in the farming community that by adopting gene-editing technology they could lose access to the EU market because of its antipathy to the technology.

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How and why gene editing faces fewer global regulations than GMOs - Genetic Literacy Project

In recent years, the clean living trend that has its roots in the organic food movement has made clean a potent buzzword for an ever-increasing number of things we put in or near our bodies. First, there were clean beauty products, then clean cleaning products, and now clean weed. Its about to be everywhere in the Golden State and its a lot more than a Goop-ification-of-ganja marketing ploy.

So what, exactly, is clean weed? Why should you care about what chemicals may be in your pot products as long as they test below state-mandated levels? And finally, if you decide to board the chemical-free cannabis train, how do you find it on your local dispensary shelf? (Hint: Its not going to be labeled clean weed.)

If the whole notion of clean weed has you scratching your head and muttering, Dude, it comes from a plant, so how much cleaner can it be, think of it like fruit and vegetables grown with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides versus those grown organically. And, just as organically grown and nonorganically grown produce can sit side by side in your local grocery store, cannabis grown with or without the help of chemicals is legally sold across California as long as it tests below state-mandated levels for a range of heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins and the like that might find their way into a living plant. Products with too high a level to be safe never make it to legal dispensary shelves.

Things get a little (OK, a lot) more complicated when you move into the world of cannabis concentrates (most popularly the viscous honey-like oils used in vaporizer cartridges) because the most common and efficient methods of separating the high-producing THC from the plant material use a chemical solvent often butane, sometimes carbon dioxide or ethanol that is later removed. When pressure is applied to the result, the gooey end product is called resin. As with cannabis flower, there are state-mandated limits to how much of these residual solvents can be in a product. (The limit for butane is 5,000 parts per million, for example.)

This process also can be accomplished without using any chemicals at all; solventless extraction uses a combination of mechanical agitation and changes in temperature to separate the plant from the party-starter. When pressure is applied, it becomes a gooey concentrate called rosin (as contrasted with resin above see what I mean by complicated?). Although solventless extraction has been around for a very long time (hash, a precursor to todays concentrates, has a history that stretches back thousands of years), it has enjoyed a surge of popularity much more recently.

Well get to why that is in a minute, but first lets address the elephant in the room (well, on the page, anyway): Is this so-called clean weed better than my run-of-the-mill (and apparently dirty) weed?

If these cannabis products in whole flower or concentrate form pass state-mandated testing regardless of what chemicals have been used along the way, then whats the big deal? The answer here is best understood by, once again, harking back to the roots of the clean-everything movement organic food, said Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a Boston-based physician, 25-year medical cannabis specialist and board member of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation.

He used the analogy of choosing organic fruit over nonorganic at the supermarket. The regular piece of fruit has a little bit of pesticide on it but at a level where if it gets through, the government says, This is not going to harm you, Grinspoon said. I havent seen any studies that show youre less likely to get cancer if you eat organic vegetables, but everybody thinks intuitively theyre healthier. And everybody will pay more for [them], and I think its sort of the same situation with weed.

In his opinion, clean weed cannabis products made without the use of such chemicals is hypothetically safer. But is it really safer? he added. Its never been proven that [youll] have less cancer, live longer, have fewer lung problems.

The seeds of todays clean-weed boom were sown back in 2019, when, just as Californias recreational cannabis market was entering its second year, a lung-injuring vaporizer crisis made just about anyone who vaped or manufactured anything that could be vaped take a good, hard look at what went into vaporizer cartridges.

Jetty Extracts introduced its solventless vape cartridge to market in December 2020, and it has since become the companys fastest-growing category, says co-founder and Chief Executive Ron Gershoni.

(Jetty Extracts)

That included the folks at Oakland-based Jetty Extracts, which had been in the (solvent-based) cannabis extraction business for nine years.

Wed been experimenting with solventless since 2016, said Jettys co-founder and Chief Executive Ron Gershoni. Mostly very small-scale stuff. But, around 2019, we made a very concerted effort that this was where the market was going and we wanted to be a big player in solventless.

Gershoni cited growing consumer preference for cleaner products generally and the vape crisis specifically as some of the driving factors, invoking a comparison to opting for organic produce in the supermarket. Everyone especially in California wants things that are cleaner, he said. Not just the finished product but the process itself. And there is no question that using solventless extraction is a cleaner process because you are not touching any solvent.

Nathan Cozzolino, co-founder of Rose Los Angeles, which exclusively uses flower rosin in its THC-infused, Turkish delight-style edibles, noticed a similar shift in consumer awareness in the years following his brands 2018 launch.

Edibles brand Rose Los Angeles, which launched in 2018, uses flower rosin, a cannabis concentrate made without the use of chemical solvents.

(Rose Los Angeles )

When we started, there was nobody except one other brand making solventless edibles, he said. And at the time people were like, Flower rosin is a ridiculous extract to use. Its not scalable. Youre wasting smokable flower. Its really expensive. ... And Id say pretty much 18 to 24 months later, almost every company in the space had transitioned at least some of their product line to [include] a solventless offering.

Before 2020, Cozzolino said, the term rosin was mostly a niche cannabis-industry buzzword. And the consumer definitely didnt know what it meant, he said.

A California company that stepped into the space more recently is San Francisco-based Pax. In February, after half a dozen years of putting other brands concentrated (and solvent-based) cannabis oil in its plug-and-puff Pax Era vape pods, Pax launched a line of fresh-pressed live rosin pods with natural diamonds that builds on its clean-weed pedigree. (Live means that the rosin was extracted from a freshly frozen plant, while diamonds are a crystalline form of concentrated THC.) The back of each package reads 100% cannabis, nothing added.

That move, said Pax Chief Operating Officer Steven Jung, was born out of consumer awareness. What we found through our research ... [is that consumers] may not have the exact concepts down, but when its presented to them, they very clearly will state: I want the cleanest, safest, highest-quality product I can get my hands on.

Pax, a company that made its name in the dry-herb vaporizer space, went big on clean weed with the launch of its fresh-pressed live rosin vaporizer cartridges, which hit the market in February 2022.

(Pax)

Collin Palmer, Paxs head of formulations (the guy who helped figure out how to get the live rosin into vapable form), added that the clean-weed movement is evolving much the way the clean-food movement did before it.

Think about how organic happened, Palmer said. First it was natural products, then organic became a buzzword. ... People have this need, psychologically, to understand what goes into their bodies and know that its good for them. I think rosin and live rosin speaks to and checks all the boxes for those individuals. It brings transparency to the process. We now know that theres nothing added here, and I think that brings a sense of security that wasnt really truly there with cannabis before.

The biggest reason clean weed is about to be everywhere, though, is that consumer demand has turned out to match if not exceed expectations. Jettys Gershoni said the company launched its first solventless vaporizer cartridge into the market in December 2020. A year and a half later, he considers the move a lifesaver.

Right now the market is down in California about 25% year-over-year, he said in a May interview. And were up about 25% year-over-year and that product solventless is by far our fastest-growing product. Its our No. 1 product, and were struggling to keep it in stock.

As you embark on your exploration of the soon-to-be-everywhere weed trend, here are five ways to get a better understanding of what youre buying.

1. Buy from a licensed dispensaryThis is the single most important step in ensuring you know whats in your weed. Thats because, to make it to the shelves of a licensed California dispensary, a batch of each product is required to have a certificate of analysis to back it up. Available via a brands website or, more frequently, via a QR code on the package itself, the COA will verify that the product has tested below the acceptable level of residual solvents, heavy metals and mycotoxins (usually indicated by the word pass). That assurance doesnt exist when buying from an unlicensed shop.

Alex LeVine, co-founder and chief executive of the 2-year-old, L.A.-based vape brand PodTones and a certifiable weed nerd, said there are clues that can be gleaned by digging into a COAs list of additional cannabinoids and terpenes.

Rosin almost always has CBG in it, he said, referring to the minor cannabinoid cannabigerol. LeVine explained that vape pens containing a chemically extracted distillate will contain THC but not the trace cannabinoid. Another clue its real rosin is that youll see a very large number of different terpenes detected in live rosin that you wont with [solvent-based] concentrates. (Terpenes are the naturally occurring volatile compounds that give different cannabis plants their distinct smell and taste.)

2. Read the label (carefully)Just as in the clean-beauty and clean-food space, finding clean weed means doing a lot of research and reading a lot of labels carefully. In an ideal world, finding chemical-free cannabis flower would be as easy as looking for the word organic somewhere on the package. Although that is not an option (because that term falls under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and marijuana remains illegal at the federal level), thanks to a new state program, California cannabis products certified to be comparable to organic can bear the designation OCal on their label. (As of last month, just 11 California cultivators have been OCal-certified.)

When it comes to concentrates and vaporizer cartridges, the words solventless or rosin are used industrywide to denote no chemicals were used (remember, if its called resin, that means a solvent was used). However, because noncannabis materials can (and often are) added to give rosin a vaporizable viscosity, youll need to dig deeper than that. Read the fine print carefully to find out what else might be in the mix. And look for additional language such as 100% cannabis, nothing added, which appears on Paxs new pods, or 100% cannabis rosin, which appears on PodTones packaging.

3. Engage your budtenderNo, budtenders are not doctors or chemists, but chances are theyve already summited the solventless-vape learning curve youre just starting to scale. Tell them specifically what youre looking for and what you want and dont want out of a vaporizable cannabis product. Use the word solventless. Ask them to parse confusing labels. Ask them hard questions. Part of their job is to help you make sense of it all.

4. Search out these productsBecause Jetty Extracts and Pax are bigger brands, youre likely to find their clean-weed offerings on a lot of dispensary shelves. While theyre both good starting points, there are two smaller locals that have been in the solventless space for a long time and are worth the effort to search for. One is Rose Los Angeles, which makes gourmet-level edibles using flower rosin. If you prefer to consume instead of combust your cannabis, the brand is a worthy option.

L.A.-based PodTones, which launched its single-use vaporizer pen in 2020, extracts its flower rosin without the use of solvents.

(PodTones)

The other is PodTones, whose founders early on cracked the code on how to put 100% live rosin concentrate in a single-use pen without using additional chemicals, to the delight of plant-loving weed heads everywhere. With no pods (despite its name) or plugs or other components to worry about, its an elegant, entry-level experience for the novice tiptoeing into the world of clean weed.

5. Wait a whileIf all that sounds daunting, the other option is to just wait and let the clean-weed movement reveal itself to you by gobbling up market share, which, by all accounts, its doing quickly. Right now, it represents just about 1% to 2% of the market. As technology grows and demand grows for these products, well see more and more shelf space allocated to this type of product, said Paxs Palmer.

And I truly believe as a hash maker that this will be 50% or around that of our products that we see on the shelf, he said. I think everyone eventually will have a solventless line. Its just inevitable.

Visit link:

Chemical-free weed is hot in L.A. Here's why. - Los Angeles Times

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) Lincoln organic farmers are seeing fewer businesses purchasing their products but more interest in sustainable farm-to-table produce.

One farmer said that during COVID-19, he lost contact with all of the businesses he used to work with, as many of them closed for good or temporarily. He is hoping to make more connections in the community and show the variety of organic produce cultivated right here in Nebraska.

We will need support, Eugene Ekinde said. City government, businesses why not the governors office? to support the small-scale, organic farmers in Lincoln. Any help will be appreciated.

The Hub Cafe in Lincoln sources around 60% of its products locally. It has always cost more, but the executive chef says its worth it.

It hinders us from a cost aspect, but being able to promote what youre doing as far as the quality that you are increasing by using the local product, that is a novelty aspect that the consumer is really into, Jacob Thiessen said. If you are able to promote that and show how good that can be, than the cost is mitigated.

The interest in farm-to-table food has skyrocketed as more people want fresh, local ingredients.

People are wanting to support their local economies and are really interested in buying produce and local products just because its so much fresher than when it gets shipped in nationally from somewhere else, or even from a different country, said Amy Gerdes, director of operations at Community Crops.

Community Crops is a nonprofit in Lincoln with two locations where local farmers can grow food, as well as 12 community gardens and one urban ag site. The number of applicants interested in having a plot to grow their own produce continues to explode.

We did see a lot more demand in 2020, Gerdes said. We had a 90-person waiting list, which is at least three to four times more than we normally have. This year, we have just over 200 gardeners.

Community Crops has one of its annual events on Saturday. Twelve to 15 local chefs will use fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meat from Community Crops and its partners to highlight the masterpieces you can make with the farm-to-table concept.

We just want to tell everybody how great this produce is, and we want more people to be involved in consuming local products, Thiessen said.

Feast on the Farm starts at 5 p.m. at Prairie Pines.

Go here to see the original:

Lincoln organic farmers took pandemic hit, but interest in farm-to-table is bright spot - KLKN

Credit: Kate Sequera / Edsource

Students at Liechty Middle School in the Westlake neighborhood of Central Los Angeles line up for lunch on the first day of school, navigating an assortment of new items on the menu.

Students at Liechty Middle School in the Westlake neighborhood of Central Los Angeles line up for lunch on the first day of school, navigating an assortment of new items on the menu.

Egg white breakfast wraps, vegetarian ramen, gumbo, glazed carrots and organic cheeseburgers arent just trendy restaurant offerings theyre on some of the breakfast and lunch menus at California schools.

With an influx of state and federal funding aimed at expanding access to school meals, California districts are ramping up food production, upgrading menus and using more fresh, healthy ingredients than before. School meals will continue to be free for all California students, as they have been since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Education leaders such as Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho hope that by ensuring all students get fed for free while at school, and improving the quality of meals, districts can combat food insecurity experienced by families in their area.

Its a human right to have your child fed every single day, no questions asked, Carvalho said at a recent news conference. So bring your children to school early enough for them to benefit from breakfast, tell them to walk the line and benefit from the free lunch and lets enjoy it.

Carvalho said his favorite new item on LAUSDs menu was the kung pao chicken, which has a honey glaze and comes with brown rice and broccoli. He also tasted the districts new cinnamon rolls, ramen bowls, smoothies, and yogurt and fruit breakfast bowls and said he enjoyed them all.

The 2022-23 school year will be the first that California, along with Maine, Vermont and a few other states are promising to provide every child with free breakfast and lunch. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reimbursed districts for providing free meals to all students. Before then, districts were only reimbursed for feeding low-income students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.

The USDAs universal meal program sunsets at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, though it will still reimburse districts for meals for low-income students. Starting this school year, California and the other states have taken it upon themselves to pick up the remainder of the bill to provide free school meals to all students. Democrats in Congress have proposed legislation that would expand students access to free school meals, and the USDA is increasing its reimbursement rates for free meals. The USDA has also invested millions in programs to promote partnerships between schools and farms, as well as to support districts to improve the quality of school meals.

In 2021-22, California lawmakers committed to allocating $650 million each year to the universal free meal program, as well as $54 million in the 2021-22 budget to supplement state meal reimbursements to districts. The 2022-23 budget provided an extra $600 million toward a grant program to upgrade schools kitchen infrastructure and $100 million for a grant program to promote the best food-procurement practices, such as buying California grown-produce and providing options for students with dietary restrictions.

Credit: Ali Tadayon / Edsource

Families line up in Richmond to receive free summer meals provided by West Contra Costa Unified from a food truck the district purchased with grant funds aimed at upgrading school kitchen infrastructure

West Contra Costa Unified, in the East Bay Area, used the extra funds to purchase a mobile food truck, and through a partnership with nonprofit Conscious Kitchen, the district receives fresh produce for scratch-cooked school meals. Conscious Kitchen works with schools to provide organic meals to students.

Some of West Contra Costas new menu offerings this year include spicy maple-glazed chicken, ham musubi and strawberry muffins.

Dominic Engels, CEO of Oakland-based healthy meal distributor Revolution Foods, which contracts with school districts throughout the country, said the publics attention to nutrition has been growing over the past 20 years and that parents concern over how healthy school meals are is at an all-time high. Engels chalked that up to food-driven ads through social media.

The world is tuned into what food does, and that has trickled down to schools, Engels said. That trend is going to continue.

New to Fresno Unified this year is an app and interactive website that provides parents and guardians information on school meals for breakfast and lunch each day. The app shows an image and description of the meals, as well as nutrition and allergen information, according to a Fresno Unified news release. Some of Fresno Unifieds new meal items include cheeseburgers with USDA certified organic beef, tacos with bean or beef queso, and whole grain muffins.

Providing healthy, appealing meals goes a long way to helping our students focus on their learning, Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson said in a statement.

Barbara Jellison, the districts food services director, said West Contra Costa Unified began sourcing more ingredients from Bay Area farmers for ingredients such as cheese, meat, fruits and vegetables as well as local bakers during the pandemic as supply chain issues caused delivery delays and surcharges from some large food distributors throughout the country. Some of those farmers had never sold to schools before, Jellison said.

Weve been really creative these last three years, and its improved our meal program, Jellison said.

This year, the districts goal is to have fewer prepackaged meals in an effort to reduce waste, Jellison said. The district calls meals they either cook at schools or serve on site plate-it-up meals. The district has also been working over the past few years to cook more meals in-house as opposed to purchasing prepared foods. Last year, the district went from having around 30% of meals cooked by kitchen staff to around 70%, Jellison said.

Kids like to see the freshly prepared meals and the variety, Jellison said. It takes time to get them on board because its different to them some of the meals they havent had before. It does take time and education.

Jellison said the key to getting kids to actually eat the healthier food options instead of things like pizza and hot dogs is offering a wider variety of meals to students and educating them on nutrition. The district also does taste testing for new menu items to get feedback from students and keeps track of what food items students gravitate toward or avoid in order to improve the menu.

USDA Undersecretary Stacy Dean said the farm-to-school connection is crucial to strengthening local food systems, and withstanding global supply chain and inflation impacts. Dean, who visited a summer meal drop off at West Contra Costa Unified, said the district is leading the way with its partnerships with local farmers, and that districts throughout the country should pay attention.

Food is both a fundamental component of education and a fundamental component of local agriculture, Dean said. When you put those pieces together and make the connection between the local farmer and the school district, wonderful things can happen.

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Healthier options on the menu as California begins providing free meals for all students - EdSource

NEWARK, Del, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global natural pet food market is set to witness growth at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2022 to 2032 and is anticipated to reach a valuation of around US$ 21.5 Bn by 2032.

Natural pet food iscomposed of organic ingredients that are free of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, artificial coloring, and chemical by-products to lower allergies, skin problems, and digestive issues in pets. It also enhances immunity, life expectancy, and weight stability of pets.

Increasing awareness among consumers regarding negative effects of synthetic pet food on the health of pets and rising pet anthropomorphism are anticipated to drive the global market. In North America and Europe, many pet owners consider their pets to be family members and thus human-grade proteins are often fed to pets.

Pet owners are becoming more conscious of their pets' health and placing a greater emphasis on the food's safety and nutritional efficacy. Owing to the expanding pet population around the world, the market is expected to grow during the forecast period.

Request a sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-15451

However, high cost of natural pet food and lack of knowledge about organic food among pet owners residing in developing countries are hindering growth in the global natural pet food industry.

Key Takeaways: Natural Pet Food Market

Rising adoption of unique advertising techniques by key players and increasing launch of pet health awareness campaigns by government bodies are likely to drive sales of natural pet food in the next decade, says a Future Market Insights analyst.

Competitive Landscape: Natural Pet Food Market

Natural pet food has become a significant part of the global pet food industry. To gain control of the pet food market, major firms have started entering the natural and organic pet food business. These companies have robust financial stability and distribution networks that allow them to diversify their portfolios through acquisitions and new product releases, ensuring that pet owners' feed choices remain consistent over time.

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Explore More Valuable Insights on Natural Pet Food Market

Future Market Insights, in its new report, offers an impartial analysis of the global Natural Pet Food market, presenting historical data (2017-2021) and estimation statistics for the forecast period of 2022-2032.

The study offers compelling insights based on pet type (cat [kitten and senior], dog [puppy, adult and senior], and others), product type (frozen pet food, wet pet food, dehydrated pet food, and others), source (animal derived, plant derived, and insect derived), and distribution channel (supermarkets & hypermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and others) across seven major regions of the world.

Natural Pet Food Market Outlook by Category

By Pet Type:

By Product Type:

By Source:

By Distribution Channel:

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About Food & Beverage Division at Future Market Insights

The food and beverage team at Future Market Insights provides all the necessary insights and consulting analysis to fulfill the unique business intelligence needs of clients worldwide. With a catalog of more than 500 reports pertaining to the latest statistics and analysis from the food & beverage industry, the team is happy to help with every business intelligence research and consulting requirement.

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Cover Pet Type / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.1.1. Drivers

3.1.2. Restraints

3.1.3. Opportunity

3.1.4. Trends

Read More Toc

Have a Look at Related Research Reports of Food and Beverage

GCC Functional Food Market Forecast: The revenue generated from the sales of functional foods in GCC countries is estimated to be around US$ 4,895 Mn in 2014, and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period 2015-2020

Natural Food Colours Market Growth: The natural food colours market is anticipated to grow at an impressive CAGR during the forecast period. A significant rise in demand for natural food colours has been coming from industries to enhance the appeal of products

Convenience Food Market Outlook: Over the years, the convenience food market has made life easier for man, owing to its ability to provide a complete meal that has been pre-prepared, and requires little or no further preparation by consumers before it can be consumed

Pet Food Microalgae Market Trends: The demand for microalgae in the pet food sector market value is expected to total US$ 22.2 Mn in 2021, exhibiting year on year growth of nearly 7%, according to Future Market Insights (FMI). The overall market value is expected to reach US$ 35.5 Mn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% for 2021-31

Pet Food Ingredients Market Size: The pet food ingredient market size was valued at US$ 11.49 Bn in 2021 and is projected to grow at a steady CAGR of 5.4% between 2022 and 2032, totaling a valuation of US$ 20.5 Bn by 2032. Growth in the pet food ingredients market is driven by rapid adoption of pets worldwide and increasing production and consumption of pet foods

Pet Food Processing Market Share: The global pet food processing market size is estimated to be valued at USD 5.0 Billion in 2022 and projected to reach USD 8.4 Billion by 2032, which record a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period from 20222032

Grape Seed Extract in Pet Food Application Market Value: The U.S. grape seed extract market is anticipated to account for over 53% of sales in North America as the largest producer of grapes in the region. Grape seeds are consequently easily available for use in pet products and even in international trade

Pet Treat Market Analysis: The pet treat market is expected to be valued at US$ 70.1 Bn in 2022. Sales are projected to increase at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period, to reach a value of US$ 122.1 Bn by 2032

Pet Milk Replacers Market Type: The global pet milk replacers market reached US$ 192.7 Mn in 2021. Growing prevalence of pet humanization trends across the globe is a key factor bolstering consumers' expenditure on high-quality pet milk replacers

Natural Flavours Market Sale: Natural flavors are organic-based raw materials often used in the processing of food. They act as ingredients to enhance the taste of food products. For a substance to be listed as a natural flavor, it must be obtained from either plant or animal source; therefore, it must be organic

Download complimentary copy of Future Market Insights White Paper in collaboration with PBFIA, on thePlant Based Marketthat throws light on potential opportunities andinvestments made in the Global plant based market

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Future Market Insights (ESOMAR certified market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10-years.

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Natural Pet Food Market to Surpass US$ 21.5 Bn by 2032 Amid Urgent Need to Enhance Immunity and Life Expectancy of Pets | Future Market Insights, Inc....

Best known for its 1880s-style faades and view of the trio of towering mountains its named after, Sisters is downright adorable but has probably always been a pit stop on your journeysnever the destination.

After all, you can gaze at the Three Sisters from Bend, a much larger city 30 minutes east thats packed with breweries, bike trails and boutiques. Over the past few decades, its grown into Oregons ultimate destination for outdoor adventure. Sisters, meanwhile, developed a sleepier reputation as a hub for quilt-loving grandmas (the town hosts the worlds largest outdoor quilt show) who would also be delighted by the sight of a Bi-Mart that looks like a Wild West mercantile, and public trash cans made of wooden barrels.

But thats all changing.

Thanks to the opening of a variety of new businesses, this town of approximately 3,000 has started to attract a livelier crowd. Last year alone saw the launch of a ski chalet-themed taphouse-hotel in the heart of downtown, an off-the-main-drag brewery specializing in wild-fermented ales, and an indoor-outdoor food cart pod anchored by a bar that looks like a rustic sanctuary. Thats not to mention the areas abundance of trails, shimmering lakes and rivers stocked with kokanee, whitefish and trout, as well as ranches where you can play cowboy by hopping on a horse and riding through ponderosa forests.

Better yet: Youre not in Bend, so youll rarely end up lingering in a line, and theres always an open picnic table or barstool. So when Central Oregon calls to you this summer, break tradition and embrace Sisters Old West charm.

Friday Night

Sleep Above a Ski Lodge-Themed Taphouse

Unless you once called Sisters home, youve probably never heard of the Ski Inn (310 E Cascade Ave., sisterstaphousehotel.com). The breakfast-and-burger cafe had been adored by locals since 1971, but it never achieved the status of tourist destination. However, with the Ski Inns relaunch, the out-of-towners are calling. There is no direct tie between the boutique hotel and taproom, which opened in June 2021, and the original diner, which was wiped out by a massive pine that toppled over in a windstorm. But Ski Inn owner and Bend-based builder Jim Yozamp did keep the name as a tribute.

Though only a year old, the reclaimed brick, rustic wood and distressed steel details authentically age the first-floor baran ambience Yozamp was aiming for. When people ask me if this was an old mechanic shop, he explains, I couldnt be more proud. Of course, your ultra-modern room upstairs gives away the ruse. Its still somewhat rare to find a bar-and-bed combo, but Yozamp says adding a second floor for overnight accommodations was the plan from the outset. Were just happy it all penciled out, giving Sisters its only lodging option in the center of the community and beer-loving visitors an easy route to stagger back to their rooms.

Oregon Summer Guide (ross chandler)

Eat All the Smoked Meats

After your lobbyless check-in (door codes are emailed), theres no need to travel far for dinner, particularly after a three-hour drive. Head downstairs to the Taphouse, where the menu centers on an industrial-sized smoker out back. When available, order the smoke shack sampler and be prepared to share. The massive platter of brisket, ribs, dry-rubbed wings, sweet potato wedges, and chips with queso is a substantial roundup of the pubs meats and snacks. Though that would mean missing out on the campfire-tinged, beer-braised pulled pork, which does wonders to a burrito smothered in cheese and verde gravy as well as a nacho plate. Vow to return and order more, then take a beer from one of the 16 taps up to your balcony, accessible to overnight guests only. Sink into one of the Adirondack chairs assembled out of actual skis and enjoy the impressive view of the mountains in the distance and Highway 20 traffic below you.

Oregon Summer Guide

Saturday Morning

Journey Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Distance: 5.4 miles Difficulty Level: Moderate Start Point: West Metolius Trailhead in the Lower Canyon Creek Campground Elevation Gain: 100 ft

Travelers drawn to water are always searching for the perfect blue, whether thats the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Icelands sapphire lagoons, or the cobalt-colored lakes of the U.S. mountain ranges. Somehow, the Metolius River dazzles in each of those shades and more, making it perhaps the most stunning of all the states waterways.

Emerging near the base of Black Butte, the Metolius is one of the largest spring-fed rivers in the country, and the best route to follow a portion of its 29-mile path begins at a small campground 30 minutes northwest of Sisters. The trail never veers from the water, which is, at times, placid and teal, then moments later youll be strolling by a section of indigo-hued thundering rapids. The Metolius fickle nature attracts both fly fishers hoping to snag a kokanee or trout as well as turbulence-seeking kayakers.

About 2 miles in, the whitewater is split by a chain of small islands covered in wildflowers like lupine and Pecks penstemon, which grows only in the Sisters area. Soon, the trail climbs higher, placing you above the river instead of right next to it. Youll then reach the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery (7500 Forest Service Road 14, Camp Sherman, 541-595-6611), which raises spring Chinook and summer steelhead that end up in tributaries across the Deschutes River Basin. Since the 35-acre state-run site is open to the public, youre free to wander the grounds. Dont forget to bring quarters25 cents gets you a handful of pellets from a candy dispensing-style machine. Watch in glee as the fish whip themselves into a whirlpool as they race to get to the food.

Oregon Summer Guide

Saturday Afternoon

Have Lunch at a Butcher Block

This artisanal butchery is known for its top-quality cold case cuts, wide variety of brats, as well as an impressive lineup of smoked sausages and cheeses, all made in house. Some of those cured products can be placed between two slices of bread and eaten right then and there at Sisters Meat and Smokehouse (110 S Spruce St., 541-719-1186, sistersmeat.com), and since everybody knows sandwiches always taste better when somebody else makes them, refuel at the big red barn across from Ski Inn. Turkey shavings are piled high and barely held together by airy white bread slathered in mayo. Those craving red meat should order the tri-tip, which is covered in barbecue sauce and tucked into a toasted French roll. Each sandwich comes with a bag of chips and a warm cookie that is best enjoyed with draft beer on the covered patio or open lawn.

Look Rodeo Ready

If you want to go all in on the Western theme, youll need the right duds. Dixies (100 E Cascade Ave., 541-549-6451, dixies.com), downtowns apparel destination named after the owners mother, can have you looking like an authentic ranch hand or a gussied-up rodeo queen in a matter of minutes. The shelves are piled high with denim, there are rows and rows of boots (both practical and flamboyant), and Stetsons are stocked in colors other than traditional black and white. Even if youre not in the market for a dude ranch makeover, the store is still a handy place to pick up the hiking socks you forgot to pack.

Oregon Summer Guide

Take an Ice Cream Break

While licking your ice cream scoop outside Sno Cap Drive In (380 W Cascade Ave., 541-549-6151), you half expect Guy Fieri to roll up in his bright red convertible, film crew in tow. The simple yet charming 1952 cinder-block building advertising old-fashioned hamburgers looks exactly like the kind of greasy spoon that would attract the mayor of Flavortown during his unending American road trip. The griddles and fryers are always hard at work, but the goodies you came here for are of the frozen variety. While most ice cream parlors commit to either hard pack or soft serve, Sno Cap has both. On top of that, theres a menu of 30 milkshake flavors. As of spring, the compact dining room remained closed, but theres something pleasantly nostalgic about ordering from a walk-up window and then racing against the sun to finish your cone on the patio.

Oregon Summer Guide

Saturday Night

Sample Experimental IPAs

Any beer nerd who takes Highway 20 to Bend has made Three Creeks Brewing (721 S Desperado Court, 541-549-1963, threecreeksbrewing.com) a mandatory stop. Now that youre staying in town, theres time to linger, so sip your way through the Brewers Choice IPA Seriesthree experimental beers whose recipes will be continually tweaked until a winner is selected. Dankness on the Edge of Town lives up to its name thanks to a resinous West Coast-style, pine-sap flavor. Theres also the fruitier Gold Digger IPA that gushes with lemons and lychee. If youre eating dinner without kids, take a seat in the bar behind the Old West-style swinging doors. The room offers a peek into the brewhouse through windows on one wall and a view of Three Creeks trophy cases, which by now should be displaying the brewerys most recent plaque from the 2022 World Beer Cup.

Oregon Summer Guide

Watch Blockbusters in a Barn

Right across the parking lot from Three Creeks is a theater like no other in Oregon. Modeled after the high deserts many brick-red barns, Sisters Movie House (720 S Desperado Court, 541-549-8800, sistersmoviehouse.com) is one of the more conspicuous buildings lining the towns main arterial. Inside, the old-fashioned farm theme continues with decorative touches in the form of pitchforks, shovels and cast-iron tractor seats. However, the four screens with stadium-style auditoriums are quite modern. Like many Portland theaters, this one has an on-site cafe with a menu of burgers, pizza and wraps as well as $5 pints. And if you need help deciding what to see, the sandwich board out front includes not only movie titles and showtimes, but also their Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

Sunday Morning

Dig Into a Farm-Fresh Brunch

Since we live in one of the most agriculturally diverse and bountiful areas of the country, Oregonians are blessed with an abundance of restaurants and markets that source ingredients within a few miles radius of their location. Rainshadow Organics (72190 Holmes Road, 541-977-6746, rainshadoworganics.com) may just hold the record for shortest kitchen commuteits food travels only a quarter mile from farm to plate. Take a quick trip yourself 15 minutes northeast of Sisters for a three-course brunch highlighting the Certified Organic produce thats pulled from the dirt you can see from your seat on the farm stores sheltered porch.

Rainshadow originally added a commercial kitchen in 2016 to preserve its harvests by preparing sauces and fermented foods. However, it has been slowly ramping up the events side of the business by hosting weddings, leisurely midmorning weekend meals, and long-table dinners in the field. Should you happen to visit on a day without a meal on the calendar, stock up at the market, which sells homey, hand-labeled jars of jams, relishes and pickled vegetables all the colors of the rainbow.

Oregon Summer Guide

Take the Reins

The first thing youll notice as you approach the corral at Black Butte Ranch (13899 Bishops Cap, 541-595-2061, blackbutteranch.com) are, of course, the dozens of majestic horses. The second thing youll notice are the signs warning about injury and death. No horse, mule or pony is a completely safe animal, one reads. Horses, mules and ponies are 20 to 40 times more powerful than a human. The view of the gentle-looking giants doesnt really square with the notices urging caution, at least not until youre on the back of one, 6 feet off the ground. At that point, you realize youre behind the wheel of a car you (in my case) havent driven for years, the route is all off road, and the car has a mind of its own.

Fortunately, my horsea brown-and-white pinto named Lenniewas like an oversized dog. He was well trained, starting and stopping every time our guide didno prompting requiredand affectionate; every time our dude string paused, Lennie would nuzzle my boot.

Black Butte Ranch offers a variety of guided horseback toursfrom easy Lil Buckaroo Corral Rides to advanced daylong treks through Central Oregons backcountry. Since I last sat in a saddle a few years ago, I signed up for the Big Loop Ride, a 3.3-mile jaunt through a forest of red-trunk ponderosas and spindly, white alders. The route gives you the opportunity to take your horse down a shallow incline and up a hill. There are also several long, flat stretches, where youll shift into a higher gear and give trotting a try. Since Id forgotten how to post, or rhythmically rise in and out my seat for a smoother ride, I felt like a paddle ball, at one point convinced I was going to bounce out of my saddle. Somehow, I clung on, and neither Lennie nor I seemed worse for the wear by the end.

Oregon Summer Guide

Sunday Afternoon

Tackle a Mountain Bike Trail

If youre looking for a little more trail time, switch up your saddle and rent a bike from Eurosports (223 E Hood Ave., 541-549-2471, eurosports.us). A fleet of cycles beckons outside, which can be borrowed for a day or an entire week. From there, youre just blocks from the Peterson Ridge Trail, an extensive network of paths more than 20 miles long. Designed as a ladder system, riders can choose multiple rungs along the way when theyre ready to head back. Once youve returned to Eurosports, hydrate with one of the six beers or ciders on tap, then park your weary buns at a picnic table. Three food carts serving tacos, Thai noodles and Nashville-style hot chicken have turned the shops courtyard into a bustling pod that attracts cyclists and stationary customers alike.

Oregon Summer Guide

Bring in da Funk

When Funky Fauna Artisan Ales (211 Sun Ranch Drive, #101, 720-341-7480, funkyfaunabeer.com) opened in December 2021, it doubled the brewery population in Sisters. Three Creeks has long been the only game in town, and in general, its welcome news for all beer producers when new ones launch nearbydrinkers like to pub hop, and in many cities, that trend has spun off entirely new tourism pitches (see the neighboring Bend Ale Trail). It also helps that Funky Fauna sets itself apart by focusing on wild ales, which are fermented with foraged yeast, and then served in a sleek, modern taproom with black matte tile, vibrant green foliage, and oak barrels that double as a decorative barrier. The brewery leaves room on its tap list for Pilsners and IPAs, but the heart, soul and flavor of this business lies in the saisons, like An Ocean Warmed by the Sun, hopped with Oregon-grown Strata that tastes more like a peach than the actual fruit.

Sunday Night

Eat Like a Barnyard Piggy

By now, youve noticed that barns abound in Sisters, but this one may just be the most handsome. Opened in late 2021, The Barn (171 E Main Ave., 541-904-4343, thebarninsisters.com) is a 10,000-square-foot lot with four food trucks and a centerpiece bar that, given its soaring steeple and stained glass, looks more like a church than a shelter for farming equipment. Outside, the scenery is dominated by a giant dirt clod that attracts children despite the rope and keep off signs. Until whatever has been planted there grows in, turn your attention to the fire pit zones, whoevers playing on stage, and the food.

Time Travel in an Century-Old Bar

Most of the buildings in downtown Sisters are modern-day replicas of old-fashioned exteriors, but not Sisters Saloon (190 E Cascade Ave., 541-549-7427, sisterssaloon.net). The former hotel was built in 1912 and is said to be one of the most photographed properties in Central Oregon. That makes sense. You could easily imagine a quick-draw shootout taking place in the street out front. The restored bar is where youll want to hunker down if you like your ceilings covered in stamped copper and walls adorned with taxidermy.

Monday Morning

Boat Across a Glacier-Fed Lake

A Central Oregon trip wouldnt be complete without a visit to one of the sparkling, glacier-fed pools that are scattered across the Cascade Range. Suttle Lake (fs.usda.gov) is a crystal-clear, 253-acre beauty thats only about 18 minutes west of Sisters and on your way home along Highway 20. Stretch your legs before the long drive with an easy 3.6-mile shoreline loop hike, or get out on the water if youve brought a kayak. Suttle Lake Lodge (13300 Highway 20, 541-638-7001, thesuttlelodge.com) offers seasonal paddle board and canoe rentals, or for those who prefer to end a weekend getaway on a mellow note, the Boathouse bar and restaurant has gourmet coffee, cocktails and craft beerany of which are the perfect accompaniment to the magnificent views of the blue basin.

Oregon Summer Guide

More here:

Long Weekend Trip: Riding Through the Old West in Sisters - Willamette Week

BengaluruA Hindu priest who had announced his willingness to get converted to Islam has now changed his mind, fearing the circumcision practice.

I am suffering from diabetes. I got scared after knowing that khatna (circumcision) would be conducted at the time of conversion. I got scared about the consequences and finally decided to stay back in Hinduism, H.R. Chandrashekaraiah elaborated.

I was pained with the inheritance dispute. Relatives distanced themselves away from me. Since, I was an aged person, it seemed to me that they would not conduct my final rites as per the traditions; and I decided to get converted to Islam lawfully, the priest told media.

I didnt know anything about Islam. My house was located in the region where many Muslims lived and many friends stayed there. Hence, I decided to change my religion, he said.

The Sanatan Hindu religion is supreme. I realised that my decision to convert to Islam was wrong. The ignorance has gone away, there is no mukthi if religion is changed, Chandrashekaraish added.

He further said that he is at peace after being welcomed back to Hinduism by religious seers.

Chandrashekaraish asserted that since birth, his thought process and living pattern are in sync with Hindu religion and he felt let down by the hurried decision he had taken.

Meanwhile, some locals alleged that a JD(S) leader and others had influenced him to take the decision of religious conversion.

61-year-old Chandrashekaraiah, a temple priest, had earlier announced his decision to convert and had also issued an advertisement in this regard.

The priest even rechristened his name as Mubarak Pasha. Photographs of Chandrashekaraiah wearing a skull cap and offering namaz made it a communal issue.

Former BJP minister Sogadu Shivanna rushed to his house and held long discussions. Shivanna also arranged a ghar wapsi (re-conversion) programme for him through religious seers. (IANS)

The rest is here:

Circumcision fear stops Hindu priest from converting to Islam - India New England

This year, the independence we gained after Indias partition in the name of religion turned 75 years old. However, thethreatsposed by evangelical faiths, most prominently the virulent strain of Islam known as Islamism, are far from over. Being a Hindu and asserting ones Hindu roots results in tragically devastating consequences, often resulting in ones death.And there have been more than 75 Hindus who have endured the grim fate.

For years, the media has worked tirelessly to depict Muslims as largely the victims and Hindus as overwhelmingly the offenders, establishing a false notion among minorities that they are being attacked by fascist Hindus with active state cooperation. The grim fact is that Hindus have been disproportionately targeted by hate crimes in India. Hindus have been brutally killed and lynched for speaking out, in riots, especially by Islamists, and in other cases, simply for being Hindus.

They have the ability to attack at any time of day or night. They may enter shops and businesses disguised as customers and conveniently leave after stabbing or beheading the Hindu victim. They sometimes appear disguised in saffron and depart after ruthlessly attacking with sharp weapons. These perpetrators remain disturbingly undisturbed by radical Islam. They sometimes silently wait for their victim, whom they ambush and nonchalantly kill before walking away unfazed. No one is safe, neither sages, saints, nor ordinary Hindus. Neither house nor ashramas.

In the Kandhamal district of Odisha, a well-known and highly respected Hindu Sadhu named Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was brutally murdered by armed Naxalites and some Christian fanatics in 2008. The tribal-dominated Kandhamal district has long been the hotbed of forced conversions by evangelical organisations. Christian missionaries have been constantly targeting Hindu Sadhus working on the ground to prevent their rampant conversion efforts, with explicit help from Maoists.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, an 82-year-old cow-lover Sanyasi who had dedicated his life to the service of the Adivasis in the area, wasmurdered along with 4 of his associatesin the Jalespata Ashram on the day of Janmashtami in 2008, while the Ashrams devotees were getting ready for the festivities. His body was riddled with bullets and his dead body was brutalised further with sharp weapons by the murderers. The incident had sparked communal riots in the Kandhamal district, where tribal Hindus and Christians clash regularly, with the Naxalites supporting the Christians.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was a Hindu saint. For once we could assume that his love for his religion and habit of chanting Jai Shri Ram, considered a war cry by petty Bollywood nerds like Anurag Kashyap and Islamists like Muhammad Zubair, might have triggered the Islamists, but what about Sarbananda Kaul, one of the most secular individuals who used to keep Quran with him, yet Islamists murdered him along with his son and hanged him from a tree.

Sarbananda Kaul Premi was also a well-known Kashmiri poet, freedom fighter and a famous scholar. He was known for his secular values. Premi wrote in Kashmiri, Urdu, and Hindi.His grasp on Persian was as strong as his hold on Sanskrit. He used to keep a copy of the Quran in his house of worship.

On the evening of 2930 April 1990, three masked Islamic terrorists entered his home and kidnapped him and his younger son, Virendra Koul. The dead bodies of the father-son duo were found hanging on a tree on 1 May 1990. The Islamists had brutally scrapped off his forehead skin since Kaul regularly applied tilak.

Sarbananda Kaul was elderly. He was past his prime, but what about the ten children who were burnt alive on the Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002?

Twenty years ago, on February 27 2002, an enraged Muslim mobburnt59 innocent Hindus, including women and children, to avenge the demolition of Mughal-era Babri Masjid Ayodhya. A group of Hindus travelling from Ayodhya in Sabarmati Express were mercilessly burnt alive inside thetrain by a riotous Muslim mob. The raging mob of over 2,000 people had killed the innocent Hindus for the simple reason that they had visited Ayodhya to perform karseva for the Ram Mandir.

In the more recent incidents, Chandan Gupta was killed in a communal clash that erupted over a flag march in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, taken out on Republic Day in the year 2018.

Prashant Poojary (29) a flower merchant was brutallymurderedin broad daylight by six men atop two motorcycles who attacked him with sharp weapons at a market in Moodbidri when he was selling flowers as usual. Poojary, believed to be involved with the Bajrang Dal, was actively involved in stopping illegal cow slaughter and transportation.

A 50-year-old newspaper hawker Mannulal Vaishnav was hacked to death by his customer Rafique Khan with an axe in the Kho Nagoriyan area in Jaipur in 2019, after the former urged the latter to clear his long pending dues.

Similarly, a 27-year-old Hindu youth Kishan Bharwad was killed by Islamists on 25th January 2022, merely for being a Hindu. Kishan Bharwad hailed from Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad. He was killed in the morning when he was passing by the Modhwada locality on a two-wheeler. Like other killings by Islamists, the reason behind his murder was that the Muslims claimed he had hurt their religious sentiments and committed blasphemy.

Many more Hindus, like Harsha, Umesh Kolhe, Kanhaiyalal, and Praveen Nettaru, have lately become victims of Islamic intolerance. This, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. In actuality, there is a long list of people in independent India who were murdered solely for being Hindus. All of these Hindus were attempting to bring the Hindu society together. They were assisting anyone who desired gharwapsi (revert to Hinduism from Islam or Christianity of their own volition) or for simply wearing their identity on their sleeves. Many of them were selflessly working towards cow protection. None of them deserved to die, yet they were hacked to death just because they were Hindus.

Kala Devi, 70, was murdered while lighting a lamp at home to symbolise support for Indias fight against the global corona pandemic.

M Lavanya, a 12th-grade student, was told that if she wanted to study, she should convert to Christianity or clean the toilet. She couldnt bear the pressure and committed suicide. Some were killed as a result of love jihad, while others were killed as they were considered a threat to Islam.

As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its independence, we present 75 names from independent India who were murdered only because they were Hindus:

Such names and incidents cannot be summed up in 75 columns. This is a never-ending list with no end in sight. A new name is added to the list whenever the date changes. OpIndia has gone out to the relatives of several of the people on the list this year of Amrit Mahotsav. Well bring them to you one at a time.

We had not forgotten and will not forget these Hindus. You will be reminded of these as long as this threat exists. So long as youre a kafir. So that you are aware of the perils of Islamismand evangelical Christianity.

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Hindus killed for being Hindus series: 75 and still countinghere is a never-ending list of Hindus killed and brutalised in independent India - OpIndia

Please dont undermine yourselves, she says.

Please dont undermine yourselves, she says.

The Hindu community in Bangladesh has the same rights as she has, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, asserting that the number of mandaps in Dhaka during the Durga Puja festivities were much higher than in West Bengal.

Ms. Hasina interacted with the Hindu community leaders on Thursday, August 18, 2022 on the occasion of Janmashtami and urged believers of other faiths not to think of themselves as minorities, saying everyone irrespective of their religions will enjoy equal rights in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country.

Also read: Fault lines grow deeper in Bangladesh

We want people of all faiths to live with equal rights. You are people of this country, you have equal rights here, you have the same rights as I have, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper quoted her as saying.

You would always think that you are the citizens of this country and you will enjoy equal rights, the premier noted.

Ms. Hasina virtually joined the event at Dhakeswari Mandir in Dhaka and JM Sen Hall in Chattogram from her official residence in Gonobhaban.

We also want to see you in that way. Please dont undermine yourselves. You were born in this country, you are the citizens of this country, she noted.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister said the number of mandaps in Dhaka is higher than the number in West Bengal or Kolkata, and across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festivities.

Ms. Hasina lamented that whenever an untoward incident occurs, it is propagated in such a manner that the Hindu community dont have any rights in Bangladesh.

Colours are given to that incident in a way that the Hindus have no rights here. And the actions of the government after the incidents dont get proper attention, Prothom Aalo newspaper quoted her as saying.

Ms. Hasina said her government and the Awami League did not believe in undermining people from any religion.

We can say it clearly. Our government is very cautious about it. I can assure you that, she added.

The Hindu community is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh according to the 2022 census, constituting approximately 7.95 per cent out of the total 161.5 million population.

Link:

Janmashtami | 'You have the same rights as I have', Bangladesh PM Hasina tells Hindus - The Hindu