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Episode 8: Cornucopia Institute Kestrel Burcham JD - How Organic Integrity Is Maintained

Release Date: 03/20/2024

Episode 31: Cornell University Michael Mazourek PhD - How Can We Breed Vegetables for Flavor and for Local Growers?

Food For You and the Planet

Michael Mazourek, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Horticulture. Michael Mazourek, PhD, is the Calvin Knoyes Keeney Associate Professor of Vegetable Breeding at Cornell University. Michael is a breeder of peas, beans, squash, cucumbers and peppers and has released numerous cultivars and breeding materials that are shared by small, regional seed companies and incorporated into breeding program of the world’s largest seed companies. Michael’s specialty is biochemical genetics in vegetables; he explores the...

Episode 30: IFOAM Organics International Karen Mapusua - How Can We Build An International Organic Agriculture Movement?

Food For You and the Planet

Karen Mapusua is the President of IFOAM Organics International. Founded in 1972, IFOAM Organics International is a membership-based organization working to bring true sustainability to agriculture across the globe. The mission of IFOAM Organics International is to lead change, organically. Its goal is the broad adoption of truly sustainable agriculture, value chains and consumption in line with the principles of organic agriculture. Through its work, it builds capacity to facilitate the transition of farmers to organic agriculture, raises awareness of the need for sustainable...

Episode 29: Northeast SARE Teresa Leslie PhD - How Can We Increase Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education?

Food For You and the Planet

Teresa Leslie, PhD, Director of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Teresa holds a doctorate in medical anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in medical anthropology from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Howard University. She has experience cultivating relationships with diverse stakeholder groups to create innovative, evidenced-based policy and practice solutions. Founded in 1988, USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a...

Episode 28: The Land Institute Tim Crews PhD - How Do Perennial Crops Benefit Land and Food Systems?

Food For You and the Planet

Tim Crews, PhD, is the Chief Scientist and Director of the International Initiative at The Land Institute. Tim is at The Land Institute because, in his words, “the work is the most focused and far-reaching of any organization I know. It promises to transform agriculture from being an ecological liability to an asset.” Tim first visited The Land Institute in 1981 after reading New Roots for Agriculture as an undergraduate majoring in agroecology at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Over the next three decades, he pursued a doctorate degree at Cornell, carried out a post-doc...

Episode 27: The Sustainable Food Trust Patrick Holden CBE - What Is The Sustainable Food Trust?

Food For You and the Planet

Patrick Holden, CBE, is the Founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick Holden is the founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust, whose mission is to work internationally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food and farming systems. Between 1995 and 2010, he was Director of the Soil Association, the UK organic advocacy and certification organisation, where he played a leading role in developing the organic standards and market. He currently leads a task force on measuring land use sustainability for the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), established...

Episode 26: World Future Council Alexandra Wandel - How Can We Create Sustainable Food For The Future?

Food For You and the Planet

Alexandra Wandel is the Chair, Management Board of the World Future Council. Alexandra Wandel was appointed Development Director to prepare the Founding Congress of the World Future Council in 2006 and has chaired the Management Board since 2018. The Management Board is in charge of foundation management, representation, Council Liaison and resource mobilization. Since 2010 she has set up partnerships for the Future Policy Award with fourteen UN agencies on topics such as biodiversity, forests, oceans and coasts, desertification, agroecology and rights of children and youth. ...

Episode 25: Baystate Organic Certifiers Lauren Sandstrom - How Do Farms Become Certified Organic?

Food For You and the Planet

Lauren Sandstrom is a Certification Administrator at Baystate Organic Certifiers. Lauren joined Baystate Organic Certifiers 10 years ago as a Certification Specialist and then became a Certification Administrator in 2016. Prior to her position at Baystate, Lauren was a certification reviewer for another certification agency accredited to the USDA totaling 15 years’ experience regulating the USDA Organic Regulations. Lauren also has a certificate as a crop and livestock inspector through the International Organic Inspectors Association. Lauren grew up on a Certified Organic Farm in...

Episode 24: National Farm To School Network Sunny Baker - How Can Schools Source Healthy Food?

Food For You and the Planet

Sunny Baker is the Senior Director of Programs and Policy at the National Farm To School Network. For over 14 years, Sunny has worked to lead school food reform and create a new culture of regionally-based eating. Originally from St. Louis, Sunny grew up with a deep appreciation for the natural world and a strong desire to make a positive impact on her community, values shaped by her Jewish identity. One of Sunny's most notable accomplishments was her work growing the farm to school movement in Mississippi, featured at TedXManhattan in 2014. She established Good Food for Oxford Schools...

Episode 23: Singing Pastures Holly Arbuckle - What Are The Benefits of Pasture Raising Livestock?

Food For You and the Planet

Holly Arbuckle is the CEO and Co-Founder of Singing Pastures. Holly and her husband John own and operate Singing Pastures. John is a 9th generation farmer from the Midwest. They saw a gap in the market because there were a lot of grassfed beef sticks, but no pasture-raised pork. They started a brand in 2016 with no initial investment. Holly owns 51% of the company and is the CEO who runs the brand while her husband is the primary farmer and COO. Their current home farm is in Maine. Singing Pastures produces high-quality pork Snack Sticks and Salami. Singing Pastures believes...

Episode 22: Dr. Bronner's Ryan Zinn - How Can Businesses Build Regenerative Organic Supply Chains?

Food For You and the Planet

Ryan Zinn is the Regenerative Projects Manager at Dr. Bronner’s. Ryan focuses on Dr. Bronner’s international supply chains and farmer training. He has worked in the food and farm justice movement at home and abroad for 20 years, including with such organizations as the Center for International Law, Friends of the Earth-Paraguay, Global Exchange and the Organic Consumers Association. Dr. Bronner’s was founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third-generation master soapmaker from a German-Jewish soapmaking family. He used the labels on his superb ecological soaps to spread his...

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Kestrel Burcham is the Policy Director at the Cornucopia Institute.

Kestrel has a background in Animal Science and English from the University of California, Davis. They have worked as an animal technician in both research and industry settings and have experience with different types of livestock. Organic and environmentally conscious food production is part of their background, having grown up on familial farms and assisted in all aspects of farm management. Kestrel holds a law degree with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law from Lewis and Clark Law School.

The Cornucopia Institute uncovers the truth behind organic food and advocates for an organic label you can trust. It continues to be a watchdog within the organic industry, working to protect the character of the organic standards while auditing the integrity of products bearing the organic seal. It researches, issues, and promotes findings, based in science, that are fundamental to maintaining the integrity of organic labeling, production, processing, and marketing. The Cornucopia Institute is also a vocal, visible catalyst for interaction between consumers and producers within the good food movement.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 1:19 – Introduction

1:19 – 1:58 – What is the Cornucopia Institute and what type of work does it do?

1:58 – 4:39 – Why is it important for people to support food producers who follow organic practices and are USDA Certified Organic?

4:39 – 6:33 – Why is it critical to uphold the integrity of the organic industry and organic standards?

6:33 – 10:14 – What are some of the organic agriculture issues the Cornucopia Institute has helped address and how has it addressed them?

10:14 – 12:40 – How does Cornucopia watch dog large corporations?

12:40 – 15:59 – What happens if a large corporation violates organic standards?

15:59 – 18:26 – What type of research has the Cornucopia Institute completed and what are some of its findings?

18:26 – 19:40 – What are the different scorecards the Cornucopia Institute creates and what are the methods used to create these scorecards?

19:40 – 21:42 – How does the Cornucopia Institute decide which producers are part of the scorecards?

21:42 – 23:55 – What are some of the findings of the scorecards and some brands people could look out for at the supermarket?

23:55 – 26:30 – What are some of the things you consider for the beef scorecard and what are some of the all-star beef producers?

26:30 – 29:23 – What are some of the things you consider for the eggs scorecard?

29:23 – 31:10 – Are there any other scorecards you would like to share a bit about?

31:10 – 35:01 – What are some of the challenges associated with the cost of certified organic feed for livestock farmers and how could those challenges be overcome?

35:01 – 37:40 – What are some actions people can take to advocate for organic agriculture?

37:40 – 39:02 – Things to share and wrap up

THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE INFORMATION

The Cornucopia Institute: https://www.cornucopia.org/

The Cornucopia Institute Instagram: @cornucopiainstitute

RESOURCES

Organic Eggs Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/eggs/

Organic Dairy Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/dairy/

Organic Beef Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/organic-beef-scorecard/

Organic Poultry Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/organic-poultry-scorecard/

Plant-Based Beverages Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/plant-based-beverages/

Organic Soy Scorecard: https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/soy/

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