Category Archives: agriculture

7.-12. Glyphosate in Wind, Rain; Down the Drain?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

Series 17 Questions about Glyphosate questions 7.-11. I go through the evidence for whether glyphosate can be detected, and if so then in which quantities, in each of the following: air and rainwater, urine, breastmilk, wine, and wheat. I have also added … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biology, health | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

5.-6. Glyphosate, Other Pesticides, and The Precautionary Principle

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

In my series 17 Questions about Glyphosate, question 5. deals with questions I have encountered about how to prepare for and anticipate potential problems which we may have too little knowledge of to foresee at present. In other words, should … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biology, chemistry, health, medicine | Tagged , | 7 Comments

4. Does Glyphosate Harm Gut Bacteria?

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

In my series 17 Questions about Glyphosate, question 4. looks at glyphosate and its potential to affect our gut bacteria. This is one of the favourite returning points for many who find the newness of the field of microbiome research a … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biology, health | Tagged , | 8 Comments

2.-3. Glyphosate and Health Effects A-Z

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

In my series 17 Questions about Glyphosate, question 2. looks at glyphosate and health effects, and also at what role surfactants might play in some of the results. *Added: Information about glyphosate breakdown product AMPA, and a section on endocrine disruptor … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, chemistry, health, medicine | Tagged | 9 Comments

1. Does Glyphosate Cause Cancer?

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

The first in my series of 17 Questions About Glyphosate is the one topic made famous by a somewhat confusing classification system of potential cancer hazards. Much media and public attention on glyphosate followed after World Health Organisation subgroup, International Agency for Research … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, health | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

17 Questions About Glyphosate

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

Many worry about pesticides for health or environmental reasons, and the most common target of general concern is undoubtedly glyphosate, the active ingredient in the famous weedkiller RoundUp. I find that the best thing to do when something worries me, is to find out more … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biology, chemistry, environment, health | Tagged | 16 Comments

Environmental Impacts of Farming

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

The Swedish Food Agency (Svenska Livsmedelsverket SLV) recently published a report on a many-faceted breakdown of environmental effects in farming per one kilogram of farming product. This report was also discussed in an opinion piece in the Sweden’s largest newspaper, Dagens Nyheter (under the … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, climate, environment, organic | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Monocultures – the Great Evil of Modern Ag?

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Thoughtscapism

Instead of adding to the cloud of confusion around farming with vague comments on the ills of monoculture, it would be far more fruitful to concentrate on understanding what actually lies behind the grand-sounding concept. Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, environment | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

If You Care About Bees, Look Past Neonicotinoids

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Thoughtscapism

Deciding that neonicotinoids would be the cause of bee problems is a strategy that does not give the bees much cause to celebrate. The evidence points to a whole host of different factors as the main cause for their troubles. Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, environment | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Myth: UN Calls for Small-Scale Organic Farming

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Thoughtscapism

A 2013 UNCTAD report is often falsely cited as UN endorsement of organic farming. The official stance of UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) paints a starkly different picture, promoting an inclusive approach based on science and evidence, not ideology. Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, organic | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments