Big Trouble

In 2019, researchers at University of Washington concluded that using glyphosate increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41 percent.

In the study, published in Mutation Research, researchers wrote that an analysis of human epidemiological studies “suggests a compelling link between exposures to [glyphosate-based herbicides] and increased risk” for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cancer Center / Does glyphosate cause cancer?

Neonicotoids "may adversely affect the development of neurons and brain structures associated with functions such as learning and memory," the European Food Safety Authority statement said.

"Some current guidance levels for acceptable exposure may not be protective enough to safeguard against developmental neurotoxicity and should be reduced."

Guardian / Bee pesticides may 'harm developing brains of unborn babies'

“Studies have reported that prenatal and adult exposures to neonicotinoids are linked with Autism Spectrum Disorder, heart defects, anencephaly, and neurological symptoms.”

Environmental Health / Trends in neonicotinoid pesticide residues in food and water in the United States, 1999–2015

“More than 92 percent of kale had residue from at least two pesticides after washing and peeling the appropriate vegetables, according to the report. Some had up to 18. Almost 60 percent of the kale samples showed residual Dacthal, a pesticide that is known as a possible human carcinogen.”

CNBC / Kale is now one of the most pesticide-contaminated vegetables

1. Problem / Access to foods that are not full of insecticides

2. Problem / Food pricing

3. Problem / Transparency of information

4. Problem / Extreme exposure to farm and landscaping workers

Children must eat what they are fed, what is available to them. (The raisin problem).

Pesticides are connected to learning disabilities, neural damage and hormone disruption, beginning in utero.

“Infants, babies and young children are exquisitely vulnerable to even low levels of pesticide exposure, so it’s important parents and caregivers take steps to safeguard children from these chemicals while also providing them diets rich in healthy fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatric epidemiologist whose work on how pesticides impact infants and children helped inspire the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act."

"The Increase in children with disabilities Is alarming. I really got into the issue of children’s pesticide exposure after reading an article in 1997 that looked at student disabilities in the Madison Metropolitan School District (WI), based on the U.S. Department of Education Federal Child Count Data from 1990-1995.2 The data showed that the number of children in Madison that were emotionally disturbed increased 87%, children with learning disabilities increased 70%, and children with birth defects increased 83% in that five-year period. This is a serious epidemic and yet no one really knows exactly how or why this is happening. It’s not unique; not to Madison, the state of Wisconsin, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Iran or Australia. It seems to be a global phenomenon and the question is why and how is this happening and what can we do about it."

BeyondPesticides / Do Pesticides Affect Learning and Behavior

the National Academies Press / Pesticides In the Diets of Infants and Children

Eutrophication and Algae Bloom

"Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae.[2] This process may result in oxygen depletion of the water body after the bacterial degradation of the algae.[3] One example is an "algal bloom" or great increase of phytoplankton in a pond, lake, river or coastal zone as a response to increased levels of nutrients. Eutrophication is often induced by the discharge of nitrate or phosphate-containing detergents, fertilizers, or sewage into an aquatic system."

Water has become a "commodity."

Wikipedia / [Eutrophication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutrophication#:~:text=Eutrophication%20most%20commonly%20arises%20from,creating%20the%20state%20of%20hypoxia.)

Bloomberg / [California Water Futures Begin Trading Amid Fear of Scarcity](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-06/water-futures-to-start-trading-amid-growing-fears-of-scarcity)

Conventional farming methods release carbon and make tilled soil vulnerable to erosion.

"Regenerative agriculture, a term that is often used synonymously with “carbon farming,” is a set of practices that builds organic matter back into the soil, effectively storing more water and drawing more carbon out of the atmosphere."

NBC / Can regenerative agriculture reverse climate change? Big Food is banking on it.

"There are two problems with monocrops. The first is that they are not conducive to good soil health. The second is that, when all your eggs are in one basket, you’re vulnerable to a devastating loss; think Irish potato famine. Half of our 300 million farmed acres are planted with corn and soy, and that’s a very big basket."

Washington Post / Monocrops: [They’re a problem, but farmers aren’t the ones who can solve it.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/monocrops-theyre-a-problem-but-farmers-arent-the-ones-who-can-solve-it/2014/05/09/8bfc186e-d6f8-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html)

1. Organic Dairy processing and distribution

2. Problem / Loss of farmland to development

3. Problem / Pollinator loss

4. Problem / Farmers aging out

5. Problem / Young farmers saddled with school debt

6. Problem / Diminished farming support systems

7. Problem / Conventional farming methods rely on large farms and the equipment to farm it

Solidify Market Chains for NY farmers

Tourism

Food markets

Healthy schools

Reduction in cancers and future health costs.

Reduction in birth defects.

Reduction in learning disabilities.

Raisin production / code name: the raisin project

Baby foods, formulas + processed/prepared foods manufacturing expands in New York State and products wear the “NY Standard” label

Farming / NYS will attract and retain new and young farmers

Farm support / mechanics, soil specialists, pollinator specialists, beetle bump specialists, etc.

Food handling, processing and storage

Food preparation in schools. Food served to children moves to whole foods prepared on site with the involvement of students.

Healthy food, soil and water in New York State become the default and a daily reality for all New Yorkers.

Anti-racist

Organic* farming will be open to all farmers, without the need for or expense of organic registration. Benefits will be shared with their families and collaborators.

Elimination of chemical run-off

Decrease (elimination?) of eutrophication

Reduction in shipping emissions

Decrease in waste. Product and packaging.

Carbon capture

Soil health

Food security