CCOF Organic

In a huge win for small farmers and Native communities, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador closed out 2020 by issuing a decree that will phase out the use of the herbicide glyphosate and genetically modified (GM) corn in the country by 2024. More info via Pesticide Action Network North America: http://www.panna.org/bl/mexico-ousts-glyphosate-and-gm-corn

"As farmers, we juggle so much. There typically isn’t any time or energy left for thinking about how we could have done better until winter provides us the opportunity." On the CCOF blog, our guest contributor Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms says winter is the optimal time for farmers to reflect, refine, and refresh for a long farming career: https://ccof.org//reflect-refine-and-refresh-long-farming- : @fabulous_serendipity_farms

Today, as we begin Black History Month, we're sharing Equal Justice Initiative's article on the 12 million acres of land taken from Black landowners and farmers over the last century due to racism and injustice. As part of the agricultural community, we see it as our duty to continue learning about the painful history of racism in agriculture and listening to Black voices as we move into the future. We understand that the history of land theft from Black farmers means that m...any Black farmers have been left out of USDA organic. CCOF is currently conducting a survey of our certified organic producers to collect demographic information and help us understand how we can create a more inclusive organization and organic movement. If you are a CCOF-certified Black farmer, CCOF will compensate you for your time to fill out our survey or otherwise provide feedback. Contact [email protected] for information. See more

At India's Singhu border, Indian environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal proclaims, "Organic farming is the only way forward for the health of coming generations. It is a necessity for a strengthened farming community." More via The Tribune: https://www.tribuneindia.com//at-singhu-border-seechewal-p

We’re making enchiladas placeras on February 18 at Cultivate & Nourish: 2021 CCOF Annual Meeting and Conference, want to join us in the kitchen? We’ll cook with David Robles of FoodWhat Farm and hear from him about how we can work together to cultivate a new food system that is economically sound, ecologically responsible, and socially just. We hope you’ll pull a chair up to the table with us at this special virtual event. Get the recipe and register here: https://ccof.org/cultivate-nourish-2021-ccof-annual-meeting