The so-called “Food Security and Farm Protection Act,” S. 1326, a repackaged version of the EATS Act, would invalidate existing laws banning the cruelest methods of confinement for farm animals.

According to the ASPCA, this would include laws in 15 states, including ballot measures that passed with wide public support.

S. 1326, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), would also stop states from passing new laws regulating agricultural products, creating a disastrous race to the bottom, not just for animal protection, but also for laws that protect farmers, workers, consumers and the environment. The bill would undo over a decade of progress made in improving the lives of farm animals, reduce consumers’ access to more humane animal products, and further encourage the growth of the factory farm industry by eliminating states’ ability to regulate its harmful practices.

TAKE ACTION: Stop the so-called “Food Security and Farm Protection Act,” U.S. Senate Bill 1326!

Dr. André Leu D.Sc., BA Com., Grad Dip Ed.,International Director, Regeneration International:

“Many ancient civilizations, from the Sumerians to the Mayans, collapsed due to environmental degradation that caused severe vapor pressure deficits (VPD), leading to droughts, floods, and crop failures. Today, rising temperatures are increasing VPD globally, stressing plants, drying soils, and intensifying extreme weather events.

However, regenerative agricultural practices like agroforestry and pasture cropping can reverse these effects by maintaining ground cover, improving soil organic matter, and cooling the local climate—helping to restore soil moisture and boost crop resilience.

Research shows that soils rich in organic matter hold significantly more water, reducing erosion and drought impact. Regenerative organic farming systems have proven to outperform conventional agriculture, especially during droughts, by increasing water retention and improving plant health.”

Read why adopting these practices, farmers not only protect the land but also support a stable, productive future with healthier food and a balanced local climate—learning from history to avoid repeating its mistakes

Tom Perkins writes for The Guardian:

“The cookware industry has entered a golden age, largely driven by the wild success of a new generation of ‘nontoxic’ and ‘nonstick’ designer ceramic pans backed by stars including Selena Gomez, Stanley Tucci and Oprah Winfrey.

But the pans are likely not ‘nontoxic’ some independent testing and research suggests. Nor are they even ‘ceramic’ – at least not in the way the public broadly thinks of ceramics. Now, regulators are investigating some of the pan sellers’ claims.

In fact, no legal definition for ‘nontoxic’ or ‘ceramic’ exists, and the marketing has drawn greenwashing accusations exacerbated by the companies concealing their pans’ ingredients.

Independent testing by the consumer protection site Lead Safe Mama detected high levels of titanium in GreenPan, Always Pan and Caraway, pointing to the use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.”

Read how the “non toxic” claims are eliciting regulatory scrutiny and much more about these quasi-ceramic products

By kseniaprints at The Immigrants Table:

“While popular fruits and vegetables often take the spotlight, many lesser-known options pack a powerful nutritional punch. Here are 15 underrated fruits and vegetables that are nutritional powerhouses, offering a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For instance, rutabagas are rich in vitamin C and fiber, while pomegranates are loaded with heart-healthy compounds.

Adding these under appreciated fruits and vegetables to your diet can boost your nutrient intake and introduce new flavors to your meals. Many of these options are versatile and can be used in various dishes, from salads to main courses. They’re often affordable and readily available, making them easy to incorporate into your regular shopping list.

Exploring these nutritional powerhouses can help diversify your diet and improve your overall health. By trying out these fruits and vegetables, you can discover new favorites while giving your body a wider range of essential nutrients. It’s about broadening your food choices and making the most of nature’s less-famous but equally valuable produce.”

This is a surprising and varied list, check it out

Presented by Thousand Hills:

“We are gradually losing our soil, and along with that our rural economies. If we don’t change, suddenly we WILL lose everything. And we’ll no longer be able to nourish ourselves or sustain our American rural way of life. Renewal is possible through Regenerative Agriculture. The restoration of soil and nature. And the revitalization of rural economies. At the grassroots, there are many determined folks who are making this revitalization happen, many who have worked decades, relegated to relative darkness. Not doing it for fame or fortune, but because they knew changes in our food system were necessary for our collective health and future.

These are the stories of the Regenerative Renegades. In this podcast, host and regenerative agriculture expert Matt Maier talks to these passionate, resilient people as they share their stories of trial, hope, and triumph. Are you a Regenerative Renegade? We hope you’ll join us. The opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of Thousand Hills as a presenting partner.

We’re launching something big! Three days. Three episodes. One guest who’s here to tell it how it is. We are kicking off our first-ever Regenerative Renegades podcast series—featuring Alan Lewis, (Alan Lewis Episode One) a Renegade voice in the food world who’s never been afraid to question the system, challenge the narrative, and call out the cracks in big ag.”

Dig into the real story behind our food system—what’s broken, who benefits, and how regeneration changes everything. Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube!

Food Bank News:

“The state of Massachusetts recently reached a milestone in its Food is Medicine journey. As of the beginning of this year, 43 community-based organizations in the state, including many food banks, became Medicaid healthcare providers.

‘They have become just like your doctor,’ said Stephanie Buckler, Deputy Director of Social Services Integration at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. As medically tailored food providers, they’ve gone through all the hoops of getting certified and receiving official identifiers that let them conduct claims transactions in a way that meets federal privacy laws.

‘They’re able to bill Medicaid, they’re able to submit claims, and they’re able to deal with claims that were not paid correctly,’ Buckler said at the Food as Medicine conference in Chicago last week, adding, ‘It is super-exciting to see that.’”



Read how the state of Massachusetts has acted as a key convener of the food providers, providing guidance, infrastructure dollars, connections, as well as legislation favorable to advancing the state’s Food is Medicine ecosystem

Sasha Rogelberg writes for Fortune:

“A Texas bill on the brink of becoming law would crack down on major food manufacturers, requiring them to label products with warnings about ingredients ‘not recommended for human consumption’ under the standards of countries other than the U.S.

Senate Bill 25 would require U.S. food manufacturers to, beginning in 2027, clearly mark products sold in Texas with warning labels that the foods contain certain ingredients like bleached flour and synthetic food dyes that other countries have prohibited or required warnings for. The legislation would impact major food manufacturers like General Mills, whose brands Pillsbury Toaster Strudel contain bleached flour, as well as PepsiCo, the conglomerate behind Doritos and Mountain Dew, which contain dyes.

The bill also outlines requirements for physical education and nutrition education in schools. The legislation reached the desk of Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday.”

Read about how the bipartisan bill’s enactment would also mark a departure from Texas’s history of being a deep-red state with a light touch with regulations, and more

Dave Roos, History:

“When naturalists like John Muir first entered the Yosemite Valley of California in the 19th century, they marveled at the beauty of what they believed to be a pristine wilderness untouched by human hands. The truth is that the rich diversity and stunning landscapes of places like Yosemite and other natural environments in the United States were intentionally cultivated by Native Americans for thousands of years. And their greatest tool was fire.

‘Fire was a constant companion, a kind of universal catalyst and technology,’ says Stephen Pyne, an emeritus professor at Arizona State University, author and fire historian.

Yosemite itself was routinely burned to clear underbrush, open pasture lands, provide nutrient-rich forage for deer, and to support the growth of woodland food crops to feed and sustain what was once a large and thriving Indigenous population.”

Read this enlightening article and about how cultural burning links back to the tribal philosophy of fire as medicine. When you prescribe it, you’re getting the right dose to maintain the abundance of productivity of all ecosystem services to support the ecology in your culture

WATCH: Native Fire

Did you know that noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are the leading cause of mortality worldwide? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these diseases are often caused by environmental factors and lifestyle choices.

The truth about toxic chemicals and pesticides are strongly implicated in the global epidemic of NCDs. But the extent of their role is often overlooked.

To learn more about how crucial this issue is, read ‘The Serious Deficiencies in the Regulation of Toxic Chemicals’ by our International Director of Regeneration International, Dr. André Leu D.Sc., BA Com., Grad Dip Ed

It’s time to take action!

With your support, we can raise awareness about the dangers of toxic chemicals, promote organic and regenerative farming practices and advocate for policy changes that prioritize human health and the environment.

Donate now and join us in the fight against the damaging toxic chemicals that are harming our planet and our lives, and support OCA and Regeneration International’s mission to create a healthier, more organic and regenerative world for all.

Make a tax-deductible donation to Organic Consumers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Make a tax-deductible donation to Regeneration International, our international sister organization

Have you considered making a grant request from your Donor-Advised Fund?

Ayurella Horn-Muller reports for Grist:

“Early this month, after some equivocation, President Donald Trump briefly endorsed the idea to hike taxes on the wealthiest Americans in his budget proposal to Congress. Economists were quick to point out the meager impact a new millionaire tax bracket would have on the ultra-rich, particularly in the context of other proposed tax cuts that would offset any pain points for them. Still, the backlash from Republican members of Congress was swift. They spurned the proposal and instead advanced breaks for wealthier Americans. Last week, that version of Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives and headed to the Senate.

Tax policy isn’t the only way that this bill proposes to further widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor. Though the more than 1,000-page megabill will look somewhat different once it advances through the Senate, analysts say that there are three food and agricultural provisions expected to remain intact: an unprecedented cut to the nation’s nutrition programs; an increase of billions in subsidies aimed at industrial farms; and a rescission of some Inflation Reduction Act funding intended to help farmers deal with the impacts of climate change.”

Read how the drastic policy shifts will make it harder on those who grow food — and on those struggling to afford to eat

Fixing Fashion: The Online Community Making Mending Cool

Real Organic Gifts for Dad

How Exercise May Be the ‘Most Potent Medical Intervention Ever Known’

Study Adds to Findings of Neonic Insecticides’ Threat to Soil Communities; Ground Beetles at Risk

Ancient Indigenous Knowledge Can Outsmart Modern Ag

Half the Tree of Life’: Ecologists’ Horror as Nature Reserves Are Emptied of Insects

How To Care About the Climate and Thrive:
Advice From an Eco Psychologist

USDA Drops Rules Requiring Farmers to Record Their Use of the Most Toxic Pesticides

Try Nature Journaling – A Wonderful Way To Slow Down and Open Our Eyes to the Natural Beauty All Around Us

“It Is An Abomination”: People Are Revealing The Worst Foods In The U.S., And I Really Don’t Know If We Should Be Calling Some Of These “Food”

Senator Proposes Public Lands Sell-off in Big Budget Bill

9 Vegetables That Are Cheaper To Grow Than Buy in Stores – I’ve Grown Them for Years and Know These Crops Can Save You Money

These 9 Countries Have Shockingly Good Healthcare for a Fraction of the Cost

EPA Rollback Plan Threatens Billions in Savings and Thousands of Lives, Analysis Shows

The Toluca Earth Market Is a Key Component of the Slow Food Farms Network in Mexico