Sen. Kaine: “Do you believe that there’s no evidence that the flu vaccine has efficacy in reducing serious injury and hospitalization?” Means: *pauses* Sen. Kaine: “This is an easy one, doctor.”

Will Casey Means make headlines during her hearing this Wednesday?? Ag topics we are watching for: 🍎public health messaging on conventional vs organic produce 🧬outlook on technologies deemed safe by USDA/EPA 🌽reactions to White House EO on glyphosate https://t.co/gwe17BuDQA

On the amount of land the world today uses to produce biofuels — an inefficient and ineffective source of “green” energy, sufficient to power just 4 percent of global transportation — enough solar power could be installed to generate all (100%) the world’s electricity needs.

"By making agriculture a central pillar of a whole-of-government effort to scale the bioeconomy, Congress can usher in the innovation needed to secure the future of American agriculture over the long term." Read @EmmaKovak and @EmilyJane_Bass: https://t.co/dDqCjdl6Qe

In my article this morning for @TheBTI I argue the Supreme Court should opt to hear Bayer's appeal of a glyphosate case. The court JUST announced it will do exactly that. Read more for why this is a good thing, regardless of what you think of pesticides:

Means’ vision of a dominant organic food system in the US could mean higher prices for consumers, more environmental degradation, all without straightforward health benefits. More from me on the still pending Casey Means Surgeon Gen nom👇 https://t.co/PjmuGsqIqG

From @SearchlightInst fellow @RBMD1982:

High beef prices ≠ better climate outcomes. @Sentient_Media: "Americans are still eating just as much beef—they’re just getting more of it from overseas. And because foreign beef production is less efficient, those high prices aren’t helping the planet." https://t.co/qYNP6aRjSE

"Congress and the Administration are working together to steer American agriculture deeper into biofuels. If China’s retreat from U.S. soy and corn continues, the political pressure to continue to do so will only intensify." Read @danrejto: https://t.co/gKkLNPu92w

"As national debates over the role of government in our food system continue, bipartisan support for sustained, robust research funding remains critical." Read @EmilyJane_Bass on dodging the MAHA bullet:

What do the American Chestnut tree, the black rat, and the northern white rhinoceros have in common? They're prime targets for conservation through biotech. The upcoming USDA and IUCN decisions are important determinants of biotech’s role in conservation. https://t.co/hRKQptjBz8

Worth reading past the headline! "There’s overwhelming evidence that GMOs are safe, and glyphosate happens to be one of the most benign forms of weed control...Ultimately, the best path would be to develop effective substitutes with even less impact" https://t.co/vQchITVC6Z

Amid a fast news cycle covering the rollback of enviro laws, broader agency reorgs and fed staff layoffs, USDA is quietly doing away with NEPA analysis for ag biotech. The change might speed up reviews but invites legal challenge. Time to weigh tradeoffs:

If you work on agriculture, food systems, carbon removal, methane emissions, animal welfare, deforestation, habitat and biodiversity loss, regenerative solutions, ag biotechnology... this is the webinar for you! One week left to RSVP: https://t.co/WE6hVpXoO2

Uncomfortable truth that limiting support to “green” fertilizer projects that use exclusively zero-emissions technologies locks African producers into high-cost agricultural inputs, exacerbating problems like low local yields & food insecurity. Great stuff from @RyanAlimento ⤵️

SAVE THE DATE: Wed. July 30 @TheBTI webinar on climate and food systems RSVP here: https://t.co/WE6hVpXWDA w/ @MikeGrunwald @p_lehner @jennysplitter

Taking stock of recent federal govt workforce reductions, the administration's budget request for EPA/USDA/FDA, and what ongoing staffing cuts mean for the regulatory offices in charge of ag biotech approvals. https://t.co/3xDQHRIVl0

Mythbusting MAHA (RFJ Jr's "Make America Healthy Again"), with special attention to Glyphosate (RoundUp weedkiller). By Emily Bass in The Breakthrough Journal @TheBTI

A “shift” never happened. A chaotic raid at a worksite and a warrantless sweep in our communities have the same outcome. Bullshit rhetoric aside, they’re hunting us down while we’re trying to feed you. Who’s actually in charge?

"[MAHA is] focusing on issues that are absolutely not going to make an iota of difference in public health. The idea that somehow you’re going to be more aggressively regulating based on the best science, while you’re absolutely wholesale cutting scientific research...is a joke."