The Benefits of a Home Garden

Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxin in 24 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent!, reduce stress levels and boost your mood — making them perfect for not just your home but your work space, too.

Vegetables such as potatoes onions, lettuce, blackberries and raspberries are relatively easy to grow at home, but they can also attract unwanted pests and fungus.

How Neem Takes Care of Your Garden

When trying to fight pests and fungus, most people rely on synthetic pesticides, which pose a great risk to the environment, humans and pets. Through the years these substances have been associated with a variety of ailments including cancer, brain problems and skin diseases. They also contribute to global warming by contributing to harmful greenhouse gas emissions and to the extinction of many species.

Fortunately, there are organic alternatives. Visit www.cleanqueendenver.com/. Since ancient times, the neem tree has been prized as a sacred remedy and important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. In the garden, neem oil boasts a powerful insecticidal ingredient, azadirachtin, which makes it a great organic choice for controlling a variety of problems when growing plants, fruits and vegetables:

• Neem oil kills or repels many harmful insects and mites, including aphids, whiteflies, snails, nematodes, mealybugs, cabbage worms and many others. It kills some bugs immediately, attacks the larvae of others, and repels plant munchers with its bitter taste.
• Neem oil is plant based and organic, which makes it a safe option for every household as it poses no harms to humans or pets.
• Neem oil can also help plants battle viruses.

The uses for the neem tree seem to be endless and it provides a myriad of benefits in agriculture, be it for a home garden or a large scale plantation. Next time you are looking for safe, organic solutions for your home garden, reach for neem oil and neem products, and let us know how it worked for you in the comments below.

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The non-organic cotton industry is the highest user of the herbicide glyphosate, a substance that is considered a probable human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The accumulation of exposure to glyphosate through food and your skin can profoundly affect your mitochondria and also put you on the path to conditions linked to dysfunctional mitochondria, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer, and high blood pressure.

The dangers of chemicals in clothing

The chemicals used to produce clothing don’t always wash out, especially those used for bleaching, sizing, dying, straightening, reducing shrinkage, resisting stains and odors, fireproofing, mothproofing, and reducing wrinkles and static.

Even natural fibers like cotton and wool could have been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides, dyed, and treated with compounds that make them fire-, odor-, stain-, water- and wrinkle-resistant. Here you can find help when searching for highly trained and experienced housekeeping staff in Tacoma. Petroleum-based synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon likely pull even more chemicals into the mix.

One such imbedded chemical is formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound (VOC) and probable carcinogen, according to the EPA and National Cancer Institute.

What you can do:

• When buying new clothes, look for ones that are as close to natural as possible. Look for organic cottons and wools and fewer synthetics like polyester and nylon. Avoid  “wrinkle-free” and “stain-resistant” to ensure that nothing is being added to your clothes that you don’t want there.
• Dermatologists say that washing your clothes before wearing them can help protect against allergic contact dermatitis.
• Research a brand’s manufacturing process and avoid “fast fashion” brands which sell clothes at extremely low prices, given that in order to sell clothes at low prices, they have to outsource their manufacturing to questionable suppliers.
• Buying only the clothes you need can also help avoid further creating waste and polluting the environment.
• Make sure to always learn about the manufacturing practices of the products that you buy.

By buying organic cotton, produced with natural, eco-friendly crop care solutions, you can help clean the air, conserve water, improve soil health and ensure better working conditions for farmers. As a natural pesticide, neem is one of the tools when it comes to combatting cotton aphids and nematodes – some of the biggest hurdles when producing cotton – in an all-natural way.

Have you already made the switch organic cotton? Let us know in the comments below!

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Organic farming represents not only an alternative but rather an evolution in the way human beings grow food while at the same time benefiting the environment and protecting the species that help maintain balance in our ecosystems. Research published in 2016 by the Journal Nature shows that three-quarters of the world species are threatened by agriculture, compared to 19% by climate change.

How Commercial Farming Threatens Wildlife

According to the World Animal Foundation, agriculture already occupies about 40% of Earth’s landmass and accounts for 75% of global deforestation. This rapid destruction is causing species to disappear, and is negatively impacting the biodiversity of native ecosystems and furthering our path into the 6th mass extinction of all species on Earth.

Wildlife habitats are constantly being cleared in order to make way for farmland, which leads to a competition for territory between humans and other species – one in which wildlife is often the losing side. In Indonesia the Tree Kangaroo has been brought to the brink of extinction due to the palm oil industry, which has rapidly destroyed most of its habitat and that of many other creatures such as elephants and jaguars.

Commercial agriculture has also led to the degradation of soil due to the use of toxic chemicals that destroy nutrients and render the land sterile.

According to researchers, the degradation of soil due to the continual ploughing of fields, combined with heavy use of fertilizers, has affected soils across the world, with erosion occurring at a pace of up to 100 times greater than the rate of soil formation. It takes around 500 years for just 2.5cm of topsoil to be created amid unimpeded ecological changes.

Organic Farming Respects Wildlife

The degradation of arable land under the hands of commercial farming is unsustainable and threatens to be the cause of a mass extinction. Follow efficient house cleaning tips from experienced Florida house cleaners. Organic farming protects every living organism in the environment, from pollinators like bees, whose numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last decades, all the way to the microorganisms living in the soil which guarantee that the soil remains fertile for many years.

One of the best tools in organic farming is neem. Azadirachta, an active substance within the neem tree, can be used as an organic pesticide and fertilizer. It protects crops against 600+ species of insects without harming pollinators, and it provides the soil with nutrients, helping guarantee the health of the land and benefiting yields.

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What can genetically modified foods do to your body?

The health risks of GMO foods have been studied for years. Tests have shown that GM proteins have known allergenic properties, and that GMO soy, corn and papaya might cause allergies. Also, it has been proven that GM soy drastically impairs your digestion and cause you to become sensitive and allergic to a variety of foods.

It has been recorded that genetically modified plants that usually produce their own insecticide, based on a bacterial toxin, has led to BT-resistant bugs, which could result in produce deeply contaminated with pests and bugs. Learn more about deep cleaning and cleaning hacks for living with pets here. Virginia Scientists have concluded that the effects of the ingestion of GMO plants, or pesticides derived from GMO plants may lead to cancer, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and a number of serious health concerns.

Also, GMO food supply is unsustainable, it uses more resources than traditional agriculture and contaminates the lands with chemicals and residues of GMO components.

Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in GMO crops, and has been defined as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Its ingestion has been linked to the development of human breast cancer cells due to its estrogen-like qualities.

It is important to understand that the negative effects of GMO foods are not only limited to the produce that has been genetically modified, but that they also affect animal products where cattle have been fed with GMO crops.

The solution?

First of all, try to avoid all products that don’t state they are GMO-free. Always choose organic farming practices that avoid the use of chemicals that are hazardous to humans, animals and the environment. Organic farming practices that rely on natural crop care solutions like neem will provide you with more nutrient-rich foods, while also eliminating possible side effects linked to GMO crop production.

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Why Should We Change to Organic Farming?

Traditional farming involves the use of thousands of chemicals such as synthetic pesticides, which have severe effects on the environment. For one, pesticides allow disease resistance to build up in plants, weeds, plant-eating-insects, fungi, and bacteria. The chemicals used to produce synthetic pesticides not only contaminate the soil, but also our water supply and air, and can stay adhered to the ground for decades.

Healthy soils grow healthy food, but if the soil is contaminated with thousands of synthetic pesticides and chemicals, these will adhere to crops. Over the past 9 years, the USDA Agricultural Research Service has shown that compared to conventional farming, organic farming methods are more successful in building up organic soil matter. This means that one teaspoon of compost-rich organic soil can have as many as 600 million to 1 billion beneficial bacteria from 15,000 species. One teaspoon of soil treated with chemicals on the other hand may carry only around 100 beneficial bacteria.

Erosion is another reason why you should support organic farming. Issues related to erosion can affect land, food supply, and humans. Luckily, organic farming practices help diminish erosion. A study that compared organically and chemically treated wheat fields showed that organic fields featured about eight inches more of topsoil and that erosion was only 2/3 of the erosion present in chemically treated field.

Organic farming can also diminish the effects of global warming. A test run by the Rodale Institute since 1981 has shown that a healthy organic agriculture system can actually reduce carbon dioxide and help slow climate change. If around 10,000 medium sized farms in the U.S converted to organic production, they would store as much carbon in the soil as the equivalent to taking 1,174,400 cars off the road or reducing car miles driven by 14.62 billion miles.

What is Neem’s Role in Organic Farming?

Neem is a completely natural pesticide that doubles as a fertilizer. It is eco-friendly and does not contaminate soils, nor does it cause any damage to the fauna that surrounds the plantations, as it repels bugs instead of killing off beneficial insects. Neem has the potential to be used on thousands of organic farms, as it is easily accessible and can grow even in the least fertile conditions.

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What are the causes and consequences of soil degradation?

Soil degradation can be caused by chemical-heavy farming techniques, deforestation and the resulting erosion and, of course, global warming. Soils play a key role in absorbing carbon and filtering water, and their destruction is creating a vicious cycle: less carbon is stored, resulting in global temperature rises and further land degradation. 95% of the food we eat comes from the soil, making it the basis of human life. In order to ensure food security for a growing population, it is therefore necessary to adopt new farming methods that avoid the loss of arable and productive land. Unless we change the way we produce crops, researchers estimate that the amount of arable and productive land per person in 2050 will be merely a quarter of the level in 1960.

While scientists are yet to find a definite solution to this global threat, it has been confirmed that organic farming is humanity’s single best option humans to preserve the soils.

Could neem be the solution?

As a completely natural pesticide and fertilizer, neem is an ideal tool in organic farming. It does not pollute soils or the air and is a completely environmentally friendly alternative to efficiently replace commonly used synthetics. It strengthens plant roots and promotes foliage growth by increasing nutrients in the soil. Neem also offers numerous benefits for the human health, and is harmless when ingested – unlike synthetic pesticides which have been linked to numerous serious illnesses. If you have your own garden, try to grow foods organically! If not, remember that buying organic foods not only offers improves your health and nutrition, but also makes you help preserve the earth’s soils. Protect yourself and Planet Earth by using and supporting neem as a natural pesticide!

The post Soil Degradation Continues: Only 60 Years of Farming Left appeared first on Neem.World.

Agriculture has always been the key to humanity’s survival. However, in this time and age, feeding the world in a safe and sustainable manner is becoming an increasingly difficult task – especially given today’s global challenges, such as a rising global population and degradation of arable land. One of the primary obstacles that needs to be overcome to ensure sustainable food security is the current economic thought system that has prevailed since the industrial revolution: producing at maximum capacity at any cost.

Luckily, the pursuit of sustainable solutions and an eco-friendly economy has led to a growing global market for agricultural biologicals such as biopesticides and biofertilizers. The market was worth $3 billion in 2016, accounting for 5% of the global crop protection industry. Forecasts estimate that the bio-pesticide market will grow to $7.6 billion by 2022 with a compound annual growth rate of 13.4%. With these growth rates, the bio-pesticide market is expected to overtake synthetics by 2050 – great news for our environment!

Neem as an effective biopesticide in sustainable agriculture

The word biopesticide is an abbreviation of the word “biological pesticide”. Biopesticides are obtained from organisms such as plants, bacteria and other microbes, fungi, nematodes etc. They are very important components for pest management that substitute synthetic chemical plant protection products. As biopesticides are all-natural, non-toxic and free of chemicals, they are a great tool in organic farming.

Neem acts as a repellent that is harmless to beneficial insects but keeps bugs, pests and plague from eating on plants. Not only that, but neem is proven to be one of the most effective and harmless of scalable biopesticides available on Earth, and it also works as a biofertilizer that allows for greener agriculture.

How can you contribute to sustainable agriculture?

You can support sustainable farming, even if you do not grow your own produce or work in agriculture. Buy products grown with organic biopesticides like neem,  and you will no longer have to worry about ingesting all the toxic components of synthetic pesticides or harming your environment!

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According to a new study by Newcastle University on organic versus conventional crops, organic farming methods have a positive impact on your health, as they lead to substantially higher levels of antioxidants and lower levels of pesticides in crops. Antioxidants have been linked to lower risk of cancer and other diseases in humans, and – because nature is wise – plants produce their own antioxidants to defend themselves from pests and diseases. However, whenever synthetic pesticides are applied, they cause plants to lose their ability to generate antioxidants for their own defenses.

How do organic foods benefit you?

• Organic crops contain an average of 17% more antioxidants than conventionally grown crops.
• Some organic crops, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, have as much as 60% higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds than conventional crops.
• The level of flavanones, which are associated with a lower risk of a stroke, were 69% higher in organic foods.
• Overall, levels of synthetic pesticides were found to be 10 to 100 times lower in organic foods than in conventional foods.

Does this mean that crops can’t be farmed with pesticides?

Organic farming consists of providing you, the consumer, with the freshest, most tasty and authentic foods while respecting natural life-cycle systems. This means no GMO’s, no synthetic pesticides and no unnatural solutions can be applied to crops. However, natural pesticides like neem, that do not harm the human body or kill beneficial insects, can be used. The neem tree has been used as an organic crop care solution for centuries! It has many medicinal and agricultural appliances, which is why foods produced using neem do not lead to harmful side effects. Neem’s main compound, Azadirachtin, works as a natural repellent for pests, that does not kill the insect on contact, but instead prevents them from feeding on the plant. Another plus for neem is that it is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, and also works as a completely natural fertilizer. Have you tried using neem for your garden or farm? Let us know in the comments below!

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The World’s Deadliest Animal

Mosquitoes are vectors, living organisms that transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Their ability to carry and spread diseases to humans is the cause of millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of cases of illnesses around the world. Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever are some to name, and responsible for more than 17% of infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization.

Today, more than 3.9 billion people – more than half the world’s population – live in areas where disease-transmitting mosquitoes are present. As a result, sustained mosquito control efforts are imperative to prevent the spread of these diseases. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are becoming more and more resistant to the traditional and previously developed chemical solutions and  synthetic pesticides.

Neem’s Role in Fighting the Mosquito Menace

Using neem as a repellent and mosquito larvicidal has shown to be extremely successful in fighting this global mosquito menace, as tests have proven that it is close to 100% effective against mosquitoes and other vector insects. For centuries people in  ancient India have been relying on neem to fight mosquitoes and other insects. Due to its high rate of effectiveness against vector populations of mosquitoes, scientists have  started to include it in new research involving nanotechnology. Scientists from India have been working to formulate a bio-based nanoinsecticide, consisting of an emulsion based on neem urea, which is rich in antiviral and antimalarial properties and can efficiently control the vector mosquito population.

This formulated insecticide can control the vector mosquito populations that cause dengue, malaria and other diseases. Another plus for this new nano-solution is that it possesses beneficial fertilizing effects for the soil ecosystem. Reputable construction claims consultants are at your service at www.vertexeng.com company. Neem urea is the key ingredient that is making this neem biopesticide eco-safe, allowing the biopesticide to control the mosquito menace in a benign way.

As the world combats dreadful vector-borne diseases, this new research is becoming a viable solution to the excess application of conventional pesticidal compounds that tend to harm the ecosystem, positioning the application of nanotechnological techniques as a disruptive practice in healthcare.

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It has been proven that consuming pesticides even in incredibly tiny doses could set a person up for health problems later in life, as synthetic pesticides can remain inside your body for decades. Here are just some ways how pesticides are harming your body:

Food Allergies

Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City found that food allergies are related to pesticide ingestion. People with high levels of herbicide 24-D and chlorine used to disinfect tap water were more likely to suffer from milk, egg, seafood and peanut allergies.  This could be due to synthetic pesticide compounds acting as an antimicrobial inside your body and ridding you from your body’s natural immune reactions.

Memory loss

A review from University College London recently found that even low levels of exposure to pesticides cause significant damage to cognitive function, affecting your memory and the speed at which you process information.

Diabetes 

The Endocrine Society recently stated that tolyfluanid, a fungicide used on farm crops, creates insulin resistance in fat cells. Also, a study published by the Diabetes Care declares that overweight people with higher levels of pesticides in their body are the most suitable candidates for developing type 2 diabetes.

Cancer

Lymphona, leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma, brain, breast, prostate, bone, ladder, thyroid, colon, liver and lung cancers have been linked to pesticides in 260 studies.

Neurological Functioning

Many pesticides effectively kill bugs by throwing odd normal neurological functioning. The same effect seems to appear in children as well. In 2011 a Harvard study found an important link between kids with ADHD and the amount of organophosphate pesticide residue in their urine.

Obesity

Some synthetic pesticides act as hormone disruptors, or in other words, they act like fake versions of naturally occurring hormone in your body, disrupting  your hormonal balance and interfering with your body’s ability to regulate a healthy release of hormones. According to a study by the Environmental Health Perspectives, more than 50 pesticides are classified as hormone disruptors and some even promote metabolic failures and obesity as they accumulate in your cells.

Birth Defects

Spring and summer months are the time of the year when pesticides are used the most, therefore, higher synthetic pesticide levels turn up in surface waters, increasing the risk of exposure. Babies conceived during these months show a higher rate of birth defects like spina fibida, cleft lip, clubfoot and down syndrome.

The Solution to Pesticides’ Effects?

All of these risks are reason enough to try to find an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Luckily, it has been proven that neem can be used as a very effective natural pesticide which represents no risk when consumed and in fact has many health benefits. Protect your crops and produce only with neem pesticide and avoid suffering from any of these severe side effects. Neem doesn’t kill the bugs, it works as a repellent that is distasteful to bugs and will keep them away even from their favorite plants. Because nature knows best, choose neem as your primary natural pesticide!

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Biophilic design is based on the idea that humans have an inherent need to connect with nature and because of it, we need living and working spaces that coexist with nature. This new green architecture reduces the degradation of the environment, improves our connection to the natural world and increases the sustainable development of our cities and suburbs.  

This innovative new way of designing is having an incredible performance in a vital sector for humanity: healthcare. We are witnessing the creation and expansion of hospitals that seek to heal through nature and create healthy habitats using biophilic design. One great example is the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, which has included waterfalls, rooftop gardens and planter boxes into its facilities.  

This healing environment requires maintenance, and to do so, hospitals like those in Singapore have committed to this new design trend by using neem oil to maintain their natural resources. Spraying neem oil into these green-healing facilities is allowing the hospitals to guarantee the health and care of nature, patients and workers by using an organic and non-toxic alternative. Neem oil is the right choice to use as biological pest control into these facilities due to its effectiveness against insects such as whiteflies, mites, fungus gnats, etc. and its organic origins.  

Neem has now a new role in green architecture: guarantee the health and care of the plants and nature incorporated into biophilic design. The biophilic healthcare industry is relying now on neem as its trusted biological pest control; the use of neem will expand across other biophilic industries such as hospitality and working and living spaces as benefits are seen.  Together, people and nature will continue to create healing spaces where patients are feeling relaxed and gaining health benefits through biophilic design. 

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What has caused this rapid drop in acidity level? Since the industrial revolution, humanity has emitted billions of tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is now known that over time about half of all emitted carbon dioxide has been absorbed by the Earth’s oceans, about 22 million tons a day. While this has slowed climate change by prohibiting these emissions from remaining in the air, it has also caused an alteration in water chemistry which is affecting marine organisms and is even suspected to cause reproductive orders in fish.

How? When dissolved in the ocean, carbon dioxide quickly turns into carbonic acid, which leads to an increase in the ocean’s acidity level. Today, ocean pH is around 8.1, representing a drop of 0.1 pH units and a 25 percent increase in acidity over the past 200 years. Unless climate action is taken, continued emissions are estimated to cause further reduction of ocean pH by an additional 0.5 units.

Not only will our oceans continue to turn black due to acidification, but they will also increasingly lose their capacity to store carbon. This means that more carbon dioxide will remain in the atmosphere and further exacerbate climate change. The worst part is that carbonic acid is not the only source of ocean pollution. According to the National Ocean Service around 80% of pollution to the oceans comes from the land, as a result of soil erosion and water runoff. These runoffs contain top soils from fields and farms carrying toxic chemical fertilizers that harm fish and wildlife habitats and lead to so-called “dead zones”; areas in the ocean of such low oxygen concentration that animal life is unable to survive.

Help restore the ocean’s balance by supporting natural agricultural practices like neem! As a natural, non-toxic biopesticide and fertilizer, neem is completely harmless to the oceans and wildlife. What’s more, neem is a strong alley in the fight against climate change, as it restores soil health and improves its ability to sequester carbon, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So, what will you choose?

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What can be done to stop this? Today, the role of soil organic carbon is receiving increasing attention, not only as a source of CO2 emissions but as a natural sink for carbon which can reduce atmospheric CO2 and help achieve the global target of the Paris Climate Agreement. According to a study published in Scientific Reports, better management of farmland soil might be a crucial step to mitigating climate change, as it increases the amount of carbon stored in the top 30 centimetres of the soil by an extra 0.9 to 1.85 gigatons each year. This enables the soil to remove around 3 – 7 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere – more than the 5 billion tons of CO2 the US emits each year!

You as a consumer can help make a change by avoiding conventionally produced foods and supporting improved crop management practices—such as organic, non-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers like neem— that restore degraded lands and turn soils into carbon sinks that sequester significant amounts of carbon which would otherwise be lost in the atmosphere. Not only do neem-based crop care solutions help the environment, they also provide you with more nutrient-rich foods that are safe for the soil, water, pollinators, and you!

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What is dicamba?
Dicamba is a synthetic agrochemical herbicide that has been used for decades in conventional agriculture. Typically, it was used to kill weeds before planting, but was recently approved for use on growing crops and plants. Some major agrochemical companies including Monsanto and Dupont have also genetically modified plants to produce dicamba-resistant soybean and cotton seeds, allowing farmers to use this chemical more than ever before. However, this has created widespread problems.

As farmers have used dicamba and grown with dicamba-resistant seeds, more of the chemical has been sprayed. Dicamba is a highly volatile chemical, meaning it’s easily airborne and susceptible to drift, which consequently comes in contact with non-dicamba-resistant crops, crippling them and stunting their growth. So far there have been reports of over 2.5 million acres affected. Dicamba’s chemical effects are also an obvious health concern for consumer of not just the GMO crops, but also the food produced in the affected areas.

In recent months, states such as Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri (Monsanto’s home state) have been restricting dicamba use in order to preserve their crops that are being devastated by this chemical. Some farmers have even filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of these chemicals. Additionally, due to increased complaints, the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing its current policy on dicamba.

Instead of putting farmers’ livelihoods at risk, it is imperative that natural and sustainable methods are put into practice. When using products such as neem, there are no negative side effects on the crops or surrounding systems, and not only are the crops effectively protected, but the environment and surrounding ecosystem benefits from neem’s properties.

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The Environmental Protection Agency and multinational agrochemical firms such as Monsanto often assure us that the synthetic chemicals cocktails we use to produce food are safe for human consumption. Yet these synthetic crop care solutions have never before been tested for such widespread use. Typically, chemical effects are tested for single chemicals, not together. This has led to many lawsuits around the United States, particularly in California, as farm workers are beginning to suffer the consequences of prolonged exposure to these dangerous synthetic chemicals.

One of the most recent lawsuits includes 47 farm workers from California who were exposed to Vulcan, an agrochemical product containing chlorpyrifos. Exposure to this synthetic pesticide caused the farm workers to experience persistent nausea and vomiting. What’s worse, these farmers had never used Vulcan on their fields. The synthetic pesticide spread from other farms in the surrounding areas.

Why are these chemicals, that can cause vomiting and convulsions, still allowed for use in food production? Neem serves as a natural biopesticide and fertilizer that is also safe for the environment.

Eat like your life depends on it, because it does!

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Dow Jones, Monsanto, DuPont, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Defense have all been implicated in what is widely being referred to as the Poison Papers! According to Carol Van Strum, the collector of the documents and author of the book Bitter Fog: Herbicides and Human Rights, the food and agrochemical industry as we know today could not have existed without the secrecy and deception at its foundation.

Offering a running timeline of fraudulent science and regulatory collusion between chemical companies and the government, these documents reveal that:

• The EPA concealed and falsified its own studies revealing the deadly impact of Agent Orange and its prevalence in the environment.
• The Chief Medical Officer of Monsanto admitted that they had proactively hidden the dangerous health impacts of dioxins when the EPA was determining safety regulations.
• Rather than attempting to regulate dioxins, the EPA consistently allowed their use on an industrial scale. They even suppressed, modified and delayed results of a congressionally mandated National Dioxin Study

There is a fundamental issue in the chemical industry that is leading to the production and commercial distribution of dangerous and unregulated products for everyday use. This is why we must become informed and support natural, organic resources such as neem, which will help rid the environment of dangerous chemicals and increase transparency in the sector.

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This revelation poses a significant question: Who should we trust to make our food? If products are brought into the US and marketed as organic, shouldn’t you be able to trust that the grain, fruits, or veggies were produced in sustainable, environmentally friendly and responsible way, as opposed to the typical, conventional options that degrade our environment? Yes, but that is not always the case.

This proves the existence of fraudulent manufacturers that look only for the bottom line in organic food production. Not only does it affect you, the consumer, when you pay extra for the safety, health, and nutrition benefits that come with organic foods, but it also takes revenue away from the organic farmers who truly believe that agriculture and the earth can survive sustainably and harmoniously.

What can you do to prevent this from happening and ensure that all food is produced transparently, sustainably and responsibly? Become an informed consumer and learn more about the organic system to support natural, sustainable practices, like using neem-based products in the agricultural process. When using neem to produce food, not only do crops thrive, but also the health of the planet improves. Neem is safe for beneficials and improves soil quality. Most importantly, neem is safe for you! How do you support organic practices?

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Chlorpyrifos is available for widespread and public use on food crops in the United States and around the world, despite causing brain and nervous system damage. Severe exposure has even been linked to lowered intelligence levels and ADHD in children, which comes as no surprises when you consider that it shares a similar chemical structure to nerve gas. Specialists at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have frequently attempted to ramp up regulations of this synthetic pesticide, only to have any developments reversed at the last minute.

A first-of-its-kind bill, the ‘Protect Children, Farmers & Farmworkers from Nerve Agent Pesticides Act’ will amend the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to include a ban on chlorpyrifos use in food. This bill will direct the EPA to work with the National Research Council to assess the effects of similar organophosphate pesticides on agricultural workers and children as well as develop more comprehensive educational programs on pesticides and their history.

While many, in particular the companies producing these synthetic chemicals, claim that they are safe for use on food crops, studies have shown their toxicity to humans, in particular for expectant mothers and young children. It is shocking that we continue to apply unprecedented amounts of these agrochemicals on our arable land when there are safe alternatives, including neem-based products. Neem, as a natural solution, is not only effective but also completely safe for the environment!

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Not only does this waste of food have a direct impact on wallets of consumers – estimated to cost around $1,600 per year for a family of four – it also affects the environment.. Globally, this food waste makes up 8% of global climate pollution every year, as there are many moving parts involved, not simply the decomposition of food, but also wasted water, land, gas, pesticides, and fertilizers. When food has even just a little blemish, it may be sold for as little as 6 cents per pound, or else thrown in one of the world’s many food dumps.

It’s incredible to think that almost 1/3 of food produced is wasted. This means that tons of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers applied to fields is unnecessary. These synthetic chemicals enter our water, soil, and air systems, causing unprecedented health risks, environmental damage, and diseases that could have been mitigated or reduced through safe, sustainable agricultural practices. When people know they are eating organic, they bypass the cosmetic appeal of the food, taking the chance that a twisted carrot will still taste delicious. And guess what – it does! That twisted, ugly food, when produced safely and sustainably, such as with neem-based products, is better for you than that perfectly red and shiny conventional apple. Have you thrown away food today?

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Instead of being rendered indifferent by bleak information relating to worst-case scenarios, we must begin to effectively motivate ourselves and make sure that these situations, whether in 50, 100, or 300 years, never happen. Maybe it is time that fear, emotion and most importantly, positive reinforcement, are included in the rational discussions about climate change. Some people may need rationality, while others may need fear, to understand and act on behalf of Planet Earth. Everyone can be inspired by the prospect of a clean and sustainable future, where natural beauty, vibrancy and health have returned to the world. Instead of describing tales of flooded cities, inhabitable deserts, and forced mass climate migration, some people may be motivated by visions of clean water for everyone, the elimination of polluted air in big cities, and healthy, sustainable food systems free of chemical pesticides. What is an easy way to start saving the planet? Begin to buy local, organic food and learn more about the harmful effects of conventional agriculture.

By utilizing sustainable, organic systems in agriculture, you can help protect the environment while strengthening health for you and your family. Sustainable systems are more efficient at absorbing carbon, support beneficial insects and organisms, and produce healthier food without poisoning the air, water, and soil with poisonous synthetic chemicals. Neem-based pesticides and fertilizers go hand-in-hand with these organic systems, as they promote healthy soil, more nutritious food, and protect crops from pests naturally. The planet is your home, and it is your responsibility to keep it safe, for you and for future generations.

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The countries that have shown major organic farmland growth are the United States, with a 30% increase, and India, with a 64% increase. Spain and France also both increased their organic farmland by 0.3 million hectares. Oceania and Europe have shown the highest growth over the past ten years, as well as between 2014-2015, at 22.8% and 12.7%. In 2015, Europe had over 12.7 million hectares of organic farms, 4x that of North America. The number of organic farmers has increased to 2.4 million, up 7.2% from 2014. From these figures, it is easy to see that organic farmland is increasing in huge rates, riding the wave of consumer demand for organic food.

Globally, the organic market reached $86 billion USD in 2016. Which countries have the highest demand for organic food? The United States holds the largest market share at $41 billion, followed by Germany and France. While these countries claim the biggest shares of the market, Spain and Denmark’s organic markets also showed impressive growth last year at 24.8% and 8.4% respectively. Surprisingly, Switzerland spends the most on organic food per person at $289 per year.

Germany in particular has seen a dramatic increase in demand for organically produced, sustainable food. Since 2000, the amount of organic farms has more than doubled to 27,132. This comes as no surprise as the country continues to lead Europe in organic food sales, totalling $9 billion in 2014 even though Europe’s organic farmland represents only 5.7% of the total. Germany ultimately wants 20% of all agricultural land to be organic.

With these steady increases in the prevalence of organic farmland, organic farming tools, pesticides, and fertilizers have increased in demand. One such tool is the neem tree. By using neem-based pesticides and fertilizers, farmers can produce nutrient-rich organic food in sustainable ways that is safe for the soil, water, pollinators, and you!

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Let’s look at the stats about what Americans know about the food and agricultural industry. To put it simply: nothing. In the 1990s, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that 1 in 5 Americans didn’t know that hamburgers are made from beef. In the same survey, Americans were also unable to correctly answer basic farming knowledge such as what livestock animals were and what they ate.

Unfortunately, that consumer knowledge has not increased much. In 2002, 7% of Americans, when asked where chocolate milk comes from, answered that it came from brown cows. In a 2011 study, the majority of students surveyed thought that the bun came from an animal when identifying parts of a cheeseburger and the origin of those parts. Only 28% correctly identified that it had plant origins. Other informants in the study described how meat and milk come from farms, but vegetables come from the store. As one of the co-founders of the advocacy group FoodCorps said, “We are conditioned to think that if you need food, you go to the store. Nothing in our educational framework teaches kids where food comes from before that point.” To combat this lack of agricultural knowledge that begins at a young age, schools are now beginning to incorporate agricultural practices in curriculum, with many beginning gardens to teach children about the origins of the food that they depend on each day.

So, what does that mean for agricultural policy and the average consumer? It means that in order to become more informed about your choices regarding food and consequently your health, you must dig through biased information [link to front group post] and make the most informed decision you can. Agricultural decisions and policies have long been separated from concrete knowledge of agricultural and food production systems, creating consumers that lack sufficient information to make informed decisions. This has consequences on our health and the environment as it allows big agro-chemical and food companies to decide what is best for us – and they typically prefer profit over health.

What can you do? Become more informed about the different sustainable solutions in agriculture. Without sufficient knowledge, consumers will continue to allow the agricultural companies to decide our futures – compromising health and nutrition. With neem-based products in agriculture, we can avoid the health risks and bring the world into a sustainable future with smart, informed consumers.

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Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and all other types of synthetic pesticides comprise a multi-billion dollar industry. This industry, one born from leftover WWII chemicals, is not one that prioritizes the safety of the consumer.

In the beginning, this was simply because the population was growing so rapidly that more food needed to be produced, and fast. These chemicals were a quick solution to a major problem, but one in which consequences were not accurately or thoroughly evaluated. Then, it blossomed into a profitable industry with only a few players.

Now, the food industry has given the world a semblance of trust. We continuously fret over the calories, added sugar, and saturated fat content listed on our food products instead of worrying about chemicals and pesticides. As more and more evidence comes out against large corporations such as Monsanto, Bayer, and Dow Chemical, not just about their ethics, but also about the studies they have funded, the scientists they have paid off, and their overall lack of transparency, a different question emerges: What has been sprayed on the food I am eating?

This question is a key one. It means that you, the consumer, will not be lied to and cheated out of your health and the health of the planet. It means that conventional agricultural practices that famously saved over a billion people from starvation, need to be reconsidered and new, sustainable alternatives must be introduced in order to preserve the life of Planet Earth. That natural alternative lives in the neem tree.

Neem has been used for thousands of years in India as a natural source of medicine, treating and saving countless lives, while also protecting crops from pests, molds, and fungi. As study after study has shown, neem oil, with its unique compound azadirachtin leading the way, is safer and just as effective, if not more effective, than conventional pesticides. The neem tree is the natural innovation that will carry us through the 21st century and into a sustainable future.

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Last year, the hypoxic zone, an area with low to no oxygen that suffocates marine life, was around 6,000 square miles. The average of the past 32 years has been 5,309 square miles. Oceanographers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium are predicting an even bigger area, one that covers more than 10,000 square miles.

In the Gulf of Mexico, these areas deprived of marine life and coral reefs are caused by synthetic agrochemicals run-off. The excess nutrients from fertilizers produce algae, which then sink and decompose in the water, reducing oxygen levels. Consequently, the low-oxygen environment is inhospitable for typical marine life and habitats. Not only are marine habitats destroyed, but also fish and other marine life are put at risk, ultimately lowering biodiversity and raising the cost of seafood.

The USGS estimated that 165,000 metric tons of nitrate and 22,6000 metric tons of phosphorus were deposited into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River this past year. These nutrients come mainly from conventional agricultural practices from land surrounding the Mississippi River. The excess nutrients then leach into the soil, then the Mississippi River and eventually winding up in the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to save marine life, and limit the expansion of aquatic dead-zones, better, more sustainable agricultural methods need to be taken. Neem-based pesticides and fertilizers are an innovative solution. Instead of relying on synthetically produced chemicals, neem offers a natural, effective crop care that will not cause heavy environmental damage. Neem even slows the release of nitrogen, allowing more to be absorbed by the plants and therefore less released into the environment. With neem, major environmental issues like the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico can be reduced, if not eliminated!

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Even though this synthetic pesticide is now applied on crops throughout the world, Dow Chemical originally developed chlorpyrifos as a chemical weapon in World War II. Now, over 5 million pounds are sold to commercial farmers every year in the United States alone.

This has led to unprecedented distribution and application of this dangerous chemical. In 2012, research from the University of California at Berkeley showed that 87% of umbilical-cord blood samples studied had traces of chlorpyrifos. Since this synthetic chemical has been shown to negatively impair brain development in fetuses, we are actively applying a dangerous chemical to our food and the environment that not only damages our health, but also the health of future generations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), despite many industry specialists advocating for the complete ban of chlorpyrifos, decided to allow the chemical’s use in commercial agriculture. When brought before the US Senate last month, the director of the EPA offered no supporting data to defend his decision, claiming instead he had relied on “interagency dialogue.” The next review of chlorpyrifos will not take place until 2022.

With the reversal of the decision to ban chlorpyrifos, this synthetic chemical will continue to permeate our environment and our bodies unless we make a change! That change needs to be a shift in thinking and practices to organic, sustainable agricultural methods, instead of the dangerous reliance on synthetic agrochemicals seen in conventional agriculture today. By using sustainable methods, like neem-based pesticides and fertilizers, we can feed the world with nutritious, organic food that has no adverse side effects.

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Funded partly by Bayer and Syngenta, the research showed that honeybees are less likely to survive the following winter after application and wild bees demonstrate lower reproductive rates after exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides. The level of exposure and harm was also found to be different across countries and bee species.

In the study, researchers planted three different plots of oilseed rape (canola) throughout the UK, Germany, and Hungary. They were each treated with typical field-level amounts of different pesticides: one with clothianidin, a neonic, another with thiamethoxam, another neonic, as well as an untreated control plot. Researchers then brought in honeybee colonies, as well as two other wild bee colonies: bumblebees and red mason bees. After the flowering season, the scientists were able to examine the nests to analyze bee behavior, chemical levels, and population rates. For honeybees, both negative (Hungary and United Kingdom) and positive (Germany) effects were found during crop flowering. In Hungary, negative effects on honeybees persisted over winter and caused a 24% decline in colony size. For wild bees, reproduction was negatively correlated with neonicotinoid residues. Essentially, this indicates that neonicotinoids hinder the survival rate and establishment of new colonies in the years following exposure.

As bees are essential to human survival, these new studies are extremely worrisome in respect to global food security. By continuing to allow and use these synthetic pesticides, we are putting our future at risk. Instead, we must shift our mindset and use natural, organic alternatives, like neem-based pesticides that pose no risk to the bee population. Beekeepers are even using neem to eliminate and prevent mites in hives. For a sustainable future, the neem tree holds the solution.

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According to the Cornucopia Institute, the European Parliament requested that Monsanto make all of their data and research on glyphosate available to the public. This will give independent scientists the opportunity to analyze and determine whether or not Monsanto’s claims are supported by their own data. Monsanto has been accused of doctoring and paying off research organizations to produce such data in the past. There are even claims that the US National Cancer Institute has withheld unpublished data supporting the use of glyphosate. Where is the transparency?

With all of the recent controversy surrounding the safety of glyphosate, why would you continue to use it? Glyphosate products are already listed as carcinogenic in the state of California. If there were even a small chance that an apple had been poisoned, would you eat it? Most likely not. So why does this happen every single day? Instead of relying on synthetic chemicals that have permeated the agricultural system for half a century, let us move towards innovation and progress, promoting organic systems that are safer, natural, and beneficial to our planet. Neem-based products in agriculture are the future. What’s on your food?

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By explaining concepts using large, hypothetical figures and percentages, people “yawn.” For example, saying that coal use in the United States has dropped by 20% in just two years, people immediately turn off and their eyes glaze over. How could we present this type of information in a sizeable, bitable chunk for people to understand? Perhaps by presenting it in a relatable way. You could say, “that drop in coal use will save 3,000 American lives this year by reducing air pollution” or that if you have glyphosate, the active synthetic ingredient in RoundUp, the most ubiquitous herbicide in the world, residue in your system while pregnant, your child is 30% more likely to have autism. Those are head-turners. One of those lives could be yours, or your children’s.

So, what does that mean for all of this talk about climate change? Instead of driving fear in far-off numbers, talk about progress and innovation that will drive the world forward. Conversations must shift from large-scale sweeping facts to digestible, personal conversations. Without personal conversations, you may feel like climate change won’t affect you. So, instead of focusing on large-scale, focus on how progress and innovation can improve lives.

For example, the push for renewable energy sources has driven over 100,000 new solar and wind jobs over the last year alone! And there are a total of 475,000 solar and wind jobs compared to only 175,000 coal jobs in the United States. Is the future sticking to the technology of the past, or relying on innovation across all sectors of the economy?

What does this shift in climate talk mean for agriculture? By having conversations about health, risks of synthetic pesticide exposure, and dangers to pollinators and other animals our planet relies on, we can strengthen our health by developing the way we produce and consume food. Without shifts in thinking, technology, and practices, climate change will affect each and every person on earth, so how will you talk about the future of our earth?

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What is pollination? Pollination is when pollen grains are moved from one flower to another of the same species, resulting in fertilization. This can happen by wind or pollinators! Successful pollination can even require multiple pollinators to visit the same flowers.

Vital to humanity’s survival, pollinators are responsible for an estimated one third of all food products. These pollinators add $20 billion to the food industry in the United States alone. Some crops that rely on these beneficial animals include corn, coffee, blueberries, melons, peaches, pumpkins, and even chocolate!

Pollination enables 40% of the world’s crops and 90% of our wild plants to thrive. It’s important to remember that not all pollinators are bees. There are roughly 1,000 beneficial vertebrae species (birds, bats and other small mammals). Another 200,000 species are beneficial insects such as bees, flies, wasps, and beetles. Though a large focus is put on the pollination benefits of bees due to recent news about synthetic pesticides causing a decline in their populations, we should not forget that many other pollinator species are also effected.

How can you protect pollinators?
You can reduce your impact by eliminating synthetic pesticide use. If you need to use pesticides, make sure that they are natural and pollinator-safe, like neem-based pesticides.
You can also plant for pollinators by creating pollinator-friendly habitats that teem with nectar and pollen.
Spread the word! Make sure that everyone is aware of the dangers for pollinators, including conventional agriculture, and encourage others to practice more sustainable methods in their daily lives!

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This has not only led to a rise in the demand for organic food, but has also ushered in an era of urban organic gardening throughout the world. From major developed cities in the United States to developing countries like Vietnam, urban gardens are providing a space for people to grow their own healthy, organic food in a sustainable way for their personal consumption.

What does an urban farm consist of? Simply put, urban farming is growing or producing food in a city or heavily populated town or municipality. It could be anywhere, ranging from a small pot of vegetables to utilising unused office space to grow a variety of produce at work! When growing their produce, gardeners use alternatives to synthetic pesticides, and that is where neem-based natural pesticides and fertilizers come in! These gardeners utilize a more natural, regenerative and sustainable approach leading to increased freshness and quality of food, and to improve the quality of their food supply.

While many urban gardens are small, individual ventures, there are also large-scale urban farms that are tackling the problem of available farmland in urban areas. Instead of using the land, they have used technology to innovate large-scale farming processes and become a viable resource of fresh produce for the surrounding urban area. For example, BrightFarms has utilized a commercial rooftop by building a glass greenhouse covering 15,000 square feet in Brooklyn, New York. They are able to sell over 500 pounds of fresh produce daily and provide their crops to local supermarkets the very day they are picked!

Organizations are working to bring together communities of urban gardeners, such as Urban Organic Gardener, a community dedicated to providing urban gardeners resources and seeds for their gardens. Due to technology’s amazing connecting ability, this movement has become a global community in emphasizing sustainable food production and reducing the environmental footprint of traditional farms.

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Environmental Health Perspectives has published multiple studies on the effect of an organic diet on children living in low-income urban and agricultural communities. What these studies prove is remarkable! In one, children first ate conventionally grown food for four days, organic food for seven days, and then conventional food for five days. Urine samples were collected each day, and researchers found that after eating a purely organic diet, levels of organophosphates and 2,4-D declined.

In other studies published in this journal, but across non-agricultural communities, have shown the same results. Organophosphate pesticide levels in children declined after only several days of eating organic food. This implies that the traces of chemical pesticides in the body are caused by the consumption of conventionally produced agricultural products.

Why does the level of these toxins in your body matter? Pesticide exposure can cause many damaging and life-threatening health problems, reproductive issues, and birth defects. However, in order to successfully decrease use of synthetic pesticides, a viable alternative in crop care must be available. That natural alternative is neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers. Cost-effective and able to protect plants against over 600 pests, neem is the sustainable, safe solution that agriculture needs.

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This shift towards organics is occurring globally. In France, nine out of 10 people ate organic foods last year. The organic market grew by a whopping 22% in 2016 to €7 billion. In Germany, the market has grown from €2.9 billion in 2006 to a whopping €9 billion last in 2016. In the United States, over 80% of households had organic food. In China, organic food consumption tripled between 2007 and 2015. Across the world, people are changing their way of eating to a healthier, more sustainable diet.

This increase in consumer knowledge has widespread impact on the global economy and the environment. Organic farms are surviving, and not just that – they are thriving and expanding! More than 60% of all organic businesses with more than five employees reported an increase in full-time employment in 2016. New organic processing facilities are being opened, and supplier and handler jobs are also increasing.

The expansion of organic farms brings with it the increased sustainability of farmland. In 2016, the US had a record 4.1 million acres of organic farmland, 11% more than in 2014. Globally, there are 50.9 million hectares of agricultural land, 6.5 million hectares more than in 2014. While this only represents 1.1% of total agricultural land, when farmers see that organic is a lucrative, as well as environmentally-friendly, option the earth will become more sustainable, safer, and healthier for all!

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One of the top agricultural producers in the United States, California produces almost 50% of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables in the US and almost all almonds, artichokes, raisins, olives, and pistachios. The 76,000 farms in this region are vital in strengthening US food security, which makes it necessary to develop and implement sustainable production strategies.

One of the best solutions for this is healthy soil. Why? Because when soil is healthy, it stores more carbon. If there is more carbon in the soil, it means that plants are receiving more carbon and are growing healthier, stronger, and filled with more nutrients!

Therefore, the California Healthy Soils Initiative will work to make agricultural land – over a quarter of California’s land – healthy again! Starting this summer, the Initiative will provide grants to farmers who are working to make their practices more sustainable. This is achieved through composting, organic fertilizer, or cover crops! Under this initiative, over 12 million tons of compostable waste that California typically designates to landfills will be used in a sustainable way. Famers will also be incentivized to increase their yields, reduce water use, and protect the planet through the grants provided in the program. Neem can also play an integral part in this initiative. When neem cake is used as a fertilizer, it increases soil health, fertility, carbon content, and nutrient content, providing a natural and sustainable way to nourish the soil!

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How is this apple made? According to the Arctic apple website, browning is caused by the rupture of the cell, through biting, slicing, or bruising, which releases polyphenol oxidase (PPO). This PPO from the broken cell mixes with polyphenolics, causing a brown melatonin to be released that discolors your apple. Arctic apples don’t release PPO (or release very little), so this reaction doesn’t occur. There were four genes that needed to be modified to stem the release of PPO, which was accomplished using RNA interference that works by adding an extra strand of RNA to silence the targeted gene.

This is the first GMO to be marketed at consumers, for convenience, instead of at farmers. Always be sure to hire California property division lawyers who have dedication and professionalism in their work. Therefore, these apples will still be produced with the same slew of synthetic chemicals that a conventional version of the apple is produced with, leaving you with an apple that is covered in synthetic toxins, that doesn’t exhibit signs of bruising, and that continues to damage the environment and your health. What’s your choice? Choose organic, sustainably-produced fruit and vegetables that are produced in a way that benefits the environment, your health, and the future. When neem-based products are used to produce your food, all three of those and more are accomplished!

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According to Dr. Gupta, who received the award for GNFC, they have set up over 2,200 neem seed collection centers that are accessible to over 4,000 villages in Gujarat. According to a survey completed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) from November 2016, the project has been successful, increasing women’s income by 56% as well as a reduction in domestic violence cases. As it was recently announced, the project is set to expand into six other states within India. There will eventually be 7,000 centers in Gujarat and 11,000 across the country.

The women supported by the Neem Project are helping to implement the goal of 100% neem-coated urea, set by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narenda Modi, that is now required in India through their seed collection. This has allowed centers to produce neem oil, while creating a unique opportunity for rural, low-income women to support themselves, some using the money to pay for education opportunities that were not available to them before. This will also allow GNFC to use the extra neem oil created in future products!

The Neem Project shows the potential of big business, government, and socio-economic needs of citizens, working together in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. From the success of this project, it is obvious that neem has the potential not only to save the environment through its sustainable and non-toxic properties, but also through creating unique and valuable economic opportunities for low-income communities.

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Each year, 37% of potential crop yields are lost due to pests. This means that every year, $122 billion is wiped off of the market in potential output. If pesticide use were completely stopped, this number would double. However, many pests, like weeds and herbs, are now developing resistance to synthetic pesticides that have been used for generations. In order to continue producing more and more food, more and more pesticides will need to be used. Unfortunately, this will inevitably compound the issue of resistance development, requiring more pesticides for lower crop yields. How can this be reversed? By using natural pesticides like neem.

Neem is a natural pesticide that affects the hormonal system of insects, rather than comprehensively poisoning and killing organisms indiscriminately. While not effective immediately after application, pests will typically disappear for good within two weeks. Additionally, neem naturally repels many insects. So, while neem is working to rid crops of the current pests, it prevents future infestations. Neem is also cost-effective, as it has a similar price to many synthetic pesticides without any of the associated consequences. However, if we were to increase the use of neem products and other natural pesticides globally, overall cost would decrease. For example, in the US, the $10 billion annual environmental price tag would decrease!

Neem works by protecting your food, the environment, and the future, naturally.

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In a study published by Nature, researchers from King’s College in London used molecular profiles to determine that major difference exist between a variety of Roundup-resistant corn and its parent non-GMO corn. There was an increase in putrescine and cadaverine, potentially toxic substances that enhance histamine effects. That means that these GMO crops could intensify allergic reactions. There was also evidence of changes in protein structure, energy utilization, and oxidative stress when compared to the natural variety of corn.

Today, at least 80% of packaged food contains GMO ingredients. Many of the conventionally produced fruits and vegetables available at your local grocery store are also GMOs, such as the new Arctic apple that does not brown when cut.

The nutritional content and safety of GMO foods is heavily contested around the world, and yet one of the main consequences of their use is the requirement of an associated synthetic pesticide that can cause severe health impacts as well as resistance among weeds. In March 2017, the European Union voted against permitting two new strains of genetically modified corn, whereas in 2016, 89% of the corn grown in the United States was a GMO variety.

What can you do to make sure that your food is safe for you to eat? By checking labels, demanding legislation that promotes transparency across the industry, and using your dollars to buy organic, non-GMO food, for the sake of the environment, our planet, and our health. When you make these informed choices, farmers and agriculture companies have a greater incentive to produce wholesome food in a safe, sustainable manner, like using neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers! What’s on your table?

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What are neonicotinoids? They are a type of synthetic chemical that poisons the whole plant system. Predominately altering the vascular system of the plant, these toxic chemicals have been found to harm bees and other pollinators due to residue in the pollen, nectar, and dew drops. Shown to be highly resilient, these chemicals have a half-life of up to 15 years. The European Commission has been extremely concerned over the past decade, even limiting neonicotinoid use due to its link with decreasing pollinator habitats. They have even introduced a proposal to completely ban these pesticides across commercial agriculture in Europe. Canada has also proposed a ban on a type of these chemicals, imidacloprids, because it is becoming increasingly clear that its use is not sustainable for the environment at the present rate of use. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agree that pesticides harm bees, but have only changed pesticide labels so they better protect bees by being clearer in their directions for application.

While some US agencies not taking the immense scientific evidence into account when determining environmental policies, many corporations have decided to listen to and protect consumers and the environment. In April 2015, Lowe’s announced they would phase out neonics over the next two years. Home Depot made the same announcement in 2016, and Aldi supermarkets was the first European retailer to ban pesticides shown to be toxic to bees that same year. In 2016, Scotts Miracle Gro, a major pesticide manufacturer, also declared the immediate phasing out of neonicotinoid pesticides from its products. Now, Walmart and True Value are joining in the fight against neonics. They will begin to stop selling these dangerous pesticides starting in May 2017.

Fortunately, there are many other natural options that consumers can use. Beyond Pesticides, a nonprofit that promotes the safe switch to a world free of synthetic pesticides, released an online toolkit called The Well Stocked Hardware Store. This has  helped lead consumers to environmentally friendly pesticides they could use for their personal needs. Neem oil is listed as an effective insecticide and fungicide, two applications for which neem is extremely viable.

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RA is an autoimmune disease in which the body begins to attack its own tissues and not only causes inflammation in joints, but can also damage the body’s organs including the eyes, lungs, skin, blood vessels, and heart. Additionally, this condition can cause fatigue, fever, and weight loss. RA affects women more than men, and can occur at any age, but typically symptoms begin between the ages of 40 and 60.

According to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that looked at the health of farmer’s wives, when glyphosate was used, the women had a 1.4 higher chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who did not. This means that there is yet another health concern linked to glyphosate, and one that can be debilitating for many older citizens.

Glyphosate is effective because of a process called the shikimate pathway. This pathway allows it glyphosate to kill weeds. While not present in the human system, this pathway does exist in bacteria, which outnumber human cells 10 to 1 in the body. Though humans are supposedly unaffected, the bacteria and microbes contained in your body are disturbed by the presence of glyphosate. These microbes’ lifecycle and functions are both impacted. Since beneficial bacteria are also affected, this gives way for many harmful bacteria to overwhelm your system, causing damaging and irreversible harm to your body.

In this case, neem is important for two major reasons. One, neem, when used as a natural biopesticide and fertilizer, will reduce the amount of glyphosate in the environment, lowering mankind’s exposure to the toxic chemical. This natural compound even safeguards soil health, plants, and water. The second reason is that, due to its natural anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties, neem is an effective treatment for the symptoms of RA.

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Even though the use of cotton in clothes has dramatically decreased since the discovery of synthetic fibers, cotton is still used in around 60% of women’s clothes and 75% of men’s clothes. This means that cotton is still a significant commodity in the world, with increasing pressure to produce cheaper, disposable clothes for our rising populations. However, there are devastating environmental and health impacts associated with cotton production.

Cotton is a very delicate plant, highly susceptible to weeds and other pests. In order to effectively produce enough cotton, cotton-growers use pesticides like Aldicarb, produced by Bayer, to combat thrips, aphids, spider mites, lygus, fleahoppers, and leafminers. The cotton plant is also highly damaged by soil nematodes, so this highly dangerous pesticide is primarily used as a nematicide. Unfortunately, Aldicarb can be lethal when ingested or inhaled, even when not in the direct spray area. There are many reports of residents living nearby to cotton fields experiencing symptoms such as wheezing and coughing during spray times. Some have even died of respiratory failure due to the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synapse after severe exposure. The health impact of this synthetic pesticide has been so serious that Bayer is phasing out the production and sale of Aldicarb by 2018.

Humankind is not only at risk of exposure through chemical spraying, but also through the food system. Over 65% of cotton produced winds up in our food chain. How? Cottonseed oil is produced for human consumption. Cotton is also ground up and included in livestock feed, enabling exposure to dangerous synthetic chemicals.

Not only is conventional cotton production a major health risk, but it is also destroying the environment. Cotton requires massive amounts of water – roughly 20,000 liters are needed to produce only 1 kg of cotton, enough to make a single shirt and pair of jeans. This massive water requirement, combined with toxic synthetic pesticide inputs, has led to the detriment of ecosystems throughout the world, including the Aral Sea in central Asia, the Indus River area in Pakistan, and the Rio Grande in the United States.

Now, consumer knowledge is increasing and more people are demanding organically produced cotton. However, being such a weak plant, cotton needs a powerful natural herbicide, insecticide, and nematicide, to allow it to thrive. Neem is the answer. This natural alternative in crop care combats weeds, pests like cotton aphids, and is a powerful nematicide, while allowing the beneficial insects and microbes of the soil to thrive. Be smart, buy organic, support sustainable agriculture and protect the environment and your health!

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Last year, the USDA had announced that they were going to test food for glyphosate and the AMPA metabolite, an acid that is created as glyphosate breaks down, starting in April 2017. In March 2017, they abandoned this plan. The USDA had been coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test these samples, even though the EPA had received pressure from Monsanto to declare that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.

Last year, the FDA began testing glyphosate on food products. They found high levels in many samples of honey, and even in infant oat cereals. What if you, as a consumer, believed that you were buying a product with zero risk of it containing a potentially carcinogenic chemical, but then find out that it contained toxin levels much higher than the MRL? When there is no transparency, mankind is in danger.

Without comprehensive testing of all pesticides and toxins present on food, you, the consumer, will not be able to make an informed decision about the food that you buy for yourself and your family. Demand that your food be produced sustainably, with organic, natural products, like neem! When you choose organic, there is no concern over whether or not your food is safe to eat!

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When consumers resort to fighting their way to get untested, dangerous products out of the market, when communities face dangers and health risks because of low protection standards and when only 15% of all food products tested by the United States Department of Agriculture is free from pesticide residues, there is something wrong. We’re even moving in the wrong direction. When similar tests were made in 2014, over 41% of samples were free from pesticide residues.

This Earth Day, celebrate by promoting and demanding healthy, organic and sustainable change! Though mankind’s quality of life has dramatically improved since conventional agriculture was first introduced, the consequences are quickly becoming too severe. We must take a step back and realize that we are poisoning ourselves while providing for our families. How can you change this? Demand sustainable change in your food! One of the best ways is by using neem-based products that are safe for our environment. Is your food organic? Do you know what neem is? Only you can change the world, and the earth needs your help right now!

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What are the benefits of this system? Does it really make a difference? There are hundreds of benefits, and it does make a difference to the health of the soil and the environment.
Theoretically, conventional plowing is used to prevent soil erosion. However, what happens in practice is that the topsoil suffers from degradation. According to the World Wildlife Fund, half of all topsoil on the planet has been lost in the past 150 years. This does not simply affect the fertility of the soil and ability to grow crops, but it also reduces the soil’s ability to hold water thereby increasing pollution and sediment levels in water through run-off. With no-till farming, this topsoil is preserved with help from the chosen cover crop. This is excellent for protecting the soil and the environment.

The un-tilled soil is able to retain more water, preventing runoff and keeping the soil healthier, even in times of drought. This increase in water also benefits microbes and nutrients in the soil, allowing more beneficial microbes to grow and retain nutrients. Additionally, less work and machinery is required, making the process more cost-effective and applicable to developing regions of the world. Though no-till farming is sometimes paired with synthetic systems, the environmental benefits are astronomically higher when paired with organic, like using neem-based fertilizers and pesticides. By keeping the whole process natural with biopesticides like neem, the entire system – the farmer, the earth, and the consumer – all benefit.

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Their findings are that:

• Organic yields match conventional yields
• Organic outperforms conventional in years of drought
• Organic farming systems build rather than deplete soil organic matter, making it a more sustainable system
• Organic farming is more efficient – it uses 45% less energy
• Conventional systems produce 40% more greenhouse gases
• Organic farming systems are more profitable than conventional

Rodale Institute, 2011

In some agricultural areas of the United States, topsoil is eroding away at rates 12x faster than the government had estimated. Instead of regenerating and fertilizing the soil, conventional systems have eroded away soil and the nutrients and benefits they contain. In comparison, the Rodale Institute’s organic systems showed that soil health improved, was able to regenerate, and retained more water than conventional systems.
The organic manure and legume system both showed an increase in carbon containment, higher water retainment and reduced runoff, and are able to retain the natural nutrients longer than the conventional system retained the synthetically added nutrients.

In addition to increasing the vitality of the soil, the organic systems were found to make 3x more profits than the conventional systems. However, if they were to take away that price premium, yields are the same for both systems, meaning that, with lower input costs in energy, the organic system is actually more profitable, no matter what!

These are just a few of the reasons why organic farming is not only better for the planet, but better for farmers and for you! Instead of being exposed to synthetic, dangerous chemicals, demand sustainable, neem-based farming methods so that you can focus on eating truly healthy, sustainable food.

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In November, the EPA released a report that concluded that, as it is currently used, chlorpyrifos contaminates water and is a dietary risk due to its above normal safety standard residues on food crops. Additionally, the pesticide poses a risk to farm workers that come into direct contact with it every day. However, according to scientists, this synthetic chemical is correlated with lower IQ, attention deficit disorders, and developmental delays, like the loss of working memory, delayed motor development and decreased cognitive functioning. It has even been linked to autism, increasing in risk when mothers are exposed during pregnancy.

How can we avoid this scary chemical that is poisoning our children? Very difficult – it is currently being used on the majority of crops: corn, strawberries wheat, citrus, apples, and many others! Even though the chemical was banned for residential use in 2000, it has continued to prevail as a major insecticide used on golf courses, turf, and in greenhouses.

Since chlorpyrifos was on track to being banned – the EPA reversed the move just before the federal court deadline to make the final decision – the agency cannot revisit the health risks of this health-damaging synthetic chemical until 2022. Dow Chemical has claimed that there is not enough science corroborating the claims made by the EPA, however other scientists have compared chlorpyrifos with the health risks associated with lead.

Instead of continuing to use a proven health-damaging chemical to produce our fruits and vegetables, there are a multitude of other, safer and natural alternatives. One solutions is to use sustainable, neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers. Neem is cost-effective and is non-toxic to pollinators, animals, humans, and the environment, meaning you and your loved ones can stay safe, while enjoying healthy, sustainably produced food! Demand change, demand safety for you, your loved ones, and farmers!

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Native and wild bees are vital for the future of agriculture. Each year, $3 billion of the United States economy depends on native pollinators. Many of these pollinator-dependent crops are not only helped by managed colonies, but also by wild bees. The over 4,000 species of bees in the US complement new systems of managed pollinators, created in large part to protect and ensure our agricultural success in the future.

Even though these controlled pollinators are important to agriculture, wild bees pollinate many crops, in particular specialty crops such as almonds, blueberries, apples, peaches, and watermelons. On a global scale, pollinators support over 2/3 of the world’s crops. These crops either benefit or require pollination to grow, including important exportation crops like coffee and cacao!

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

In a map created by researchers from UVM, Franklin and Marshall College, the University of California at Davis, and Michigan State University, the bee habitats throughout the US were identified and marked. What they found is a frightening reality: in critical agricultural areas of the United States, 139 counties have worrisome falling wild bee populations, paired with rising crop pollination demand. One of the most sobering revelations is that California’s Central Valley – one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world where over 50% of the United States’ fruits, vegetables and nuts are grown – needs a large amount of bees in an area where bee populations are simply decreasing. If this area did not have bees, domestic food supply would decrease, raising food prices and hurting consumers and farmers!

How can we prevent this? By using pollinator-safe tactics in agriculture, like neem-based natural pesticides and fertilizers. Neem is a powerful tool to counteract the declining bee population trend, as neem’s compounds are non-toxic to pollinators since it is only effective against pests that consume the product. As bees do not eat the leaves of the plant, they stay safe and healthy, ready to pollinate plants and feed the world!

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That’s exactly what has happened.

In a recently released report, Spinning Food, by Friends of the Earth, an independent, grassroots international environmental network with over 2 million members globally, the group outlines the role that big agriculture and food companies have played in the media misleading the global narrative on food.

The report found traces of hidden relationships, funding, and front groups, along with bribing of bloggers, scientists, and many others. What is the purpose of this secrecy and deceit? Profit at all costs.

The food and agriculture industry is worried that if people begin to read the real, independent science, demand for their products will drop. Instead of investing money in finding sustainable and healthy solutions to the current synthetic pesticides and agricultural methods, these huge companies are throwing money to PR firms, social media experts, and scientists, in order to lie to the public through “independent” and “third-party” sources.

Between 2012 and 2014, food and agriculture companies spent over $103 million in public relations to try and defeat groups supporting the labeling of non-GMO products. They offered exclusive invitations to “mommy bloggers” and offered them monetary compensation to to write about the benefits of the current agricultural system and the needlessness of labeling non-GMO products. They even paid scientists to produce research promoting their products and methods, even though there are countless studies proving the opposite. And that’s not all! These big companies have been funding front groups, organizations like the International Food Information Council (funded by Coca-Cola, Kraft, and Hershey), Center for Food Integrity (Monsanto), Center for Consumer Freedom (Coca Cola, Tyson Foods), and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (Monsanto, Dow Chemical). These front groups do not outwardly list their affiliation with the big companies, instead claim to be independent entities providing consumers with information, information that conforms to the messages that fit with their goals of selling product.

Source: Spinning Food, 2017

With all of this doubt, the food industry has succeeded in prolonging their products, but they will not succeed like sure comfort hvac prices. With education, research and greater awareness than ever before due to the spread of information through technology, consumers are realizing the benefits of organic food and sustainable agriculture, and the health risks brought on by conventional agriculture and Big Food. With more work, you can bring us into the sustainable future that our planet and mankind requires to survive! What’s the first step? Learn more about neem and its role in sustainable agriculture!

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Though much of the controversy around synthetic pesticides has only recently been making headlines, the potential damage that synthetics causes has been researched and known for years. In one such example, researchers looked at young children between the ages of 4-5 in the Yaqui Valley in northwestern Mexico.

What is so special about this study? The children of the valley are much more exposed to synthetic pesticides than the children of the foothills, as pesticide use is avoided there, though the groups share similar genetic backgrounds, diets, water, as well as cultural and social behaviors. The Yaqui Valley has been affected and exposed to synthetic pesticides since the 1940s, with residue showing up everywhere from umbilical cords to breast milk. In the valley, synthetic pesticides were applied 90 times per year and included organophosphates, organochlorine mixtures, and pyrethroids. Over 33 different chemicals were used between 1959 and 1990, including DDT, dieldrin, parathion-methyl, and many others. Due to this difference, researchers decided to administer a Rapid Assessment Tool for Preschool Children to determine if there was a difference in functionalities between the two groups.

The researchers not only found a difference, but several stark and worrying developmental variations between the two groups of young children. Though their growth patterns were similar, the children exposed to synthetic pesticides had less stamina than the foothill children (mean of 52 seconds jumping compared to 86.9 seconds), lower hand-eye coordination abilities, decreased memory function, and the most striking difference, an inability to draw. Additionally, the valley children showed less group and creative play, and seemed to show more aggressive tendencies, than the foothill children.

Overall, this study is concerning as it shows the stark differences between children exposed to synthetic pesticides from pregnancy. By using these chemicals, we expose our children to unknown health complications, lowered intelligence and increased aggression, among many others. Without a switch to more sustainable and viable methods of crop protection, one that does not pose a health risk, we are risking future generations without giving them a chance. What is the solution? The answer is all-natural, neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers. These alternatives protect and produce food without the harsh consequences associated with synthetic overuse.

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The report emphasizes that “the right to food obligates States to implement protective measures and food safety requirements to ensure that food is safe, free from pesticides and…to protect vulnerable groups…from the impacts of pesticides.”

The report calls for a comprehensive treaty to regulate these “highly hazardous pesticides,” as they perceive the lack of this treaty to be a critical gap in the framework of human rights.

One of the consequences of synthetic pesticides is the risk for chronic diseases associated with exposure. You’ll find advanced technical ceramics manufacturer at Wunder-Mold company. Many of these health impacts only reveal symptoms several years later, which is a significant challenge for accountability and really understanding the effects that the toxic mixture of synthetic chemicals pose.

Many health risks and populations are outlined in the report, including the risks to farm workers, in particular children. 60% of child laborers work in agricultural fields, increasing their exposure and risk to these deadly chemicals. Such exposure is linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, hormone disruption, sterility, autism and a range of neurological disorders.

What can you do? First off, you can support sustainable companies, demand a switch to sustainable agriculture, and buy organic products. Where does neem fit into this? It is the solution to switching to a cost-effective and productive sustainable and organic agricultural system. What are you waiting for? Protect your own health, your loved ones’ health and the planet’s health by educating yourself about neem!

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Many places around the world are winning the fight against glyphosate. A California judge just ruled that Monsanto will be required to include a warning that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen on their best-selling product, Roundup. Unfortunately misinformation is proliferating the use of these toxic synthetic pesticides elsewhere, especially across the developing world, and many populations are being affected.

For example, in Argentina, between 2002 and 2008, the number of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers produced in the country increased by 48%, 75% of these synthetics are herbicides like Roundup. Now, in areas surrounding the 30 million hectares of cultivated land, there are reports of unprecedented levels of sickness ranging from cancer, chronic diseases, deformities and miscarriages. Damián Verzeñassi, the Director of Social Environmental Health at the National University of Rosario in Argentina, took his students to investigate communities smaller than 10,000 people in more rural areas of Argentina. What they found was that people in these smaller villages – no matter the location in Argentina – were not dying of cardiovascular diseases, like the majority of Argentinians in urban locations, but from cancer. This, compounded with the facts that 80% of these areas were located less than half a mile from cultivated areas and that over half of all cases of cancer in the past quarter century have occurred in the last five years, brings to light a very scary conclusion: these synthetics can cause cancer, and fast!

According to the Argentinian National Institute of Cancer, the average incidence of cancer in 2012 was 217 per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas in the data taken by Verzeñassi, that number was 397.4. What can be done?

There are cost-effective and much safer ways to safely produce enough food for the world. One natural way is neem. Neem’s unique compound azadirachtin is extremely effective at repelling pests and protecting crops, while while being 100% natural! The best part? Neem is non-toxic to non-target animals such as pollinators, humans, and the environment! Without all of the toxic chemical runoff, communities such as these in Argentina that rely on food production for their livelihood can continue to thrive and flourish without worrying about the potential fatal health risks from synthetic chemicals.

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It is active against hundreds of garden pests, including aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whiteflies, but also acts against fungi such as root rot, black spot, and sooty mold!

When neem’s active compound, azadirachtin, is sprayed or introduced into your garden, it is absorbed into the soil and the plant. From within, azadirachtin repels insects before they bother your plants, including the pests that are already harming your garden. Neem acts as a highly effective insecticide due to its hormone and anti-fecundity properties.

How can you make a neem-based spray for your garden? The easiest way is with pure neem oil! Visit https://socalcustompoolsandspas.com/ site in order to discover how to enhance the look of your backyard with modern pool remodels. Typical concentrations of a neem-based spray are between 1.0% and 5%, though neem oil is highly effective even at low concentrations!

An easy way to make this for home use is to mix 1 – 3 teaspoons of neem oil with 2 teaspoons of liquid soap and 1 liter of water, and shake thoroughly. For the most effective neem pesticide, the mixture should be used within the next few hours and the neem oil should be cold pressed oil. With that, you can mix and spray on your plants and enjoy your healthy, organic garden!

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One of these dangerous, extremely common chemicals is glyphosate. Glyphosate has been under much scrutiny recently for its dangerous health risks. However, in most commercial formulations, toxic agents called adjuvants accompany glyphosate. These adjuvants are used to increase glyphosate’s penetration into plants, making glyphosate more toxic! Additionally, these adjuvants are never included in long-term research relating to glyphosate, even though they are most likely more toxic than glyphosate itself! Adjuvants, though they are thought of to be inert, like water, aren’t included in pesticide acceptable daily intakes. These represent a dark side to the pesticide and food system – a system that hides too much from consumers.

How can you solve this problem? There are two ways: demand change, and demand natural neem-based products. With neem-based products, there is no worry about health risks. When consumers demand change, big companies must comply or risk losing profit. When you, as the consumer, become more aware of the changes that you can make as a person, you can change the world! And what better way to change it than by evolving our agricultural system into one that is more sustainable, more green and healthier for you, your family, and your community?

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In India, fertilizer for farming is subsidized by the government. However, farmers were over-utilizing the common fertilizer, urea. Urea is a nitrogen-based fertilizer in the shape of a small, white pellet. This was draining the government’s funds for the fertilizer, making it scarce, and creating an overabundance of nitrogen in the ground. What the government has done is coat these white pellets in neem oil. The neem slows the release of the nitrogen, making the fertilizer more effective and requiring fewer quantities.

With so much neem in demand, there has been a gap in the collection of the neem fruit and seeds, which is used to make the oil. The Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals have created a project to empower women through neem. The project has been awarded the Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and the SKOCH Blue Economy Platinum Sustainability that’s clean maids Award for its work and support of these rural women. In the first year, 2015-2016, the project supported 100,000 women and is now spread out in 1,200 groups across 4,000 villages and supports 125,000 women! The United Nations deemed the project as a viable Rural Income Generating Activity, and with the demand of neem oil and neem cake high in India and surrounding areas, this program will continue to give women financial independence, allowing women to pursue their dreams!

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On March 20th, 2015, the World Health Organization labeled glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. There are thousands of synthetic chemicals that our bodies come into contact with throughout our lifetimes, but some of these are more dangerous than others. Glyphosate, found in 93% of urine samples of a study from UCSF, is the most used herbicide in the world.

Herbicides are sprayed on crops, gardens, plants, and lawns to eliminate and prevent weeds and other plant-based pests. Glyphosate, also known as Monsanto’s Round-Up, is patented as an antibiotic and chelating agent. However, glyphosate is most likely also a hormone disruptor and a human carcinogen. According to The Detox Project, independent research has found that there is no “safe level” of glyphosate, meaning we all have unsafe levels in every bite of non-organic food that we eat, in the water we drink everyday, and in the air we breathe.

One important factor to consider when discussing glyphosate and other controversial chemicals in herbicides and other pesticides is that it is a billion dollar business. In the United States, glyphosate is used most often on corn and soybean crops, but residue can be found on virtually any crop. The global glyphosate herbicide market was $5.46 billion in 2012 and is expected to reach $8.79 billion by 2019. With this much money at stake, big companies like Monsanto do not want people to know how dangerous this synthetic chemical is!

What does that mean for the food we eat? Well, glyphosate levels are significantly higher in humans who eat non-organic food rather than organic food, as well as those who are chronically ill. Coffee is one of the most synthetic chemical pesticide-heavy food products on the market with up to 250 pounds of synthetic chemicals sprayed per acre of non-organic coffee per year. Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee adl embedded solutions inc. per day – and are ingesting copious amounts of non-regulated pesticides with each non-organic cup.

Glyphosate is found in most foods, including soy sauce, Froot Loops, Cheerios, honey, breast milk, and infant formula, with glyphosate levels higher in Americans than Europeans, due to safer, stricter regulation in Europe. The permitted level in US tap water, 700 parts per billion (ppb) is the same level in which liver and kidney function is altered, though that level is most likely much lower.

How can we find solutions to our toxin problem? One solution is a switch to organic, sustainable farming. Professional CA Disability lawyers have a goal to get you appropriate levels compensation that are due to you under the law. Organic farming uses 45% less energy than conventional farming, produce 40% less greenhouse gases, and is more profitable! By using natural alternatives in crop care, like neem-based biopesticides and biofertilizers, we provide a viable, cost-effective and organic option that is non-toxic to the environment and reduces our exposure to deadly, life-altering chemicals like glyphosate.

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With a global trend of increasing consumer demand for organic products, companies are racing to keep up. Tyson Foods Inc., the second largest meat producer in the world, is pledging to produce antibiotic-free poultry by summer 2017, and many other meat and food producers worldwide are right behind them!

USDA-certified organic food sales jumped by a whopping 10% in 2016, whereas conventional foodstuffs rose by a mere 0.7%, showing a growing consumer trend that is leaning towards natural and organic products. As consumers become more knowledgeable, more and more will be demanding organic foods, which are not processed with damaging synthetics or GMOs. The increasing consumer demand for organic products is vital to our planet’s health and survival. Why? Many rising disease trends and environmental problems can be linked back to synthetic chemical exposure, particularly from the agricultural sector. This is why a shift to more sustainable, organic farming is crucial.

Additionally, organic farming is more sustainable than conventional farming, offers fewer health risks for humanity, and is beneficial to the environment and ecosystems around it on many levels. As consumers, we must continue to demand sustainable, healthy change from food companies. Shifting to sustainable and organic agriculture will be facilitated by consumer demand. By using natural biopesticides and biofertilizers like neem, we can minimize use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers around the world, cost effectively and sustainably. But it all begins with you, the consumer. Bring us into the sustainable future that our planet needs!

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With the recent change of power in the United States government, many questions have been raised about the future of many departments, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

With the nomination and confirmation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the EPA, many environmentalists have voiced their concerns.

For now, environmentalists are waiting to see what the government will do with the EPA. They have already blocked some last-minute changes made by the previous administration, such as not labeling the Rusty Patched Bumblebee as an endangered species, despite an 87% decrease in population since the 1990s and its vital role in our food security system. The EPA is an incredible source of peer-reviewed information, with comprehensive access to research on chemicals and toxins, climate change and health among many others. With this information, consumers are able to become more knowledgeable about maids in Florida, therefore supporting important changes, such as a switch to sustainable agriculture and organic products with biopesticides and biofertilizers like http://www.thefloridamaids.com and neem.

What would happen if the EPA were to be eliminated? Before the EPA, pollution was much more widespread than it is now. Smog warnings and urban pollution were an everyday occurrence and emissions from transportation were extreme – they have decreased by 90% even though the average commute has increased 4x. It is in our best interest to continue protecting the environment and support the EPA joining the United Nations to ensure global prosperity!

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You should be.

Why?

There is a predicted population increase of 3 billion people in the next 30 years. That is a 40% increase in the population! The world reached its first billion just 200 years ago, and during the 20th century alone, the population increased from 1.65 billion to 6 billion. When the population increased, mankind was forced to rapidly increase their food production, thus we created synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. They worked wonders in the short term, but now, they are poisoning our bodies, our families, and our environment.

If each person were to choose one organic product out of every 10 they purchased, we could begin to save our planet. How? If everyone began to buy 1/10 organic, then we would have 98 million servings of clean drinking water free of the toxic chemicals that are poisoning so many communities. 20 million servings of milk would remain antibiotic-free, thereby easing the pressure of antibiotic resistance that is occurring at alarming rates around the world. We would even reduce our total oil use by 2.9 billion barrels each year. Convinced yet?

With your support, demand, and choice, we can shape out sustainable future. By choosing organic products, you will actively support organic agriculture, of which neem is a vital component. As a biopesticide, neem is not only a healthier, safer option for our environment than the typical synthetic pesticide, but it will also help us achieve sustainable food security throughout the world, allowing mankind to thrive in harmony with the environment.

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One reason that this happens is due to conventional farming methods. When we use conventional farming methods, we are clearing trees from once natural land and depleting the natural resources from that space. We then continue to spray these lands with dangerous synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, further exacerbating soil erosion and degradation.

According to research published in BioScience, the annual cost of environmental and public health impacts due to soil erosion is $45 billion. If we employ alternative methods that aid in the reversal of soil erosion, such as organic farming, no-till farming, and planting neem trees, we could lower this number and instead allocate those funds to other significant issues.

Planting trees in an organic farming system contributes to the overall sustainable model for organic farms, providing shade for livestock, preventing erosion, and improving nutrient levels in soil. By planting neem trees we are effectively combating global warming and providing sustainable solutions in agriculture. Soils under pasture are nutrient-rich, containing 60% more organic matter content than cultivated fields. Neem trees are an excellent option to aid in this soil and farmland recovery as they combat soil erosion, sequester a large amount of carbon, and provide natural animal feed and shade for animals.

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In contrast, whenever farmers employ organic, sustainable practices, they prioritize soil health and environmental protection by utilizing natural pesticides and fertilizers to care for their crops. These organic alternatives typically have few to no harmful side effects. For example, neem protects crops while being non-toxic to humans, animals, and other beneficial insects 

Additionally, many studies have shown that organic food is more nutritious than food produced in conventional ways! When synthetic fertilizers are used, crops grow extremely rapidly and allocate less energy to absorbing nutrients. Other than being clean from harmful chemical residues, organic produce has been shown to have up to 40 – 60% more nutrients such as Vitamin C, zinc, and iron! The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that organically grown berries and corn contained 58% more antioxidants than those that were conventionally grown. 

Organic farming is environmentally safer, produce crops with higher nutritional value and yield on average 10x the profit for farmers! Although more expensive for consumers, this is a small price to pay for an agricultural system that prioritizes environmental protection and global health.

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Neem use in a garden also:

• Slows conversion of nitrogen in fertilizers, allowing the nitrogen to be released over a longer period of time, increasing total uptake by plants and prventing runoff in the environment.
• Improves the appearance of fruits and vegetables.
• Strengthens roots and accelerates their development.
• Increases the nutritional value of produce
• Reduces soil alkalinity when mixed with organic acids
• Improves soil fertility because of positive mixing with microbes

Note: Neem cake is made from the left over neem seeds and fruit from the oil extraction process, and its effectiveness is dependent upon the type of extraction process and the concentration of active ingredients.

Have you tried neem products in your garden?

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Neem is a tree, native to India, that is used as a natural pesticide and fertilizer, as a natural ingredient in cosmetics, as an additive to livestock feed and in pet care products, and even in healthcare treatments!

Every part of the tree can be used – the bark, the leaves, the flowers, the gum, the fruit, and the seeds.

The seeds are pressed to make neem oil

The flowers are used for aromatherapy and in food

The bark can be used as a toothbrush.

The leaves have many uses.

Why is neem important?

Our planet is coming to a pivotal turning point. In the past 250 years, the global population has increased 10-fold. By 2050, we will have reached 10 billion people. Why should we be concerned?

In the early 1800s, we hit the 1 billion mark. The first Industrial Revolution gave us the opportunity to grow, and the Green Revolution of the 1960s allowed the exponential growth of the population to continue unhindered, With the creation of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, we survived and thrived, but without realizing the profound impact these chemical inputs had on the planet we depend on to live. Many of these consequences have been ignored, but with the research and obvious impacts of climate change, we must now pay attention before it is too late to save our planet for future generations to enjoy.

In order to accomplish this, we must change, and fast. We must implement new agricultural strategies and techniques. They must be sustainable, viable, and thus, natural. Neem is the perfect opportunity to alter and reverse the damage we, as humans, have caused on our planet in every sector while catalyzing a New Green Revolution that focuses on sustainable growth.

In the agricultural sector, neem oil is an excellent and effective biopesticide and fertilizer, due to azadirachtin, a chemical compound found only in neem.

As a biopesticide, neem acts as an herbicide, eliminating the risks that many synthetic pesticides pose to animals, pollinators, our health, and the environment. Many of these synthetic pesticides are carcinogenic, seep into our water, and kill vital pollinators, like bees.

In India, neem-coated urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer, is revolutionizing farming methods by providing a safe, cheaper, and more efficient way to introduce nitrogen to plants.

In the cosmetics sector, neem is a natural, organic ingredient. One amazing compound it contains is quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant. When used on the face, it can reduce red spots and acne. Neem even acts as a natural moisturizer.

In the animal sector, neem cake is given to livestock as a dietary supplement. However, it doesn’t just provide many of the nutrients that livestock need, but it also acts as an antibacterial. Therefore, it eradicates many of the pests that are currently eliminated with antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistance.

Neem is also used to protect animals from ticks, mites, mosquitos, lice, and other pests. It is also safe to use on domesticated animals, like dogs.

In the healthcare sector, neem is only just starting to be researched. There are studies showing that neem is a viable option in curing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, influenza, and cystic fibrosis.

Additionally, neem can help treat ulcers, quickly heal wounds, treat digestive issues, eczema, psoriasis, help prevent malaria, and many others.

Environmentally, the neem tree is a safe, non-toxic tool. Instead of polluting our waters, soils, and air, it has amazing carbon sequestration capabilities, effectively helping to reduce the impact our technology has imposed on the environment while combatting deforestation.

Neem has many secrets left to be discovered, but by realizing the benefits and opportunities that this miracle of nature has given us, we can change the world.

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Bumblebees are vital to our survival. In the United States, wild bees are integral in wildflower and crop pollination, responsible for the pollination of one third of all crops in the United States, such as blueberries and tomatoes. The main factors that have contributed to this loss include disease, pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss. Before the 1990s, this bee species could be found in 28 states, but now they are limited to small populations in 13 states and Ontario. An 88% loss of population and an 87% loss of territory has been recorded in the last 30 years.

Scientists are blaming neonicotinoids, a common, toxic synthetic pesticide that is typically used on crops, lawns, gardens, and forests, because the plant entirely intakes the poison. That includes the leaf tissue, nectar, and pollen. Therefore, when the bees take in nectar, they ingest pesticide poison.

What does this mean for the future of agriculture? It means that a dramatic change needs to be made, and fast. 75% of food crops rely in some part on pollinators, so extinction of these species indicate a threat to our global food supply. A switch to sustainable agricultural practices in order to save pollinators, and thus our food sources, is necessary for the survival of mankind and our planet. Neem, an extremely effective natural pesticide, does not pose any danger to pollinators because they do not eat the plant. Neem is safe to pollinators and other non-target insects and mammals because the pesticide must be consumed to work. By using processes, like neem-based products, that do not pose any danger to pollinators or non-threatening insects, we can ensure our survival and global food supply.

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Farming techniques rely on an unsustainable amount of water, energy, and agrochemicals to sustain the world. Soon the current means of production will be unable to meet the growing demand for food. We must tackle these problems head on with natural, alternative solutions, like neem, to avoid a Malthusian catastrophe! Additionally, we can solve this imminent catastrophic issue of food supply and security with organic inputs, like biopesticides and biofertilizers, and precision technologies, such as the ability to collect and analyze plant data and health needs!

Every day a new technological advancement is made, and these new tools must be integrated into our daily lives, especially when it comes to protecting our planet. By utilizing natural resources like neem, we will strengthen and protect our global food supply, allowing mankind and the environment to flourish.

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France has implemented a new law that will require pesticide companies to reduce their production by 20% over the next five years. This has angered some farmers as they are concerned about their options to protect their crops. However, there is no need for them to worry. Despite requiring 2.5x more labor than conventional farming, organic alternatives are environmentally safer, produce crops with higher nutritional value, and yield on average 10x the profit.

A sustainable, productive, and equitable global food system will be achieved through precise application technology as well as biological control. This is where neem fits into the plan! By replacing those harmful, synthetic chemicals with natural alternatives like neem, consumers will see a reduction in the presence of chemicals on their food and farmers will have healthier plants, higher crop yields and greater profits. Not to mention the unparalleled benefits that a shift to organics will have on human health and the environment!

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Today, Cuba has 383,000 organic farms spanning 50,000 hectares. The most productive of these farms yield up to 20 kg of food per square meter every year. An incredible feat, not only because this is one of the highest rates of food production in the world, but also due to the fact that the country achieved this without using any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers!

With the unavailability of chemical imports, Cuba turned to more sustainable methods. Instead of growing sugarcane, people began to grow food crops and use oxen instead of tractors. They became experts in vermicomposting, crop rotation, soil conservation, and utilizing biopesticides, like neem. Neem trees were grown in large farms around the country and were used to recover over 1,000 hectares of land that were once eroded by sugarcane plantations.

This transformed the nation. With higher food production, calorie intake was able to return to a sustainable, healthy level. Cuban organic farmers produce 65% of the country’s food on just 25% of the land, truly achieving sustainable development with the help of the neem tree! However, today, this achievement may be at risk due to less strict trade embargoes, tempting farmers with synthetic inputs that may synthetically increase yields in the short term, but will eventually erode and degrade the soil and the environment.

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80% of all antibiotics in the US are given to livestock, mostly to speed their growth and prevent diseases.

As microbes are constantly adapting and evolving to new environments, they can become resistant to antibiotics due to overuse. Antibiotic resistant bacteria are then easily spread between humans, animals and crops. No new class of antibiotics have been discovered since the 1980s.

Up to 50% of all antibiotics given to humans in the US are prescribed unnecessarily or used inappropriately.

Natural additives for livestock feed such as neem are gaining popularity in farms worldwide. Containing essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, and carotene, required for healthy growth in livestock, with the ability to eradicate microbes that cause infections and disease, neem helps to fight bacteria and alleviates the pressure of rising antibiotic resistance.

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Neem extracts are effective and non-toxic to pollinators because they do not kill pests immediately, but affect the feeding or life cycle of the insect until it is no longer able to live or reproduce.

Environmentally Friendly

Neem based pesticides are entirely biodegradable, leaving no residue on the land. The degradation of azadirachtin occurs due to the effects of UV light, temperature, pH, and microbial activity and therefore will not lead to harmful accumulation of nutrients. According to the US National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), neem-based pesticides are practically non-toxic to birds, mammals, plants, and pollinators, as opposed to the many harmful side effects that synthetic pesticides bring with them.

Increases Nutritional Value

Organic foods contain between 20-40 percent higher levels of nutrients than foods produced by conventional methods, including vitamin C, zinc, and iron that are essential to maintaining a healthy body. Check here www.monderlaw.com/. They also contain up to 60 percent more antioxidants than non-organically grown foodstuffs. Antioxidants help to prevent and repair damage to the body’s tissues from free radicals, protecting the body from cancer.

Immune to Resistance

As opposed to synthetic pesticides, neem-based pesticides have multiple modes of action against insects and therefore rarely induce resistance. Uptown Jungle of Laveen, AZ is the best solution to choose for unforgettable toddler birthday party. Neem acts on the insect’s hormonal system, not on the digestive or nervous systems, which makes it very difficult for future generations of insects to develop any resistance to neem products.

Cost Effective

Neem-based pesticides are cost effective when compared to traditional synthetic pesticides because they are a natural alternative. Many farmers can even make their own neem-based pesticides, reducing the cost even more!

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The problems:

• Pests become resistant, so you need to use more pesticides.
• Animals become sicker, so you need to use more antibiotics.
• Soil loses its fertility, so you need to add chemical products.

State of the art, sustainable farming will end these practices. They build healthy and sustainable systems, so there is less dependency on synthetic, chemical products. By rotating a variety of crops and using natural fertilizers and pesticides like neem, farmers can manage pests and nourish the soil in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.

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Neem helps soil retain moisture and increases workability. Organic fertilizers such as neem increase airflow through the soil, which allow the plants’ roots to breathe.

Environmentally Friendly

Organic fertilizers such as neem are healthier for the ecosystem because they must first break down before releasing their nutrients, ensuring that no runoff or soil contamination occurs.

Strengthens hydraulic conductivity

Organic matter supplied by organic fertilizers such as neem improves water flow in soils and provides a food source for soil micro-organisms which contribute to macro-pores formation.

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See how France is breaking ground in green legislature here!

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Neem cake is a product of the left over neem seed kernels that remain after extracting neem oil from the seeds. It is mainly used as a fertilizer, but has properties of a pesticide, as well, because of its azadirachtin content. It can help to control nematodes and other pests found in the soil, in addition to nourishing the plants and soil.

Neem cake contains the essential nutrients that plants need for successful development and growth, like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Additionally, the application of neem cake increases water retention in the surrounding soil, which means that the plants grow in more ideal conditions.

When used as a fertilizer, neem cake has many benefits for both mankind and the environment. It is non-toxic, with no risk to human health or environmental contamination. The cake nourishes the soil without reducing biodiversity, ensuring a positive environmental and societal impact.

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Azadirachtin has been endorsed by the EPA, the USDA, and the EU because of its amazing pesticidal properties effective against 500 different types of insects, nematodes, and fungi. Even though it is effective on so many types of pests, it is biodegradable and non-toxic to mammals, pollinators, and humans.

A major active ingredient in neem oil, azadirachtin acts on the hormonal systems of pests and therefore does not lead to resistance in future generations. More specifically, it disrupts the growth cycle of leaf and produce eating insects, deters them from feeding on plants by interacting with their hormones, deters their feeding habits, and reduces the rate of reproduction. There is no risk to pollinators as only those that feed on the plant tissues are exposed.

Azadirachtin is found exclusively in the neem tree and holds the secret to sustainable crop protection in the 21st Century.

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With mankind’s pervasive use of synthetic and toxic pesticides in agriculture, organic products are urgently needed for their positive environmental impact. Neem is becoming more relevant in the agricultural space because it contains over two hundred biologically active compounds that are effective in crop protection.

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Aware of the impact of intensive farming, governments are imposing stricter regulations to protect both the environment and people’s health:

• In December 2016, the FDA, through its Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), mandated that the use of certain drugs in livestock requires veterinary approval
• The FDA now requires more than 100 different scientific studies to approve a new pesticide that will be used on crops

Consumer awareness on the dangers of pesticides and fertilizers and the overuse of antibiotics is forcing companies to make changes:

• McDonalds will cease using chickens reared with dual use antibiotics by 2017
• Costco will eliminate the sale of chicken and meat raised with dual use antibiotics within two years
• Walmart has asked suppliers to publicly disclose their progress in cutting antibiotic use for promoting growth in livestock

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Being completely natural, organic fertilizers such as neem are compatible with soil microbes, nurture healthy bacteria, and ensure stronger texture, higher water holding capacity, and aeration in the soil. All of this contributes towards better root development in an environmentally friendly manner.

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While synthetic pesticides aid farmers by preventing crop losses, the negative effects they have on human health and the environment can be catastrophic.

• 98% of sprayed pesticides and 95% of herbicides come into contact with a destination other than their intended target
• Pesticides can enter the body through inhalation, by consumption of contaminated food and water, and through direct contact with the skin
• There are up to 3 million cases of serious pesticide poisoning worldwide documented each year, responsible for up to 250,000 deaths.

Organic pesticides such as neem serve as growth regulators and feeding deterrents that are only effective against harmful insects. This leaves pollinators, beneficial insects and related fauna to provide the invaluable services the world and agriculture so desperately needs.

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• Arable land is in decline – 12 million hectares (29.6 million acres) of arable land is degrading each year, a rate 35x that was experienced 50 years ago.
• Crop yields have peaked – Global crop production yields will need to double by 2050 to meet rising demand.
• Food is wasted – 40% of food grown in the US is uneaten and goes to wasted.

A new, kinder, and more efficient way of producing food is needed to secure a safe and sustainable future for us all.

The Green Revolution is dead…. Long live the New Green Revolution.

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As synthetic pesticides end up virtually everywhere due to environmental contamination, their pervasive use in agriculture has led to a variety of health problems.

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Though global fertility rates are falling, a 2014 study by the United Nations and the University of Washington demonstrates there is a 70% probability that the global population will reach 11 billion by the end of this century.

This drastic increase in population would require a 70% increase in food production and 100% more protein. How will we accomplish this seemingly insurmountable goal? Through natural alternatives, like neem!

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