Thierry Vrain, a retired soil biologist and former head of a molecular biology department, spent his career engineering nematode resistance in crops. In retirement, as a gardener, he gained a deeper understanding of soil ecosystems.

Observing public concern about food safety, Vrain, with his expertise in genetic engineering, felt compelled to act. He has joined a campaign to educate consumers about potential health issues reported in recent scientific literature.

More information is available here.

Mansfield Frazier, now in his third year with the Vineyards at Chateau Hough, has secured angel funding for his latest urban agriculture venture: the BioCellar at Chateau Hough.

This project envisions transforming Cleveland's 15,000 abandoned homes. Irreparable structures will be removed, and greenhouses built over their basements, creating "BioCellars" to cultivate high-value mushrooms ($12/pound). This innovative approach aims to grow crops, create jobs, and repurpose land, delivering significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Published on June 7, 2013, this testimony illustrates how a small farmer in El Salvador preserves biodiversity and combats hunger through seed saving and exchange.

This practice aligns with the 2013 commitment of Bajo Lempa communities in El Salvador to agroecology. Their focus encompasses protecting local seeds, defending soil, and preserving water sources.

Hundreds of farmworkers and their supporters are in New York City for Wendy's shareholder meeting, demanding improved working conditions for tomato pickers. Organized by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the Fair Food campaign, featuring organizer Gerardo Reyes-Chavez, advocates for better wages and workers' rights.

This initiative follows a White House-recognized Social Responsibility Program, which McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, and Taco Bell have already joined. These companies pay an extra penny per pound of tomatoes to raise wages and commit to sourcing from farms that respect workers' rights.

The 15-day, 200-mile "March for Rights, Respect, and Fair Food" concluded vibrantly on Sunday, March 17th, outside Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland, Florida.

Further information and coverage of the march, published March 18, 2013, is available here.

Lucas Benitez, Co-Director of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), advocates for fair food and agricultural worker rights in the U.S. The CIW has successfully secured corporate and grower agreements for a code of conduct, establishing zero tolerance for slavery and sexual harassment, and guaranteeing workers' health and safety conditions.

Explore their actions on their YouTube channel.

Mr. Benitez presented at the Mary Robinson Speaker Series in November 2002.

In May 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of biotech giant Monsanto, concluding a patent case against Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman. The high court determined that 75-year-old Bowman violated Monsanto’s patent rights by planting seeds purchased from a grain elevator.

His story, told in his own words, was featured in a February 2013 interview covered by the Huffington Post.

TEDxManhattan 2013

Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in New York City. Established in 1977, it is the oldest natural foods cooking school in the US.

A prolific writer, Dr. Colbin has authored four books and a bimonthly column for New York Spirit magazine since 1988. Her extensive bibliography also includes numerous magazine articles and anthology chapters.

Green City Growers Cooperative, an employee-owned Cleveland business, is set to harvest its first crops. This 3.25-acre hydroponic operation, located off East 55th Street in the city's Central neighborhood, is one of the largest urban greenhouses in the country.

Mary Donnell is the Chief Executive Officer of Green City Growers.

TED Fellow Marcin Jakubowski is open-sourcing blueprints for 50 farm machines, enabling anyone to build their own tractor or harvester. This initiative, launched in April 2011, is the first step in a larger project to create an instruction set for an entire self-sustaining village, with an estimated starting cost of $10,000.

For more details, visit the Open Source Ecology website. Additional information is available on TED.com.

By 2050, the global population will reach 9 billion, raising critical questions about food security.

Food security expert Dr. Evan Fraser presents his solution to the Global Food Crisis in a whiteboard presentation.

Learn more at www.feedingninebillion.com.

Explore the principles and impact of the Fair Trade movement in this compelling documentary.

The film was directed by Jamie Moffett.

ONE is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization, cofounded by Bono and other campaigners. With 3 million members, ONE fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders.

The organization supports smart, effective policies and programs that save lives, educate children, and improve futures. ONE is nonpartisan and collaborates closely with African activists and policymakers.

Nikki Henderson champions food as a powerful tool for social change, emphasizing its role in uniting people to foster healthy, thriving communities and a sustainable planet.

As Executive Director of People's Grocery in West Oakland, CA, she spearheads a strategic campaign to revitalize the local economy through a comprehensive food system approach.

Recognized by ELLE Magazine in 2010 as a Gold Awardee, Nikki will speak at the Connecting for Change Conference, sponsored by the Marion Institute.

Tania Pulido, a 2011 Earth Island Institute Brower Youth Award winner from Richmond, CA, empowers her community through urban agriculture. She provides nourishment, employment, and education.

Watch her inspiring award speech here.

Honest Tea believes in nature's perfection, simply bottled. To reflect this, we're launching "The Great Recycle," a national initiative to significantly boost recycling rates. Our ultimate goal is to recycle every bottle we produce annually by 2020.

The Great Recycle kicks off Monday, April 30th, with a 30-foot bin in Times Square, aiming to collect over 45,000 beverage containers in one day. If you're not in NYC, join our year-round commitment to recycling online at TheGreatRecycle.com.

This clip from AMERICA REVEALED's "Food Machine" episode features ordinary people returning food production to its basics.

Watch the full episode here: http://video.pbs.org/video/2214315175

FRESH celebrates American farmers, thinkers, and business leaders who are reinventing our food system.

Witnessing the negative impacts of industrial agriculture—including food contamination, environmental pollution, resource depletion, and obesity—these innovators forge healthier, sustainable alternatives. They present a practical vision for the future of our food and planet.

Documentary filmmaker Ana Sofia Joanes shares her passion in this video.

Nearly one billion people go hungry daily, with volatile food prices recently driving 44 million into extreme poverty. Urgent solutions are essential to ensure everyone has nutritious food now and in the future.

Find more videos on the World Bank YouTube Channel.

In this interview, Jen Henry discusses her introduction to farming through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model and the challenges she and her sister, Aby, encounter as new farmers.

Together, they established Siren Song Permaculture, a local consultation and garden design company. They specialize in creating edible landscapes using permaculture principles, ranging from small herb spirals to comprehensive designs that provide food for humans, beneficial insects, and birds.

Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv conducted this interview on August 11, 2011, in Portland, Oregon.