USDA Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Environment + Energy Leader

DuPont, Hoover, Seventh Generation Products Among the First to Wear USDA’s Biobased Label

April 4, 2011April 4, 2011 by Tamar Wilner

Hoover, DuPont and Seventh Generation are among the first companies to win the right to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred label for biobased products. The USDA announced that 60 products (a selection pictured, left) have so far been awarded the label. The certification designates products – other ... Read more »

Genetically Modified Ethanol Corn Approved

February 15, 2011October 18, 2016 by Tamar Wilner

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will deregulate a variety of corn genetically engineered to facilitate ethanol production, the agency has announced. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will deregulate corn engineered to produce alpha-amylase, a common enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar. The corn is ... Read more »

Packaging Boss Criticizes USDA Labelling

February 8, 2011February 8, 2011 by Tamar Wilner

A packaging company has said that a label for biobased products, recently launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA) could mislead consumers. Laura Rowell, director of sustainable packaging at MWV, told CosmeticsDesign that the logo may confuse consumers by not including “mature market products”. These products, which the USDA ... Read more »

USDA Biobased Labels Debut

January 20, 2011October 18, 2016 by Tamar Wilner

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a voluntary product certification for biobased commercial and industrial products. The “USDA Certified Biobased Product” label will designate products, other than food and feed, that derive a certain proportion of their materials from biological sources. Product categories under the initiative include personal and ... Read more »

California Farms Adopt Solar for Energy Savings

May 4, 2010 by Gina Roos

While numerous California wineries and vineyards have embraced solar energy as a way to cut their environmental footprint and reduce energy costs, crop farmers including a cooperative in Sutter Basin are starting to realize the cost-saving benefits of renewable energy. The federal government is also making moves to help farmers ... Read more »

U.S. Dairy Industry Plans 25% GHG Emissions Cut by 2020

December 16, 2009 by Gina Roos

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy are working together to help the U.S. dairy industry reach its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent over the next decade. One part of the strategy is to turn methane gas from livestock ... Read more »

Climate Bill Impact on Ag Becomes More Clear

December 7, 2009December 5, 2009 by Paul Nastu

Some farmers would benefit from the House version of the climate bill by being paid to plant trees, while the fresh fruit and vegetable industry likely would face higher production costs. Under the House plan, from 2015 to 2050, about 85 percent of revenue from agricultural-related carbon offsets would come ... Read more »

From Sewage to Fuel and Other Biofuel Developments

November 16, 2009 by Paul Nastu

A new process being developed at the University of Kansas aims to turn treated sewage into biofuel. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy and USDA are putting $24 million into research of other biomass and biofuel projects. At KU, researchers are testing a process by which microbes munch through treated sewage, ... Read more »

From Carbon Credits to Water Quality Trading

October 15, 2009October 21, 2009 by Gina Roos

Similar to a carbon cap-and-trade scheme, a forthcoming water quality trading program will allow emitters to purchase pollution reduction credits from another source. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has received $1.3 million in federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ... Read more »

Good Company Seal: Responsible Firms Only Apply

August 14, 2009October 19, 2009 by Paul Nastu

A new seal of approval is intended to steer consumers to companies that operate under best practices in corporate social responsibility, including the environment. In addition to not harming the environment, to receive the Good Company Seal a firm must demonstrate proper treatment of its employees, suppliers, consumers and the ... Read more »

USDA ‘BioPreferred’ Label Intended for Retail Shelves

August 5, 2009October 19, 2009 by Paul Nastu

A new federal ‘BioPreferred” label would give marketers of certain products – those composed “wholly or significantly of renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials” – a new way to present their products on retail shelves. Additionally, companies using the items in their operations might be able to claim a ... Read more »

EPA Renewable Fuel Standard To Foster Advanced Biofuels

May 5, 2009May 6, 2009 by Paul Nastu

In the face of declining U.S. biofuel production, the White House is forming a working group to speed the sustainable development of biofuels and make ethanol more widely available at filling stations. The working group aims to accelerate funding to biofuels producers, in the hopes that they will phase out ... Read more »

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