Food & Environment Reporting Network

05/27/2026

What would a post-glyphosate world look like?

Agriculture in the United States is at a turning point: 90% of U.S. corn relies on seeds designed for the controversial w**d killer, but a transition may be on the horizon.

Senator Cory Booker joined the Forked podcast to discuss the slow extinction of the American farmer and how strategic policy shifts—like expanding EQIP—can incentivize resilient, organic farming.

How can corporate supply chains better support small and mid-sized farmers making this transition?

05/27/2026

Cajun blackened redfish is a relatively recent invention — created by chef Paul Prudhomme in 1979. But since then, overfishing and the loss of Louisiana's coastal marshlands have threatened the species' native habitat, and there may be no reversing the damage.

What is the future of Louisiana's signature dish, asks writer Boyce Upholt (), when the seafood is raised on farms in China and Vietnam?

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05/26/2026

"My parents taught me that hope is the active conviction that despair is not gonna have the last word."

That's Senator Cory Booker on why active, resilient hope is necessary to push through complex legislative battles — especially in food and agriculture policy. And why, despite everything we're dealing with, triumphs remain possible.

05/23/2026

Can you really trust a corporate crackdown when the target is one of your biggest political donors? 🤔🥩

The Trump administration recently announced a criminal antitrust probe into JBS, the world's largest meat processor. But there's a major catch: JBS (via Pilgrim's Pride) was the largest financial donor to Donald Trump's reelection and inauguration.

On the newest episode of the Forked podcast, Senator Cory Booker shares his deep skepticism about the investigation. While he hopes to be pleasantly surprised and desperately wants to see this "bad corporation" held accountable for the harm it has caused to American farmers and families, he admits that right now, he sees "no credibility" in the move.

Is this a rare moment for bipartisan cooperation against Big Ag monopolies, or is it just political theater?

05/22/2026

Behind the postcard-perfect views of France's Brittany coastline lies a dark, evolving environmental crisis. 🌊

While tourists flock there for the green hills and sandy beaches, parts of the coast are being choked by a "green goo." This seaw**d, called Ulva armoricana, creates massive banks on the sand that release hydrogen sulphide—a foul-smelling and potentially lethal gas as it decays.

The situation has escalated to the point where the media calls it "killer seaw**d." Beaches are regularly closed, warning signs are everywhere, and tractors have to work non-stop through the summer just to scoop up thousands of tons of it before it turns toxic. Sadly, the sludge has already been linked to the deaths of local wildlife and even a beach clean-up worker.

It’s an unending battle that Alix Levain, a social anthropologist, calls a "monster" staining the landscape and killing biodiversity.

“The Brittany coastline is famed for its green hills, rugged cliffs and miles of sandy beaches. But over the past few decades, in places, the sand has begun to disappear beneath a carpet of green goo.

05/22/2026

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FERN is looking for its first Audience Lead. FERN, an award-winning nonprofit news organization, has been producing independent journalism at the intersection of food, agriculture…

05/22/2026

Is a post-glyphosate world possible in the US? 🌽🌾

Senator Cory Booker argues that to save the slowly extinguishing American farmer, we must reimagine the Farm Bill. By expanding resources for farmers to shift toward resilient, organic practices, we can move away from big commodities and focus on the foods Americans actually eat.

What are your thoughts on shifting agricultural subsidies toward fresh fruits and vegetables? Let's discuss!

05/21/2026

It takes a team to change Washington! 🏛️🤝

Senator Cory Booker shares who his biggest allies are in the fight for a better food system, shouting out Senators Ben Ray Luján and Raphael Warnock. With a growing coalition, real change is on the horizon.

Do you think food and agriculture issues will become a bigger priority in the next election cycle?

05/20/2026

Donald Trump says he feels great eating steak while others 'kick the bucket' eating celery. Is this just a joke, or does it undermine the 'Make America Healthy Again' mission? We discuss on the new Forked.

05/20/2026

The reality of massive factory farming is heartbreaking. 💔

Senator Cory Booker discusses his visits to communities surrounded by massive CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), where residents are literally prisoners in their own homes due to severe pollution and toxic runoff from multinational corporations.

Have you ever lived near or visited an area affected by industrial factory farming? What was it like?