Biodiversity: "At its simplest level, biodiversity is the sum total of all the plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms in the world, or in a particular area; all of their individual variation; and all the interactions between them."

Biodynamic Agriculture - Defined - What is Biodynamic Agriculture?

Biodynamic Agriculture - History - 1924 to Present

Rachel Louise Carson was a university-trained biologist, a longtime United States government employee, and a best- selling author of such books as Edge of the Sea, The Sea Around Us (a National Book Award winner), and Silent Spring. Her book on the dangers of misusing pesticides, Silent Spring, has become a classic of environmental literature and resulted in her recognition as the fountainhead of modern environmentalism. Silent Spring was reissued in a twenty- fifth anniversary edition in 1987, and remains standard reading for anyone concerned about environmental issues.

Sustainability - History - 1960 to Present

Certifying Organizations for Sustainable, Organic, Biodynamic Agriculture - List of Organization researched by kennuncorked.com

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Delaunay, G. - Obituary: Gabriel Delaunay by Douglas Johnson - Monday, 31 August 1998. The Independent

Ehrlich, Paul R.: Overpopulation and Zero Population Growth

Since 1958, Ehrlich argues, the human population has been increasing faster than the food supply--a formula for disaster. Overpopulation threatens to destroy the environment, as the planet's resources are depleted by high consumption and crowding. And although richer nations, which often have lower birth rates than poorer ones, are not generally thought of as overpopulated, Ehrlich calls the impact of people on the environment a truer measure of overpopulation than mere numbers. He maintains that the populations of rich countries are harming the environment more than the rapidly growing populations in poor countries. Thus the population of the United States, which consumes a disproportionate amount of the earth's resources, is a greater threat to the environment than are the larger populations of India or China.

With overpopulation, people survive by using up and destroying natural resources--fossil fuels, the soil, fresh water, and wildlife.

According to Ehrlich, mankind must begin at once to husband resources, with particular attention to those classified as nonrenewable. Human overpopulation has already had a significant effect on the ecosystem; in addition to the depletion of mineral, soil, and other resources, a number of organisms are becoming or have become extinct as well. Ehrlich fears that entire species and communities will soon be lost, and that this loss of biodiversity will impair many vital functions performed by the environment.

Ecosystems (communities of plants and animals and the physical environments with which they interact) regulate the climate, create supplies of fresh water, generate and regenerate agricultural and forest soils, and facilitate crop pollination, among other things. If overpopulation does destroy biodiversity, the habitability of the planet will be threatened.

Source: "Paul R. Ehrlich." Notable Scientists: From 1900 to the Present. Online. Detroit: Gale Group, 2008. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

Eco-tourism - What is Eco-tourism? - Ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990)

Eco-tourism - What are the Principals of Eco-tourism? - Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles: Minimize impact; Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect; Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts; Provide direct financial benefits for conservation; Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people; Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate

European Commision - Organic Farming - Website provides information for people to promote organic farming and includes free audiovisual and printout materials in a number of languages. It offers consumers some confidence about the organic sector and helps you to make informed purchasing choices.

Federation Internationale des Vins et Spiritueux (FIVS) - International Federation of Wines and Spirits" The Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles" - GWSESP)
Brochure - English and Brochure - French

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IFOAM Organic Guarantee System (OGS) - The Organic Guarantee System (OGS) unites the organic world through a common system of standards, verification, and market identity. It fosters equivalence among participating certifiers, paving the way for more orderly and reliable trade.

ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards. (International Social and Environmental Accreditation Labeling Alliance)

ISO 14001 outlines the requirements for environmental management systems for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. The ISO 14001 standards guide companies in developing processes that minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment which can cause adverse changes to air, water, or land.

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Labeling Alcohol Beverages - USA - Alcohol Beverages Labeled with Organic Claims.

In 2000, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized the regulations relating to the National Organic Program (NOP) at 7 CFR Part 205.

These rules provide new standards for the production, handling, processing, labeling, and marketing of products labeled with organic claims. While these rules were not written or implemented by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), they do apply to alcohol beverages.

For this reason, TTB has worked closely with USDA to ensure that the alcohol beverage industry has been provided with current and accurate information regarding organic claims on labels. This website and the resources catalogued within are designed to provide you with the most up-to-date information on organic claims on alcohol beverage labels.

Low Input Agriculture: Low input farming systems "seek to optimize the management and use of internal production inputs (i.e. on-farm resources)... and to minimize the use of production inputs (i.e. off-farm resources), such as purchased fertilizers and pesticides, wherever and whenever feasible and practicable, to lower production costs, to avoid pollution of surface and groundwater, to reduce pesticide residues in food, to reduce a farmer's overall risk, and to increase both short- and long-term farm profitability." [JF Parr et al., "Sustainable Agriculture in the United States," in Sustainable Agricultural Systems, ed. by Clive A. Edwards, et al. (Ankeny IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society, 1990), p. 52. NAL Call # S494.5 S86S86]

Low Input Viticulture & Enology (LIVE) - The label "LIVE" is granted to wines that fulfill the conditions for grape growing and wine making. The basis for the requirements of the LIVE label program are from the guidelines published by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). LIVE is certified by the IOBC therefore allowing LIVE wines to be internationally certified sustainable. (IOBC Guidelines for Integrated Production of Grapes).

The LIVE Requirements

• Wines with the LIVE label must be produced (97%) from grapes originating from a certified LIVE vineyard. The winery will be responsible for submitting documents showing the source and handling of the wines.
• The wines must conform to the regional appellation requirements. It is NOT allowable to blend more than 3% non-LIVE wine into the product.
• Chaptalization (see below) cannot exceed 20g/l, or 2% volume alcohol unless an exemption is granted by the LIVE organization for that particular vintage. (kennuncorked.com Note: Chaptalization - The final alcohol strength of the wine is increased by the addition of sugar to the grape juice or "must", before and/or during fermentation.)
• Total SO2 content cannot exceed 120 mg/l. (With the exception of botryticied wines and wines with residual sugar, which must conform to state legal restrictions.)
• The wines must be evaluated by an independent tasting panel within 6 months after bottling, must be clean, and have varietal character. The panel will consist of at least 5 members selected for their ability to determine wine faults.
• A wine analysis by an approved BATF lab must be submitted before final approval for using the LIVE label. It must include percent alcohol, TA, total and free SO2, and Volatile Acidity (VA).
• For all other criteria, the federal, state, or regional legal restriction will apply.

The above requirements were confirmed in a personal correspondence email from Chris Serra, LIVE Program Manager (chris@liveinc.org) on Tuesday July 21, 2009. In part Mr. Serra stated, "Only members have a access to the new form for certifying wine, which contains this information.".

International Biological Program - MOBILIZING THE WORLD'S BIOLOGISTS by Waddington, C. H. in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; Nov1963, Vol. 19 Issue 9, p39-41, 3p .

The article discusses the significance of preparing biologists around the world in response to international cooperation. According to sources, biologists believe that the contributions which their science could make to the welfare of mankind would be not less than that of the physical sciences, if an effort of the same order of magnitude could be mounted. However, it is exceedingly difficult to define a research plan which would enable biology to make that massive contribution to the well-being of mankind which many biologists would like to see. Thus, a planning committee was appointed to work out a scheme for a large-scale International Biological Program on the theme biological productivity and human adaptability. (Ebscohost.com Science Reference)

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Organic Farming and Agriculture - History - 1840 to Present

Orgainc Farming an Agriculture - Defined - International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) - Adopted by its World Board - March 2008. The defintion is:

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."
(Retrieved July 11, 2009 from IFOAM website: http://www.ifoam.org/organic_facts/doa/index.html.

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Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms - Terms commonly associated with sustainable agricultural systems. Retrieved August 17, 2009 from the United States Department of Agriculture National Library website http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902terms.shtml

Sustainability Defined - The best-known definition of sustainability or sustainable development is attributed to Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, and Chairperson of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The Commission was established by the Secretary General of the UN in 1983, and reported in 1987 ("Our Common Future", 1987).the World Commission on Environment and Development.

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

What is Sustainable Agriculture? - Sustainable agriculture encompasses diverse methods of farming and ranching that are more profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities.

According to the United States Department of Argicuture website "Sustainable agriculture" has become one of them. In such a quickly changing world, can anything be sustainable? What do we want to sustain? How can we implement such a nebulous goal? Is it too late? With the contradictions and questions have come a hard look at our present food production system and thoughtful evaluations of its future. If nothing else, the term "sustainable agriculture" has provided "talking points," a sense of direction, and an urgency, that has sparked much excitement and innovative thinking in the agricultural world.

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United Nations Cyberschoolbus: The United Nations Cyberschoolbus is a website about global issues and the UN, for students ages 5-18 and their teachers. (international and global education, lesson plans, quizes, environment, human rights, peace, poverty, children's rights, global studies, geography, social studies, environmental studies, history, government, civics, language arts, demography, politics, population, events, graphs, model UN, urban education, teaching materials, on-line education. (Kenn's Comment: This a wonderful website for adults)

USDA Accredited Certifying Agents (Domestic and Foreign)

USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Background Information (PDF)

USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Organic Production and Handling Standards (PDF)

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References:

• Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms - Terms commonly associated with sustainable agricultural systems. Retrieved August 17, 2009 from the United States Department of Agriculture National Library website http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902terms.shtml
• Image Title: Front Facade, Public Library, New York, N. Y. Medium: Offset photomechanical prints Item/Page/Plate: DPC# 70706 Source: Detroit Publishing Company postcards / 70000 Series. Location: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building / Photography Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. Catalog Call Number: MFY 95-29. Digital ID: 74028. Record ID: 128507. Digital Item Published: 4-8-2004; updated 12-6-2008. Retrieved July 08, 2009 from: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?74028" title="Front Facade, Public Library, ... Digital ID: 74028. New York Public Library.

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