6 Recommendations to the National Organic Standards Board to Improve Organic Farming and Food for Fall 2024
TAKE ACTION TODAY AND TELL THE NOSB TO ADDRESS THESE PRESSING ISSUES. CLICK HERE.
What is the National Organic Standards Board?
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is a Federal Advisory Board made up of 15 dedicated public volunteers from across the organic community. Established by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The NOSB also has special responsibilities related to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
The NOSB generally meets twice per year at a public meeting to discuss the items on its work agenda, vote on proposals, and make recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary. The public is invited to participate.
This year’s fall meeting will take place October 22-24. 2024, in Portland, Oregon.
Our Recommendations to the NOSB for Fall 2024
- Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
- Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
- Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
- Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
- Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
- Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Implementing these recommendations would protect the health of organic consumers and the wider environment, and bring the organic label closer to meeting the expectations of organic consumers.
The first four recommendations address two primary issues which are inextricably linked – toxic synthetic chemicals and microplastics (fragments smaller than a few millimeters)/nanoplastics (fragments smaller than a few micrometers) – both of which present risks and harms to human and animal health, and the environment.
- PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS), a class of over 15,000 toxic substances that don’t break down, are increasingly becoming a public health crisis due to historical and current uses. Studies have linked PFAS to cancer, autoimmune disease, thyroid disease, liver damage, high blood pressure, obesity, hormone disruption, decreased immunity, decreased fertility, birth defects, and harmful developmental effects in infants.
PFAS contamination of organic food and products can occur during the production of crops and animals, the storage of raw materials (leaching from fluorinated containers, addressed later), during manufacturing (from machinery and/or the products used to clean and lubricate), and/or from the final consumer packaging (leaching from plastic and paper products coated with PFAS).
In a 2023 pilot study, researchers found higher levels of PFAS in organic kale than conventional kale.
A thorough investigation into all the modes by which PFAS can contaminate or leach into organic foods and products must be performed. But regardless of the reasons for contamination, PFAS chemicals should be prohibited in all potential areas of exposure under the National Organic Program (NOP) and placed on the National List of Prohibited Substances.
- Fluorinated Plastic Containers & Packaging
A March 2023 study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters found that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers contain PFAS, including the highly toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as detected in ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise tested.
The study stated: “In all experiments, short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were detected in the highest frequencies and concentrations with analyte concentration decreasing as chain length increased. An estimate for PFAS released into food ranged from 0.77 to 2.68 ng/kg body weight per week, showing ingestion of food stored in these containers could be a significant source of exposure.”
“Not only did we measure significant concentrations of PFAS in these containers, we can estimate the PFAS that were leaching off creating a direct path of exposure,” said Graham Peaslee, professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Notre Dame and an author of the study. “We measured concentrations of PFOA that significantly exceeded the limit set by the EPA’s 2022 Health Advisory Limits,” said Peaslee. “Now, consider that not only do we know that the chemicals are migrating into the substances stored in them, but that the containers themselves work their way back into the environment through landfills. PFAS doesn’t biodegrade. It doesn’t go away. Once these chemicals are used, they get into the groundwater, they get into our biological systems, and they cause significant health problems.”
Fluorinated plastic containers, whether used during storage and manufacturing or used for consumer packaging, must be prohibited to protect the health of organic consumers and the environment.
- Fossil Fuel-Based Plastic Containers & Packaging
Research shows that plastic breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics, contaminating food and drinks. When plastics are exposed to liquids, they can shed even more.
An April 2022 study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found that all plastics tested released nanoplastics. The authors chose to focus the study on two types of plastic: “food-grade” nylon bags and coffee cups lined with low-density polyethylene. They found that the materials released more nanoplastics as the water temperature rose, up to trillions of fragments.
Virgin plastics are bad. Recycled plastic is even worse.
A May 2022 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found that widely-used PET recycled plastic bottles pass more toxic chemicals into their contents than virgin plastic bottles. They found that of the 150 toxic chemicals that leached into drinks from recycled plastic bottles, 18 were at levels exceeding regulations.
Concerning human and animal health…
An April 2021 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found microplastics cause damage to human cells at the levels known to be consumed by people via contaminated food.
An April 2022 pilot study detected microplastics in the meat, milk and blood of farm animals.
A May 2022 study published in the journal Environment International found microplastics in human blood.
A June 2022 study published in the journal Polymers found microplastics in human breast milk.
A July 2022 study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment found microplastics in human lungs.
A March 2023 study published in the journal Nanomaterials found microplastics can breach the blood-brain barrier.
A July 2023 study published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that microplastics infiltrated all systems of the body. The researchers found that plastic particles bioaccumulate in every organ. “The brain blood barrier is supposed to be very difficult to permeate. It is a protective mechanism against viruses and bacteria, yet these particles were able to get in there. It was actually deep in the brain tissue,” said Professor Jaime Ross, one of the study’s authors. The researchers found that the infiltration of microplastics was as widespread in the body as it is in the environment. They found that microplastic exposure induces both behavioral changes and alterations in immune markers in liver and brain tissues. The study mice began to move and behave peculiarly, exhibiting behaviors akin to dementia in humans. The results were even more profound in older animals. “To us, this was striking. These were not high doses of microplastics, but in only a short period of time, we saw these changes,” Ross said.
A February 2024 study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences found microplastics in all the placenta samples tested. Prof. Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico who led the research, said: “If we are seeing effects on placentas, then all mammalian life on this planet could be impacted. That’s not good.”
And a May 2024 preprint study confirmed that microplastics bioaccumulated in human livers, kidneys and brains. Shockingly, the brain samples contained on average about 10 to 20 times more than the other organs. The researchers looked at 12 brain samples from people who had died with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. These brains contained up to 10 times more plastic by weight than healthy samples. The study also found the quantity of microplastics in brain samples from 2024 was about 50% higher from the total in samples that date to 2016, suggesting the concentration of microplastics found in human brains is rising at a similar rate to that found in the environment.
The groundbreaking report, Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health, published in March 2023 in the journal Annals of Global Health, makes it clear that a worldwide moratorium on single-use, fossil fuel-based plastics (produced from coal, oil and fracked gas) is necessary. The report concludes that plastic causes environmental damage and premature death at every stage of its life cycle, from production to use and disposal.
“These findings put us on an unequivocal path to demand the banning or severely restricting of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, many of which contain hazardous chemicals with links to horrific harm to people and the planet,” says report co-author, Dr. Sarah Dunlop.
Dr. Phillip Landrigan, epidemiologist and pediatrician, also a co-author, says: “Plastics are full of thousands upon thousands of really toxic chemicals. Some of them can cause cancer. Some of them can cause birth defects in babies. Some of them can cause brain damage. Some can disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system of the human body. And because plastic waste can contain all of these nasty materials, you can’t just recycle it and put it into food packaging.”
A September 2023 study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, found pregnant women may experience a greater risk of postpartum depression when exposed to a specific class of chemicals known as phthalates — ubiquitous chemicals found in numerous personal care and plastic consumer products, including food packaging.
Microplastics and toxic chemicals go hand in hand. The two cannot be separated. And both are dangerous to human health.
Ongoing research by Adrift Lab has linked ingestion of plastics by seabirds to sublethal health effects. Their January 2023 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found multi-organ damage in seabirds from ingesting microplastic fragments. A follow-up February 2023 study concluded that ingested plastic was causing scarring of the birds’ proventriculus, part of the digestive system, in a phenomenon they call “plasticosis.”
It is reasonable to expect that microplastics could be causing organ damage and scarring in humans. “In my view, plasticosis could be a sign that a new age of disease is upon us because of human overuse of plastics and other long-lasting contaminants, and their leakage into the environment,” writes Dr. Matt Savoca, a conservation biologist.
In light of the growing body of scientific evidence about plastics, the shedding of microplastics, and the toxic chemicals they leach under real-world use, we believe the organic sector should urgently research and identify alternatives.
There is no such thing as “food grade” plastic or “safe” plastic that is made from fossil fuels.
We recommend phasing out fossil fuel-based plastics for the storage and packaging of food and consumer products such as cosmetics.
- Plastic Mulch & Tarps Used for Growing
Plastic mulch and tarps are often used by growers for multiple reasons: To cover crop row walkways and crop beds, preventing the spread of weeds, to help control soil temperature and moisture, and to cover fallow land, preventing soil erosion, just to name a few. This has provided a convenience to growers.
But the research indicates that it’s time to move away from these products, as plastic mulches and tarps release toxic chemicals, potentially including PFAS chemicals, phthalates and other endocrine disruptors, and microplastics into the soil. Most of these plastic products are considered single-use and are not recyclable, further polluting the planet.
According to the FAO, “Soils are one of the main receptors of agricultural plastics and are known to contain larger quantities of microplastics than oceans.” The FAO also stated, “In 2019, agricultural value chains used 12.5 million tonnes of plastic products in plant and animal production and 37.3 million tonnes in food packaging. The crop production and livestock sectors are the largest users, accounting for 10 million tonnes per year collectively, followed by fisheries and aquaculture with 2.1 million tonnes, and forestry with 0.2 million tonnes.”
A December 2020 review study published in the journal Chemosphere shows that crops can uptake PFAS chemicals from the soil, with root uptake being the predominant pathway for the accumulation of PFAS in agricultural crops. The contaminated crops become a direct and potentially significant route of exposure to humans and animals eating the crops.
Like all plastic products, microplastic pollution is a problem with plastic mulches and tarps. A May 2020 study published in the journal Environmental Pollution stated that “The abundances of microplastic particles increased over time in the locations where plastic mulching was continuously employed… Fourier transform infrared analyses revealed that the composition of the microplastics matched that of the mulching films, suggesting the microplastic particles originated from the mulching films. These findings confirm that plastic mulching is an important source of macroplastic and microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments.”
And possibly most alarming is that, in addition to PFAS, plants can also uptake microplastics through their roots, according to a July 2020 study published in the journal Nature Sustainability, exposing humans and animals to the microplastics and the toxic chemicals they release. An August 2020 study published in the journal Environmental Research showed that microplastics are, in fact, in the vegetables and fruit we all eat. The study found microplastics in the foods tested (carrots, lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, apples and pears), with the highest contamination levels found in carrots and shockingly, apples.
We recommend that plastic mulches and tarps be prohibited in certified organic operations.
(The following text is provided by our allies at Beyond Pesticides)
- Reject unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Compost made in organic production should use plant and animal waste, and not synthetic materials that could introduce hazardous contaminants like PFAS and microplastics. The current regulations require compost to be made from manure and plant wastes, allowing only synthetics on the National List—that is, those that have specifically been approved by the NOSB and USDA through a public comment process. The only synthetic inputs into compost that are currently allowed are newspaper and other paper. A petition seeks to allow “compost feedstocks” that might include, for example, “compostable” food containers.
Both organic and non-organic farms have been taken out of production because of PFAS contamination, and microplastics can have a synergistic effect with PFAS. Even worse are potential contaminants we don’t know. Current PFAS contamination came from past use of biosolids not known to be a source of “forever chemicals.” Biosolids—fortunately never allowed in organic production—should be a lesson to remember.
- Eliminate non-organic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Materials listed in §205.606 in the organic regulations are nonorganic agricultural ingredients that may comprise 5% of organic-labeled processed foods. The intent of the law is to allow restricted nonorganic ingredients (fully disclosed and limited) only when their organic form is not available. However, materials should not remain on §205.606 if they can be supplied organically, and we can now grow virtually anything organically. The Handling Subcommittee needs to ask the question of potential suppliers, “Could you supply the need if the organic form is required?” The materials on §205.606 up for sunset review this year are made from agricultural products that can be supplied organically and thus should be taken off the National List of allowed materials.
TAKE ACTION TODAY AND TELL THE NOSB TO ADDRESS THESE PRESSING ISSUES. CLICK HERE.
Address these issues!
Please address issues with organic foods!
We must remove these toxic materials from the world our children will inherit. I researched PFA’s created by DuPont and 3M years ago when I worked at a medical company that made implantable devices for humans. I hope you don’t need a transplant of any kind ever!
JRsus, I was not aware of such ,****DAMAGES, in the air, food, ,CRAP everywhere, there’s no ***ESCAPING tHM,**** how to escape ing ,it HORRIBLE, Scarry, ,we live in the affects daily,
. How doe’s one lessens th, live on another planet, man, it is an infestation everything is covered with what is your solution not me not free it’s funny man it’s just threatening and horrific, what do ***WE DO**???
Please help us address these forever substances and remove them from the food chain for the world our children will inherit. I have done my own research when I worked in implantable medical devices. This is urgent.
Please address these serious issues that are significantly and negatively effecting Americans health. Thank you
Please be sure to submit a comment here: https://gmofreeusa.salsalabs.org/nosbmeetingfall2024/index.html
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This is long, long overdue to be rectified!
Americans deserve better! Do it for our future.
Do it for our future!
Please address this serious issues that are profoundly and negatively affecting Americans’ health. Thank you.
Please be sure to submit a comment here, if you haven’t already: https://gmofreeusa.salsalabs.org/nosbmeetingfall2024/index.html
It’s quick and easy. We have a pre-written comment text, but you can edit it if you like. Thank you!
Stop doing things that are harmful to life.
All foods should have the same standards as Organic. People who can’t afford to purchase organic products are being poisoned.
All our food should be organic to help us be healthy!
Stop creating a toxic environment….well deserve better..
Stop creating a toxic environment….we all deserve better
NOW!
We need it for our health and the protection of our future!
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
We need to get rid of PFA’s.
I’m involved with an organic commercial garden. This is a critical action!
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Please phase out PFS and petroleum product plastics, and all of the above to make organic labeled food, actually organic and stop polluting the environment
Hello
Agent orange derivatives are used in ” cancer chemo drugs.”
They used it on me. My foot was slowly deformed from this toxic
soup injected into my Vein! Kind of like the poor little persons feet and hands you showed.
I saw picture of some of the people born from this spry in Vietnam. The maker of this product need to pay up, not the tax payers. Money need to be directed from the military budget to the victims.
I didn’t die;.
I researched and found this to be true, and good old Monsanto makes it.
All the people Monsanto used it on need reparations. I suffer each day and can no longer
take my walks like I used too. My sacrum/nerve was damaged: seems to be involved as well. the nerves going to the foot from the sacrum.
I checked an agent orange survivor blog and saw the horror of the human mutations.
I also saw the conditions that can arris from the exposure. The list is long, ALS, Alzheimer’s,, etc, etc.
Thank you so much for bringing this to the attention of the public.
Hi Shera. I am so sorry to hear about your horrible symptoms! I appreciate you taking the time to post this here. I’m sure you’re taking care of yourself as best as you can and hope this makes a huge difference. Martha
These are my recommendations to the NOSB for Fall 2024:
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Thank you!
Act now. Government backed research can discover a biodegradable plastic.
Go back to glass containers and wax coated paper products.
Please consider the following recommendations:
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Thank you!
Please work to ensure that our organic foods are free from contamination.
Recommendations to the NOSB for Fall 2024
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Thank you.
Please save us from these killer plastics.
Please address the pressing issues!
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Please make sure our food is started with clean seeds, grown without toxic pesticides and herbicides and packaged in healthy cellulose rather than plastic.
People want real healthy food. Not chemicals and grabage
Please address these issues and also work toward making organics more affordable and available to the public at large. Thank you!
Please … We need this at the very least!
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review.
Thank you!
My Mom and Dad taught me from an early age to always leave a place better, nicer, cleaner than you found it. To apply that to our ‘big, blue marble’ of Mother Earth, we must eliminate all fossil-fuel derived plastics. I guess we’re fucked.
It is reprehensible that our government is so unconcerned about the health of its citizens and allows dangerous substances in our food that actually poisons us and raises the risks of many types of diseases! Additionally, kowtowing to the various food industry lobbyists is part of the problem.
Why not do a petition to get rid of plastic medicine bottles most alllllllllll USA citizens probably take DAILY! so they are touching and opening them 1-3 times a day at lest and even the tops are plastic if use child proof, plus what abt. the zip lip to take off of the plastic bottles of plastic bottles like the Nestles coffee cremer has that little plastic thing to zip out before creme comes out….good grief, there are the medicine capsules people swallow daily that are plastic goes right into their stomach, why no petitions for them yet, get to making one asap, those medicine bottles are very toxic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Plastics! First on my list – Toxin-free USA must have been reading my mind. Thank you!
State level on up needs to get with the program. Clean up the food, meat and dairy. Tell the truth about the nutritional pyramid and how it should be presented for the health and well being of all on this Earth. Stop the poisoning of the people, animals, land, water and sky – We have, most certainly had an adequate share of toxins into our world – Enough is enough!
Prohibit APEEL on organic fruits and vegetables
There is no economic benefit compared to the total damage to humanity, other species and the planet because of the abuse of plastics. It should be nowhere near our growing, transport, food source systems. It can’t be disposed of and is not being responsibly recycled by the fossil fuel companies who produce plastics for the vast spectrum of global products. We are literally burying and killing ourselves with toxic materials like plastics. A new system of protecting food and goods with safer alternatives for nature must be used instead of plastic.
Organic isn’t a privilege. It is a right, and who gave the authority to growers and suppliers to destroy our original organic food? The labels should be reversed… Everything is organic unless it is labeled toxic, which would be anything affected by plastics or PFA, toxins, non-regenerative seed. food grown without toxins must be the norm and less expensive. Food affected by plastics, because they are more costly to our lives and our health, can still be at the option of those who want them but they must be cost prohibitive. The world is upside down.
Please make sure you just don’t comment here, but at the USDA website by clicking on the link before the comments to let them know we are no longer giving them the freedom to poison us all for greed!
This is our food source for my family and future families. We need to do alll we can to protect our most important resource, our children.
It is plainly horrifying to think that what we rely on to be truly organic, and therefore safe, is a faulty concept. Obviously, there should be NO contaminants, especially of fossil-fuel origin, in ANY organic foods. Plastic needs to be banned world-wide to safeguard our food supply and our children and all future generations, assuming we do enough about climate change to HAVE any future generations.
Thank you for the work you do to clean up this toxic mess and hold those in power accountable for the evil they do, the food they poison and the destruction of this planet and those who inhabit it; human, animal, plant, fish and insects.😢
My heart hopes SO much that the RIGHT thing is done so that ALL living can live their life.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
All communities across Canada, north, south, east, west must grow food – gardens, community gardens, corporate gardens to feed them own populations. All foods requiring year round monitored heat must be grown in large greenhouses to carry our need for food in the winter. Any foods require tropical climates if brought into Canada must be grown without pesticides & chemical fertilizers.
Government subsidies must be provided to help community organizations that will garden on peoples yards, sidewalk passageways, laneways, – all land, including land sowed with grass at underpasses, highways must grow food, not grass anymore. All plants must be grown using a sustainable form of water provision, shade provision. Bee hives & butterflyway gardens need to be set up to encourage migration of these species across all lands in Canada.
Soils must built up through compost of natural products.
Plastics must be banned to provide energy sources for food not corporate profits.
All foods must be grown to provide a high rate of vitamins, minerals, protein, energy to create a healthy population
Our Recommendations to the NOSB for Fall 2024
Place entire class of PFAS chemicals on the National List of Prohibited Substances
Phase out use of fluorinated (PFAS coated) plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of fossil fuel-based plastic containers and packaging
Phase out use of plastic mulch and tarps for growing
Reject the petition to allow unspecified “compostable materials” in compost allowed in organic production
Eliminate nonorganic ingredients in processed organic foods as a part of the sunset review
Why is it too much to ask to not have poison, chemicals and toxins in our food? I know why…because even the organic food chain is beholden to the big ag chemical companies. Plain and simple. It would be nice if companies stopped being more worried about big profit margins and more concerned with the welfare of those who buy the products.