For "Breaking News" Scroll Past "Publications":

IFCNR Publications

IFCNR's Most Important White Paper Yet:

The Formula for Global Sustainability click here

IFCNR's View: The Challenge Facing the Food Industry:

Industry's typical response to NGO threats is either to hide behind an "association" or play the "Neville Chamberlain Gambit."  Both are strategies of "self checkmate."  IFCNR suggests a technique every food-related business should adopt if they are to survive.  Read PDF Report - Click Here or go to "Issues" at Fisheries, Biotech, AgEcology, or WildEcology

IFCNR's latest White Paper on "Avian Influenza"

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) is a destructive phenomenon economically and in terms of animal and human lives.  IFCNR takes its traditional "plain language" look at the issue and offers some unique recommendations to solve this worldwide affliction:  To view it in PDF form go to Biotech, AgEcology, or WildEcology.

IFCNR Analysis of BSE Issue

 One of the most frightening and confusing of world health issues to hit modern agriculture and world food safety is known variously as "BSE" or "Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy" or "Mad Cow" disease.  IFCNR attempts to put the issue in understandable language with its latest publication.  To view it in PDF form click: IFCNR's Plain Language Analysis of BSE Issue

Archives

BREAKING NEWS Headlines:

For 15 March 2008

Read the special series of Interviews on "Who is David Wills" - click "E-NGO Intel" at any IFCNR Website Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, Wildecology

For 3 June 2007

CITES' Convention of the Parties opens today at the Hague.  IFCNR is there and will present its latest White Paper: Sustainability Defined: The Formula for Putting the Theory into Practice." see Publications above or go to any IFCNR website:  Agecology, Biotech, Fisheries, Wildecology

For 22 August 2005

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has spent this year developing its new interest in commercial fisheries.  The PETA touch hopes consumers, and the very young in particular,  think of chow-ing down on pet cats and dogs with each forkful of seafood and opt for tofu instead.  See "NGO Intel" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, or Wildecology.

For 6 July 2005

IFCNR President Emeritus Stephen S. Boynton announced U.S. Congressman Dennis R. Rehberg (R-MT) is the new Chairman of the Sustainable Use Parliamentarian Union (SUPU).  Rep. Rehberg succeeds the Honorable Richard Pombo in that position and pledges to continue the work of SUPU as the global  communications nexus for officials from nations adhering to the principles of sustainable use.  His role will prove key for future policy decisions regarding international trade in natural resources.  See "News" at Fisheries, Biotech, AgEcology, and WildEcology

For 22 February 2005

Science has no point of view, sense of morality, ethics or values.  Science asks why and determines the answer to that question.  Scientists on the other hand are motivated by any number of "values," some laudable, some suspect.  Regardless of a scientist's values, the fruits of his or her work stand quite alone and apart from the scientist.  When sound  science and the benefits thereof are sacrificed or ignored and careless science excused because of its practitioner's altruistic motivations is used to set public policy, the planet and its inhabitants (human and non-human alike) suffer.  See Lord Dick Taverne's essay "Careless Science Costs Lives" at "Issues" on IFCNR websites: Fisheries, Biotech, AgEcology, and Wildecology.

For 18 October 2004

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) alleges abusive lobster procurement practices among the Miskito indians but really means Red Lobster and Sysco are in for a hurricane-force NGO campaign aimed at all resource procurement. See "News" at Fisheries and AgEcology.

For 5 August 2004

KFC found itself portrayed on national television news as "cruel and inhumane" to chickens when PETA released video tape of employees of a supplier in West Virginia inflicting an assortment of abuses on their feathered charges.  KFC had no defense because it relied on "boiler plate" industry Public Relations spin.  Learn where KFC failed and how it could have won the day.  See "Issues" at AgEcology.

For 7 June 2004

Open Ocean Aquaculture in the U.S. is inching its way to prominence.  Confusion over government authority and the promise of NGO opposition have many potential operators waiting in the wings.  IFCNR offers its unique point of view of what's needed to break the inertia.  See "Issues" at Fisheries.

For 1 June 2004

IFCNR's economic advisor on global trade takes a look at the U.S. anti-dumping suit against six shrimp exporting nations to see who loses and who gains from the action.  See "Issues" at Fisheries.

For 27 April 2004

Two incidents were announced Monday, April 26th.  One was the election the previous Friday that saw Wayne Pacelle rise to the number one post at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  What does that mean to resource use groups and the nation itself.  See story under E-NGO Intel at Agecology, Biotech,  Fisheries, Wildecology

The second was the almost simultaneous announcement that Farm Sanctuary was opening its "No veal" for Mother's Days.  See News at Agecology

For 13 April 2004

When a bona fide farmer/rancher calls Willie Nelson's Farm Aid organization a "fraud" images of Galileo bearding Pope Paul V in the early 1600s come to mind.  Nebraska cattle rancher Trent Loos dares to say Farm Aid is anti-family farm.  Could he be facing a "virtual tar and feather party" or is he onto a story of ominous importance to land-based food producers?

  See Story at "Issues" on Agecology, and Biotech.

For 9 April 2004

When environmental and animal rights NGOs focus their sights on a specific target, their numbers swell to army-sized proportions.  A selective look at those groups aligned against global aquaculture provides accurate insight for resource-related industries who stand a good chance of meeting the same fate.  See story under "NGO-Intel" at Fisheries, Agecology, Biotech, wild ecology.

For 8 April 2004

Unilever is touting its Fish Sustainability Initiative (FSI) and urging companies to purchase only seafood "certified to MSC standards."  Is Unilever pushing Marine Stewardship Certification or some equivalent?  Is NGO Certification a plus or a "tar baby" for corporate unions with the NGO eco-certification group?  Or, are more intrigue-filled scenarios at work?  These questions are posed at today's story under "NGO-Intel" at Fisheries, Biotech, Wild Ecology, and Agecology

For 27 February 2004

Pew Charitable Trusts appears to be the puppeteer behind the controversy over the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) being attacked by members of the NGO community.  The controversy underscores the failure of NGO eco-label schemes and points to the importance of IFCNR's call for FAO to assume responsibility for certifying the world's food supply as environmentally friendly.  See Story under "NGO-Intel" at Fisheries, Biotech, Wild Ecology, and Agecology.

For 28 January 2004

The highly controversial study of PCB contaminants in farmed salmon is illustrative of the new intensity of NGO campaigns aimed at natural resource users now that the PEW Charitable Trusts has thrust its $3.8 billion endowment into the anti-use/anti-corporate advocacy fray.  See "Issues" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, and Wildecology

For 11 December 2003

Dr. Nicholas Mrosovsky penned an important analysis of the flaws inherent in the IUCN's "Red List of Threatened Species."  Why is this important?  Because the credibility of that list has a direct impact on the fate of virtually every commercial enterprise using natural resources.  See "News" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, and Wildecology.

For 4 December 2003

In Part I, IFCNR engages an NGO Insider in a frank discussion of the importance of FAO. 

The dialogue provides some disturbing insights for those engaged in fisheries, biotech, agriculture and wild ecology.  See "News" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, and Wildecology!

For 3 December 2003

2004 will be the "International Year of Rice."  The FAO theme "Rice is Life" demonstrates the importance of rice and developments in agricultural science to humankind.  The question remains: will the "Year of Rice" be one where the story of the benefits and marvels of modern agriculture get told or will it be a year of redoubled NGO-fueled controversy?  See "Issues" at Biotechnology, Agecology, and Fisheries.

For 20 November 2003

PEW Charitable Trusts will transform itself into a formidable Public NGO on January 1st.  It's implications for biotech, fisheries, agriculture and more require a rethinking of strategies for survival.  That's not an exaggeration.  See "news" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, and Wildecology!

For 17 November 2003

The Faeroe Islands and Iceland are making very persuasive arguments that the current selective fishing/quota system of fisheries management is based on flawed biology.  Over the past few years, Faeroese fishermen have ignored international scientists calling for fishery reductions or all fish around the islands would be gone.  Instead they have seen cod, haddock etc. increase each year.   See fisheries website.

For 5 November 2003

NBC TV's "Today Show" provided viewers a debate over the merits or demerits of agricultural biotechnology.  Unfortunately the NGOs stole the show and demonstrated why biotech can't win public debates.    See biotechnology and agecology websites.

For 3 November 2003

The World's seafood supply is under unprecedented assault from every sector.  Wild caught as well as farmed seafood faces the same fate if NGO strategists are successful and their recommendations are followed by regulatory agencies and governments.  

See Issues at Fisheries

For 4 September 2003

Louisiana's shrimpers are readying an anti-dumping petition aimed at foreign shrimp exporters.  See Short Takes at Fisheries

Chronic wasting disease among deer continues to puzzle researchers.  The old theory about its spread from doe to fawn was debunked recently by a new study.  See Short Takes at Wildecology

For 2-3 September 2003

Giant bluefin tuna are appearing off Canada's Prince Edward Island in numbers ten times greater than last year.  See Short Takes at Fisheries.

Biotech researchers are working on vaccines for anthrax and cervical cancer for humans as well as gene recognition that may lead to protective measures for wheat and honey bees.  See  Short takes at Biotech

New cotton varieties are being readied by Monsanto and Syngenta.  see Short Takes at Agecology.

For 28-29 August 2003

   The Vatican will soon officially endorse genetically enhanced foods.  No one should be surprised at this move.  See Issues at Biotech!

   New Short Takes at Fisheries and Biotech

(NOTE: IFCNR's Computers were invaded by the MSBlast.worm.

We've been off-line while attempting to remedy the problem. 

We apologize for the disruption of information services.

Thank you for your patience.   - IFCNR Publications Dept.)

For 24 July 2003

UNEP Chief predicts China will soon be the earth's No. 1 consumer nation.  See "News" at Fisheries, AgEcology

Geneticists have finally found a gene that gives potatoes resistance against "light blight."  See "News" at Biotech, AgEcology

The Black Swift is a perfect example of Sustainable Use at work, Zimbabwe shows what happens without it.  See "News" at Wildecology

For 8 July 2003

KFC thought it could compromise with PETA over animal welfare issues.

That was a costly mistake that has landed KFC in court.  What happened to KFC can and will happen to every resource-reliant entity.   

                              See "NGO Intel" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, or Wildecology.

    For 4 July 2003

     IFCNR will attend the 19th Meeting of CITES' Animals Committee

     see "Issues" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agecology, and Wildecology!

For 2 July 2003

EU vote could end European GMO barriers.  See "Short takes" at Biotechnology

For 30 June 2003

SILVERY MINNOW RULING PITS ESA vs NEW MEXICO & THE NATION. When a group of NGOs won their court fight to divert water from New Mexico's cities and Indian reservations to help the silvery minnow they may have lost the war to save the ESA.  See "News" at Wildecology!

For 26 June 2003

A week of transcontinental debate and name-calling between the United States and the European Union over genetically modified agriculture issues is not helping farmers on any continent.  See "issues" at  Biotech and Agecology.

For 24 June 2003

The legal fight over the "obesity epidemic" in the United States is not just aimed at hamburgers and French fries.  All foods - seafood, pork, beef, poultry, agricultural biotechnology, dairy - are the target.  See NGO  Intel at Fisheries, Biotechnology, Agricultural Ecology!

For 18 June 2003

GM Wheat - Asian markets say price is the issue.  Corn - the next plastic debuts in the U.S..

UK panel condemns kosher, halal slaughter techniques.  For these stories and more see "Short Takes" at Agecology!

Farmed salmon is now being blamed for chasing away cod.  Is this science or just nature.  See "Short Takes" at Fisheries

 For 13 June 2003

Tomorrow Pork, the Day After...Everything Else!

An in-depth news analysis of how the NGO campaign against the U.S. pork industry demonstrates lessons and strategies that will applied to all food and resource related industries, particularly after the 2006 Elections.  See: "Issues" at Fisheries, Biotech, Agricultural Ecology, and Wild Ecology websites.