Dan Blaustein-Rejto
@danbr.bsky.social
Researching sustainable food & agriculture at Breakthrough Institute. Sustainable food future = lower-carbon livestock, plant-based and cultivated meat, biotech / GMOs, intensive and industrial production. thebreakthrough.org/people/dan-blaustein-rejto
Pinned
Biofuel Policy Is Failing Consumers and the Climate
Instead, the U.S. Should Expand Agricultural Export Markets and Support Farm Innovation
buff.ly
🌽 ⛽ Billions of dollars in biofuel subsidies should be cut. They raise food prices, drive farmland expansion, and inefficiently support farmers. The government should still help farmers weather China's new tariffs. But through direct one-time aid, innovation policy, and trade deals.
For all their talk of making America healthier, MAHA’s leaders have proposed little to actually make healthy food more affordable.
Cutting tariffs, funding research, and modernizing regulations would all help make fruits & vegetables cheaper to produce and buy. t.co/47mdlFD06y
Cutting tariffs, funding research, and modernizing regulations would all help make fruits & vegetables cheaper to produce and buy. t.co/47mdlFD06y
https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/seeds-of-abundance
t.co
November 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
For all their talk of making America healthier, MAHA’s leaders have proposed little to actually make healthy food more affordable.
Cutting tariffs, funding research, and modernizing regulations would all help make fruits & vegetables cheaper to produce and buy. t.co/47mdlFD06y
Cutting tariffs, funding research, and modernizing regulations would all help make fruits & vegetables cheaper to produce and buy. t.co/47mdlFD06y
Importing more Argentinian beef won’t change much—current imports are about equal to *a single day* of U.S. beef consumption.
October 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Importing more Argentinian beef won’t change much—current imports are about equal to *a single day* of U.S. beef consumption.
China may have stopped buying U.S. soy but Congress and the White House are finding ways to use more of it for biofuel, at taxpayers' and drivers' expense.
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
China may have stopped buying U.S. soy but Congress and the White House are finding ways to use more of it for biofuel, at taxpayers' and drivers' expense.
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
New evidence that tariffs have increased prices of many foods, especially coffee. www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...
October 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
New evidence that tariffs have increased prices of many foods, especially coffee. www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...
$15 billion+ farmer bailout expected this week. They've certainly been hit hard by tariffs & trade disputes. But keep in mind the US is already planning to transfer billions more to farmers via increased biofuel blending mandates and tax credits. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Biofuel Policy Is Failing Consumers and the Climate
thebreakthrough.org
October 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
$15 billion+ farmer bailout expected this week. They've certainly been hit hard by tariffs & trade disputes. But keep in mind the US is already planning to transfer billions more to farmers via increased biofuel blending mandates and tax credits. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
U.S. agricultural productivity has nearly flatlined, a new report shows, going from 2% annual growth in the 1980s to just 0.28%.
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
October 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
U.S. agricultural productivity has nearly flatlined, a new report shows, going from 2% annual growth in the 1980s to just 0.28%.
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
Converting half of cropland to organic, as many in the MAHA movement wish to see, would require over 30 million more acres—nearly Iowa’s size.
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Converting half of cropland to organic, as many in the MAHA movement wish to see, would require over 30 million more acres—nearly Iowa’s size.
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
The leaked MAHA report nods at how precision farming can cut pesticide use. But it ignores one of the biggest opportunities: biotechnology. With research + regulatory reform, biotech crops (like Bt corn) could need far fewer pesticides. agfundernews.com/leaked-maha-...
August 18, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The leaked MAHA report nods at how precision farming can cut pesticide use. But it ignores one of the biggest opportunities: biotechnology. With research + regulatory reform, biotech crops (like Bt corn) could need far fewer pesticides. agfundernews.com/leaked-maha-...
New MAHA report says to back research on technologies to help farmers reduce pesticide use, NYTimes reports.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
August 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
New MAHA report says to back research on technologies to help farmers reduce pesticide use, NYTimes reports.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
Record ag trade deficits. Slowing productivity.
A new Breakthrough Institute roadmap outlines how to reverse the slide, as AgFunder News reports.
agfundernews.com/breakthrough...
A new Breakthrough Institute roadmap outlines how to reverse the slide, as AgFunder News reports.
agfundernews.com/breakthrough...
Breakthrough Institute unveils ‘policy roadmap for American agricultural dominance’
“Though the US has historically been a global leader in agricultural biotech, we are falling behind,” says The Breakthrough Institute.
agfundernews.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Record ag trade deficits. Slowing productivity.
A new Breakthrough Institute roadmap outlines how to reverse the slide, as AgFunder News reports.
agfundernews.com/breakthrough...
A new Breakthrough Institute roadmap outlines how to reverse the slide, as AgFunder News reports.
agfundernews.com/breakthrough...
High corn & soy yields have been making headlines. But what isn't reported is that U.S. agricultural productivity is actually *slowing*.
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
August 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
High corn & soy yields have been making headlines. But what isn't reported is that U.S. agricultural productivity is actually *slowing*.
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
The U.S. is falling behind in agricultural innovation, spending half as much as China on R&D.
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
August 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The U.S. is falling behind in agricultural innovation, spending half as much as China on R&D.
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
“Climate change will take away our breakfast” might make headlines.
But the fine print in the paper says otherwise: global crop yields and output are still expected to rise to record highs, just less than they would without climate change.
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/will-clima...
But the fine print in the paper says otherwise: global crop yields and output are still expected to rise to record highs, just less than they would without climate change.
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/will-clima...
Will Climate Change Really Take Away Our Breakfast?
A Recent High-Profile Nature Paper Doesn’t Say What Its Authors Say it Does
www.breakthroughjournal.org
August 2, 2025 at 12:05 AM
“Climate change will take away our breakfast” might make headlines.
But the fine print in the paper says otherwise: global crop yields and output are still expected to rise to record highs, just less than they would without climate change.
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/will-clima...
But the fine print in the paper says otherwise: global crop yields and output are still expected to rise to record highs, just less than they would without climate change.
www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/will-clima...
The Farm Bill title with the biggest ROI? Research.
One of the most shortchanged? Also research.
We need more farmers & politicians to support R&D funding. But for that to happen, research must also do more to support farmers. New essay + report: thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
One of the most shortchanged? Also research.
We need more farmers & politicians to support R&D funding. But for that to happen, research must also do more to support farmers. New essay + report: thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Agricultural Research Needs a Farmer-First Focus
thebreakthrough.org
August 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The Farm Bill title with the biggest ROI? Research.
One of the most shortchanged? Also research.
We need more farmers & politicians to support R&D funding. But for that to happen, research must also do more to support farmers. New essay + report: thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
One of the most shortchanged? Also research.
We need more farmers & politicians to support R&D funding. But for that to happen, research must also do more to support farmers. New essay + report: thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
I've been hoping someone would write an article on this: can we actually grow more coffee in the US? When I lived in Corvallis, OR, a cafe was growing some...as in a single plant. But the prospects in Florida are much better
Global coffee production is under threat from disease and climate change. Here in the U.S. we're also likely to see prices spike as tariff fallout continues.
But what if we grew our own, in Florida? New from Diana Kruzman:
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
But what if we grew our own, in Florida? New from Diana Kruzman:
ambrook.com/offrange/cro...
Florida Beans - Offrange
Climate change is devastating coffee production worldwide. Can it take root in Florida?
ambrook.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I've been hoping someone would write an article on this: can we actually grow more coffee in the US? When I lived in Corvallis, OR, a cafe was growing some...as in a single plant. But the prospects in Florida are much better
Reposted by Dan Blaustein-Rejto
Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar, loses blind taste tests to American Coke, made with corn syrup.
If people *know* it's cane-sugar Coke, they say it tastes better.
www.seriouseats.com/coke-vs-mexi...
If people *know* it's cane-sugar Coke, they say it tastes better.
www.seriouseats.com/coke-vs-mexi...
Is Mexican Coke Better? | The Food Lab, Drinks Edition
Everyone in the know knows that sugar-sweetened Mexican Coke is superior to corn-syrup-sweetened American Coke, right? But is it possible, however unlikely, that somehow us cult of Mexican Coke lovers...
www.seriouseats.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar, loses blind taste tests to American Coke, made with corn syrup.
If people *know* it's cane-sugar Coke, they say it tastes better.
www.seriouseats.com/coke-vs-mexi...
If people *know* it's cane-sugar Coke, they say it tastes better.
www.seriouseats.com/coke-vs-mexi...
Still shocked that a senior official would endorse biodynamic farming. I don’t know a single serious ag or environmental expert who supports it. Some back organic or regenerative—I disagree with them, but at least there’s debate. But biodynamic? It's based on mysticism, not science.
t.co/4ZNJ5gv4rq
t.co/4ZNJ5gv4rq
https://www.agriculture.com/partners-rfk-jr-rollins-stress-improving-soil-health-at-first-capitol-hill-maha-roundtable-11772946
t.co
July 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Still shocked that a senior official would endorse biodynamic farming. I don’t know a single serious ag or environmental expert who supports it. Some back organic or regenerative—I disagree with them, but at least there’s debate. But biodynamic? It's based on mysticism, not science.
t.co/4ZNJ5gv4rq
t.co/4ZNJ5gv4rq
RFK Jr. today: “We need to give off-ramps to farmers so that they can transition to biodynamic agriculture..."
To be biodynamic you must stuff cow horns with manure and crystal dust, bury them, dig up & stir with water for 1 hour in alternating vortexes, all to align the farm with "cosmic forces."
To be biodynamic you must stuff cow horns with manure and crystal dust, bury them, dig up & stir with water for 1 hour in alternating vortexes, all to align the farm with "cosmic forces."
July 16, 2025 at 12:31 AM
RFK Jr. today: “We need to give off-ramps to farmers so that they can transition to biodynamic agriculture..."
To be biodynamic you must stuff cow horns with manure and crystal dust, bury them, dig up & stir with water for 1 hour in alternating vortexes, all to align the farm with "cosmic forces."
To be biodynamic you must stuff cow horns with manure and crystal dust, bury them, dig up & stir with water for 1 hour in alternating vortexes, all to align the farm with "cosmic forces."
From celiac-friendly wheat to disease-resistant pigs and drought-tolerant rice, biotech keeps delivering big advances, but only if we don’t block it with budget cuts and regulatory red tape. itif.org/publications...
Sustaining the Goose That Lays Golden Eggs: How to Continue Miraculous Biotech Advances
The last three administrations have mandated updates and improvements to reduce unjustified regulatory burdens on biotech innovations, but only small steps have been taken where large ones are require...
itif.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
From celiac-friendly wheat to disease-resistant pigs and drought-tolerant rice, biotech keeps delivering big advances, but only if we don’t block it with budget cuts and regulatory red tape. itif.org/publications...
Reposted by Dan Blaustein-Rejto
A key Senate spending committee has joined its House of Representatives counterpart in rejecting deep cuts that President Donald Trump’s administration proposed for research at the USDA for the 2026 fiscal year that begins on 1 October. scim.ag/3InyWcQ
Senate panel rejects Trump’s proposed cuts to agricultural research
House spending committee has taken similar position on 2026 request
scim.ag
July 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A key Senate spending committee has joined its House of Representatives counterpart in rejecting deep cuts that President Donald Trump’s administration proposed for research at the USDA for the 2026 fiscal year that begins on 1 October. scim.ag/3InyWcQ
How can we fix our food system and stop "eating the earth"? RSVP for this deep dive webinar July 30, hosted by
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
July 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
How can we fix our food system and stop "eating the earth"? RSVP for this deep dive webinar July 30, hosted by
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
Reposted by Dan Blaustein-Rejto
Cover crops do important things, including building soil organic matter. But the potential contribution to carbon sequestration is negligible.
Some people think that if we just farm differently, we can suck lots of carbon back into soils - but it's the original conversion from natural ecosystems to agriculture that leads to the large carbon loss - @mikegrunwald.bsky.social
July 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Cover crops do important things, including building soil organic matter. But the potential contribution to carbon sequestration is negligible.
So many misleading headlines. The new Nature paper doesn't predict that crop yields will *fall*. It finds that climate change will slow growth in yields, but that thanks to innovation and other factors, yields will "probably" continue rising above today's levels.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
So many misleading headlines. The new Nature paper doesn't predict that crop yields will *fall*. It finds that climate change will slow growth in yields, but that thanks to innovation and other factors, yields will "probably" continue rising above today's levels.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Many think that eating local helps the climate. But exporting more U.S. beef, especially to China, could cut global emissions by millions of tons.
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
June 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Many think that eating local helps the climate. But exporting more U.S. beef, especially to China, could cut global emissions by millions of tons.
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...