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
The Clock Is Ticking for Glyphosate
thebreakthrough.org
The Supreme Court is considering whether to take up a case on glyphosate. They should.
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Reposted by Dan Blaustein-Rejto
UPDATE: The Supreme Court just decided to hear the case. Our piece on the case (above) explains why this is a good thing, regardless of what you think of pesticides. apnews.com/article/supr...
Supreme Court will hear appeal by maker of popular Roundup weedkiller to block thousands of lawsuits
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from agrochemical manufacturer Bayer to block thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people its popular weedkiller could cause cancer.
apnews.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:57 PM
UPDATE: The Supreme Court just decided to hear the case. Our piece on the case (above) explains why this is a good thing, regardless of what you think of pesticides. apnews.com/article/supr...
The Supreme Court is considering whether to take up a case on glyphosate. They should.
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
The Clock Is Ticking for Glyphosate
thebreakthrough.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:04 PM
The Supreme Court is considering whether to take up a case on glyphosate. They should.
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Otherwise, the growing state patchwork of pesticide labeling laws could force glyphosate or other pesticides off the market, costing farmers over $1 billion. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
No. Grass-fed beef actually has a larger carbon footprint than conventional beef. Not only do grass-fed cattle emit more methane, but they also use more land, which has a big climate cost.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
January 14, 2026 at 12:12 AM
No. Grass-fed beef actually has a larger carbon footprint than conventional beef. Not only do grass-fed cattle emit more methane, but they also use more land, which has a big climate cost.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
A Poland- or Germany-sized area of land is used to produce biofuels already. Despite the push for electric vehicles, biofuel use is only growing larger. That's a big problem since biofuels are often worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
The world dedicates a Poland-sized area of land to producing liquid biofuels such as bioethanol & biodiesel. Is there a more efficient way to generate energy?
Putting solar panels on the land used for biofuels, e.g., would produce enough electricity for all cars and trucks worldwide to go electric.
Putting solar panels on the land used for biofuels, e.g., would produce enough electricity for all cars and trucks worldwide to go electric.
January 13, 2026 at 6:32 PM
A Poland- or Germany-sized area of land is used to produce biofuels already. Despite the push for electric vehicles, biofuel use is only growing larger. That's a big problem since biofuels are often worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
Today, we tell the infuriating story of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program that was supposed to decarbonize transportation but ended up forcing CA drivers to pay 18 billion dollars for biofuels that are worse for the climate than fossil fuels. My coauthor Lauren's excellent X thread:
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Today, we tell the infuriating story of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program that was supposed to decarbonize transportation but ended up forcing CA drivers to pay 18 billion dollars for biofuels that are worse for the climate than fossil fuels. My coauthor Lauren's excellent X thread:
Here's a win-win: California could cut gas prices AND emissions by backing away from corn & soy-based biofuels.
Studies consistently show these lead to far more land conversion than the state has projected. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/california...
Studies consistently show these lead to far more land conversion than the state has projected. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/california...
California Should Stop Forcing Drivers to Subsidize Deforestation
Why crop-based biofuels are undermining the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
www.breakthroughjournal.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Here's a win-win: California could cut gas prices AND emissions by backing away from corn & soy-based biofuels.
Studies consistently show these lead to far more land conversion than the state has projected. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/california...
Studies consistently show these lead to far more land conversion than the state has projected. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/california...
It has the food & agricultural establishment worried too. As this article notes, Means urges people to opt for more expensive, labor-intensive, and land-intensive organic food w/ unproven health benefits (and to limit whole grains).
Casey Means rose to fame as a wellness influencer before Trump tapped her for Surgeon General. Her history of promoting unproven treatments has the medical establishment worried.
"The only thing she practices is grift": Meet Trump's nominee for Surgeon General - Salon.com
Casey Means’ promotion of supplements and pseudoscience worry medical professionals
www.salon.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
It has the food & agricultural establishment worried too. As this article notes, Means urges people to opt for more expensive, labor-intensive, and land-intensive organic food w/ unproven health benefits (and to limit whole grains).
This Guardian article makes a big error, reporting that crop yields are projected to fall lower than current levels due to climate change. But the study they use just projects slower yield growth. Slower ≠ Lower.
How climate breakdown is putting the world’s food in peril - in maps and charts
How climate breakdown is putting the world’s food in peril - in maps and charts
From floods to droughts, erratic weather patterns are affecting food security, with crop yields projected to fall if changes are not made
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This Guardian article makes a big error, reporting that crop yields are projected to fall lower than current levels due to climate change. But the study they use just projects slower yield growth. Slower ≠ Lower.
Grassley: RFK better not listen to Calley Means and criticize pesticides!
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Grassley: RFK better not listen to Calley Means and criticize pesticides!
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
Reposted by Dan Blaustein-Rejto
United is running ads with Oscar the Grouch, promising to turn trash into “sustainable aviation fuel.” But most SAF won’t be trash. It will be crops, and it will be a disaster. Running 25% of our planes on crops would use 40% of our cropland.
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
United is running ads with Oscar the Grouch, promising to turn trash into “sustainable aviation fuel.” But most SAF won’t be trash. It will be crops, and it will be a disaster. Running 25% of our planes on crops would use 40% of our cropland.
Billions of dollars go to agricultural innovation & development, but too few solutions ever reach the farmers who need them.
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
November 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Billions of dollars go to agricultural innovation & development, but too few solutions ever reach the farmers who need them.
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
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-...