A group of scientists from China, Taiwan and Japan traveled to south Georgia this week to share their work with University of Georgia researchers during the Seventh Annual Mini Summit on Food, Policy and the Environment. Cultural differences and thousands of miles separate the group, but they are unified in their primary concern — the safety of the world’s food supply.

Grits sprinkled over fire ant mounds, plastic bags filled with water to repel flies and high-frequency sound waves to chase away rats and mice—these are just a few non-chemical methods rumored to work as pest repellents.

A Georgia scientist is using peanut harvesting equipment to organically control weeds — particularly nutsedge.

To place the certified organic seal on their produce, farmers must follow a strict list of rules. Home gardeners who want to use organic practices can take the first steps by using methods one University of Georgia expert calls “modified organics.”

University of Georgia Extension in Spalding County will host a spring workshop focusing on how to maximize production on small, sustainable farms and gardens and how to tap into local markets.

Registration is still open for the 2014 Georgia Organics Conference set for Feb. 21 – 22 on Jekyll Island, Ga.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialists will be among the organic agriculture experts presenting at the 2014 Georgia Organics Conference set for Feb. 21 – 22 on Jekyll Island, Ga.

Organic farmer Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Ga., has been named the Georgia state winner of the 2013 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

UGA organic and sustainable agriculture experts will host the second annual Organic Twilight Tour on July 11 at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences organic research farm in Watkinsville.