The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

An Open Letter to H&M

July 27, 2020

Dear H&M:

I saw your recent commercial regarding sustainability. It shares your commitment to change your production now to help protect our environment for the future. You reported that already half of your materials “are recycled, organic, or sustainably sourced.” And you promise that by 2030, it will be 100 percent.

Let me be clear: trying to transition your business to a more sustainable model is awesome! Fast-and-cheap fashion has a big environmental footprint. So while your clothes are good for the ladies on a budget, it also taxes the environment.

But I’m afraid at least one piece of your strategy is more virtue signalling than anything else. That’s your adoption of organic fabrics. I’m not surprised you’re confused though; organic marketing has done quite a good job of confusing people. As a result, people tend to associate organic with environmentally friendly.

If you’re using organic cotton though, you’re missing out on the benefits of modern agriculture. More specifically, genetically modified crops, which aren’t allowed in organic production.

And that’s a big deal. Bioengineered cotton plants produce the Bt protein. The insects that like to feed on–and destroy–cotton plants aren’t able to digest the Bt protein. So when the munch on the cotton plant, it kills them. The good news: it’s completely harmless to humans. We digest the Bt protein just like any other protein.

The modification might not seem like a big deal, but it’s produced major results. Insecticide applications to cotton have been cut in half in the United States. In fact, in 2008, 44 percent of cotton fields required no foliar applications. And that same year, almost one-third of U.S. cotton acres required no insecticide applications at all. Remarkably, cotton yields have actually increased.

Farmers enjoy benefits, too. Cotton growers have seen their income increase by about $250 per hectare. GMO cotton has also decreased their costs for insecticide supplies, equipment, and labor.

But organic producers have been completely left out. Because the USDA’s organic program doesn’t allow genetically modified crops, organic farmers are still spraying insecticide onto their fields (yes, organic farmers use pesticides, too). And they aren’t seeing the boost in yields. So it takes more organic acres–and the resulting environmental impact–to grow the same as conventional acres. In fact, some estimates indicate that organic cotton yields less than half the global average per acre of conventional cotton. That’s huge!

So while I admire your sustainability goals, I’m asking that you reconsider your strategy. Turn back to conventionally grown cotton. Increase your reliance on GMO cotton. Invest in the discovery of new bioengineered traits. This is how we reach a sustainable future.

If you don’t, then your commercials, your policies, and your company are just paying lip service to these issues. It’s nothing more than virtue signalling. And that’s just not acceptable.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Biotechnology, Marketing, Organic, Production Methods

Comments

  1. Seppi says

    August 2, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Hi Amanda,

    You meant 2018 rather than 2008, did’nt you ?

    On the personal front, I offer you my best wishes for a full and prompt recovery.

    And, by the way, you will find many of your pieces translated on my blog.

    • Amanda says

      August 4, 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Nope, that statistic is from 2008. Thank you so much for your thoughts. 🙂

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

5 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Do you a plan for your estate? My latest for AGDAILY focuses on potential changes to the federal estate tax.

... See MoreSee Less

Perspective: A farmer's legacy shouldn't be a tax nightmare for their kin

www.agdaily.com

For farm families, estate taxes aren’t just an abstract policy debate -- they’re a very real threat to generational farms and the livelihoods they support.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

If nothing else, this should keep you up at night. Every snake oil salesman is now in charge of HHS.

... See MoreSee Less

How RFK Jr. Is Boosting ‘Food Babe’ and Other MAHA Acolytes

www.wsj.com

The health and human services secretary has elevated lightly regulated wellness companies and allowed advisers to keep investments, after vowing to end conflicts of interest.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

3 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

These concepts aren't mutually exclusive.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

4 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Imagine getting to donate a substantial amount of money to a charity of *your* choice and you choose....an animal rights activist group with questionable intentions??

... See MoreSee Less

Why agricultural advocates are lashing out at Celebrity Jeopardy! | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

David Friedberg, founder of The Climate Corporation, is drawing ire for his "charity" of choice on Celebrity Jeopardy!: Humane World for Animals.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 month ago

The Farmer's Daughter

RFK, Jr. and Elon Musk could have the duel of the century. I explain in my latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

RFK Jr.: The most inefficient man in Trump's government | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s strategy for attacking research plays well with populist distrust in institutions, but it falls apart under scientific standards.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

Amanda Zaluckyj

thefarmersdaughterusa

Amanda | The Farmer's Daughter USA
I'm a proud farmer's daughter & advocate for modern agriculture. U.S. farmers are leaders in sustainability.

Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the i Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the itch to travel again.
These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms # These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms #farmfamily #environment #soilhealth #nutritiousfood
Stop worrying about labels and just eat them! Stop worrying about labels and just eat them!
Corn is a powerhouse! #corn #farming #growcorn # Corn is a powerhouse! 

#corn #farming #growcorn #USAGrown #usagriculture
Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 a The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 am to see it!
3 years. 💔 #slavaukraini #supporukraine #ukrai 3 years. 💔

#slavaukraini #supporukraine #ukraine #glorytoukraine🇺🇦
Mischa will not suffer a snowman in her yard. ❄️☃️

#dogslife #dogsofinstagram #blacklab #pittiemix #snowday #snowman
We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine dis We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine disinformation. But he's also a danger to agriculture, even promising to "weaponize" regulatory agencies against our farm families.

#rfk #farmersdaughter #farmers #conspiracytheories #puremichiganfarm #rfkjr
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs