HHRA’s major project, the Heartland Study, is designed to determine whether prenatal exposures to pesticides, and especially herbicides, are contributing to problems during pregnancy like preeclampsia, preterm birth, or developmental abnormalities. We already know that a healthy diet reduces the…
Note to Readers and FEVER Act Contributors From: Chuck Benbrook, HHRA Consultant On this first day of 2026, we are pleased to share V.2 of the “Farm Economic Vitality and Environmental Recovery Act” (pdf of V.2 FEVER Act). The text…
By: Tom Green, HHRA Board Chair and Chuck Benbrook, former HHRA ED Updated December 13, 2025 Farmers growing major U.S. crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton and peanuts are facing record loses due to steeply depressed crop prices over…
By: Tom Green, HHRA Board Chair and Chuck Benbrook, former HHRA ED Note to Readers and Contributors The document below discusses policy reforms that could be incorporated in future farm legislation. We are soliciting reactions and better ideas to improve…
By: Tom Green, HHRA Board Chair and Kathleen Merrigan, Chair, Policy Advisory Committee Excessive intakes of unhealthy processed foods are driving deeply worrisome trends in public health that every American family is aware of, and likely impacted by. Problems arising in the…
Defining and Delineating Ultra-Processed Foods These comments are submitted on behalf of the Heartland Health Research Alliance (HHRA), a non-profit organization conducting research on the impacts of farming systems on the environment and public health (hh-ra.org), and the Swette Center…
Multiple lines of evidence point to consumer food choices as major contributors to diet-related disease, and poor health and fitness. In a peer-reviewed journal article published today, authors Chuck Benbrook and Robin Mesnage cite studies indicating that “Some 90% of…
HHRA and ORG-Tracker, represented by Dr. Chuck Benbrook and Dr. Brian Baker, submitted comments to the Agricultural Marketing Service at the USDA in advance of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting in Portland, Oregon, from October 22nd to 24th,…
Dr. Yolton is a developmental psychologist and epidemiologist serving as Professor of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her interests include exposures and experiences that may alter a child’s developmental trajectory from infancy through adolescence. She collaborates on research…
Paul Hartnett has served as HHRA's CFO since our founding . With the departure of Russell King, Paul has now joined the board and Executive Director. We thank Russell for his service and wish him the best in his…