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The ?1,510-Crore Question

Agriculture · Editor's picks · Investigations & Features · Investigative Series

The ?1,510-Crore Question

Staff Writer December 23, 2025 12 min read

I was fired because Cargill complained to my government employer about my LinkedIn posts

Editor's picks · Investigations & Features · Investigative Series

I was fired because Cargill complained to my government employer about my LinkedIn posts

Dr. Derric N. Pennington December 7, 2025 25 min read

Kerala’s Killing Fields: How India’s Green Paradise is Failing Its Wild Elephants

Editor's picks · Investigations & Features · Investigative Series

Kerala’s Killing Fields: How India’s Green Paradise is Failing Its Wild Elephants

K. A. Shaji October 4, 2025 9 min read

Farm or Malls: The Fourth Plate Investigative Series

Global Food Systems Survey · Investigations & Features · Investigative Series

Farm or Malls: The Fourth Plate Investigative Series

Staff Writer August 30, 2025 9 min read

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Paddy field

Agriculture, Editor's picks, I...

The ?1,510-Crore Question

Staff Writer

July 8, 2026

The University of Illinois College of Law’s First Amendment Clinic, together with Kezhaya Law PLC, has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Dr. Derric Pennington, a former Environmental Economist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The lawsuit alleges that MPCA officials, led by Commissioner Katrina Kessler (PE), pushed Dr. Pennington out of his job because he spoke publicly about nvironmental concerns tied to Cargill, the world’s argestprivately held corporation.??According to the complaint, Dr. Pennington used his personal LinkedIn account to raise concerns about agricultural practices linked to Cargill. Rather than engage with his ideas, Cargill pressured MPCA eadership to muzzle him. The MPCA, which had previously praised Pennington’s “curiosity” and willingness to ask “hard questions,” terminated him after Cargill complained.??The First Amendment doesn’t allow government agencies to punish employees for speaking as private citizens on matters of public importance. Dr. Pennington’s research and commentary on sustainable agriculture fall squarely within the sphere of expressive activity protected by the Constitution. Government officials cannot hand corporations a veto over an employee’s right to speak on matters of public concern. As a Federal lawsuit challenges government retaliation against environmental speech, we bring you the bring context - in another example of how the development vs environment debate is muzzled by corporates to promote their vested interests.

Editor's picks, Investigations...

I was fired because Cargill complained to my government employer about my LinkedIn posts

Dr. Derric N. Pennington

July 8, 2026

chokkana is a village in kodakkara in thrissur district of kerala the very green lush meadows there will be definitely a feast for your eyes its a wonderful

Editor's picks, Investigations...

Kerala’s Killing Fields: How India’s Green Paradise is Failing Its Wild Elephants

K. A. Shaji

July 8, 2026

Global Food Systems Survey, In...

Farm or Malls: The Fourth Plate Investigative Series

Staff Writer

December 2, 2025

industrial machine near crops

Investigations & Features,...

Carbon Market Crisis Deepens as World Struggles to Meet Climate Goals

Staff Writer

October 23, 2025

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