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Food&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetworkAnnualReport

2015

MISSIONSTATEMENT

TheFood&EnvironmentRepor2ngNetwork(FERN)isthefirstandonlyindependent,

non-profit,non-par2sannewsorganiza2onthatproducesin-depthandinves2ga2ve

repor2ngonfood,agriculture,andenvironmentalhealththroughpublica2onpartnershipswithrespectedlocaland

na2onalmediaoutlets.

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TheFood&EnvironmentRepor0ngNetworkispleasedtopresentourfourthAnnualReport,followingourfourthfullyearofopera0ons.

In2015,weproduced24stories,includingeightinterna0onalstories,onsubjectsrangingfromtheimpactofpes0cidesonCalifornia’sLa0nocommuni0estothehiddentollofWorldBank-financeddevelopmentprojectsonsomeoftheplanet’spoorestpeople.Weaddednewpartnershipsforatotalof34mainstreammediapublishingpartners,includingtheTheGuardian,Sunset,FastCompany,Harper’sandmore.

Weweregra0fiedtolearninMay2015thatFERNwonasecondJamesBeardFounda0onAwardforourstory,“TheQuinoaQuarrel:WhoOwnsTheGreatestSuperfood?”Wri\enbyLisaHamilton,thestoryappearedwithoriginalphotography,alsobyHamilton,inHarper’sMagazine.FERN,Harper’sandHamiltontookhometheawardforbestrepor0nginthecategoryofFoodPoli0cs,PolicyandtheEnvironment.Inaddi0on,ourstory“FieldsofToxicPes0cidesSurroundtheSchoolsofVenturaCounty,”byreporterLizaGrossforTheNa2onwonaninves0ga0verepor0ngawardfromtheAssocia2onofHealthCareJournalists.

Forthefullyearof2015,weraised$850,000,ourhighesttotalever(a16%annualincrease)withgrantsfromtheWoodcockFounda0on,EmersonCollec0ve,the11thHourProject,theTomKatFounda0on,theMcKnightFounda0on,GaiaFund,theSorosFundCharitableFounda0on,theDorisDukeFounda0on,andtheClaneilFounda0onamongothersandincluding$310,000fromindividualdonors.Wealsoearned$49,000infeesin2015.Ourexpensesfortheyearwere$730,000.Wehaveseta2016budgetof$945,000andhave$805,000incommi\edfundsandanother$170,000inprospec0vefunding.

Thebudgetincreasesallowedustoincreaseourrepor0ngcapabili0es,includinghiringphotographersandcrea0nggraphicsandexplainerstoaccompanystories.Wealsowereabletoaddafull-0meSocialMediaEditorandfull-0meDevelopmentCoordinatortostaffaswellasdevelopingourdailynewsle\er,theAgInsider,intoapaidsubscrip0onservice.

InMaywehostedourfourthannualfundraiserinSanFrancisco,asit-downdinnerpreparedbySylvanMishimaBracke\ofRintaroatthehomeofKatTaylorandTomSteyer.Theeventwasco-hostedbyStuartDavidson.InOctober,2015,weheldourannualfundraiserdinnerforatHaven’sKitcheninNewYorkCity,hostedbyboardmemberAlisonCayne,whichfeaturedatalkbyMichelNischan,co-founderandCEOofWholesomeWave,andamealofsustainably-caughtseafoodbychefCamilleBecerraofNavy.

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EngagementandBusinessLineDevelopments

In2015,FERNrevampeditssocial-mediastrategytoexpandtheimpactofitsrepor0ng,includingincreasingandrou0nizingthepos0ngofcontenttooursocial-mediaaccountsandusingpopularTwi\erhashtags(suchas#FollowFriday)to“join”social-mediaconversa0onsandincreasethereachofourtweetseachweek.

InJanuary2015,FERNEditor-in-ChiefSamFromartztookpartinthe2015FoodTankSummitaspartofthe“TellingtheStoryofFood”panel,andspokeaboutwhatmakesFERNuniqueaswellasofferingadviceforjournalistscoveringfoodandagriculture.

OurApril2015deepdiveintotheissueoffarmworkerhealth“FieldsofToxicPes0cidesSurroundtheSchoolsofVenturaCounty,”byreporterLizaGrossinpartnershipwithTheNa2on,revealedhowCalifornia’sLa0nocommuni0es—andtheschoolstheya\end—getdispropor0onatelydosedwithpes0cides,manyofwhicharelinkedtoarangeofhealthproblems.ThestorybegantoaccrueimpactinMayandJune.Star0ngMay28inSacramento,theCaliforniaDepartmentofPes0cideRegula0on(DPR)heldfiveworkshops,geqngpublicinputonnewstandardstoimproveschoolpes0cideno0fica0onproceduresandreducetheriskofexposure.Therewerefourothermee0ngsinkeyfarmingcommuni0es,includingVenturaCounty,whichhasmoreschoolswithhighconcentra0onsofnearbypes0cideusethananyothercountyinthestate.TheDPRworkshopsfollowedabriefingonpes0cideusenearschoolsforlegisla0vestaffinSacramentolastmonth,hostedbytheadvocacygroupPes0cideAc0onNetworkNorthAmerica.Grosswasinvitedtoleadoffthebriefingbysharingtheprincipalfindingsofherstory,inwhichshereviewedsixyearsofdatafor66pes0cidesiden0fiedbyhealthofficialsasmostlikelytodrisandcauseharm.

GrosssaysanacquaintanceatEPAtoldherconfiden0allythatthestorywasremarkableforhavingputenvironmentaljus0cebackintotheframeworkofcivilrights,andthatstaffersattheagencywhoareonthe“rightside”oftheEnvironmentalJus0ceprogramaretryingtofigureouthowtocapitalizeonthewaythestory“movedthediscourse”inawaytheyhadn’tseenbefore.Gross’sar0cleins0gatedapoten0allegisla0vesolu0onandhascausedfederalregulatorstopressuretheCaliforniaDPRtoexplainhowthisinequalitypersistedforsolong.Statepes0cideregulatorsfinallysaidtheywillseektostrengthenrestric0onsonpes0cideusenearschools.

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FromJunethroughDecember,2015,weearnedover680,000impressionsonFacebook,150%increaseovertheprevioussixmonths.FERNFacebookpagefollowersincreasedto7,000,33%jump.OnTwi\erbetweenJuneandDecember2015,weearnedatotalof2.5millionimpressions,animpressive178%increaseovertheprevioussixmonths.FERN’sTwi\erfollowerswentfrom16,500to20,000,anincreaseof22%,inthatperiod.

InSeptember2015,welaunchedFERN’sFridayFeednewsle\er,a.k.a.the#FFF,aweeklysurveyofthestoriesinourareasofinterestthathavebeenpublishedbyotheroutlets.Someselec0onsareatthetopofthenewswhileothersareprescientorin-depthfeaturesthatwethinkourreadersshouldknowabout.Wesendthisnewsle\erweeklytoasubscriberbaseof3,100asawaytoenhanceengagementwithanaudiencethatismostlydis0nctfromoursocial-mediaaudience.Thisini0a0veisdesignedtoestablishFERNasasourceforcura0onandguidanceinnaviga0ngfoodmedia,andnotonlyaproduceroforiginaljournalism.

InOctober2015,wereleased“WithNoU.S.Standards,PotPes0cideUseIsRisingPublicHealthThreat,”byreportersEricaBerryofFERNandKa0eWilcoxofRockyMountainPBSI-News,whichexploredtheglaringabsenceofoversightonthelegalmarijuanaindustry.Ourcollabora0vepot-and-pes0cidestorywasthetopstoryofarolling30-dayperiodsurroundingitspublica0onontheI-Newssiteintermsoftraffic.

RockyMountainPBSI-Newsdistributesstoriestoitsnewspartnersandotherins0tu0ons,includingallmembersoftheColoradoPressAssocia0on,publicradioandcommercialTVsta0ons,someschoolsanduniversi0es,andseveralfounda0onsandbusinesses.Thestoryreceivedstronginterestandengagementfromthisaudience.Itwastheleadstoryintheirnewsle\er,RockyMountainPBSI-NewsWeekly,anopt-insubscrip0onlistofRMPBSmemberswhichhas1,100subscribers.Thestoryalsowasfeaturedonitsweeklypublic-affairstelevisionshow,ColoradoStateofMind,onOct.2.Itdrewanaudienceof5,557households.

Inthewakeofthestory,JimJones,whoheadstheEPA’sofficeofChemicalSafetyandPollu0onPreven0on,reachedouttoI-News.Hesaidhisofficehadgo\enspecificapprovalfromtheJus0ceDepartmenttobeginworkingwithstatesthathadlegalizedmarijuanacul0va0ontotestwhichpes0cidescanbeusedsafelyonmarijuana.

During2015,wealsoaddedanewbusinesslinetodiversifyrevenue,introducingapaid"professional"product.Originallylaunchedasafreeemailnewsle\erin

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early2014,FERN’sAgInsiderincludesdailypolicyrepor0ng,analysis,andaggrega0onbylong-0meagriculturereporterChuckAbbo\.Theproductisaimedatanaudienceofpolicymakers,advocates,andfood-industryrepresenta0ves.Thefreenewsle\eracquiredanimmediatefollowingwithten-foldsubscribergrowth.

GiventheAgInsider’svaluetoitsaudience,inthefallof2015were-launcheditasapaidsubscrip0onproduct.Forasmallannualfee,subscribersgainaccesstorepor0ng,includingafullarchiveonourwebsite,withasubject-taggedorganiza0on.Theemailnewsle\er,nowincludingonlysummariesofthefullstories,remainsfree.Withaminimalmarke0ngeffort,wehavegainedover150paidsubscribersandmadeseveralsalestouniversitylibraries,includingStanfordUniversityandNewYorkUniversity.WeseeFERN’sAgInsider,par0cularlyins0tu0onalandcorporatesales,asasignificantareaforearnedrevenuegrowth.

Wealsohavebeguntoexpandourrepor0ngteamforAgInsider.WerecentlyaddedKris0naJohnsonasourWesternstatescorrespondent.Andtwofreelancecorrespondentsa\endedtherecentParisclimatetalks,fromwheretheyfiledanumberofpiecesforAI.Weintendtodomoreofthisinthefuture,leveragingourrepor0ngcontactstoaugmentAgInsidercoverage.Inaddi0on,webegansyndica0ngcontentfromAgInsidertootheroutlets,suchasAgriculture.com,thatserveasimilaraudience,bothasarevenuestreamandamarke0ngopportunity.Wewillleverageexis0ngwriterrela0onshipstogeneratethesemoderate-lengthstories,andbringinfographicstothecolumnaswell.

Finally,weexpandedourboardtoincludetwoaddi0onalmembers.NaomiStarkmanwasafoundingboardmemberandsubsequentlyservedasFERN’sstrategiccommunica0onsadviserfrom2011un0l2015.SheisafounderandtheEditor-in-ChiefofCivilEats,adailynewssourceforcri0calthoughtabouttheAmericanfoodsystem,andtheJamesBeardFounda0on’s2014Publica0onoftheYear.Shealsoisa2015-16JohnS.KnightJournalismFellowatStanford.

SusanWestwasexecu0veeditorofFERNfrom2011to2015.AsaprincipalofWestGoldEditorialconsul0ng,shehashelpedlaunchmagazinessuchasDwellandadvisedpublica0onsandwebsitesfromCookingLighttoWebMD.Sheco-foundedHealthmagazine,whichwonfourNa0onalMagazineAwardsduringhertenure.Shewasthefoundingeditor-in-chiefofthetravelmagazineAFARandexecu0veeditorofSmithsonianmagazine.

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ImpactVisualized

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OurWork

Ourstoriesfrom2015include:

■ SevenWaysClimateChangeCouldKillYou(Really),anotherpiecefromourpartnershipwithTheGuardian,deliveredadisturbingroundupofallthehealthproblemsthatresearchershaveconnectedtoclimatechange—fromdeadlybugbitesandasthmatoobesityanddepression.

■ EverythingYouNeedToKnowAboutNanopes0cidesprovidesafascina0nglookattheunder-reporteddarkersideofthepromiseofusingnanotechnologyinagriculture.ThisappearedinModernFarmer,whichdraws2millionreaderseachmonth.

■ LeaveItToBeavers,whichappearedinOnEarth,themagazineoftheNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil,examinesanunexpectedtwistintheCaliforniadroughtcycle:Beavers,longreviledasanuisance,areactuallyhelpingmi0gatethewaterwoesthatpitfarmeragainstfisherman.

■ UnravelingTheGluten-freeTrendseparatesfactfromfic0onintheragingdebateabouttheroleofgluteninarangeofmaladies,fromskinrashesandjointpaintogastrointes0naldistressanddepression.ItappearedinEa2ngWell,whichhasnearly2milliontotalreadersofeachissue.

■ TheLethalLegacyOfTheVietnamWarisofoneofourmost-successfulpiecestodatein2015:GeorgeBlack’spowerfulcoverstoryinTheNa2onshowedhowthetonsofunexplodedordnance,herbicides,anddefoliantstheUSdroppedonVietnamduringthewarplaguefarmers,andagriculture,theretoday.TheNa2onhas1.3millionmonthlyreadersinprintandonline.Prominentandlong0mepoli0calac0vistTomHaydenwasamongthemanywhosentTheNa2onle\erspraisingBlack’swork.

■ ClimateChangePosesSeriousThreatsToFoodDistribu0onintroducedanewandtroublingframetotheconversa0onaboutclimatechange,agriculture,andaccesstogoodfood.PublishedMarch4,2015,bytheEarthIslandJournal,itwassharedonsocialmedia5000mesandthe1,500(andcoun0ng)folkswhoreaditontheJournal’ssitespentanaverageoffiveminuteswiththepiece—pre\ygoodengagementinourclick-and-flitdigitalworld.

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■ TheFisherman’sDilemmaisastoryaboutaradicalexperimentthatcloseshundredsofmilesofCaliforniacoastlinetofishing.ItwasfeaturedinCaliforniaSunday,whichhasareadershipof700,000.

■ AsHimalayanGlaciersMelt,TwoTownsFaceTheFalloutwasastoryforwhichreporterDanielGrossmantraveledtotheremotemountainsofnorthernIndiatodescribethelivesofpeoplelivingattheedgeofglobalwarming.HisstoryappearsintheonlinemagazineYaleEnvironment360.Wealsoproducedastunningvideoofthisvalleyatthetopoftheworld,ourfirstshortdocumentary.

■ Ba\lingDroughtOnACaliforniaFarmwasaprofileofCannonMichael,aCentralValleyfarmerwhodevisedawater-sharingschemetohelphisstrugglingneighborscopewiththeepicdrought.Asermorethan60,000viewsonEnsiaanditssyndica0onpartners,BusinessInsider,Quartz,andClimateCentral,ithadnearly2,000social-mediashares.Twi\erhighlightsincludeEnsia(30.3Kfollowers);SunsetMagazine(62.6Kfollowers)andNPRFood(48Kfollowers).MichaelalsobeganappearinginstoriesaboutthedroughtinoutletslikeTheNewYorkTimesandNPR.

■ FieldsOfToxicPes0cidesSurroundTheSchoolsOfVenturaCounty,withinfographicwhichwaspublishedinTheNa2on.AsofApril15,thestory--whichwasonlineonly—hadmorethan8,000viewsatTheNa2on’swebsiteandnearly5,000social-mediashares.

■ BorderlandsFoodBank:CuqngFoodWasteAtTheBorderisastoryaboutawomanwhosinglehandedlychangedthegameonthesprawlingandcomplexproblemoffoodwaste.ThisstoryestablishedanimportantpartnershipwithLa2noUSA,whichairson141NPRsta0onsna0onwide,wasfeaturedonNPR’sTheSaltblog,andwaspickedupbyGeorgiaPublicBroadcas2ngandcitedonTheHuffingtonPost’sWhat’sWorkingblog.

■ UrbanFarmingIsBooming,ButWhatDoesItReallyYield?exploreswhethercommunitygardensandroosopfarmscanreallyplayaroleinfeedingourburgeoningpopula0on.ItwaspublishedwithEnsia.

■ Scorched,ournewestCaliforniadrought-relatedstoryinwhichreporterLaurenMarkhamfocusesherlensonthehumancostofthisslow-mo0onenvironmentalcrisis.Thestorywaspublishedonlineandinprintwithanewpartner,PacificStandard.

■ Zambia:WildlifePoachersTradeGunsforGardensaboutanan0-poachingstrategythatputshunterstowork.Wri\enbyBridgetHuberandpublishedwithAlJazeeraAmerica.

■ ALi\leFishwithBigImpactInTroubleonU.S.WestCoastinves0gatesthedevasta0ng90-percentdeclineinthePacificsardinestockfroma

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daun0nglistofculprits,fromclimatechangetoaquaculturetoburgeoningdemandforfishoilandothersupplements.Itcouldbedisastrousformarineanimalsfartherupthefoodchain.ForYaleEnvironment360.

■ HeartofAgavewhichappearedinMotherJones,tellsthestoryofanoptometristwhoistryingtoweantheMexicantequilaindustryfromagrochemicals--andisdis0llingasuperiorproductintheprocess.

■ TheForgo\enFilipino-AmericansWhoLedthe'65DelanoGrapeStrikebyLisaMorehouseincollabora0onwithKQED’sTheCaliforniaReportuncoveredali\le-knownstoryabouttheoriginsofthemostsignificantlaborac0onofthemodernera,thefarmworkers’grapestrikethatdraggedonforfiveyearsinthe1960s.

■ Unchartedwaspublishedincollabora0onwithCaliforniaSundayMagazine.WriterandphotographerLisaM.HamiltontravelledtooneofthemostremotecornersofAustraliawithagroupofplantgene0cistssearchingforwildrela0vesofrice.

■ MeettheScien0stsHun0ngandSavingWildSunflowerSeedspublishedinModernFarmer’sfallissue,NelsonHarveytakesacloselookatsunflowers,whicharena0vetoNorthAmerica.Theyareavitaloil-seedcrop,adietarystapleinChina,andthesecond-most-cul0vatedhybridintheworldasercorn.

■ WithNoU.S.Standards,PotPes0cideUseIsRisingPublicHealthThreatbyreportersEricaBerryofFERNandKa0eKuntzofI-News,foundaglaringabsenceofoversightonthelegalmarijuanaindustry.

■ ChildrenLesVulnerableByWorldBankAmidPushForDevelopmentbyJocelynZuckermanandMichaelHudsonforTheHuffingtonPostinpartnershipwiththeInterna0onalCenterforInves0ga0veJournalistspartof"EvictedandAbandoned,"ayear-longinves0ga0onintothehiddentollofWorldBank–financeddevelopmentprojectsonsomeoftheplanet’spoorestpeople.

■ AllanSavoryandtheScienceofTrackingwherewepartneredwithDiscoverMagazinetosendwriterJudithSchwartztoZimbabwetotalktoSavory,aglobalguruofsustainableland-use,aboutthelostartofanimaltracking.TravelforthisstorywassupportedbythePulitzerCenteronCrisisRepor0ng.

■ 10WaysBigFoodisChangingtoMeetConsumerDemandpublishedwithEa2ngWellmagazine,wasasmart,end-of-yearroundupofhowthefoodindustryhasbeguntorethinkwhatitserves.

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AuditedFinancialStatementForYearEndedDecember31,2015

StatementofFinancialPosi0on

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December 312015 2014

ASSETSCash $ 547,054 $ 433,417Accounts receivable 10,951 51,568

Total Assets $ 558,005 $ 484,985

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSLiabilities

Accounts payableAccrued expenses $ 11,944 $ 15,958

35,442 23,584

Total Liabilities $ 47,386 $ 39,542

Net AssetsTemporarily Restricted 50,000Unrestricted 510,619 395,443

Total Net Assets 510,619 445,443

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 558,005 $ 484,985

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Year EndedDecember 31

2015 2014CHANGES IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETSRevenues and Other Support Contributions $ 738,848 $ 669,887 Net assets released from restrictions 50,000 - Editorial revenue 44,927 22,619 Subscription revenue 19,421 - Sponsorship revenue - 11,500 Other revenues 2,476 4,372

Total Revenues and Other Support 855,672 708,378

EXPENSESProgram Services

Payroll and related 177,406 77,775Consultant fees

Writers 99,713 96,090Editors 58,900 66,818Ag Insider Service 52,200 -Design/Development 51,426 53,275Communications 44,188 36,139Project manager 20,762 50,400Multimedia 17,638 14,052Photographer 13,070 15,600Digital Engagement - 33,402Other - 37,811

Travel and meetings 25,682 11,450Administrative and general 7,418 3,821

Total Program Services 568,403 496,633

Supporting Services Management and general

Payroll and related 84,667 77,775Travel and meetings 28,315 29,622Professional fees 23,950 21,222Insurance 13,218 11,494Administrative and general 14,068 10,709

Fundraising 7,875 95,653Total Supporting Services 172,093 246,475Total Expenses 740,496 743,108

Increase (Decrease) Increase in Net Assets 115,176 -34,730

CHANGES IN TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETSContribution - 50,000Net assets released from restrictions - unrestricted (50,000) -

(Decrease) Increase in Temporarily Restricted Net Assets (50,000) 50,000

Increase in Net Assets 65,176 15,270

Net assets, beginning of year 445,443 430,173

Net assets, end of year $ 510,619 $ 445,443

StatementofAc0vi0esandNetAssets

StatementofCashFlows

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Year EndedDecember 31

2015 2014CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESIncrease in Net Assets $ 65,176 $ 15,270Adjustments to reconcile increase in net assets to net cash provided (used) by operating activities Changes in Assets and Liabilities

Decrease (Increase) in accounts receivable 40,617 (48,568)(Decrease) Increase in accounts payable (4,014) 13,350Increase in accrued expenses 11,858 4,108

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities 113,637 (15,840)

Cash, beginning of year 433,417 449,257

Cash, end of year $ 547,054 $ 433,417

OurPublishingPartners

AlJazeeraAmerica

CaliforniaSundayMagazine

DiscoverMagazine

EarthIslandJournal

Ea2ngWell

Ensia

KQED’sTheCaliforniaReport

La2noUSA

ModernFarmer

MotherJones

OnEarth

PacificStandard

RockyMountainPBSI-News

TheGuardian

TheHuffingtonPost

TheNa2on

YaleEnvironment360

Personnel

SamuelFromartz,Editor-in-ChiefTomLaskawy,Execu0veDirectorBrentCunningham,ManagingEditorChuckAbbo\,Editor,AgInsiderDanaDugan,SocialMediaEditorDennisChamberlin,DirectorofPhotography

CourtneyEshleman,DirectorofDevelopmentGeorgeBlack,Editor-at-LargeElizabethRoyte,Contribu0ngEditorKris0naJohnson,AssistantEditor

Board

DanPullman,BoardChairandTreasurerMichaelRankowitzNathanielBrownAlisonCayneLeslieWilliamsSamuelFromartzSusanWestNaomiStarkman

EditorialAdvisors

RuthReichlCharlesWilsonKatrinaHeronBrianHalweilElizabethRoyte

MajorFoundaNonSupporters:

The11thHourProjectDorisDukeFounda0onMcKnightFounda0onWoodcockFounda0onClarenceE.HellerFounda0onTomKatCharitableTrustClaneilFounda0onSandDollarFundBetsyandJesseFinkFounda0onJoyceandIrvingGoldmanFounda0onZegarFamilyFund

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