Today's News

29 August 2012

 “If we keep animals in an overly intensive way, they tend to get more sick. Antibiotic resistance is building in the livestock population. That is a huge risk to take with human health.”
Helen Browning, Soil Association Chief Executive – ITV Tonight – 24 August 2012

The real cost of cheap food
Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning talks to ITV Tonight about the future of food production and concerns over increasingly intensive agricultural systems.
ITV1, Watch Again (24 Aug)
Find out about Soil Association’s animal welfare standards on the website.

Focus on organic
In a special report on the organic sector, The Grocer looks at what organic means to consumers and how clear messaging can present a more holistic picture of what organic is about. “Organic products should all have a good story behind them” says Ian Jelland, founder of Soil Association licensee Brockleby’s. “Provenance, origin, animal husbandry and how the food is made are all important.”
The Grocer (25 Aug, pp.43-46)

Scotland’s Organic Action Plan 'Seeking Your Views'
Following on from the 2011 Organic Action Plan, the Scottish Organic Forum (SOF) has proposed new actions on organic food and farming in Scotland. Now the SOF is seeking views on the proposals to ensure the Action Plan continues to meet the needs of Scotland’s organic sector and to facilitate greater industry engagement.
Scotland Food and Drink (24 August)
To see the actions and feedback, visit the Soil Association website.
 

Organic September
In its ‘guide to Organic September’, Health Food Business Magazine showcases a variety of organic products and writes that “with Organic September nearly here, there is no time like the present to promote and push organics.”
Health Food Business Magazine (1 Sept)
To celebrate Organic September, Food Magazine recommends the launch of the UK’s first organic soured cream from Soil Association licensee Yeo Valley.
Food (1 Sept)
Inspired by Organic Month, Sussex Life celebrates natural skincare from the county’s home-grown ethical companies, including Soil Association licensee Green People.
Food Magazine (1 Sept)

Food shortages could force world into vegetarianism, warn scientists
Water scarcity's effect on food production means radical steps will be needed to feed thw world’s population expected to reach 9bn by 2050. Animal protein-rich food consumes five to 10 times more water than a vegetarian diet. One third of the world's arable land is used to grow crops to feed animals.
The Guardian (26 Aug)
Read the Soil Association’s report on sustainable animal feed here.

Family food bills to soar
British shoppers face paying more for bread, pasta and meat after devastating drought ravages crops in US.
The Daily Mail (27 Aug)

Lansley has caved in to fast-food industry, says former adviser
Simon Capewell, who helped formulate policy, accuses Health Secretary of ‘dereliction of duty’ over Britain’s obesity epidemic
The Independent (17 Aug)

Farming Today
Following recent protests by UK dairy farmers over the price they are paid for milk, the UK Government is encouraging farmers to join together to form cooperatives and producer groups. The systems are used widely across Europe. In this special programme, Charlotte Smith visits the Netherlands where over 85% of dairy farmers are in co-operatives compared to around 30% in the UK.
She talks to the Chairman of Friesland Campina, Piet Boer, on his dairy farm to find out how the system enables it to pay their 14,000 farmers more than European average. Since it was set up, it has become multi-national with a global turnover of 10 billion euros a year. She asks if British farmers could see similar success if more of them worked together.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (24 Aug)