Today's News

15 October 2012

"New antimicrobials are heavily advertised by pharmaceutical companies and there can be undue pressure put on veterinary surgeons by clients who want to try new products that promise good results, but which may not be appropriate from the point of view of responsible use.”
Peter Jones, BVA president – Farmer’s Weekly – 12 October 2012

Antibiotics advertisements banned to farmers to curb resistance
The advertisement of antimicrobial medicines to farmers will be banned from 2013 in a bid to reduce antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals.
Farmers Weekly (12 Oct)
Read more about the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics

RITE Conference explores issues of consumption
Focusing on the topic of “consumption,” over 135 delegates from brands, retailers, government organizations, NGOs and academia joined in the 6th annual conference of the RITE Group (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment). A new campaign entitled “Have You Cottoned On Yet?” has been developed by the Soil Association and GOTS. Lord Peter Melchett, policy director for the Soil Association, traced the growth in organic cotton use by leading brands such as C&A, H&M, Nike and Patagonia.
Knitting Industry (15 Oct)
Have you #CottonedOn? Find out more about the benefits of organic cotton at
http://www.cottonedon.org/

MPP award dismissed by animal rights groups
The animal rights organisation that has spearheaded the campaign against Midland Pig Producers’ proposed farm in Foston, Derbyshire, has dismissed the company’s recent success at the Compassion in World Farming’s Good Farm Awards (CIWF), calling it a “grudging concession”.
MeatInfo.co.uk (12 Oct)

Will EU subsidy reforms be enough to encourage greener farming?
Carolyn Lebel looks at the history of the Common Agricultural Policy in the context of climate change and food security with a focus on French farming.
The Ecologist (15 Oct)

RSPCA accused of bullying after badger cull threats
The NFU has accused the RSPCA of hypocrisy after farmers were warned they could lose their valued Freedom Foods status if they supported or allowed badger controls on their land.
Farming UK (15 Oct)
Badger cull ‘mindless’, say scientists
The Guardian (13 Oct)
Badger cull: government accused of failing to properly seek alternatives
The Guardian (15 Oct)

Weather-beaten UK farmers lament a dismal year for food production
Already squeezed by supermarket dominance, all types of farmer have had to endure drought and flooding this year too.
The Guardian (12 Oct)
UN warns of looming worldwide food crisis in 2013
The Observer (13 Oct)
Food prices: 'Bread, coffee and fresh fruit have become a bit of a luxury'
Affordability is now the key factor for grocery shoppers, with ethical considerations least important
The Guardian (12 Oct)

Local Produce gets a boost from French connection
The importance of using locally sourced food to boost the economy, the community and people's health has been highlighted by the visit to Plymouth of a team from the French city of Rennes. The two-day visit was part of a project called Sustainable Supply Chains, which has been set up to support delivery of the Sustainable Food City Plymouth Food Charter and Action Plan.
Plymouth Herald (15 Oct)

Farming Today
Discusses the advertising ban of antimicrobials in animal medicines; CLA advice that it should be easier to divert footpaths away from areas of danger and Heather Simons visits farms to look at what chemicals are used.
BBC Radio4, listen again (12 Oct)

And finally…Seed diversity: a global route to food security? – in pictures
Many farmers' livelihoods depend on the ability to save seed varieties. 'Farmers breed for resilience,' says Dr Vandana Shiva, who is leading a campaign supported by the Gaia Foundation to protect seed diversity and promote food security.
The Guardian (12 Oct)