Today's News

18 October 2012

“The results over a long period of 14 years on average were consistent and significant. Our findings show that organically managed soils accumulate soil organic matter, and by this bind carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
Andreas Gattinger of Switzerland’s Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, on the findings of their report – Organic World – 17 October 2012
Read the Soil Association’s reaction

Organic farming enhances soil carbon stocks
Organic agriculture provides environmental benefits through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon in soil organic matter, says a group of international experts headed by scientists from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) they analysed data from 74 field comparison studies that measured the soil organic carbon (humus) levels in different soils under organic and conventional farming systems throughout the world. Of those, about 20 delivered results that enabled comparisons of carbon sequestration rates among farming systems.
Organic World (17 Oct)
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Find out more about the Low Carbon Farming project

Modified crops increase herbicide use, WSU researcher says
A Washington State University researcher Charles Benbrook says genetically-modified crops have led to an increase in herbicide use, contrary to claims by proponents of the crops.
The Seattle Times (12 Oct)
Read the Soil Association’s comment

The bewildering labelling of pork
Animal welfare campaigners want to raise the profile of pig farming standards. But shoppers trying to buy "ethical" pork are met with a bewildering array of labelling. So could free-range pork be the next free-range chicken?
BBC News Magazine (18 Oct)
Find out more about organic animals

In a world hungry for biofuels, food security must come first
Olivier De Schutter, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, writes that Growing crops for food and fuel together can work but farmers and policymakers must prioritise hungry people and think local.
The Guardian (17 Oct)

Scientists discover wasps which ‘could eradicate pests’
Researchers have discovered a new type of wasp which could be the solution to eradicating pests, saving the farming industry millions of pounds. Biologists at the University of Hull are studying hundreds of parasitic wasps, which they believe could be used to protect food crops instead of expensive pesticide.
BBC News (17 Oct)

Big Tobacco lawyers target food industry
The lawyers who took on the big US tobacco companies, and won, have now set their sights on the food industry. Newsnight's science editor, Susan Watts, asks one of them why he has chosen this particular fight.
BBC News (17 Oct)

Badger cull is a ‘bad deal for taxpayers’
The imminent badger cull in England is a "bad deal for taxpayers", according to an agricultural economist who worked on a landmark 10-year trial examining if culling can curb TB in cattle. The government's own impact assessment for the policy concluded that the cull, aimed at curbing rising tuberculosis in cattle, would cost more than it saves.
The Guardian (17 Oct)
Badger cull will go ahead asap, says Defra, following u-turn rumours
The badger cull will go ahead as 2soon as possible”, the Government has confirmed, as scientists complete surveys to determine how many of the animals will be killed.
The Telegraph (18 Oct)

Genetically-modified organisms or GMOs: What are you really eating?
Dr Caroline Cederquist writes that As a medical professional, my life's work has been devoted to improving the lives of others by helping them improve their diets, lose weight and correct their metabolism. I have been appalled in the past weeks as I have watched what I will call "Big Ag" crank up their political machine and throw millions of dollars into attack ads and propaganda againstCalifornia's Proposition 37.
Huffington Post (17 Oct)

Step away from the compost heap
Keep your hands off seedheads this winter and you'll help garden wildlife to thrive, writes Kate Bradbury.
The Guardian (18 Oct)

Birds of prey poisoned because law not upheld
Louise Gray writes that hundreds of birds of prey have been poisoned because the Government has failed to fully implement laws designed to protect them.
The Telegraph (18 Oct)

Farming Today
Sainsburys is dropping the Food Quality Standard, the Red Tractor logo, from its products in order to 'simplify' their labels. A new study by academics at Cambridge University has found that up to a fifth of cattle herds with previous TB problems may be harbouring hidden infection - despite testing clear of the disease. A study at Washington State University says genetically modified crops engineered to need less weedkiller, actually need more. Dr Charles Benbrook told Farming Today that the use of GM crops led to an extra 239 million kilograms of herbicide being sprayed in the United States between 1996 and 2011.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (18 Oct)

And finally…Nature’s patterns: Green shoots photographs
The Guardian (17 Oct)