Today's News

05 November 2012

 "It may be necessary for the introduction of tighter environmental restrictions or for water companies to invest in the development of advanced treatment solutions to protect essential water supplies."
Water UK, Farmers Weekly, 05 November 2012

Prop 37: food companies spend $45m to defeat California GM label bill
Monsanto and other agribusiness and food companies have spent more than $45m (£28m) to defeat a California ballot measure that would require labelling of some GM foods.
The Guardian (05 Nov)
California GMO measure may fail after food industry fights back
Reuters (05 Nov)
Prop 37 and Corporate Lies in the Post Truth Era
The Guardian (05 Nov)

Stephen Jardine: Farmers’ markets must grow value
If you want to experience Scotland’s food revolution up close, look no further than your local farmers’ market. Especially on a Saturday, it won’t be hard to find. Across the country, 75 farmers’ markets are now operating, selling food directly from the producer to the consumer. They are a remarkable success story and a great example of how far we have come.
The Scotsman (03 Nov)

Labels? What labels? 29% of shoppers ignore all front-of-pack labelling
As the government tries to drag retailers and suppliers together over front-of-pack nutritional labelling systems, new research commissioned by The Grocer reveals that almost 30% of shoppers don’t look at labels when buying food and drink.
The Grocer (02 Nov)
Find out more about what’s on the label with our guide to organic labelling

Stewardship concerns as metaldehyde found in water
Farmers and growers are being urged to follow best practice stewardship guidelines for metaldehyde slug pellet use this autumn following confirmation from water companies across England that high levels of the slug pellet active ingredient are being detected in watercourses in a number of catchments.
Farmers Guardian (02 Nov)
Water companies issue metaldehyde warning
Farmers Weekly (05 Nov)
Find out how organic farmers control slugs 

Israel to derail $15bn Potashcorp move
Israel says it will block Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan’s attempt to buy rival fertiliser group Israel Chemicals, derailing a $15bn deal to create the world’s largest potash producer.
Financial Times (01 Nov)

Up in Smoke part 1: the beginning of the end for slash-and-burn farming? – video
This series looks at the devastating consequences to the Guatemalan rainforest of slash-and-burn farming, and the science that impels its continuation. In the first of a three-part series of short films based around the documentary Up In Smoke, farmers are presented with a unique method to help stop and reverse it
The Guardian (05 Nov) Watch here

Rip Off Food
When a customer wants to push the boat out and buy the best - a premium oil or a favourite fish - how does he or she avoid a fake or low-grade product that has been passed off as top quality? The programme reveals how to spot the foods that promise top quality but turn out to be duds.
BBC One, iPlayer (02 Nov)

Farming Today
Residents will no longer be able to apply for 'village green status' simply to save land already earmarked for development under new plans being discussed by MPs. And more mushrooms are being eaten in the UK than ever before. Last year shoppers took home more than 180,000 tonnes, making it the third most popular item in the vegetable aisle alongside potatoes and tomatoes.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (05 Nov)

And finally…The week in wildlife – in pictures
An Arctic fox, a baby echidna and jumping fish are among the picks of this week's images from the natural world.
The Guardian (02 Nov)