Today's News

08 November 2012

  “The incessant drumbeat of misleading and outright false industry advertising was barely able to defeat this popular measure. While disappointed in the result, we believe that this movement to label Genetically Engineered foods is stronger than ever and we will continue to build a robust national grassroots campaign to push for mandatory labelling across the country."
Kristin Lynch, Pacific region director of NGO Food & Water,
The Guardian 07 November 2012

Prop 37: Californian voters reject GM food labelling
Polls show 53.7% voted against the contentious measure that was seen as a test bed case for the US as a whole
The Guardian (07 Nov)
GMO labelling efforts change course after California defeat
Reuters (07 Nov)
California voters reject labelling genetically altered food
Reuters (07 Nov)

Organic cotton down – but not out
The not-for-profit Textile Exchange has released its sixth annual Organic Cotton Market Report, which reveals a massive 37 per cent drop in organic cotton production in 2011, despite a brand survey that indicated a high proportion of retailers would actually expand their use of organic cotton. The current top users of organic cotton include H&M, C&A, Nike and Inditex.
EcoTextile News (7 Nov)
Have you #CottonedOn? Find out more about the benefits of organic cotton 

Saving Our Seed
Liesl Truscott asks how The Green Economy Model can protect seeds, and considers the impact upon the textile industry.
The Farm Blog (05 Nov)

MPs discuss overuse of antibiotics in Parliament
Animal health chiefs have criticised an early day motion (EDM) in the House of Commons on the overuse of antibiotics.
Farmers Guardian (07 Nov)
Find out more about the Soil Association’s work to reduce routine antibiotic use

Up in Smoke part 3: spreading the message among farmers – video
In this final video in a three-part series based around the documentary Up in Smoke on a way of halting slash-and-burn farming in the Honduran rainforest, we look at how farmers who have tried a sustainable and organic method of farming are spreading the message to their community, and demonstrating the benefits of the new technique
The Guardian (07 Nov)

Food is 'too cheap' and encourages consumer waste, says exec at global food giant
An executive at the world’s second-biggest consumer goods company told a conference that food is 'too cheap' and far too much is being wasted as a result.
The Daily Mail (07 Nov)

Meadow Quality calf marketers to merge with Graig Producers
Organic beef and lamb group Graig Producers is to become part of Meadow Quality, the largest calf marketing group in the UK.
The Grocer (06 Nov)

No 'black hole' on CAP reform, pledges Brussels
Special measures could be introduced to stop farmers from falling into a bureaucratic black hole caused by delays to CAP reform.
Farmers Weekly (07 Nov) 
Schmallenberg virus cases in cattle near 200

Nearly 200 cases of Schmallenberg virus in cattle have now been reported, according to new figures released by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratory Agency.
Farmers Weekly (07 Nov)

Tesco launches dedicated farmer contracts for beef and pork
Direct contracts with beef and pig farmers are being rolled out by Tesco from January.
Farmers Guardian (08 Nov)

Food label changes could be costly says expert
Improving food labelling will benefit consumers but the industry fears extra costs will be felt by producers.
Farmers Guardian (07 Nov)

Climate change threatens coffee crops
Rising temperatures due to climate change could mean wild Arabica coffee is extinct in 70 years, posing a risk to the genetic sustainability of one of the world's basic commodities, scientists said on Wednesday.
The Guardian (8 Nov)

Farming Today
Farmers groups have welcomed plans by Tesco to link the price it pays for beef and pork to the cost of animal feed. With more than 180,000 tonnes of mushrooms eaten in the UK last year, Charlotte catches up with celebrity chef and mushroom fan - Valentine Warner. And, the Secretary of the State for the Environment, Owen Paterson says DEFRA needs to refocus its activities to try to tackle the crisis facing the UK's ash tree population.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (8 Nov)

And finally…Sustainable tuna fishing in the Maldives - in pictures
Aaron Gray-Block is aboard the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, which is on an expedition in the Indian Ocean to highlight issues around overfishing.
The Guardian (07 Nov)