Today's News

12 November 2012

"Our findings present a need for broadening local food opportunities beyond the privileged, higher-income consumer, through alternative payment plans and strategic efforts that make fresh foods accessible to a diversity of people."
Professor James Farmer, Bloomington School of Public Health, Farming Online, 09 November 2012

How Planet Organic's founder combines good food with healthy profits
Many retailers are still facing tough economic times but Planet Organic appears to be bucking the trend. Emma Sinclair talks to founder Renée Elliott in her latest Biz Idol.
The Telegraph (12 Nov)

Blog Spot: Do as I say, not as I do
Our democratically elected leaders have a nasty track record of forcing GM food on their citizens while quietly eating organic at home, says Craig Sams.
Natural Products (08 Nov)

Farmers Market an Education
A recent survey carried out by the Co-operative revealed that more than half of children had never visited a farm with their school.
Coventry Telegraph (12 Nov)
Find out more about the Soil Association’s Farm Academy Programme

Q and A: Organic food is available despite slump in supermarket sales
The Soil Association explains how getting your organic produce is still achievable, even if you live in a remote area.
The Scotsman (10 Nov)

Research reveals wealth gap in access to sustainable food
A study released in the United States in October suggested more needs to be done to improve access to local, healthy foods. The study, conducted by Indiana University researchers, showed farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs largely attract a "privileged" class of shoppers.
Farming Online (09 Nov)
Find out more about Soil Association’s campaign to make good food for all a right, not a priviledge.

Guernsey organic milk production suspended
Guernsey Dairy has suspended the production of organic milk and will import Jersey milk due to a shortfall.
BBC News (08 Nov)

'Research will regress due to GM trial ban'
Opposing the Supreme Court-constituted Technical Expert Committee's recommendation for a 10-year moratorium on field trials of genetically modified food crops, the Union government on Friday said if accepted, the move could set India back by two decades in terms of scientific research.
The Times of India (10 Nov)
Team Anna 2.0 unlikely to repeat last year's magic
Mail Online India (11 Nov)

Top GM researcher faces calls to quit
The controversy surrounding GM food crops in the country shows no signs of cooling down.
Mail Online India (09 Nov)

Should Sainsbury's phase out the Red Tractor?
In light of the recent Sainsbury's decision to phase out the Red Tractor logo, I decided to go on a fact-finding mission. This involved an afternoon spent food shopping!
Farmers Weekly (10 Nov)

Wheat soars after Russian crop failure
Siberian farmers can barely remember when they saw a wheat harvest so small. The last crop failure on this scale was in the early 1960s, when Nikita Khrushchev led what was the Soviet Union.
Financial Times (08 Nov)
Record high wheat price piles pressure on livestock farms
Farmers Guardian (09 Nov)

Biodiesel industry on the brink as waste oil use plummets
The amount of used cooking oil being re-purposed as fuel has plummeted since a tax incentive was axed - and industry insiders are warning that the situation could spell the end of the British biodiesel industry.
The Grocer (11 Nov)

Fens are wildlife ‘hotspot’ new report finds
The Fens are home to 25% of Britain's rarest wildlife and 13 globally rare species, according to a new report.
BBC News (07 Nov)

Farming Today
Anna Hill visits a turkey farmer who tells us it's make or break time. The Unite Union tells Farming Today the government's consultation on abolishing the body that sets farm workers' wages has been unlawful. Environment minister Owen Paterson explains why he is trying to sell tea to China, as he takes a group of British food businesses to the country to boost the UK exports.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (12 Nov)

And finally...gallery of Daily Telegraph readers' pictures of autumn colour
The Telegraph (11 Nov)