Today's News

10 December 2012

“Owen Patterson is wrong to claim that GM crops are good for the environment. The UK Government’s own farm scale experiment showed that overall the GM crops were worse for British wildlife. US Government figures show that overall pesticide use has increased since GM crops have been grown there, because as scientists opposed to GM predicted, superweeds and resistant insects have multiplied.”
Peter Melchett, Policy Director at the Soil Association, Farmers Guardian (10 Dec) 

Food minister Owen Paterson backs GM crops
Genetically modified food should be grown and sold widely in Britain and consumer opposition to the technology is a “complete nonsense”, the Cabinet minister in charge of food and farming has said.
The Telegraph (09 Dec) 
GM health fears 'complete nonsense', says Owen Paterson
The Guardian (10 Dec) 
Paterson's GM comments attacked by organic lobby.
Farmers Guardian (10 Dec) 
Read the full Soil Association comment 

New research ideas wanted
Farmers are being asked to come forward with new ideas for research as part of a £125,000 programme. Part of the Duchy Originals Future Farming programme in conjunction with the Soil Association, it is asking for an outline of the problem farmers face and the benefits of solving them.
Farmers Guardian (07 Dec) 
Read more about the Duchy Originals Future Farming Programme

Alys Fowler: winter bedding plants
Winter bedding plants will brighten up your garden when most other flowers have died. But sadly, many of our bedding plants are grown using neonicotinoids(systemic insecticides incorporated into the growing medium) to control aphids, whiteflies, vine weevil and sciarid flies. These insecticides are being linked to the decline of honeybees and other pollinators.
The Guardian (07 Dec) 
Read about the Soil Association’s Keep Britain Buzzing campaign 

Catering Mark Supplier Scheme launched by Soil Association
A Catering Mark Supplier Scheme has been launched by the Soil Association Certification, the organisation which runs the Catering Mark accreditation standards. The Food for Life Catering Mark aims to be a symbol of assurance on the issues that consumers care about in the food they eat: health, animal welfare and care for the environment.
Caterer and Hotelier (07 Dec)  
Scotland Food and Drink (10 Dec) 
Read more about the Catering Mark Supplier Scheme

Environment Minister Richard Benyon's family estate to destroy 218 acres of woodland
Neighbours have complained that the family estate of Richard Benyon, the environment minister, is being transformed into a "bomb site" after plans were approved to remove 218 acres of woodland to extract two million tons of sand and gravel.
The Telegraph (09 Dec) 

Voluntary food health plan failing, says Which?
Responsibility Deal failing to make food and drink companies encourage Britons to consume healthier meals, says watchdog.
The Guardian (10 Dec)

Parents of students in GM rice test win payout
Parents whose children unknowingly took part in a study involving genetically modified rice inHunan province have received compensation but said they are more worried about theiryoungsters' health.
China Daily (08 Dec) 

20 years on: is certification delivering on its promise?
A study of the impact of certification programmes reveals the difficulties in measuring success, including the need for more data from producers and the limitations of voluntary agreements. The committee included leaders from a host of organisations including the Soil Association.
The Guardian (07 Dec) 

Biodiversity offsetting will unleash a new spirit of destruction on the land
A place of outstanding wildlife value may be destroyed if in return someone is paid to create a habitat elsewhere.
The Guardian (10 Dec) 

Organic labelling a healthy beginning for UAE
A popular adage claims that we are what we eat. But very often we don't exactly know what it is that we are eating. And that's why moves by the Ministry of Environment and Water towards regulating and certifying organic food are welcome.
The National (10 Dec) 

Good news kids: Sprouts are off the menu after 69% hike
Despite the best efforts of the industry to keep inflation at bay, the cost of the traditional Christmas dinner has soared over the past five years, the Grocer can reveal.
The Grocer (10 Dec)

Study of GM potato a must, debate told
It would be “very remiss” of Teagasc if it did not research genetically modified (GM) potatoes as these potatoes could be available to Irish farmers in five or 10 years, Teagasc scientist Dr Ewen Mullins told an An Taisce GM debate in Dublin on Saturday.
Irish Times (10 Dec) 

Paterson calls Titchmarsh a 'complete muppet’
Defra secretary Owen Paterson has branded TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh a "complete muppet" for attacking government policies on the countryside.
Farmers Weekly (10 Dec)

Birds flourish on countryside trust land
Farmland birds are flourishing on land managed by a charitable trust set up to show that productive agriculture work can go hand-in-hand with looking after the environment.
Farmers Weekly (09 Dec) 

Farmers losing out to renewable projects, claims TFA
The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has hit out at two local authorities which it said were ‘trampling’ over farmers in their bid to develop renewable energy schemes.
Farmers Guardian (10 Dec) 

Farming Today
Britain's waterways are the worst in Europe. A new European water blueprint says more money should be diverted into helping farmers improve water quality. The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group re-launches after going into administration over a year ago. And Farming Today hears warnings that more food processors will go to the wall unless they quickly adapt their businesses.
BBC Radio 4 (10 Dec), Listen again 

And finally… Hobbit fever has seized New Zealand ahead of world premiere
The Telegraph (10 Dec)