Today's News - 01 October 2012

“We need to have a long look at farming and managing water and soil. Farmers need to be trained up, and we need to get away from the idea of ‘squashing nature.’”
Peter Riley, Campaign Director, GM Freeze – Geographical

GM update
Geographical Magazine runs a special report on why so many people are still worried about genetically modified crops. Emma Hockridge, head of policy for the Soil Association is quoted, saying that “GM supporters have been claiming for years that the technology is very precise, and have made all sorts of claims about what it can do, but these haven’t materialised.”
Geographical Magazine (1 Oct, p.32)
Read about the Soil Association’s position on GM.

Organic is the answer
In a letter to The Grocer, Emma Hockridge, head of policy at the Soil Association writes that the “Soil Association welcomes the continued and much-needed research into the potential health effects of Roundup, and the GM maize that has been engineered to tolerate it…We support innovations that help produce food with care for human health, the environment and animal welfare, and which put farmers in control of their own livelihoods.”
The Grocer (29 Sept, p.26)
Study linking GM maize to cancer must be taken seriously by regulators
The Guardian (28 Sept)
Read the Soil Association’s comment to the Roundup & GM maize research in full.

Award for Soil Association Woodmark
Soil Association Woodmark has won the Environmental Achievement Award in this year’s Timber Trades Journal Award, for the dual Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Project Certification of the London 2012 Olympic Park.
Timber Trades Journal (29 Sept, p.15)
Find out more about the award and the work of Soil Association Woodmark.

Riverford bucks organic downturn as pre-tax profits double to £1.23m
Veg box supplier Riverford Organic Farms has announced its pre-tax profits more than doubled to £1.23 million. Its success has bucked a downturn in the organics sector which saw produce sales via supermarkets fall by 5% over the year.
Western Morning News (29 Sept, p.19)

Organic Food Awards
Waitrose were among the winners of the annual Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2012. The Duchy Originals from Waitrose, Organic Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton, Damson Preserve and Diamond Jubilee IPA were all highly commended.
Waitrose Magazine Weekend (27 Sept, p.3)
Winners of organic awards announced
The winners of the Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2012 were announced last month as part of this year’s Organic September.
Southern Farmer (1 Oct, p.35)
Winning beef explodes with flavor
Tim and Jo Budden of Higher Hacknell Farm are celebrating another win at the Soil Association’s Organic Food Awards – this year for their organic South Devon beef. To celebrate their success, they are offering 10% off sirloin steaks and joints.
Western Morning News (29 Sept, p.7)
Read more about the Organic Food Awards.

Oliver condemns Gove on school food
Michael Gove has been blasted as presiding over the "worst yet" school food standards by TV chef Jamie Oliver.
The Press Association (29 Sept)
The Food for Life Partnership* is working with schools across the UK to transform their food culture.Read more about their work.

Misery for households as food prices soar at twice the EU average
British families have been hit twice as hard by the rising cost of food than most of Western Europe, a report has found. Food prices in Britain have risen by 32% since 2007, double the EU average, according to figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The Daily Telegraph (27 Sept)
Weekly family food bill tops £77 a week as food prices in Britain soar to twice the EU average
Daily Mail (28 Sept)

Badger activists prepare for the cull
Protesters spent the weekend mapping setts in the Forest of Dean and doing what they can before the cull begins.
The Guardian (1 Oct)
Read the Soil Association’s position on the badger cull.

Sainsbury’s boss welcomes grilling on green values and ambitions
Justin King to tell business and sustainability leaders direction makes commercial as well as ethical sense despite City nerves.
The Guardian (30 Sept)

Fortnum’s to investigate claims of cruelty made in undercover film at foie gras farms
One of the country's most prestigious stores has pledged to investigate claims of animal mistreatment at farms linked to a company that has supplied it with foie gras.
The Guardian (30 Sept)

Farm payments hit by euro’s troubles
Scottish farmers yesterday had confirmation that their support cash this year will fall by about £38 million as a result of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the euro and sterling.
The Scotsman (29 Sept)

Farming Today
Following floods across the UK, Heather Simons visits a cattle and sheep farmer in Wales who has been affected by flooding and is desperate for the rivers to be dredged. Charlotte Smith talks to the MP for Brigg and Goole, Andrew Percy, who feels that wildlife and environmental concerns are being prioritised over the needs of farmers. After a record amount of nominations for the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2012 Charlotte and Adam Henson reveal the finalists.
BBC Radio4, listen again (1 Oct)

And finally…The naked truth about organic
Organic UK pulled of a revealing stunt to help raise awareness of the natural benefits of organic.
Newcastle Chronicle (26 Sept)

And finally…The naked truth about organic
Organic UK pulled of a revealing stunt to help raise awareness of the natural benefits of organic.
Newcastle Chronicle (26 Sept)
Find out more about the Organic. Naturally Different campaign.

*The Food for Life Partnership (www.foodforlife.org.uk) is a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture. Together we are revolutionising schools meals, reconnecting young people with farms and inspiring families to cook and grow food. The project is led by the Soil Association, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.