Today's News - 19 October 2012

“Small-scale farming delivers the inherent win-win of putting income in the hands of farmers who are themselves among the poorest and most food insecure, while supporting those who have a long-term interest in maintaining – and not merely exploiting – the natural resource base.”
Olivier De Schutter, UN special rapporteur on the right to food – The Guardian – 18 October 2012

BBC World Business Report
This episode looks at the extent to which the involvement in multinational companies in the US processed food market is threatening to dilute organic standards and increase confusion over what is and is not organic. Soil Association Policy Director Peter Melchett discusses the issue of large-scale organic farms versus small.
BBC World Service, listen again (18 Oct)

Landward
Nick cooks one of his favourite pork dishes using summer vegetables. With his single burner stove and a frying pan he cooks his dish for Perthshire organic pork breeder Sascha Grierson,
BBC Scotland, watch again (18 Oct)

Livia Firth and the BFC partner for the Sustainable City Awards
Green queen Livia Firth and the British Fashion Council have teamed up to support the Sustainable Fashion Award, the Sustainable City Awards' newest category.
The Telegraph (18 Oct)
Have you #CottonedOn? Find out more about the Soil Association Organic Cotton Campaign.
http://www.cottonedon.org/

Comment: Using film to square up the horrors of factory farming
The campaigner behind the ground breaking Pig Business documentary is now taking her message global, encouraging people to take action against industrial farming methods which degrade the environment and subject animals to a life of misery.
The Ecologist (18 Oct)

Listening to customers drives demand for new ventures
For many people born outside farming families, the dream of making a living out of livestock remains out of reach. But a combination of good luck and dogged determination gave Denise and Chris Walton the opportunity to realise their long-held ambition. Two decades later, their enthusiasm is still driving the Peelham Farm business forward.
Farmers Guardian (11 Oct)

Crackdown on cattle movement and TB testing announced
Ministers have announced a tightening of rules to prevent tuberculosis spreading between cattle, as the controversial badger cull aimed at curbing bovine TB struggles to get started. The strengthened rules, which will come into force from 1 January 2013, include changes to the testing regime and cattle movement restrictions.
The Guardian (19 Oct)
Cost of badger cull may force U-turn
The Guardian (18 Oct)
Read the Soil Association position on the badger cull

Tesco continues support for Red Tractor logo
Retailer Tesco has come out in support of the food quality assurance scheme following Sainsbury’s dropping of the Red Tractor logo from its food labels. The supermarket says it will continue to carry the label on its products.
Farmers Weekly (19 Oct)

Nominations sought for Young Poultry Person of the Year
Organisers of the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference (EPIC) are seeking nominations for a new Young Poultry Person of the Year award. The award is being made in memory of well-know egg processor and industry figure, Clive Frampton, who died in March. The award will be presented at EPIC in November.
Farmers Weekly (19 Oct)

Observer Food Monthly award-winners announced
Nigel Slater named food personality of the year, while nine-year old Martha Payne's blog on school dinners also recognised.
The Guardian (18 Oct)
OFM Awards 2012: Cultivate London wins best producer – video
The Guardian (19 Oct)

Farming Today
Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston says the RSPCA are intimidating farmers who support the badger cull. She says that threatening to suspend them from the Freedom Foods scheme and using emotive language means that farmers are scared to speak out. In an exclusive interview with Farming Today, the Chief Executive of the RSPCA, Gavin Grant, says farmers must abide by the terms of the scheme and let consumers choose. Farming Today looks at agri-chemicals of the future. Syngenta is one of the biggest companies in the sector and is already developing new products which should be on farms within the decade. Heather Simons visits their laboratory to see what's in store. Henry Edmunds is one of three finalists of the BBC Farming Today Farmer of the Year awards.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (19 Oct)

And finally…Veolia Environment wildlife photographer of the year – in pictures
The Guardian (18 Oct)