Today's News - 13 November 2012

  "It's time to overhaul the way in which pesticides and GM foods are assessed for safety. Meanwhile the industry tests on which the approval of glyphosate is based must be made public on the internet."
Claire Robinson, research director at open earth, Farming UK, 13 November 2012

EU approval of Roundup 'based on bad science' says study
The EU approval of glyphosate, the main ingredient of the herbicide Roundup, is based on bad science, according to a new peer-reviewed study.
FarmingUK.Com (13 Nov)
New Study Shows Germany Misled EU over Glyphosate Safety
Sustainable Pulse (10 Nov)
Read the Soil Association’s comment

H&M is world's biggest user of organic cotton
Fashion retailer H&M has been hailed as the biggest user of organic cotton worldwide for the second consecutive year in 2011, according to Textile Exchange´s latest Global Sustainable Textiles Market Report.
The Retail Bulletin (12 Nov)
Have you #CottonedOn? Find out more about the benefits of organic cotton 

Oprah’s organic appetite
It looks like media mogul Oprah Winfrey is getting into the organic food business. According to online filings for the US Patent and Trademark Organization, several applications for “Oprah’s Organics” were filed late last month.
New York Post (11 Nov)
Oprah set to expand her $2.7billion empire even further with organic food and bathroom products from her farm in Maui
Daily Mail (12 Nov)
Oprah Moves Into Organic Food: Would You Buy The Talk Show Billionaire's Frozen Vegetables?
Forbes (11 Nov)

Ten Grassroots Lessons From Monsanto's Swift-Boating of the Prop37/Label GMO Campaign
“The populist campaign to label genetically modified food has been successfully Swift-Boating by Monsanto and the largest pesticide and junk food companies on earth. Our consumer movement made the costly mistake of arming itself with peace signs and love beads for what turned out to be a gunfight with a ruthless, assault rifle-equipped enemy,” writes Jonathon Greenburg.
Huffington Post (11 Nov)
Prop 37 Failed, Now What? Ways to Avoid GMO Foods and Support Sustainable Agriculture
San Diego Free Press (11 Nov)

Anti GMO Groups Hoping for Tougher EU Policy
Environmental groups opposing the genetically modified food industry will be following tomorrow's grilling session of commissioner designate Tonio Borg with interest, hoping he will take a tougher line than his predecessor.
The Malta Independent (12 Nov)

Dairy exports to China will be key to growth, says government
Dairy companies have a key part to play in plugging a £1bn hole in the UK economy by ramping up exports to China, the government has said as it embarks on a major trade delegation to China today
The Grocer (12 Nov)
Paterson heads to China to spearhead dairy export drive
Farmers Guardian (12 Nov)
Scottish food and drink chiefs visit Asia
Farmers Guardian (12 Nov)

Farming Today
Huge numbers of migrating birds are flocking to Britain, but will find very little food for the winter. The supermarket Morrisons criticises new EU food labelling laws saying it's a huge change which will leave shoppers no better informed. And as equine charities warn that more horses are being abandoned, Farming Today visits the New Forest to see the effect on the wild pony population.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (13 Nov)

And finally…White on white: Arctic foxes in Canada photographed by Anna Henly
An Arctic fox emerges from the mist. Apart from its nose and eyes, it is barely visible against the snowy backdrop. The award-winning image was one of many captured by British photographer Anna Henly at the Seal River, in Manitoba, Canada
The Telegraph (13 Nov)