Today's news - 17 January 2013
“Wow, I thought. The most common bumblebee in San Francisco disappeared, and none of us noticed, not even me, a biologist. That really got my attention.”
Gretchen LeBuhn, associate professor at San Francisco State University
New York Times, Green Blog (16 Jan)
New pesticide threat to bees
Neonicotinoid pesticides, that are widely used in the UK on oilseed rape, should not be used on ‘crops attractive to honey bees’, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
The Telegraph (16 Jan)
Keep Britain Buzzing campaign
Counting the Vanishing Bees
A new method for monitoring the decline in bee populations may prove a useful tool in much-needed conservation efforts. It requires only a few hundred pan traps: bright shallow bowls partly filled with soapy water or propylene glycol.
New York Times, Green Blog (16 Jan)
American researchers tout benefits of organic farming
Despite a slight decline between 2009 and 2010, the global land area farmed organically has expanded more than threefold to 37 million hectares worldwide since 1999.
Farming Online (15 Jan)
Why 'natural' beekeeping could save our honey-making friends
As colonies collapse around the world, Heidi Herrmann is putting her faith in what is best for the honey-makers, not the consumers.
The Telegraph (14 Jan)
Freedom Foods 'failing to crack down' on poor salmon farming standards
Salmon and Trout Association said farms under the RSPCA's scheme had records of sea lice infestation and pollution.
The Guardian (16 Jan)
Time to turn words into action on voluntary code, Heath tells Dairy UK
Farming minister David Heath has urged dairy processors to adopt the industry’s new voluntary code of practice without delay.
The Grocer (17 Jan)
Tesco apologises for scandal over horsemeat Farmers Weekly (17 Jan)
Creating a buzz for our bees
A simple ban on an insecticide could help boost Scotland’s declining bee population, Scottish Wildlife Trust explains why we need to Save Our Bees.
Third Force News (10 Jan)
Organic eggs 'still declining'
Figures compiled by Kantar Worldpanel for the 52 week period up to October 28 this year showed that organic egg sales were down by 35.3 per cent year on year - and this was on top of previous falls in organic sales figures. Including a quote from the Soil Association’s Finn Cottle.
FarmingUK.com (17 Jan)
Independent Catering awarded Soil Association’s silver Food for Life catering mark
Kent-based Independent Catering has been awarded the Soil Association’s silver Food for Life catering mark for serving fresh and healthy meals to school children.
Caterersearch.com Retail giant Sainsbury’s has unveiled a campaign to encourage consumers to cut down on the amount of food waste they generate each week.
letsrecycle.com (16 Jan)
Organic foods, products need validation
Organic farming in Zambia and the processes required for certification.
Zambia Daily Mail Inter Press Service The Guardian (16 Jan)
GMO Toxicity Affects Animals, Plants, and Soil
California has voted “No” on Proposition 37, which required labelling of genetically modified foods (GMOs), even though 96 percent were in favour of labelling before elections. A $46 million ad campaign by Monsanto, DuPont, and the food industry succeeded, claiming that labelling would be a major inconvenience that would raise costs and food prices.
The Epoch Times (16 Jan)
Farming Today
Millions of beef burgers have been recalled from supermarket shelves as some are found to contain horse and pig DNA. Authorities in Ireland discovered the contamination, but the Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney suspects that imported beef protein from the EU was to blame.
BBC Radio 4 (17 Jan)
And Finally… Some pictures of animals keeping warm out in the cold.
Mother Nature Network
