Today's news - 25 January 2013

  “Food co-ops and buying groups help support access to quality affordable food, they're especially relevant where people don't have any other options outside of the supermarket but want to access affordable local and organic produce.”
Traci Lewis, project manager at the Soil Association
Farming Online (24 Jan)

Alternative economies: cooperative and community food gaining ground in 2013
Food Co-ops, community supported agriculture and buying groups represent the means to access affordable, ethical and sustainable foods, according to research released last week by the Soil Association.
Farming Online (24 Jan)
Find out more about Community Supported Agriculture

One-third of fish caught in Channel have plastic contamination, study shows
Fish were found to contain small pieces of plastic known as 'microbeads', in a study of 10 species
The Guardian (24 Jan)

Sainsbury’s ‘Switch the Fish’ campaign returns
Sainsbury’s will give away seven tonnes of under-utilised fish in a bid to encourage shoppers to experiment with fish outside of the ‘big 5’ species.
The Grocer (24 Jan)

Davos 2013: water scarcity is 'second most important world risk'
United Nations general secretary Ban Ki-moon tells Davos that we must appreciate water more as World Economic Forum recognises the scale of the problem – but what is being done?
The Guardian (24 Jan)

GM science caught between faith and denial
The debate surrounding genetically modified or GM foods never seems to end. In India this is a highly polarised and no-holds-barred public discourse. The ball was set rolling by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself with his famous comment about anti-GM protests being funded by foreign NGOs.
India Today (24 Jan)
The Soil Association’s position on GM

Decline of mistle thrushes in Britain's gardens
Wildlife experts have warned of an alarming drop in the number of mistle thrushes seen in Britain's gardens as they urged people to take part in an annual survey on bird numbers.
The Telegraph (25 Jan)

Newt so fast: natural environmental rules and regulations
Protected species such as newts and bats can hold up developments for weeks
The Guardian (25 Jan)

Comment: The secret of the 'special offer' economy burger
The packaging is the same, but the price is slashed. So it must be the same burger, but cheaper, right? Wrong
The Guardian (24 Jan)

Marina waste-conversion plant changes food waste into compost, biogas
A new $1.6 million plant will convert food waste from hotels, restaurants and universities in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties into compost and biogas, primarily energy-producing methane gas, in a three-week process. This is a five-year pilot project.
Monterey Herald (24 Jan)

Milestone looms for farm-raised fish
In the last 20 years, the production of fish through aquaculture has grown exponentially, while marine fish catches have levelled off. Unless it’s an extraordinary year for marine fishing, in 2013 the lines will cross, and the majority of the fish we eat will come from aquaculture rather than oceans.
New York Times (24 Jan)

Country diary: anecdotal evidence is ahead of science
Country folk have a simple way of reading nature: they look at what’s in front of their noses.
The Telegraph (24 Jan)

Hovis and McCain abandon 100 per cent British pledge
The poor 2012 harvest and gloomy outlook for this year’s crop has led McCain Foods and Hovis owner Premier Foods to scrap their 100 per cent British pledge.
Farmers Guardian (25 Jan)

Rustling spate costs farmers £30,000
Sheep valued at £30,000 have been stolen from common land in the Welsh Valleys during a spate of thefts.
Farmers Weekly (24 Jan)

Farmers Weekly Awards: The search for winners begins
The 2013 Farmers Weekly Awards launches today, marking the start of a 10-month journey to find farming's best - individuals who stand out for their achievements and success.
Farmers Weekly (25 Jan)

Farming Today
Secretary of State Owen Paterson says MEPs' CAP reform proposals are a retrograde step.
BBC Radio 4 (25 Jan)

And Finally… Did you know dung beetles use the stars to navigate?
The Guardian (25 Jan)