Food crisis silver lining
The gathering world food crisis is bad news for many of the world’s poor and for developing economies, but rather good news for others. Global agribusiness firms, traders and speculators are currently raking in huge profits.
Dutch demand organic
The Netherlands Ambassador to London – Pim Waldeck – has taken the occasion of a brief speech at the Organic and Natural Products Show at London’s Olympia to outline some new organic market policies from the Dutch Government.
Rice at US$1000 a tonne
Apocalyptic visions of a world fast running out of food have moved uncomfortably up the news agenda to present-day reality. The Financial Times reports that rice prices have hit the US$1,000-a-tonne level for the first time as panicking importers scrambled at auctions (April 17th 2008) to secure supplies.
Self congratulations from FSA
2007 consumer survey from FSA
The return of free conversion advice
A re-vampled free information and advice service for English farmers thinking of converting to organic production has been launched by Defra Sustainable Food and Farming Minister Lord Rooker.
Hold fire on biofuels
The UK Government should delay introducing road biofuel at the pumps.
Bluetongue menace
The relentless spread of Bluetongue across the UK continues with at least 110 holdings now affected.
US research urges organic fruit and veg
The Organic Center, based in Boulder Colorado USA has concluded that the conversion of all eight million acres of U.S. produce farms (horticultural land) from “conventional” to organic would reduce pesticide dietary risks by some 97 per cent.
H7 avian influenza in Oxfordshire
The Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, has confirmed (June 3rd) Avian Influenza in chickens on premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire
Farm-animal MRSA strain arrives in the UK
Farm-animal MRSA strain arrives in the UK