Organic news archive: September 2005
The Government is urging farmers to see its newly announced ban on so-called junk food in schools as a "key opportunity". While the Government, under EU rules, cannot force public bodies to source British food, it is hoped the emphasis on healthier alternatives such as fresh milk, fruit and vegetables will open the door to greater local sourcing. Gary Stokes, of Essex-based Ashlyns Organics, who already supply local schools, said the announcement was "brilliant news" for farmers, if they take advantage of the opportunity.
Millions of migrating birds face early death due to the "dramatic increase in the dangers posed by global warming, loss of traditional feeding and nesting grounds, and massive use of pesticides". Farming pressures � such as the introduction of monoculture cash crops and the heavy use of pesticides � are leading to massive changes to local wildlife habitats in Africa and Europe. (Independent on Sunday � 25/9/05)
The move to ban sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks from school vending machines will be unveiled at this weeks Labour party conference as part of a major overhaul of school food. Ruth Kelly will also propose a ban on the worst processed foods - including Turkey Twizzlers � and foods such as chips and ice cream will be restricted to stop children eating them everyday. (Daily Mail � 26/9/05; also reported in The Sun and The Sunday Times)
"England could become the powerhouse of global efforts to create fuel from crops under a plan being considered by the United Nations. The UN in New York, the Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome and the World Bank are all considering a proposal that a 'Global Centre for Non-Food Crops' be established in the heart of Kent." (The Daily Telegraph � 26/9/05)
The current controls designed to protect the public from crop spraying are inadequate, according to a long-awaited Government-commissioned report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP). The RCEP recommends the introduction of five metre buffer strips between arable land and residential properties and other buildings, such as schools, hospitals and retirement homes. It also wants to make it a legal requirement for farmers to inform local residents when they are spraying, and that members of the public should have access to spray records (Farmers Guardian - 23/9/05; also covered in the Farmers Weekly).
Livestock farmers' feed costs could increase by 10% in the next 1-3 years if food products are to remain totally GM-free, according to a report from agriculture and industry consultants Brookes West and Neville Craddocks Associates. They argue that a decline in the availability of non-GM soya from Brazil will push up prices over GM soya by as much as 25%. (Farmers Weekly - 23/9/05)
Over 25% more pesticides found in samples of school fruit compared to shops. Research by the Soil Association reveals that Government testing found over 25% more pesticides in samples of fruit and vegetables supplied to school children, under the official School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS), than in samples of the same fruit and vegetables on sale in shops. Nearly 30% more instances of multiple pesticides were found in the school fruit and vegetable samples. In the USA, a recent study found that school children fed organic diets showed significantly reduced exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. On changing to an organic diet, levels of the pesticide metabolites in the children's urine declined dramatically and immediately. While 84% of the school fruit and vegetables samples contained pesticide residues, this rose to 97% for bananas and 100% for strawberries mandarins, satsumas and clementines. All but two of the residues found were below the Government's official 'Maximum Residue Level'. 67% of strawberries, 73% of pears and 97% of mandarins, satsumas and clementines contained multiple pesticides. No safety testing is done on the impact of a combination of pesticide residues in food.
The Government is urging farmers to see its newly announced ban on so-called junk food in schools as a "key opportunity". While the Government, under EU rules, cannot force public bodies to source British food, it is hoped the emphasis on healthier alternatives such as fresh milk, fruit and vegetables will open the door to greater local sourcing. Gary Stokes, of Essex-based Ashlyns Organics, who already supply local schools, said the announcement was "brilliant news" for farmers, if they take advantage of the opportunity.
Millions of migrating birds face early death due to the "dramatic increase in the dangers posed by global warming, loss of traditional feeding and nesting grounds, and massive use of pesticides". Farming pressures � such as the introduction of monoculture cash crops and the heavy use of pesticides � are leading to massive changes to local wildlife habitats in Africa and Europe. (Independent on Sunday � 25/9/05)
The move to ban sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks from school vending machines will be unveiled at this weeks Labour party conference as part of a major overhaul of school food. Ruth Kelly will also propose a ban on the worst processed foods - including Turkey Twizzlers � and foods such as chips and ice cream will be restricted to stop children eating them everyday. (Daily Mail � 26/9/05; also reported in The Sun and The Sunday Times)
"England could become the powerhouse of global efforts to create fuel from crops under a plan being considered by the United Nations. The UN in New York, the Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome and the World Bank are all considering a proposal that a 'Global Centre for Non-Food Crops' be established in the heart of Kent." (The Daily Telegraph � 26/9/05)
The current controls designed to protect the public from crop spraying are inadequate, according to a long-awaited Government-commissioned report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP). The RCEP recommends the introduction of five metre buffer strips between arable land and residential properties and other buildings, such as schools, hospitals and retirement homes. It also wants to make it a legal requirement for farmers to inform local residents when they are spraying, and that members of the public should have access to spray records (Farmers Guardian - 23/9/05; also covered in the Farmers Weekly).
Livestock farmers' feed costs could increase by 10% in the next 1-3 years if food products are to remain totally GM-free, according to a report from agriculture and industry consultants Brookes West and Neville Craddocks Associates. They argue that a decline in the availability of non-GM soya from Brazil will push up prices over GM soya by as much as 25%. (Farmers Weekly - 23/9/05)
Over 25% more pesticides found in samples of school fruit compared to shops. Research by the Soil Association reveals that Government testing found over 25% more pesticides in samples of fruit and vegetables supplied to school children, under the official School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS), than in samples of the same fruit and vegetables on sale in shops. Nearly 30% more instances of multiple pesticides were found in the school fruit and vegetable samples. In the USA, a recent study found that school children fed organic diets showed significantly reduced exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. On changing to an organic diet, levels of the pesticide metabolites in the children's urine declined dramatically and immediately. While 84% of the school fruit and vegetables samples contained pesticide residues, this rose to 97% for bananas and 100% for strawberries mandarins, satsumas and clementines. All but two of the residues found were below the Government's official 'Maximum Residue Level'. 67% of strawberries, 73% of pears and 97% of mandarins, satsumas and clementines contained multiple pesticides. No safety testing is done on the impact of a combination of pesticide residues in food.