Organic news archive: June 2006
Fabulous British Fruit
Debbie Hearn is a passionate fruit campaigner behind the Big Little Fruit Campaign. The campaign aims to turn the spotlight on some forgotten fruits from our nation's past. Hearn explains, "I don't want to suggest that all heritage fruits are superior. I'm making a social comment that we are making choices that lead us away from certain fruits and we're missing out on such a lot as a result." (The Guardian - 30/6/06)
Fordhall Farm Saved
Fordhall Farm, one of the UK's first farms to follow organic principles and practice, has been saved from development. When their father Arthur died last year, his children Charlotte (23) and Ben (21) were determined that 65 year's worth of farming with nature wouldn't be lost. So they set up the Fordhall Community Land Initiative to preserve Fordhall as a non-profit community farm, with the target of raising £800,000 through a public share option. 30 June 2006 was the deadline for achieving that target, and over 5,500 shareholders from around the world have made their dream a reality.
Asked what had motivated such a huge response, Charlotte said she thought people had been inspired by the fact that, "The farm has been chemical-free for 65 years and that Ben and I are under 25. But also because many people really want to be part of farming again. Most people don't get the opportunity to see how and where their food is produced."
Her father had always brought people to the farm to experience it first hand, but Charlotte thought he'd be "flabbergasted" by the support generated. "His focus had been on building fertility in the soil and now that will stay forever. This is just not the type of land you can find easily." The farm will now be run as a non-profit community-owned, educational and social resource.
Charlotte Hollins was featured in the Soil Association's 2005 Annual Report and Living Earth magazine promoted the share option. Soil Association director, Patrick Holden said, "There has already been one lost farming generation and we don't want to lose this one. Ben and Charlotte Hollins are a perfect example of how young people's passion can make a difference." (Fordhall Farm; The Telegraph - 30/6/06)
Please report wildlife kills
The Government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme are urging the public to help in the fight to reduce the amount of wildlife killed by pesticide poisoning by reporting animals carcasses found in suspicious circumstances. This follows the publication of their annual report, which shows that the number of incidents in 2005, in which wildlife were suspected of being put at risk or harmed by pesticides, were similar to 2004. (Pesticide Safety Directorate)
Bottled water slated as "Environmental Insanity"
Friends of the Earth and other leading British environmental charities have attacked Britain's £2bn thirst for bottled water as "environmental insanity" after a report showed that tap water in the UK is among the safest and purest in the world. More than two billion litres of bottled water are sold each year and sales are growing at nearly 9 per cent a year - one of the highest growth areas in retail. At an average of 95p per litre, it costs as much as petrol, while the average cost of tap water in the UK is £1 per 1,0000 litres. (The Independent - 29/6/06)
The town that said "No to Tesco"
According to a new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England the network of local traders and small suppliers in the Suffolk town of Saxmundham and surrounding area has flourished since saying No to Tesco. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Half of the world's soya crop is now GM
Despite the resistance to planting genetically modified crops in Europe, more than half the world's supply of soya is now GM, said Professor Alan Malcolm, Chief Executive of the Institute of Biology. There was no commercial planting of any GM crop a decade ago, yet one million square kilometres are now being grown worldwide, equivalent to four times the area of the UK. Overall the figures on GM use are rising by up to 20% a year. (Daily Telegraph - 28/6/06)
British wildflower threatened
The lesser butterfly orchid has declined by more than 33 per cent throughout Britain in the past 40 years, turning it from one of the country's most common wild flowers into one of its rarest. The ploughing of grassland, draining of fields, the widespread use of chemicals and the cutting of roadside verges have all contributed to the demise of the plant. (The Independent - 28/6/06)
Doctors say No to Supermarket Surgeries
Doctors say supermarkets must not be allowed to set up walk-in clinics on their premises because a GP's advice to patients would be undermined by the cigarettes, alcohol and junk food on sale. Although the Department of Health says the government has not specifically proposed supermarkets as locations for GP surgeries, it wants to extend access to primary healthcare in areas where GPs have not traditionally wanted to set up, and supermarkets are known to want to host them. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Sales of Fairtrade goods rise
Global sales of Fairtrade-certified goods grew by more than a third last year to £758m as increasing numbers of big name retailers got behind the scheme, according to figures from the Fairtrade Foundation published today. Sales of Fairtrade coffee continued to grow strongly during 2005 and other more recently certified goods including flowers and textiles made substantial gains. Britain is the biggest market for Fairtrade goods in volume terms with sales reaching £195m in 2005, a 40% rise on the year before. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Eco-fashion sales grow 30%
British sales of ethical clothing increased by 30% to reach a value of £43m in 2004 and 45 companies now sell organic textiles. Global sales have reached nearly £475m. William Lana, of Soil Association licensee Greenfibres and chair of the Soil Association's textiles standards committee, puts it into perspective: "Of the £23bn worth of textiles imported into the UK in 2004, organic cotton accounted for 0.01% or £25m." The downside of the resulting rapid growth could be growers, manufacturers, retailers and certification agencies being tempted to cut corners. Lana urges, "We must support frameworks which ensure the integrity of the ethical market place." (Organic and Natural Business, June/July issue)
Women's Institute challenges supermarkets over wasteful packaging
The National Federation of Women's Institutes, which has about 215,000 UK members, has challenged supermarkets to cut down on unnecessary packaging or face a boycott. WI members will be writing en masse to supermarket managers as part of the campaign. If the supermarket doesn't make improvements within a year, they have pledged to boycott them. (The Daily Mail)
Starbucks makes fat butts
A Starbucks Frappuccino contains more fat and calories than a Big Mac, with 10.9g of saturated fat and 534 calories. (The Sun, p.24 - 21/6/06)
Jules Pretty awarded OBE for services to sustainable agriculture
Professor Jules Pretty has been awarded an OBE for his services to sustainable agriculture in the UK and overseas in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Professor Pretty is Head of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, the author of a number of books on sustainable agriculture, and Chief Editor of the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. He is also the Deputy-Chair of the Government's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and has served on a number of other government advisory committees.
Omega 3 supplements threatening global fish stocks
George Monbiot looks at an Omega 3 supplement that is derived from algae, the same place that the fish get it. Once it's launched onto the marketplace, it could save the current trajectory that "mass medication with Omega 3 would wipe out global fish stocks". (The Guardian - 20/6/06)
Doomsday seed vault
Work begins today on a vault in the frozen earth of an Arctic mountain, off northern Norway, that is hoping to safeguard a 'vast' collection of the world's seeds to prevent mass crop extinction in case of an asteroid strike or extreme climate change. The focus is initially on food crops. (Financial Times, p.10 - 19/6/06)
Ugly fruit at Waitrose
Waitrose supermarket is launching a range of "ugly" looking seasonal fruit at discounted prices for use in cooking. The "class two" produce will be either visually flawed or oddly shaped, according to Waitrose, but otherwise perfect for eating. The range goes on sale at 57 of the 179 Waitrose branches from today. Waitrose has taken several steps to "reconnect" farmers and consu
Fabulous British Fruit
Debbie Hearn is a passionate fruit campaigner behind the Big Little Fruit Campaign. The campaign aims to turn the spotlight on some forgotten fruits from our nation's past. Hearn explains, "I don't want to suggest that all heritage fruits are superior. I'm making a social comment that we are making choices that lead us away from certain fruits and we're missing out on such a lot as a result." (The Guardian - 30/6/06)
Fordhall Farm Saved
Fordhall Farm, one of the UK's first farms to follow organic principles and practice, has been saved from development. When their father Arthur died last year, his children Charlotte (23) and Ben (21) were determined that 65 year's worth of farming with nature wouldn't be lost. So they set up the Fordhall Community Land Initiative to preserve Fordhall as a non-profit community farm, with the target of raising £800,000 through a public share option. 30 June 2006 was the deadline for achieving that target, and over 5,500 shareholders from around the world have made their dream a reality.
Asked what had motivated such a huge response, Charlotte said she thought people had been inspired by the fact that, "The farm has been chemical-free for 65 years and that Ben and I are under 25. But also because many people really want to be part of farming again. Most people don't get the opportunity to see how and where their food is produced."
Her father had always brought people to the farm to experience it first hand, but Charlotte thought he'd be "flabbergasted" by the support generated. "His focus had been on building fertility in the soil and now that will stay forever. This is just not the type of land you can find easily." The farm will now be run as a non-profit community-owned, educational and social resource.
Charlotte Hollins was featured in the Soil Association's 2005 Annual Report and Living Earth magazine promoted the share option. Soil Association director, Patrick Holden said, "There has already been one lost farming generation and we don't want to lose this one. Ben and Charlotte Hollins are a perfect example of how young people's passion can make a difference." (Fordhall Farm; The Telegraph - 30/6/06)
Please report wildlife kills
The Government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme are urging the public to help in the fight to reduce the amount of wildlife killed by pesticide poisoning by reporting animals carcasses found in suspicious circumstances. This follows the publication of their annual report, which shows that the number of incidents in 2005, in which wildlife were suspected of being put at risk or harmed by pesticides, were similar to 2004. (Pesticide Safety Directorate)
Bottled water slated as "Environmental Insanity"
Friends of the Earth and other leading British environmental charities have attacked Britain's £2bn thirst for bottled water as "environmental insanity" after a report showed that tap water in the UK is among the safest and purest in the world. More than two billion litres of bottled water are sold each year and sales are growing at nearly 9 per cent a year - one of the highest growth areas in retail. At an average of 95p per litre, it costs as much as petrol, while the average cost of tap water in the UK is £1 per 1,0000 litres. (The Independent - 29/6/06)
The town that said "No to Tesco"
According to a new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England the network of local traders and small suppliers in the Suffolk town of Saxmundham and surrounding area has flourished since saying No to Tesco. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Half of the world's soya crop is now GM
Despite the resistance to planting genetically modified crops in Europe, more than half the world's supply of soya is now GM, said Professor Alan Malcolm, Chief Executive of the Institute of Biology. There was no commercial planting of any GM crop a decade ago, yet one million square kilometres are now being grown worldwide, equivalent to four times the area of the UK. Overall the figures on GM use are rising by up to 20% a year. (Daily Telegraph - 28/6/06)
British wildflower threatened
The lesser butterfly orchid has declined by more than 33 per cent throughout Britain in the past 40 years, turning it from one of the country's most common wild flowers into one of its rarest. The ploughing of grassland, draining of fields, the widespread use of chemicals and the cutting of roadside verges have all contributed to the demise of the plant. (The Independent - 28/6/06)
Doctors say No to Supermarket Surgeries
Doctors say supermarkets must not be allowed to set up walk-in clinics on their premises because a GP's advice to patients would be undermined by the cigarettes, alcohol and junk food on sale. Although the Department of Health says the government has not specifically proposed supermarkets as locations for GP surgeries, it wants to extend access to primary healthcare in areas where GPs have not traditionally wanted to set up, and supermarkets are known to want to host them. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Sales of Fairtrade goods rise
Global sales of Fairtrade-certified goods grew by more than a third last year to £758m as increasing numbers of big name retailers got behind the scheme, according to figures from the Fairtrade Foundation published today. Sales of Fairtrade coffee continued to grow strongly during 2005 and other more recently certified goods including flowers and textiles made substantial gains. Britain is the biggest market for Fairtrade goods in volume terms with sales reaching £195m in 2005, a 40% rise on the year before. (The Guardian - 28/6/06)
Eco-fashion sales grow 30%
British sales of ethical clothing increased by 30% to reach a value of £43m in 2004 and 45 companies now sell organic textiles. Global sales have reached nearly £475m. William Lana, of Soil Association licensee Greenfibres and chair of the Soil Association's textiles standards committee, puts it into perspective: "Of the £23bn worth of textiles imported into the UK in 2004, organic cotton accounted for 0.01% or £25m." The downside of the resulting rapid growth could be growers, manufacturers, retailers and certification agencies being tempted to cut corners. Lana urges, "We must support frameworks which ensure the integrity of the ethical market place." (Organic and Natural Business, June/July issue)
Women's Institute challenges supermarkets over wasteful packaging
The National Federation of Women's Institutes, which has about 215,000 UK members, has challenged supermarkets to cut down on unnecessary packaging or face a boycott. WI members will be writing en masse to supermarket managers as part of the campaign. If the supermarket doesn't make improvements within a year, they have pledged to boycott them. (The Daily Mail)
Starbucks makes fat butts
A Starbucks Frappuccino contains more fat and calories than a Big Mac, with 10.9g of saturated fat and 534 calories. (The Sun, p.24 - 21/6/06)
Jules Pretty awarded OBE for services to sustainable agriculture
Professor Jules Pretty has been awarded an OBE for his services to sustainable agriculture in the UK and overseas in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Professor Pretty is Head of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, the author of a number of books on sustainable agriculture, and Chief Editor of the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. He is also the Deputy-Chair of the Government's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and has served on a number of other government advisory committees.
Omega 3 supplements threatening global fish stocks
George Monbiot looks at an Omega 3 supplement that is derived from algae, the same place that the fish get it. Once it's launched onto the marketplace, it could save the current trajectory that "mass medication with Omega 3 would wipe out global fish stocks". (The Guardian - 20/6/06)
Doomsday seed vault
Work begins today on a vault in the frozen earth of an Arctic mountain, off northern Norway, that is hoping to safeguard a 'vast' collection of the world's seeds to prevent mass crop extinction in case of an asteroid strike or extreme climate change. The focus is initially on food crops. (Financial Times, p.10 - 19/6/06)
Ugly fruit at Waitrose
Waitrose supermarket is launching a range of "ugly" looking seasonal fruit at discounted prices for use in cooking. The "class two" produce will be either visually flawed or oddly shaped, according to Waitrose, but otherwise perfect for eating. The range goes on sale at 57 of the 179 Waitrose branches from today. Waitrose has taken several steps to "reconnect" farmers and consu