Organic news archive: July 2006
You don't want GM foods? Too bad - by Michael Meacher MP, ex-Environment Minister
In a clear and well written piece criticising the UK Governments latest announcements about genetically modified crops, Michael Meacher says: "All of this begs the question: is genetic modification of food safe? The question remains unanswered, but a pile of new scientific evidence has produced some worrying results. Within the last few months a Russian scientist, found that an astonishing 55 per cent of the offspring of rats fed on GM soya died within three weeks of birth compared with only 9 per cent in the control group." (The Daily Telegraph)
Tesco's and Sainsbury's launch new Fake Organic Box Schemes
Organic box schemes are all about small businesses delivering fresh local organic produce, and cutting out the supermarket big boys in the process. That's why people choose organic box schemes. However, Tesco's and Sainsbury's are seeking to capture a bigger slice of the country's £1.6bn organic food market, which is growing at 30 per cent a year, by launching their own versions of real box schemes. Sainsbury's will trial its scheme to around 500,000 customers in the East Midlands and East Anglia from the end of August, while Tesco will test its vegetable boxes in south London from early September.
Sandra Bell, real food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "It will be a threat to the smaller, very genuinely local businesses that are running successful box schemes because Sainsbury's and Tesco will be able to undercut them, which could put local farmers out of business." (The Independent)
Soaring temperatures will bring food shortages and higher prices
This summer's intense heat, combined with the worst drought in 30 years, could lead to vegetable shortages and price rises reports The Telegraph. The UK's pea crop is down by 20 per cent, while cauliflower yields are down by 40 per cent, and potato and brussel sprout production has also been adversely affected. Producers have warned that the market could also face shortages of carrots, broccoli, spinach and onions after "substantial reductions" of the crops across the continent due to over-ripening. Simon Lane of Fruco, one of Britain's largest carrot importers, said "The hot weather will undoubtedly affect production, but it means that suppliers will be forced to go further afield." (The Daily Telegraph - 29/7/06)
Sexy new electric car
Finally... an electric car that sets new heights for performance and design. Which means an electric car that's a more realistic option than before for most consumers. Funded in part by the brothers Google and the bloke behind PayPal, the Tesla car looks set to 'Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline'. Okay, it's seriously pricey, but this brand is one to watch... www.teslamotors.com
Genetically Modified Crop Impoverishes Developing Countries
The Soil Association has condemned new British Government plans to promote genetically modified crops in developing countries. This announcement comes at the same time as new research showing that the GM 'miracle crop', Bt cotton, has proved an economic and environmental failure in China. Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director said:
"It is completely irresponsible of the Government to promote this unwanted technology to the developing world. GM cotton has been a complete failure in China - it has lowered the income of farmers and failed to reduced pesticide use. Consumers in Europe have overwhelmingly rejected GM food and now it appears that the GM industry, with the help of our Government, are using the developing world as a dumping ground for GMOs."
The first long-term study of the economic impact of Bt cotton - genetically modified to resist certain pests - exposes the claims of the GM industry that it can reduce pesticide use and increase farmers' profits. After seven years of growing GM cotton, farmers in China have had to use over 400% more pesticides to kill new 'secondary' pests, according to new independent research by Cornell University. The costs of increased pesticide use and expensive GM seeds have resulted in GM farmers receiving 8% less net income than conventional farmers.
In spite of these findings, the Government is determined to pour more money into promoting GM crops to developing countries. This scheme is part of a £100 million strategy from the Department for International Development (DFID), who are working with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to fund research which they claim will "make significant differences to the lives of poor people in Africa and Asia". The difference GM crops have made for China's 5 million GM cotton farmers is to reduce their income and create new pest infestations. If GM crops are adopted more widely in the developing world, it will have dire consequences for the 2.5 billion people who rely on agriculture for their income. 600 million people work on the land in India alone, as well as 400 million in Africa.
Asda going green
Supermarket group Asda yesterday pledged to stop sending any waste to landfill sites within four years as part of a plan to achieve a new clean and green image. The 307-store chain is also to test a range of energy-saving technologies including sunpipes and biomass boilers. The "zero waste" promise echoes a similar pledge made by Asda's parent group, Wal-Mart, last year and is part of a drive by all the big grocers to reinvent themselves as environmentally friendly businesses. This pledge has recently been support and reaffirmed by Al Gore, with a talk by the politician and a screening of his hard-hitting eco-awarenedd film 'An Inconvenient Truth' at Wal-Mart's AGM. (The Guardian - 26/7/06)
Heatwave brings early harvest
This year's heatwave is bringing in the earliest harvest since 1976. The barley harvest is well under way and in some parts of the country the combines are already going into wheat fields - two weeks earlier than even during the summer of 1976. Farmers believe the conditions are worse than 30 years ago, as what little rain has fallen has been in short, sharp downpours that quickly run-off and disappear. Trees are already dying in some parts of the country, although the true damage won't be seen until next spring. (Farming Today)
Biofuels may harm the environment
The Financial Times reports on the results of a study by Bank Sarasin, the Swiss bank, that biofuels can make up to no more than 5 per cent of petrol or diesel consumption in the US and the European Union without causing environmental damage. The report examined the risk that producing biofuels would leave less fertile land to devote to food production, so raising the price of staple foods. (N.B. Biofuels are vehicle fuels derived from plants such as sugar cane or soya). However, electric vehicles can use sustainable energy sources such as wind and wave power. (Financial Times)
Soya may be bad for you
In a fantastically researched article, Felicity Lawrence reports about soya foods and their potential to harm your health. (The Guardian - 25/7/06)
Genetic Modification could wipe out organic farms
The Sunday Telegraph reports how Michael Meacher, the former Labour environment minister, said the government's decision to pave the way for genetically modified food to be produced commercially would lead to organic farms being wiped out "within a few years". The article notes that Mr Meacher is supported by Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, who said the anti-GM food campaign would also certainly be resurrected. Mr Holden said that the organic food industry would be under threat if non-organic farmers switched to GM on a large scale. (The Daily Telegraph - 23/7/06)
British Public Betrayed over GM crops
Dr Caroline Lucas, MEP for the Green Party, writes to The Guardian explaining her annoyance as New Labour "ignored a clear weight of public opinion and led us down a dangerous path" by allowing conventional and organic crops to contain 0.9% of GM material.
"Just what was the point of holding the "GM nation" public consultation in 2003 if it is now going to ignore the clear result: that the majority were opposed to the growing of GM crops in the UK and that only 2% of people said they would be happy to eat GM produce. If GM farmers can't prevent the cross-contamination of neighbouring non-GM crops, then the commercial planning of GM crops spells the end of the booming UK organic industry"."
Clare Oxborr, A Friends of the Earth food campaigner, also writes in to the paper explaining that ' if coexistence measures are designed to allow routine GM contamination of crops of up to 0.9%, you are in fact planning to contaminate. If this is the case, then farmers would have to label the crop as GM'. (The Guardian - 24/7/06)
Greenpeace Victory as food giants agree to stop using Amazon rainforest soya
The Guardian reports that leading European supermarkets, food manufacturers and fast-food chains, including McDonald's, are expected to sign a moratorium today not to use soya illegally grown in the Amazon region in response to evidence that large areas of virgin forest are being felled for the crop. (The Guardian - 24/7/06)
Britain leads the world for Fairtrade food sales
They call it capitalism with a conscience and in Britain it is flourishing. According to new figures, sales of Fairtrade coffee and bananas have doubled in two years with one in five cups of filter coffee drunk in the UK now being supplied from a "fair" source. The Fairtrade movement, which began life just 18 years ago to protect Mexican coffee farmers against plummeting world prices, has transformed into a global business, with Britain the largest market. (The Independent - 24/7/06)
Solar powered boat
A shuttle boat powered entirely by the sun is to be launched on the Serpentine lake in London's Hyde Park. The 14.5m (48ft) Solarshuttle, thought to be the biggest of its kind in the UK, will carry 42 passengers between the north and south of the water. Cruising at 4mph, the boat - driven by two electric engines - is silent and pollution-free, say the makers. (BBC News - 18/7/06)
China may lift GM rice ban
China could become the first country in the developing world to allow sales of GM rice. Four companies that make GM seeds � three local and one connected with Monsanto � have filed applications with the Chinese Government to permit the sale of their versions of GM rice. (Farmers' Guardian - 21/7/06)
Would you eat GM food? "Not knowingly", says Conservati
You don't want GM foods? Too bad - by Michael Meacher MP, ex-Environment Minister
In a clear and well written piece criticising the UK Governments latest announcements about genetically modified crops, Michael Meacher says: "All of this begs the question: is genetic modification of food safe? The question remains unanswered, but a pile of new scientific evidence has produced some worrying results. Within the last few months a Russian scientist, found that an astonishing 55 per cent of the offspring of rats fed on GM soya died within three weeks of birth compared with only 9 per cent in the control group." (The Daily Telegraph)
Tesco's and Sainsbury's launch new Fake Organic Box Schemes
Organic box schemes are all about small businesses delivering fresh local organic produce, and cutting out the supermarket big boys in the process. That's why people choose organic box schemes. However, Tesco's and Sainsbury's are seeking to capture a bigger slice of the country's £1.6bn organic food market, which is growing at 30 per cent a year, by launching their own versions of real box schemes. Sainsbury's will trial its scheme to around 500,000 customers in the East Midlands and East Anglia from the end of August, while Tesco will test its vegetable boxes in south London from early September.
Sandra Bell, real food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "It will be a threat to the smaller, very genuinely local businesses that are running successful box schemes because Sainsbury's and Tesco will be able to undercut them, which could put local farmers out of business." (The Independent)
Soaring temperatures will bring food shortages and higher prices
This summer's intense heat, combined with the worst drought in 30 years, could lead to vegetable shortages and price rises reports The Telegraph. The UK's pea crop is down by 20 per cent, while cauliflower yields are down by 40 per cent, and potato and brussel sprout production has also been adversely affected. Producers have warned that the market could also face shortages of carrots, broccoli, spinach and onions after "substantial reductions" of the crops across the continent due to over-ripening. Simon Lane of Fruco, one of Britain's largest carrot importers, said "The hot weather will undoubtedly affect production, but it means that suppliers will be forced to go further afield." (The Daily Telegraph - 29/7/06)
Sexy new electric car
Finally... an electric car that sets new heights for performance and design. Which means an electric car that's a more realistic option than before for most consumers. Funded in part by the brothers Google and the bloke behind PayPal, the Tesla car looks set to 'Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline'. Okay, it's seriously pricey, but this brand is one to watch... www.teslamotors.com
Genetically Modified Crop Impoverishes Developing Countries
The Soil Association has condemned new British Government plans to promote genetically modified crops in developing countries. This announcement comes at the same time as new research showing that the GM 'miracle crop', Bt cotton, has proved an economic and environmental failure in China. Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director said:
"It is completely irresponsible of the Government to promote this unwanted technology to the developing world. GM cotton has been a complete failure in China - it has lowered the income of farmers and failed to reduced pesticide use. Consumers in Europe have overwhelmingly rejected GM food and now it appears that the GM industry, with the help of our Government, are using the developing world as a dumping ground for GMOs."
The first long-term study of the economic impact of Bt cotton - genetically modified to resist certain pests - exposes the claims of the GM industry that it can reduce pesticide use and increase farmers' profits. After seven years of growing GM cotton, farmers in China have had to use over 400% more pesticides to kill new 'secondary' pests, according to new independent research by Cornell University. The costs of increased pesticide use and expensive GM seeds have resulted in GM farmers receiving 8% less net income than conventional farmers.
In spite of these findings, the Government is determined to pour more money into promoting GM crops to developing countries. This scheme is part of a £100 million strategy from the Department for International Development (DFID), who are working with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to fund research which they claim will "make significant differences to the lives of poor people in Africa and Asia". The difference GM crops have made for China's 5 million GM cotton farmers is to reduce their income and create new pest infestations. If GM crops are adopted more widely in the developing world, it will have dire consequences for the 2.5 billion people who rely on agriculture for their income. 600 million people work on the land in India alone, as well as 400 million in Africa.
Asda going green
Supermarket group Asda yesterday pledged to stop sending any waste to landfill sites within four years as part of a plan to achieve a new clean and green image. The 307-store chain is also to test a range of energy-saving technologies including sunpipes and biomass boilers. The "zero waste" promise echoes a similar pledge made by Asda's parent group, Wal-Mart, last year and is part of a drive by all the big grocers to reinvent themselves as environmentally friendly businesses. This pledge has recently been support and reaffirmed by Al Gore, with a talk by the politician and a screening of his hard-hitting eco-awarenedd film 'An Inconvenient Truth' at Wal-Mart's AGM. (The Guardian - 26/7/06)
Heatwave brings early harvest
This year's heatwave is bringing in the earliest harvest since 1976. The barley harvest is well under way and in some parts of the country the combines are already going into wheat fields - two weeks earlier than even during the summer of 1976. Farmers believe the conditions are worse than 30 years ago, as what little rain has fallen has been in short, sharp downpours that quickly run-off and disappear. Trees are already dying in some parts of the country, although the true damage won't be seen until next spring. (Farming Today)
Biofuels may harm the environment
The Financial Times reports on the results of a study by Bank Sarasin, the Swiss bank, that biofuels can make up to no more than 5 per cent of petrol or diesel consumption in the US and the European Union without causing environmental damage. The report examined the risk that producing biofuels would leave less fertile land to devote to food production, so raising the price of staple foods. (N.B. Biofuels are vehicle fuels derived from plants such as sugar cane or soya). However, electric vehicles can use sustainable energy sources such as wind and wave power. (Financial Times)
Soya may be bad for you
In a fantastically researched article, Felicity Lawrence reports about soya foods and their potential to harm your health. (The Guardian - 25/7/06)
Genetic Modification could wipe out organic farms
The Sunday Telegraph reports how Michael Meacher, the former Labour environment minister, said the government's decision to pave the way for genetically modified food to be produced commercially would lead to organic farms being wiped out "within a few years". The article notes that Mr Meacher is supported by Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, who said the anti-GM food campaign would also certainly be resurrected. Mr Holden said that the organic food industry would be under threat if non-organic farmers switched to GM on a large scale. (The Daily Telegraph - 23/7/06)
British Public Betrayed over GM crops
Dr Caroline Lucas, MEP for the Green Party, writes to The Guardian explaining her annoyance as New Labour "ignored a clear weight of public opinion and led us down a dangerous path" by allowing conventional and organic crops to contain 0.9% of GM material.
"Just what was the point of holding the "GM nation" public consultation in 2003 if it is now going to ignore the clear result: that the majority were opposed to the growing of GM crops in the UK and that only 2% of people said they would be happy to eat GM produce. If GM farmers can't prevent the cross-contamination of neighbouring non-GM crops, then the commercial planning of GM crops spells the end of the booming UK organic industry"."
Clare Oxborr, A Friends of the Earth food campaigner, also writes in to the paper explaining that ' if coexistence measures are designed to allow routine GM contamination of crops of up to 0.9%, you are in fact planning to contaminate. If this is the case, then farmers would have to label the crop as GM'. (The Guardian - 24/7/06)
Greenpeace Victory as food giants agree to stop using Amazon rainforest soya
The Guardian reports that leading European supermarkets, food manufacturers and fast-food chains, including McDonald's, are expected to sign a moratorium today not to use soya illegally grown in the Amazon region in response to evidence that large areas of virgin forest are being felled for the crop. (The Guardian - 24/7/06)
Britain leads the world for Fairtrade food sales
They call it capitalism with a conscience and in Britain it is flourishing. According to new figures, sales of Fairtrade coffee and bananas have doubled in two years with one in five cups of filter coffee drunk in the UK now being supplied from a "fair" source. The Fairtrade movement, which began life just 18 years ago to protect Mexican coffee farmers against plummeting world prices, has transformed into a global business, with Britain the largest market. (The Independent - 24/7/06)
Solar powered boat
A shuttle boat powered entirely by the sun is to be launched on the Serpentine lake in London's Hyde Park. The 14.5m (48ft) Solarshuttle, thought to be the biggest of its kind in the UK, will carry 42 passengers between the north and south of the water. Cruising at 4mph, the boat - driven by two electric engines - is silent and pollution-free, say the makers. (BBC News - 18/7/06)
China may lift GM rice ban
China could become the first country in the developing world to allow sales of GM rice. Four companies that make GM seeds � three local and one connected with Monsanto � have filed applications with the Chinese Government to permit the sale of their versions of GM rice. (Farmers' Guardian - 21/7/06)