Research News
Business news
January
How will organic food hold up in the recession?
Market analysis have expressed concern this year that demand for organic food will shrink in the tight economic situation, as consumers become less willing to part with a premium.
December
Riverford Organic Vegetables looking to expand
Riverford Organic Vegetables, a franchise system offering veg box schemes, announced recently that it was looking for new franchisees to further expand its network across the UK.
Over-50s could spend millions more online
The over-50s hold the key to continued growth in online food and grocery shopping, according to new consumer research from international food and grocery expert IGD.
Recession may hit farmers' markets
The number of farmers' markets has increased over the past year but with a recession looming that trend is likely be halted or even reversed.
November
Perish the thought - Organic market set for stunted growth
Once the darling of the supermarket shelves, organic food is set to slip down the pecking order, as cash-strapped Brits hunt down cheaper alternatives says Mintel.
Perish the thought - Organic market set for stunted growth
Once the darling of the supermarket shelves, organic food is set to slip down the pecking order, as cash-strapped Brits hunt down cheaper alternatives says Mintel.
Price stabilization of bioplastics expected in 2015
Producers and packaging associations claim improvements to cost, performance and moisture barrier properties of bioplastics as well as more investment in sorting technology to prevent contamination of recycling waste streams will enable the industry to compete more effectively with conventional plastics.
New Defra figures show increased use of British produce in public sector food
Britain's hospital patients, civil servants, armed forces personnel and others eating in government establishments are being treated to menus that increasingly feature seasonal, home-grown food, Farming and Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said today.
Abbey Home Farm Organic Farm Shop wins environmental farm shop title
The Organic Farm Shop near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has scooped the Environmental retailer of the year award from the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets’ Association (FARMA).
Worlds largest chemicals manufacturer to cut 20,000 jobs due to falling demand
BASF, the world’s largest chemicals group, said yesterday that it was cutting 20,000 jobs and halting or scaling back production at nearly 200 plants after a huge decline in demand, reports The Times.
The new edition of the Organic Farm Management Handbook is at the printers and will be available by the end of November 2008.
The eighth edition of the Organic Farm Management Handbook comes out at a challenging time. Headlines are highlighting that demand for organic food may have stopped growing, but many other sectors in the economy are suffering similar problems.
Credit crunch hits organic co-operative
It was a pioneering and innovative co-operative of East Anglian food producers that gained national recognition for making good food available locally.
Farmers accuse supermarkets of harsh tactics in price war
NFU says pressure puts agriculture at risk. Anger over sudden price cuts and changes in terms
Business needs to prepare for EU organic regulation change
Looming changes to European organic regulations could catch out many businesses in the New Year, particularly wholesalers and warehousing operations, OF&G has warned.
Organic no longer seen as recession proof (US)
Growth in the organic food and drink market is expected to slow along with the economy as consumers in the US are struggling financially, according to Mintel.
Constant growth of worldwide organic markets
USA and Germany lead the international market
Crop news
December
Potato growers warned to take action against rot in storage
Potato growers have been warned that last year's difficult harvest conditions are leading to increased rots in stored crops.
China: Garlic is effective pesticide
China's Nanchang Agricultural Bureau said it has successfully extracted pesticide elements from garlic and developed an entirely nature-friendly pesticide that also boosts plant growth.
November
Growers explore green waste potential
Over thirty growers, farmers, researchers and advisors gathered together for an open day on ‘The use of green waste compost in field vegetable production’.
Crops news
December
New Potato Variety wins award
Vales Sovereign, a new potato from Greenvale AP, won 'Variety of the Year' in the Tesco Fresh Produce Category Awards, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
General news
Encouraging innovation in biopesticide development
Biopesticides can control crop pests effectively with minimal environmental impact when used as part of an Integrated Pest Management programme.
Government attempts to overturn pesticides ruling
A landmark High Court ruling, that found pesticides are harming rural communities, could be overturned by the Government on the grounds that proposals to control use of chemicals could cripple the farming industry.
Prevention is the Keyword in the 2008 Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture
The need to focus on pest prevention rather than treatments with toxic chemicals was the dominant theme addressed in the 2008 Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture delivered December 4, 2008 in London by the Organic Center's Chief Scientist, Dr. Charles Benbrook.
RASE and BCPC take pesticide complaint to EU Ombudsman
Food industry representatives have lodged an official complaint with the EU Ombudsman in Strasbourg over the EU Commission's handling of proposed new rules on pesticide approvals.
The environment in your pocket 2008
The twelfth edition of The environment in your pocket is published today by Defra.
Hilary Benn calls for global agreement to secure the future of our food as he appoints Council to advise on UK food strategy
The world needs a new agreement to secure the future of our food to meet the twin challenges of starvation and climate change, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will say tonight.
EU Council of Ministers calls for GM thresholds in seed
On December 4th 2008 the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on future GMO legislation. Among other recommendations, the ministers invited the Commission to come forward with a regulation that would override the present European seed purity standards.
Pesticide changes could damage agriculture and food production - Brown
Mr Brown has urged EU policymakers to investigate how their proposal could 'damage European food production' before negotiations are concluded.
Potato supplier receives Carbon Trust Standard
Potato supplier Branston Ltd has become the first food producer in the country to receive the Carbon Trust Standard.
November
IFOAM Growing Organic pages online!
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has announced the publication of the Growing Organic
internet pages.
Pesticide Contamination of Organic Oats
Some batches of oats being sold in the UK as organic have been found to contain one or both of the pesticides Chlormequat and Glyphosate, following routine analysis of products undertaken by the Pesticides Safety Directorate and confirmed by the Soil Association.
European Action Plans on Organic Food and Farming
The partners of the European project ORGAP (Development of criteria and procedures for the evaluation of the EU Action Plan for Organic Agriculture) have recently compiled a list with the quantitative targets of action plans in the European Union.
The inconvenient truth about food
Food and farming will be in crisis unless governments take global action to create secure ‘food plans’, according to new research launched at the Soil Association’s conference in Bristol on 18 November 2008.
GM Maize Reduces Fertility & Deregulates Genes in Mice
Comprehensive long term studies commissioned by the Austrian government reveal that mice fed GM maize produced fewer and smaller litters with many genes affected compared to controls.
Campaigner wins pesticide victory
A campaigner has won a legal victory in a long-running battle with the government over the use of pesticides.
Review of agri-environment options points and payment rates
A review of all Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) and Organic ELS option points as well as some Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) payment rates under Defra's agri-environment schemes is to be carried out.
Common Herbicide Increases Risk of Colon Cancer and Leukemia
A US government epidemiological study has established a connection between occupational exposures to the thiocarbamate herbicide EPTC and human cancer.
China and UK strengthen partnership on sustainable agriculture
The UK and Chinese governments today signed a three year commitment to strengthen their growing partnership on agriculture.
Sainsbury's fights EU fruit & veg regs
Sainsbury's launched its ‘Save our Ugly Fruit and Veg' campaign in a bid to force the EU to relax its strict specifications on selling cheaper fresh produce.
Facing the future
Report of a One-Day Conference for Welsh Organic Producers held on 23 October 2008, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.
Research news
December
Sustainable Farmland Management - Transdisciplinary Approaches
New book published by CABI
Slow Growth an Advantage in Processing Tomatoes
In the latest paper published by Dr. Diane Barrett and colleagues at the University of California-Davis on processing tomatoes, organic tomatoes were found to consistently contain more total and soluble solids than conventional tomatoes.
Grass clover ley species, variety selection and management
Paper added to Organic Eprints
Famine Solution….through an Organic Green Revolution
Rodale Institute research review
Technology Research Platform ‘Organics’ to be launched
The newly formed Technology Research Platform ‘Organics’ will be launched on December 2, 2008 in Brussels.
November
Investigating the selectivity of weed harrowing with new methods
New paper added to Organic Eprints.
Wheat yields could halve says scientist
Yields of non-organic wheat could fall from an average of 9 tonnes a hectare to 4 tonnes a hectare sometime between 2040 and the end of this century, as the planet runs out of phosphorus, a key part of the fertiliser needed to grow non-organic crops.
The Problem with [GM] Nutritionally Enhanced Plants
Nutritionally enhanced (by GM technology) tomatoes amongst others have been in the news recently. This article from The Organic Center in the US highlights some of the problems and shortcomings of this approach.
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