|
 3000
New Stewardship Places
The government
is to recruit more than 3000 farmers and landowners into the expanded
Countryside Stewardship Scheme this year and has allocated £500m the
CSS over the next seven years. Countryside minister Elliot Morley has
announced that the Ministry of Agriculture is hoping to double the normal
annual intake onto the scheme designed to improve the landscape and
species diversity.
A total
of £1.6b has been earmarked for environmental expenditure and rural
development up until 2006 under the England Rural Development plan.
The main source of funding is coming from the redirection or "modulation"
of direct production subsidies paid to UK producers under the CAP.
Money
will be deducted from production-based subsidies and put into agri-environmental
schemes, with an extra £16m for the scheme this year, bringing the total
up to £35.5m. For 20001/2002 £51m is available, in 2002/03 £66m, £2003/04
£81m, 2004/05 £96m, 2005/06 £110m and £126m for 2006/07. In 1996/97
the budget for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme was £13m.
Farmers
have until May 31 to apply to the scheme. The government hopes the majority
of farmers will be signed up by the end of October, with payments (which
in addition to modulated receipts include matching government funds
and new EU money) will be made available by October 2001.
The scheme
will include whole-farm schemes and single objective agreements. Targets
will help the government meet Biodiversity Action Plans for cereal margin
fields and ancient hedgerows. Species set to benefit include the grey
partridge, skylark, lapwing, tree sparrow, twite, brown hare and dormouse.
Return
to Top of Page
Antibiotics
Found In Goats' Milk
A number
of consumers have reported allergic reaction to antibiotics found in
a batch of non-organic goats' milk from St Helen's farm which in sold
through supermarkets including Waitrose. The problem is thought to have
been exacerbated by the fact that people prone to allergies tend to
drink goats' milk as an alternative to cows' milk.
Return
to Top of Page
Axis
To Pat Top Organic Milk Price
Axis,
the new milk marketing co-operative is set to pay dairy farmers 2p more
per litre for organic milk than the leading player in the field. Axis
is to pay 31.5p a litre, compared to 29.5p paid by the Organic Milk
Suppliers' Co-operative, which supplies 80% of organic milk in Britain.
Axis, which covers the Midlands and Wales, is one of the three new farmer-owned
co-ops which will replace Milk Marque when it disappears in April.
Return
to Top of Page
Brown
Goes Green
Despite
an increase in "go green" policies announced by agriculture minister,
Nick Brown, the annual budget of £295m for green measures pales into
insignificance to the £5.3b given in subsidies to the agri-chemical
industries through payments to "conventional" farmers.
Return
to Top of Page
Cheesed
Off
Britainıs
organic cheese is likely to continue to be made from imported organic
milk, reports The Grocer magazine, because of the reluctance of British
dairy farmers to undertake the expense of organic conversion.
Return
to Top of Page
Danes
Move On Antibiotics
Denmark
is making new moves on the control of antibiotics in livestock production.
Antibiotic growth promoters have been banned in pig production since
the end of 1999 following a progressive reduction in their use with
agreements among feed suppliers and producers.
Danish
vets have not been allowed to supply medicine and sell them for profit
since 1995 and a voluntary ban on growth promoters in finishers was
introduced in September 1998, because of concern over the development
of antibiotic resistance in humans. A survey showed that few problems
have been experienced in about 75 per cent of pig units.
The Danes
have also introduced a monitoring programme to gain new information
on the use of veterinary drugs in livestock production.. The database
will tie in with an existing DANMAP survey which measures levels of
antibiotic resistance in animal and the human food chain.
Return
to Top of Page
Development
of Organic Farming in Scotland
A number
of consumers have reported allergic reaction to antibiotics found in
a batch of non-organic goats' milk from St Helen's farm which in sold
through supermarkets including Waitrose. The problem is thought to have
been exacerbated by the fact that people prone to allergies tend to
drink goats' milk as an alternative to cows' milk.
Return
to Top of Page
Dr
Who
The World
Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization,
after 6 years of deliberation, have agreed that new guidelines are required
for the labelling and marketing of organic foods. Current variations
in national policies, mean that foods which are considered organic in
one country, may not qualify in another. New regulations "define "organic
agriculture as "holistic production management system which promotes
and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological
cycles and soil biological activityThis is accomplished by using, where
possible, cultural, biological and mechanical methods as opposed to
using synthetic materials to fulfil any specific function within the
system." A code of practice for the feeding of livestock has yet to
be agreed.
Return
to Top of Page
Government
Committee Slams Antibiotics In Farming
A government
committee has reported (BMJ, 1999; 319) that the use of antibiotics
in farming has contributed to the emergence of resistant bacteria. The
report from the UK Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety
of Food calls for a reduction in the use of antimicrobiotics. It also
recommends the ending of the use of growth promoters of spiramycin,
tylosin phosphate and virginiamycin, and says that there is clear evidence
that antibiotics in farming lead to antibiotic resistance in human diseases.
Return
to Top of Page
Iceland
Switches to Organic
Supermarket
chain Iceland plans a complete switch to organic produce "at no extra
cost to the customer". The company claims to have bought up to nearly
40% of the world's organic vegetable crop to meet a growing demand among
supermarket shoppers.
Return
to Top of Page
Increased
Aid For Welsh Farmers
The Welsh
National Assembly has allocated an additional #1m of funding to the
Organic Farming Scheme in Wales. Raising the total to #3m will allow
all 265 applications received last autumn for aid during organic conversion.
The budget had been set at a mere £288,000, but unprecedented demand
forced the assembly to reconsider.
Return
to Top of Page
La
Difference
French
organic farmers in south west France have set aside 50% more land to
cope with demand from UK multiples.
Return
to Top of Page
Milk
Fungicide
Researchers
in Brazil have discovered that spraying milk on cucumbers will kill
the powdery mildew, Sphaeroitheca fuliginea. Wagner Bettoil of Brazilian
Agricultural Research Corporation found that a mixture of 1-part cowıs
milk and 9-parts water was as effective as stopping mildew and chemical
fungicides, and in some cases faster and better.
Return
to Top of Page
New
Retail Chain
Greenways
Natural Foodstore, a sister organisation to the Whistlestop group. It
plans to open 10 stores over the next three years in three formats:
convenience stores of 1-2,000 sq ft, local markets of 3-6,000 sq ft
and super markets covering 10-15,000 sq ft. The first Greenways store
has opened in Oxford Street, with sites in Maida Vale, Holland Park,
Crouch End, Farringdon, Kew, Richmond, Clapham, Dulwich, Westminster,
Marylebone and Tottenham Court Road.
Return
to Top of Page
Organic
Cook
The Cook
Islands has declared an its intent to become the worldıs first nation
to become totally organic. The aim, according to a declaration signed
by the Prime Minister, is to become totally organic in 3 years.
Return
to Top of Page
Organic
Farmers to 'Blame'
Addressing
an audience of would-be organic pig farmers at a Soil Association seminar
in Suffolk, Eastbrook Farms' MD Tim Finney blamed UK farmers for low
organic prices. Most farmers are "price-takers, rather than price-makers"
with little or no idea of "branding" or the "value" or organic produce,
according to Finney. He said that many organic vegetable producers are
no longer getting a premium for their produce and some are being forced
to plough in crops because of low pricing offered by the multiples.
Finney
says that supermarkets, that would rather stock tinned stewing steak,
find fresh meat an annoyance, requiring expense preparation, distribution
and storage - and is dismayed at consumers' boycotting of independent
butchers, forcing them out out of business at an alarming rate. Finney
believes that the concept of low prices being demanded by shoppers as
a myth and cited market research proving that shoppers have little idea
how much they have paid for the goods in their baskets. He gave an example
of battery produced "economy eggs" costing 26p a half dozen. When questioned
most people thought they had paid 76p.
Finney
was equally scathing about roadside restaurant chains, who pay minimum
wages to staff to serve expensive, "inedible" food and says that the
organic argument will not have been one these outlets are serving appetising,
wholesome, organic fare.
Return
to Top of Page
Organic
Targets Are A Good Thing Say MPs
Everyone
would be a winner if the government set specific targets to increase
the size of the organic sector over the next 10 decade, according to
MPs. Consumers, farmers, the environment, retailers and the government
itself would all benefit. "winners", says a cross-party alliance of
politicians. They want the government to adopt a specific strategy to
address the "absurd" situation where 70 % of the organic produce sold
in this country is imported. Paul Tyler, Liberal Democrat MP for North
Cornwall is sponsoring the Organic Food and Farming Bill, which is due
to receive its second reading in March.
The Bill
is supported by senior members of other parties and 50 groups, including
consumer and environmental organisations and retailers. It recommends
that 30% of UK farmland should be organic or in conversion by 2010 and
for 20% of all food consumed to be chemical-free. Time constraints mean
the bill is unlikely to becoming law, but Mr Tyler hopes it will press
the government to increase organic farming support.
Another
private members' Bill, proposing that country of origin be included
for every major ingredient on every food product, has also been published.
Stephen O'Brien, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury, said his Bill is
designed to give the British consumer a real choice when buying food
produce. The Bill, which also has cross party backing, is supported
by the Consumers' Association, the National Farmers' Union and the National
Pig Association. The NPA wants better labelling of pigmeat products
so consumers do not unknowingly buy imported products reared to lower
standards illegal in the UK.
Return
to Top of Page
Pure
Mag Launch
Pure,
the Green Guide Magazine, is to be launched with a £2.95 cover price
in June and published bi-monthly. The magazine will cover lifestyle
issues for the sustainable consumer. Subscribers can make a 25% saving,
with 6 issues for £13.00 including postage. The first 10 subscribers
will receive a Green Guide book of their choice and all subscribers
taking up this offer before publication will have their names entered
into a prize draw for a case of organic wine.
Return
to Top of Page
Soil
Association Hits Out At Organic 'Myths'
The Soil
Assocations has reacted to what it percieves to be a concerted smear
campaign orchestrated by a small number of pro-GM lobbyists, by producing
a document entitled "Food Safety and Organic Products - Dispelling the
Myths."
In response
to the handful of recent negative stories about organic food put about
by pro-GM lobbiests, the Soil Association has produced an information
sheet repudating the claims. Recent scare stories about about a supposed
greater risk of contamination from E.coli bacteria in organic foods.
The Soil Assocation Organic refutes the claims saying that "farming
standards are based on sound science and best farming practice, makings
organic farming less likely to be a source of E.coli contamination."
"Pathogen
levels in organic livestock are lower due to high animal welfare standards
and the prohibition of a reliance on antibiotics . Organic standards
require that any manure brought in to the farm must be composted - a
process that kills harmful bacteria. "
Moreover,
well managed soils (the basis of organic farming) are a hive of biological
activity which outcompetes any pathogens that may come into contact
with the soil, reports th Soil Assocation. The smear-mongerers have
ignored the fact that the vast majority of food borne disease is associated
with cross contamination and handling later in the distribution chain
and in the home, rather than on the farm.
Concerning
a second allegation that conventional farmed pesticide residues are
equivalent to carcinogenic toxicity of a single one cup of coffee',
the Soil association is at pains to point out that many of the harmful
and persistent agricultural pesticides are derived from nerve agents
created by the defence industry. They directly and harmfully affect
the human nervous system. Studies have recently linked the pesticide
lindane to breast cancer. These toxic chemicals also affect farmers'
health, and a report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine in
1999 indicated that 20% of sheep farmers suffered long term health damage
from Organo Phosphate exposure.
The third
"myth" is that "a wide scale switch to organic farming will necessitate
the cultivation of additional previously unfarmed land to compensate
for low yields" ingnores the fact that over the last 10 years conventional
farming has caused such over production of food that between 10-20%
of UK crop land has been left fallow (setaside) at the taxpayers' expense
in order to reduce food mountains.
The fourth
"myth" that there have been "various studies comparing organically produced
and conventional food that show that there is no difference in the nutritional
benefits." Although there is an urgent need for more research to be
done to explore the nutritional benefits of organically produced food,
recent work has shown significant differences. Research from the University
of Copenhagen indicates that compounds called "secondary metabolites"
known to fight cancers, are more common in food produced without artificial
fertilizers. Another study from Rutgers University, New York, comparing
organically grown and conventionally grown food found that many essential
trace elements were at a very low level in the conventional produce,
whereas they were several times higher in their organically grown counterparts.
The final
myth is that "the developing world needs industrial farming technology
to feed their growing populations" is contrary to reports from farmers'
groups, charities and experts throughout the developing world, who insist
that organic farming is a far more appropriate method of production
for developing countries. This is because it does not rely on the capital
hungry and debt inducing dependency on expensive chemicals and focuses
more on domestic food requirements rather than exports.
Return
to Top of Page
Vote
Of Confidence From
The Consumers
Association has given organic food a clean bill of health. Health Which?
Says, "Organic Meat is a good bet ... tests show that you are less likely
to serve up a helping of pesticide residues if you eat organic food
and veg." Its survey of 2,000 people showed that nearly 30% were replacing
some staple foods with organic alternatives, with 60% citing reasons
of health.
Return
to Top of Page
Watchdog
Accuses Supermarkets Of Exploiting Local Monopolies
Some
of the country's top supermarkets exploit their market power by raising
prices in areas where they have few rivals nearby, according to Britain's
monopoly watchdog.
This
is particularly prevalent for organic produce, because of its limited
supply. A confidential section of the Competition Commission's report
on the supermarkets finds them "provisionally" guilty of setting different
prices according to local market conditions. Supermarket chiefs had
claimed that they had been vindicated by the commission, which released
a public letter detailing its initial findings. "There is no such thing
as 'rip-off Britain,' " said Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco.
However,
a separate confidential section of the letter reported that some of
the biggest supermarkets were told that the commission had "provisionally
found" that they engaged in "setting retail prices across different
stores in different geographical areas in the light of local competitive
conditions, such variation not being related to costs". The commission
began its investigation after a series of Sunday Times articles, compared
prices for food in continental Europe with those in Britain. These were
supplied as evidence to the commission.
British
supermarket prices remain higher than those in France, Germany and Italy.
A shopping basket mix of branded and non-branded goods, was 27% cheaper
in Paris and 21% cheaper in Germany than Tesco in London. Surveys conducted
last week in Sainsbury's and Tesco in Harrogate and London found more
than 30 products at each store which were more expensive in the south,
including some staple goods and vegetables.
Return
to Top of Page
|
