The Food for Life 'Catering Mark' is bringing fresh, healthy and local food into schools, hospitals and canteens, writes Peter Melchett - while driving big increases in the volume of organic food we eat, and growing the market for organic farmers and local food producers.
… 'Catering Mark' is helping to deliver good food for all Peter Melchett Soil Association | 24th February 2015 Activism Food Farming Organic Health fresh-fruit-cut.jpg The Food for Life 'Catering Mark' is bringing …
At least a third of the food the world grows each year goes to waste, writes John Mandyck, most of it in fields, transport and storage. The result is poor farmers, hungry people, and a massive 3.3 billion tonnes of needless CO2 emissions. It should be a key topic for action at COP21 in Paris - but so far it's not even on the agenda.
… For climate's sake, let's cut food waste! John Mandyck | 17th September 2015 Comment Waste Food Technology Climate Change … milk-bicycles-cut.jpg At least a third of the food the world grows each year goes to waste, …
As the G7 leaders prepare to meet in Bavaria this weekend, small-scale farmers from around the world call on them to abandon their disastrous plan for the corporate takeover of global agriculture and the extirpation of small-scale farmers everywhere - those who produce most of the world's food. True food security must be rooted in local control over land, seeds and water.
… Struggles | 4th June 2015 Activism Farming Food Politics Corporations … - those who produce most of the world's food. True food security must be rooted in local control …
Food and water shortages and sharp price hikes in the necessities of life are driving civil unrest and rebellion across the Middle East and North Africa, writes Nafeez Ahmed. Adding to the problem, many of the afflicted countries are of strategic importance for their oil and gas, putting them on the front line of destabilizing 'counter-terrorism' operations.
… Rebellion and hunger - how drought and food scarcity are fanning the flames of war Nafeez Ahmed | 13th May 2015 News Water Food Politics Society Oil Energy Middle East drought-burkina-faso-cut.jpg Food and water shortages and sharp price hikes …
A broad community of independent scientific researchers and scholars challenges claims of a 'consensus' that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are 'safe' to grow and eat. The claims - which continue to be widely and often uncritically aired - are a false and artificial construct that have been misleadingly perpetuated through diverse media.
… colleagues | 23rd February 2015 News GMOs Food Farming Health Science … [7]. There is no consensus on GM food safety Regarding the safety of GM crops and foods for human and animal health, a …
Industrial agriculture and industrial food processing have combined to produce something extraordinary, writes Julian Rose: 'KRISS the unrecognisable croissant'. Just don't make the mistake of confusing it with food. Devoid of nutrition, laced with hydrogenated oil and a long list of artificial ingredients, if you care about your own health and that of our planet - give KRISS a miss!
… KRISS the croissant and our fatally fractured food chain Julian Rose | 13th October 2015 Comment Food Farming Corporations … Industrial agriculture and industrial food processing have combined to produce …
As 300 protestors gather at the European Commission to protest at the resumption of TTIP trade talks between the EU and the USA, Oliver Tickell finds that the EU's newly released draft 'chapter' on food safety and animal welfare is a disastrous capitulation to corporate interests that will strip governments of their powers to regulate.
… TTIP is a lethal attack on food safety and animal welfare Oliver Tickell … 4th February 2015 Comment Trade US EU Farming Food Health Corporations … the EU's newly released draft 'chapter' on food safety and animal welfare is a disastrous …
The recently published Global Nutrition Report shows almost all countries face high levels of malnutrition and diet-based ill-health, writes Julia Wright. This reveals deep problems with the dominant industrial model of food production, and the need for new agroecological approaches to feeding the world.
… Only agroecology can tackle the global food and health crisis Dr Julia Wright | 23rd February 2015 Comment Food Farming Health … with the dominant industrial model of food production, and the need for new …
Monsanto has a simple purpose, writes Pete Dolack: to control the world's food supply, monopolizing seeds and agrochemicals to extract profit from every bite of food we eat. Caring nothing for the disease, poverty and destruction that it causes, it has suborned politicians, governments and regulators to its will. But millions are determined to stop it.
… Marching on Monsanto - we demand food freedom! Pete Dolack Systemic Disorder | … writes Pete Dolack: to control the world's food supply, monopolizing seeds and … to extract profit from every bite of food we eat. Caring nothing for the disease, …
Thanks to pro-GMO politicans and lobbying by powerful agribusiness interests the UK and other EU countries may soon find supermarket shelves flooded with GM foods, both imported and home grown, writes Linda Kaucher. We must press parliamentary candidates now to defend us from this serious and long-term debasement of our food and farming.
… TTIP could soon bring GM foods to UK supermarket shelves Linda Kaucher | 2nd April 2015 News Food Farming GMOs Trade Regulation UK EU … soon find supermarket shelves flooded with GM foods, both imported and home grown, writes …
The Soil Association's Catering Mark scheme promises 'fresh food you can trust'. This sounds great, writes Lynda Brown. But what does it really deliver? The truth, she finds, is much less than the promise might suggest, considerably more complicated, and threatens to erode the public's trust in the Soil Association's organic brand and values.
… Lynda Brown | 20th February 2015 Activism Food Farming Organic … Catering Mark scheme promises 'fresh food you can trust'. This sounds great, writes … on a mission to improve the quality of the food we are served by the catering industry. …
Pro-GMO US senators have a dastardly plan to deny states the right to require GMO labeling, writes Steven M. Druker, by attaching their DARK Bill as a rider to the Appropriations Bill next week. Now is the the time to wake up senators to the Bill's true intent, and to the deceit, illegal behaviour and scientific falsification that has kept the dangers of GMO foods a well kept secret - so far.
… that has kept the dangers of GMO foods a well kept secret - so far. An ardent … the labeling of genetically engineered foods - made especially urgent by the fact … effect July 1st. Although proponents of these foods scored a major victory in July when they …
Climate Smart Agriculture sounds like a great idea, write hundreds of civil society organisations worldwide. But in truth it's a PR front for international agribusiness to promote corporate agriculture, pesticides and fertilisers at COP21, with a heavy dose of greenwash. Countries must resist the siren calls - and give their support to true agroecology that sustains soil, health, life and climate.
… that are already disrupting farming and food systems and threatening the food and nutrition security of millions of … recognition of the urgent need to adapt food systems to a changing climate, and the …
The European Parliament voted this week to regulate nano-materials in the pending EU law on novel foods, write Jaydee Hanson & Evan Bromfield. But no such moves are taking place in the US. Let's make this the last time our children are exposed to these hazardous substances in their Halloween candy!
… Jaydee Hanson Evan Bromfield Center for Food Safety | 31st October 2015 Comment Food Technology Health Regulation USA EU … nano-materials in the pending EU law on novel foods, write Jaydee Hanson & Evan Bromfield. …
Forest foods are a vital source of nutrition for millions of people, writes Bhaskar Vira, and we need to make them an even bigger part of our diets for the sake of health, biodiversity, local economies, and to increase food global security in a warming world.
… Forest foods - the tasty, resilient, sustainable … hunger Bhaskar Vira | 1st June 2015 Comment Food Forests Africa Un allanblackia-woman-cut.jpg Forest foods are a vital source of nutrition for … local economies, and to increase food global security in a warming world. About …
The citizens 'right to know' campaign about GMOs has put the food industry on the defensive, big time, writes Carey Gillam. But that only creates the impression they have something to hide. if GMOs are as great as they claim, they should be only too glad. It's time they switched sides and got with the people they feed.
… Food industry must get behind 'right to know' … Carey Gillam | 5th January 2015 Comment GMOs Food Politics USA Corporations … to know' campaign about GMOs has put the food industry on the defensive, big time, …
Julian Rose's diverse collection of essays is engaging, enlightening and life affirming, writes Philip Lymbery - conveying an organic farmer's revulsion at the increasing horrors of industrial agriculture, while setting out his vision of the green and sustainable future he is working to bring about.
… Philip Lymbery | 23rd April 2015 Reviews Food Farming Books in-defence-of-life.png … this modern collection of essays delving into food and the latest shiny things of industrial … happening beneath the skin of today's global food system. He reveals how the mantra of …
Scotland's small-scale farmers have welcomed their government's decision to prevent the growing of GM crops, aimed at enhancing the country's 'clean, green status', among a coalition of green NGOs.
… The Ecologist | 10th August 2015 News Farming Food UK Scotland GMOs EU … gambling with the future of our £14 billion food and drink sector." The Scottish … the technology. As stakeholders in Scotland's food system, we recognise the importance of …
Why is the dairy industry joining in the legal action against Vermont's GMO labeling law? Could it be because a fifth of US 'cheese' can be vegetable oil and starch from GMO crops, asks Alexis Baden-Mayer - and even more of a 'frozen dairy snack' or 'processed cheese food'?
… Association | 12th February 2015 Comment Food Farming USA GMOs Health … a 'frozen dairy snack' or 'processed cheese food'? The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is one of the …
In principle the EU's new rules on GMOs allow member states to opt out of GMO crops and foods, writes Mary Dobbs. But they can only do so on very limited grounds, and in a consistent and non-discriminatory way. Being GM-free may be a lot harder than some countries, and campaigners, suppose.
… EU countries really be GMO-free? The new GM food law won't make it easy Mary Dobbs | 25th … member states to opt out of GMO crops and foods, writes Mary Dobbs. But they can only do … choosing not to eat genetically modified (GM) food, or even banning it entirely, but what if …
The European Commission has proposed new rules on foods derived from GMOs that would allow EU countries to opt out from the Europe-wide approval system - a move that has attracted strong criticism from all parties in the GMO debate.
… EuroComm proposes EU country opt-outs on GMO foods Euractiv | 23rd April 2015 News EU USA … European Commission has proposed new rules on foods derived from GMOs that would allow EU … proposed new rules on the approval of food derived from genetically-modified …
Britain's dairy farmers have been having a hard time, writes Vicki Hird, largely thanks to their exposure to an unregulated, unstable, global food market. But if the EU's TTIP 'trade deal' with the US is ever signed, pitting UK dairy farmers against zero-welfare US mega-dairies run on hormones and antibiotics, they won't have a chance.
… tanker Vicki Hird | 20th August 2015 Activism Food Farming Trade UK EU … exposure to an unregulated, unstable, global food market. But if the EU's TTIP 'trade deal' … to be weak. Fragile or empty promises from a food industry structurally incapable of …
America's shale gas boom threatens families, pets, and food, writes Allison Wilson. Fresh from her reading of 'The Real Costs of Fracking', she finds a host of adverse health impacts on those living near fracking sites, the toxic pollution of the food chain, and a wall of corporate and official secrecy.
… really does to you, your family, pets and food Allison Wilson | 25th February 2015 … Fracking Health Energy Toxics Pollution Food Farming USA real-cost-of-fracking-cut.jpg … shale gas boom threatens families, pets, and food, writes Allison Wilson. Fresh from her …
Two decades ago the world's first GM foods went on sale, writes Pat Thomas. The consumer flirtation with GMOs soon died away, yet the biotech industry has grown into a global behemoth, driving agricultural intensification and sending agro-chemical sales through the roof. It's time for us to take a stand once again and insist: there are better, healthier ways of growing food.
… | 5th February 2015 Activism GMOs Consumerism Food Farming Corporations Two decades ago the world's first GM foods went on sale, writes Pat Thomas. The … there are better, healthier ways of growing food. "It was 20 years ago today ... " as the …