Organic farming has changed, but for the better, writes Soil Association head of policy and Norfolk organic farmer Peter Melchett. As never before, organic inspections are central to the delivery of environmental and animal care, and food you really can trust.
… Organic inspections, organic growth Peter Melchett | 24th May 2014 Comment Food Farming Regulation Organic UK farm-cut.jpg Organic farming has changed, but for the …
Organic farming really is wildlife friendly, new research from Oxford University has found, with far higher species diversity on organic farms than conventional ones. Lindsay Turnbull reports on her findings ...
… Organic farming benefits biodiversity Lindsay Turnbull | 19th February 2014 Comment Organic Food Farming Natural World sandy-lane-farm.png Organic farming really is wildlife friendly, …
The organic movement faces a dilemma. Should it hold to its roots and stick with traditional production methods and local distribution? Or embrace technology and supermarkets, and feed as many mouths as possible? Andrew Wasley meets two very different organic apple producers ...
… of two apple farms - can big be beautiful for organic growers? Andrew Wasley | 11th November 2014 Comment UK Farming Organicorganic-apples-cut.jpg The organic movement …
Four trustees of the Soil Association just resigned, 'more in sorrow than in anger'. Joanna Blythman, Lynda Brown, Andrew Whitley and former Ecologist editor Pat Thomas all decided they were unable to contribute further to the organisation, the UK's leading organic certifier and the 'mother ship' of British organic farming.
… | 1st December 2014 Comment Food Farming UK Organic leek-picking-cut.jpg Four trustees of … further to the organisation, the UK's leading organic certifier and the 'mother ship' of British organic farming. We expect fellow members of …
The Soil Association doesn't need to 'get back to its roots', writes Helen Browning - because it never left them! It remains firmly committed to its founders' original organic mission for health, environment and animal welfare. And that means reaching out to a broader public, ensuring that organic principles are ever more widely understood and applied.
… The Soil Association's mission is organic - and it always will be! Helen … | 2nd December 2014 Activism Food Farming Organic UK helen-browning-with-cows-cut.jpg … firmly committed to its founders' original organic mission for health, environment and …
Starbucks has positioned itself as a 'progressive' brand - but it's no such thing. It refuses to commit to fair trade coffee, organic milk, GMO-free / organic foods and snacks, and supports the mighty Grocery Manufacturers Association, lobbyist for GMOs and industrial agriculture.
… | 5th June 2014 Comment Corporations Food Organic GMOs Trade Fair Trade … It refuses to commit to fair trade coffee, organic milk, GMO-free / organic foods and snacks, and supports the …
The apparently lower productivity of organic farming systems is caused by research bias, writes Lauren C. Ponisio, and the far greater research spending on 'conventional' agriculture. Funds should be redirected to agro-ecological methods that are highly productive, sustainable and maintain biodiversity.
… Organic farming can close the gap on … | 28th December 2014 Comment Farming Food Organic Science organic-tomatoes-cut.jpg The apparently lower …
A widely publicised study has suggested that eating organic food doesn't stop you getting cancer. Pat Thomas finds the study deeply unconvincing - and wonders why Cancer Research UK is so quick to trumpet its conclusions.
… Does organic food reduce cancer risk? Pat Thomas | … publicised study has suggested that eating organic food doesn't stop you getting cancer. … are being used to illustrate the 'typical' organic eater. Get ready folks, the circus has …
How we farm matters, writes Pat Thomas - not just for water, insects, birds and the wider environment, which benefit from organic farming, but also the nutritional value of our food. It's time to value the quality of what we eat, instead of prizing quantity above all.
… Organic farming boosts environment and … | 1st August 2014 Comment Food Farming Health Organicorganic-courgettes-cut.jpg How we farm …
Organic certification used to be carried out by real farmers in wellies, who knew all the tricks and could spot dodgy practice on the land at 100 paces, writes Julian Rose. Today's certifiers arrive in patent leather shoes and get no further than the office - and this is meant to be an improvement?
… Organic certification - inorganic bureaucracy Julian Rose | 17th May 2014 Ethical Living Food Farming Organic Regulation UK organic-sow-piglets-cut.jpg Organic …
Soils are naturally alive with complex 'food webs' of micro-organisms that sustain plants with moisture and nutrients, making them good to eat. But once the biota have been blitzed with agro-chemicals under industrial farming regimes, it's our health that suffers. One more reason to grow, and eat, organic!
… For healthy food we need living, organic soils Hannah Bewsey Katherine Paul OCA … healthy food is healthy soil - as with these organic potatoes bursting from the ground in … suffers. One more reason to grow, and eat, organic! Does an apple a day really keep the …
The mighty Grocery Manufacturers Association is to sue Vermont for making food companies label GMOs in their products. Ronnie Cummins calls on all concerned consumers to boycott GMA companies and products - starting with their 'traitor brands' ...
… every product, including the natural and organic brands, owned by members of the GMA. … the GMA files a lawsuit against Vermont, the Organic Consumers Association, joined by a … to start? As part of this Great Boycott, pro-organic consumer groups will put a special …
The US Supreme Court has denied organic and GMO-free farmers their day in Court against Monsanto - leaving them unable to challenge the company's patents or seek redress for GMO seed contamination.
… gmo-or-no.png The US Supreme Court has denied organic and GMO-free farmers their day in … a decision in the landmark federal lawsuit, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et … the Supreme Court's decision to not give organic and other non-GMO farmers the right to …
Farming should not only sustain people with healthy food, writes Jigmi Y. Thinley. If humans are to survive on Earth, it must also revitalise nature and sustain vital planetary systems, instead of poisoning and over-exploiting them. And to do that farming must be organic.
… them. And to do that farming must be organic. Organic agriculture is not only relevant to … of all living beings. The central role of organic agriculture in paving the path towards …
Liberal environmentalism represents a dangerous delusion, writes Scott Parkin - that 'playing nice' with Earth-destroying corporations and politicians can yield results worth having. Radical change on climate will only result from bold, confrontational direct actions against the fossil fuel industries and their apologists.
The liberal climate agenda is doomed to failure Scott Parkin | 29th August 2014 Comment Climate Change Fossil Fuels Politics USA utah-tar-sands-cut.jpg Liberal environmentalism represents a dangerous …
In the red corner, the increasingly successful citizens' campaign to label foods containing GMO ingredients. In the blue, a supine government and powerful GMO and grocery industry that will fight it all the way. Welcome to 2014 ...
… launching state GMO labeling initiatives. Pro-organic and natural health activists raised a … (Horizon, Silk, White Wave); Heinz (Heinz Organic), Nestle's, and Kellogg's (Kashi, … non-certified "natural" products are "nearly organic,"), large companies such as Pepsi, …
As millions join in climate marches and other actions around the world, writes Ronnie Cummins, the 'mainstream' focus on energy is missing the 55% of emissions that come from mismanaged land and destroyed forests. The key is to replace industrial agriculture worldwide with productive, regenerative organic farming that puts carbon back in the soil.
… reversing global warming Ronnie Cummins Organic Consumers Association | 21st September … worldwide with productive, regenerative organic farming that puts carbon back in the … we already have at hand: regenerative, organic farming, ranching and land use. And we …
New EU regulations forbid the use of herbal remedies and plant essences to maintain animal health instead of antibiotics, reports Sandra Saadi. An organic ewe breeder in France has already been threatened with the loss of EU farm support payments.
… EU outlaws animal use of herbal remedies on organic farms Sandra Saadi | 11th July 2014 … News Farming Food France Regulation EU Health Organic sandrine-cut.jpg New EU regulations … of antibiotics, reports Sandra Saadi. An organic ewe breeder in France has already been …
The US fossil fuel industry has been caught red-handed spying on green activists. But Adam Federman finds it has received poor value for money - and is no closer to tackling the 'existential crisis' it faces.
Spying on environmentalists - the American Petroleum Institute Adam Federman | 15th February 2014 News Fossil Fuels Fracking Politics Corporations dont-frack-ny-2.png The US fossil fuel industry has …
As families across the country stock up on food for Christmas feasting, Giulia Barcaro urges them to give a thought to animal welfare - read the label to discover whether the meat you're buying comes from high-welfare farms, or has condemned a sentient creature to a life of suffering.
… free range pigs last month at Sandy Lane Organic Farm, Oxfordshire. Photo: Sandy Lane … scary. That beef label is green, so is it organic? That pork says it is British, does … year, according to the BBC. What to look for: Organic, Free Range, Outdoor Bred, Freedom …
The stunning landscape of the Organ Mountains in New Mexico is now permanently protected as a National Monument following a Presidential Proclamation, reports Ted Zukosjy of Earthjustice.
A new National Monument for New Mexico Ted Zukosjy | 27th May 2014 News USA Natural World 31stth May 2014 organ-mountains.jpg The stunning landscape of the Organ Mountains in New Mexico is now …
The soils on which African farmers depend are getting poorer, writes Fernando Naves Sousa, depleted of nutrients and organic matter. This creates a huge challenge: to reverse the trend in an environmentally responsible way, while feeding a growing population. But it can be done - using organic composting techniques.
… Naves Sousa, depleted of nutrients and organic matter. This creates a huge challenge: … population. But it can be done - using organic composting techniques. Moussa Konate … produce good quality compost with the Malian organic cotton association, who came to the …
Europe is likely to become ''the museum of world farming'' because of the failure to embrace GMOs, UK environment secretary Owen Paterson said today. Fiona Harvey reports ...
… shows it is safe and suitable." What about organic food? But green campaigners said investment in organic farming would be a better bet for … concerned about the immediate prospects for organic food, as the organic market has moved …
The truth is often extraordinary - perhaps because it is so rare that we are told it. This disturbing speech by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse shines the bright light of truth on the US's huge, shadow-dwelling climate denial industry.
Time to wake up to the Climate Denial Beast Senator Sheldon Whitehouse | 26th February 2014 Comment Climate Change Corporations Politics USA climate-denial-beast.png The truth is often extraordinary …