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Attitude to land use must change report finds

Monday, 08 June 2009 23:22 By Chris Innis

A report by the Worldwatch Institute and Ecoagriculture has argued that the world cannot effectively address climate change without altering our relationship with soil,. Soil is the world’s third largest carbon pool.

The report,“Mitigating Climate Change Through Food and Land Use” , concludes that changing the way land is managed and food is produced could offset 25 percent of worldwide fossil fuel emissions.

DEFRA issues updated and consolidate code for agriculture

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 22:01 By Chris Innis

Following almost two years of consultation, DEFRA has issued a consolidated code to protect water, soil and air in the agricultural sector.
The new code titled "Protecting our Water, Soil and Air: A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers" consolidates and updates the former three separate codes for water, soil and air. The publication offers practical interpretation of legislation and provides advice on best practice. The advice has been written by technical specialists from Defra and Natural England.

Good News and Common Sense

Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:43 By Chris Innis

The article below is from the AFP, the news service, about the rules of bent fruit. A very important aspect of a sustainable agenda is to reduce waste and get rid of regulations that promote waste. The article is a victory for common sense. The article follows.

EU nations on Wednesday gave the green light Monday for bent cucumbers and other 'wonky' fruit and vegetables to be sold in supermarkets and elsewhere, as part of a drive to cut red tape."This is a happy day indeed for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot, and other amusingly shaped fruits and vegetables," said European Commission spokesman Michael Mann.

Farmers Looking For Better Deals on Emissions

Wednesday, 12 November 2008 10:08 By Reuters

Farmers want a special deal in global climate negotiations to make sure they are not saddled with excessive costs for curbing Greenhouse gas emissions, the head of the world's leading farming lobby said on Tuesday. Agriculture is responsible for up to 20 percent of global Greenhouse gas emissions, blamed for global warming, but farmers were limited in how much they could cut emissions, International Federation of Agricultural Producers president Ajay Vashee said.

Food concerns clash with environmental targets

Friday, 17 October 2008 08:01 By Mark Williams

Farm leaders are at loggerheads with DEFRA over government plans that would require arable farmers to take land out of production and manage it for environmental purposes at a time when food is in short supply.
The trade journal Farmer's Weekly says the deepening dispute centres on the government's determination to press ahead with a replacement for set-aside and compel growers to put as much as 5% of land into environmental management - despite heightened fears over food security.

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