NEWS
New,
integrated conservation and environment agency?
Lord Haskins in his review of rural policy delivery published
11 November,
suggests a more integrated approach to sustainable land management
by rationalising agencies with overlapping agendas into a new
agency responsible for sustainable land management, and giving
greater responsibility to regional and local
organisations.
Government
bows to Asda pressure over massive supermarket expansions
Moves to prevent supermarkets massively expanding without planning
permission have been rejected by the Government. Planning Minister
Yvette Copper threw out an amendment to the Planning Bill, which
would have closed a loop-hole in the current planning laws which
allow supermarkets to double in size without planning permission
by adding internal floors and sales areas, creating a substantial
growth in traffic to the store and having economic impacts on
local retailers.
'Green'
farms save song birds
Traditional farm methods are helping to protect birds like the
yellowhammer
A conservation body is singing the praise of a environmental project
which is helping to hold up the numbers of rare song birds. The
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) says it believes the Tir Gofal
scheme, which pays farmers to return to more traditional ways
of working the land, has halted the decline of the country's most
threatened species.
'Catastrophic'
potato disease hits UK
A bacterial disease which has potentially "catastrophic"
effects on potato crops has been discovered in the UK for the
first time. Defra says that annual losses from ring rot in the
US have been as high as 50%, and the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW)
has warned that spread of the disease could spark a "catastrophe"
in the UK potato industry.
Welsh
kids to get free breakfast
Every primary school pupil in Wales will have the chance to start
their school day with a flying start after having a free healthy
breakfast. It is proposed to introduce these breakfasts incrementally
on a pilot basis starting in the Community First areas in the
first year, and to ensure that the food served is, wherever possible,
locally sourced and is of high nutritional value.
Junk
food timebomb that threatens a new generation
The Government's top food adviser has issued a shock warning that
life expectancy could fall if Britain does not tackle the obesity
problem.
Most restaurant meat
imported
The majority of steaks eaten in UK pubs and restaurants are imported
from countries as far afield as Namibia, Botswana, Brazil, Argentina
and Uruguay.
The Meat and Livestock Commission found that 60% of all red meat
served in restaurants is imported, whereas in supermarkets, 60%
of the meat is
produced in Britain.
Source: The Times 20/10/2003
17,000
more leave farm jobs
The exodus from England's farms continued in 2003 with more than
17,000 workers leaving their jobs. Government statistics show
6,000 farmers and 11,000 labourers left their businesses in the
12 months up to the 2003 June census.
The
Netherfield Centre for Sustainable Food and Farming
New joint venture between Plumpton College and Common Cause Co-operative
has been set up, supporting sustainable agriculture and local
food production in the East Sussex Rural Priority Area. The Centre
offers advice, training and networking to farmers and is sited
on a working organic demonstration farm.
HDRA
Commercial and Professional Membership scheme
HDRA has set up a special Commercial and Professional Membership
category for the amenity and landscape industry. Benefits will
include a wide range of services from organic gardening guidelines
to a telephone advice hotline.
IGD
guide to help local producers
The Prince of Wales recently launched a new guide produced by
IGD for Business in the Community for small businesses looking
to work with large food retailers and foodservice or catering
companies. 'Local Sourcing, Opening the door for small business',
is a step by step guide taking small producers through every step
of the process of getting their products listed. See
Source Sustain
Entire
food chain to work together on Promotion of Food to Children
All the major trade bodies for the food and advertising industries
today pledged a joint approach to helping find solutions to food
and health problems such as obesity. This approach will build
on the recent, first-ever, joint submission to Government on its
Food and Health Problem Analysis.
Agency
joins forces with Focus on Food
The Food Standards Agency has developed a ‘Cooking Bus’
in partnership with the Focus on Food Campaign, to pursue the
common objective of raising food standards, particularly to promote
healthy eating and improve food hygiene. The state-of-the-art
mobile kitchens deliver food education support and intervention
in the form of inspirational on-board cooking workshops for primary
and secondary schools.
Organic?
No thanks
Restaurant critic Jay Rayner in the Observer bemoans poor food
with organic status.
PUBLICATIONS / WEBSITES
Feeding the Future: Policy Options for Local Food
A 70-page joint report from Food Links UK and Sustain setting
out the many ideas generated over recent years to support the
development of sustainable, local food economies, applicable at
local, national, European and global levels. The report will be
launched at the national Food Links conference on 27 November,
with all delegates receiving a complimentary copy. Otherwise contact:
sustain@sustainweb.org
Sustain have produced a new
food events calendar.
Report
of Iowa local food project 2003
This project aimed to explore how institutional food buyers (hospitals,
nursing homes, colleges, restaurants, and groceries) could purchase
a greater portion of their food from local/regional farmers and
food processors in Northeast Iowa. They estimate that for every
dollar invested in this project, they have helped $6.5 stay in
the community and region.
EVENTS
Food Links UK Conference
Local Food Links – Ideas into Action – 27 Nov. 2003
A one-day conference in Yorkshire to highlight the new policy
agenda for food and farming and show how local projects can best
support health, regeneration and environmental objectives. Showing
how sustainable food and farming policy can be delivered on the
ground.
Key Note Speakers - Caroline Lucas MEP, Jeremy Pope, Baroness
Sue Miller
Chair of conference - Tim Lang
More
information and booking details.
For initial enquiries email conference@localfood.org.uk
Public
Sector Sustainable Food Procurement
Conference And Exhibition
Novotel London Euston / Wednesday 26 November 2003
Organised by PMG on behalf of Defra
11 December, Local
Food Centres and Local Food Distribution Systems, Bridport
Centre for Local Food, Devon
Seminar organised by South West Local Food Partnership, places
free but limited. Contact; 01308 420269 or: lesley@learnwest.co.uk
21 January, Food
as Treatment: Making the Links,
London
Conference organised by the Better Hospital Food programme. Speakers
include Lord Warner, Health Minister, and Dr Michael Stroud. Chaired
by Lloyd Grossman. Contact: NHS Estates, nhs.estates@doh.gsi.gov.uk
, tel: 0113 254 7070
JOBS / TENDERS
Oxfordshire Food Group Project Manager
Seeking a good communicator, with project management,
marketing or
promotional skills and food retailing knowledge or experience.
Familiarity with the local food sector in Oxfordshire/Thames Valley
an
advantage. Initially 12 month contract, renewable for a further
two
years. Full time salary between £24,097 and £25,560.
Closing date 28
November 2003. Interviews in Oxford on 17 December 2003.
For an informal discussion, contact Susie Ohlenschlager, tel:
01865
810148. To request an application pack, see: www.brookes.ac.uk/vacancy
or tel: 01865 484537 (voicemail) quoting reference 098/14546/BC.
Adverts cost £100 (circulation over 1000).
Please send copy to:mail@locafood.org.uk
