NEWS
School
governors quizzed on healthy eating policies
The Food Standards Agency has teamed up with the organisation
representing England's school governors to help improve nutrition
awareness in schools. A report, 'The role of governing bodies
in developing policies to promote healthy eating' is now available.
New
vision for collaboration in farming and food
English Farming and Food Partnership's (EFFP) recently presented
its vision for helping farmers and growers work together with
the rest of the food chain to create a secure and profitable future.
The EFFP presented an industry-wide strategy on how to develop
collaborative activities across the farming and food industry
and how to develop world class Farmer Controlled Businesses (FCBs).
This strategy is the culmination of six months' work researching
collaboration and outlining the way forward.
source: Eat the View
£2.5m
food and farming boost
The government has pledged the first instalment of a planned £2.5m
five-year grant to boost efforts to help farmers work together
to get more competitive and profitable. English Farming and Food
Partnerships will get £500,000 this year, and the government
intends to provide funding at the same level in each of the next
four years.
Food
Ethics Council worskhop report
On 25th March, the Food Ethics Council hosted a workshop on 'Agri-food
research: participation and the public good'. The workshop examined
the opportunities and challenges of engaging citizens and stakeholders
in research policy, and it considered how the public good is defined
in publicly funded agri-food research.
You can download a report of the workshop from : h
'Local
Food for Bradford Schools' report is
accessible from home page of the PSFPI website.
Parliamentary
Bill on school food
There's a new EDM which is about the Childrens' Food Bill and
which covers school food as well as other areas. It starts' That
this House notes that there is a crisis in children's diet-related
health, demonstrated by alarming increases in childhood obesity
and the appearance of adult-onset diseases, such as type II diabetes,
in schoolchildren.
Please encourage your MP to sign this EDM to show support for
this vital Bill. Contact mailto:charlie@sustainweb.org for more
details of the campaign.
source: Sustain
New
EU procurement directives
Two new Directives designed to simplify and modernise the EU's
rules on public procurement. Issues for agencies and LAs include
e-procurement, increased transparency on award criteria, and working
flexibily with suppliers.
source: Sustain
An organic Centreparc
Holiday village group Center Parcs has awarded SA licensee Miniscoff,
children's organic meals specialists, a ground-breaking contract.
The company has been asked to provide between 2,000 and 3,000
organic meals a week for Center Parcs restaurants in Wiltshire,
the Lake District, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. That represents
about one in 10 of children's meals served at Center Parcs and
the numbers are expected to rise. (Western Daily Press)
Choosing
a Better Diet: consultation
A DoH consultation on priorities for a food and health action
plan, within the context of the overall health improvement debate
set by Choosing Health?, is calling for responses until 30th June
2004.
Food
promotion action plan: have your say
The Food Standards Agency is consulting on the ways in which foods
are promoted to children. Our draft action plan, out for consultation
until 21 June 2004, calls on Government, schools, industry and
others to work with us in a bid to to help children eat a healthier
diet.
New
food events calendar - find out what's happening and
when.
Sustain's new Food Calender now up and running.
London Hospital Food
Project seeks producers
The 2 year project aims to increase local and/or organic food
served in four London NHS hospitals to 10% of their routine catering
provision. First deliveries are due in the summer and include
products such as organic milk, seasonal summer fruit and salads,
and various cuts of lamb, beef and pork. Enquiries from producers,
particularly producer groups interested in supplying are welcome.
Contact: mailto:fiona@sustainweb.org
'A
Rough Guide to the UK Farming Crisis' - a new report
from Corporate Watch
Concludes that the farm income crisis and the environmental failings
of farming are attributable to precisely the same economic causes
– the globalisation and liberalisation of the trade in food
and the concentration of market power in the hands of a small
number of multinational food corporations.
Organic
label worries for GM law
EU labelling rules for genetically-modified food and feed could
force organic producers to break existing European laws, due to
confusion over acceptable levels of GM contamination.
CAP
Reform advice
Farmers and growers across England are to receive a letter from
Lord Whitty explaining the changes to the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP). The letter outlines the new Single Payment Scheme
and how it may affect agricultural businesses when it comes into
effect in January 2005.
Healthy
eating guide is launched
The free Five A Day Made Easy booklet includes money-off vouchers,
tips on how to make meals more interesting and advice on healthy
eating on a budget.
A copy of the booklet is available by calling 0870 155 5455 or
e-mailing dh@prolog.uk.com.
Krebs
speaks out on food industry 'dinosaurs'
Sir John Krebs reports on the looming obesity crisis and the responsibility
the food industry must recognise to provide healthy food.
Ready
meals are recipe for ill health says report
Supermarket ready meals are "a recipe for disaster",
the Consumers' Association says in a survey which reveals high
levels of salt and fat in many brands. Britain is the largest
consumer of ready meals in Europe, with about a third of us using
supermarket ready meals more than once a week. England also has
the fastest growing obesity problem in Europe, with childhood
obesity tripling in 20 years.
Are
scientists putting you off your dinner?
David Rowan reports on how food technologists are dreaming up
ever new ways of feeding us - from e-numbers to nano-technology.
EVENTS
Farmers'
Markets: Time to Grow
28 June 2004
Conference for everyone interested in the future of farmers' markets
at The Guildhall, Winchester, Hants. Speakers will be from the
UK and USA pooling
knowledge and experience of delegates to discuss and debate. Event
includes an opportunity to visit Winchester Farmers' Market and
attend a local food
dinner on Sunday 27 June. Contact: National Farmers and Retail
Association (FARMA) for further details on 0845 230 2150
Seminar: SUSTAINABLE
FOOD PROCUREMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR – THE FUTURE FOR LOCAL
FOOD
Tuesday 14th September 2004
Tolbooth, Stirling, Free of charge
contact either Alex Fowles (tel: 01786 446255) or Chris Wond (tel:
01786 446250) at Forth Valley Food Links
Cultivating Communities
(CSA) conference - Finding our Food Culture
The final conference of the Cultivating Communities Project
Abbey Home Farm, Burford Road, Cirencester, Gloucs, 10 –
12 September 2004
Aims are:
* To explore the impact of food culture on sustainable agriculture
and communities
* To encourage local food activism
* To provide a networking opportunity for Community Supported
Agriculture groups and food activists
For further information and bookings contact Lucy on:
T: 0117 9142425
E: lwallis@soilassociation.org
National Farmers
Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) launch
Following the successful merger of the Farm Retail Association
and the
National Association of Farmers Markets, the new organisation
FARMA will be
launched at this year's Royal Show (4-7 July). FARMA has also
been invited
to set-up a farmers' market at the show as part of the Sustainable
Farming
and Food feature in the concourse between Halls 1 & 2. For
more
information telephone: 0845 230 2150.
source: Eat the View
JOBS
Hospital food officer
London Food Link/Soil Association Hospital
Food Project Co-ordinator F/T, initially 1.5 years, based in London,
£25,410 Sustain, working with the Soil Association, is looking
for a dynamic individual to take over co-ordination of a pioneering
scheme to increase the proportion of local and/or organic food
in London’s hospitals. Applicants will be graduates with
some experience of food and farming sectors, able to manage projects
to tight deadlines and budgets, and ideally with some knowledge
of public sector catering. Please send a CV and covering letter
to Vicki Hird, London Food Link, 94 White Lion Street, London
N1 9PF, mailto:vh@sustainweb.org or visit www.londonfoodlink.org.
Closing date: 9th June 2004. For more details and a job description,
see website or send a 42p s.a.e.
Adverts
cost £100 (circulation over 1000).
Please send copy to: news@locafood.org.uk
