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2008

November Supplying sustainable and innovative food and drink solutions Association of Applied Biologists Nov 4 York Call for papers by Sept 15.

October Chatham House Conference Food Security in 21st century on global food supply governance - what is the problem and where are the solutions? No cheap seats.

July Charlie spoke at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, along with Joanna Blythman and Tim Lang, in discussion on 'Tolpuddle to Tescos'.

June

High Level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. June 3-5 Rome FAO (Food & Agriculture Organisation). "This High-Level Conference has become even more timely in light of soaring food prices and the additional challenges this situation poses to achieving global food security". IISD Coverage

The role of science, policy and the food chain in identifying opportunities for growing produce in Britain's future climate. Warwick HRI - Defra Innovation Network A One-day Conference on 18 June 2008 at Hilton, Kensington, London

May CSD-16 (UN Commission on Sustainable Develeopment) Session New York on Agriculture: 'Food Crisis could have been avoided', caused by "a lack of investment in agriculture over a long period,"
CSD Delegates

Countdown to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) & Climate Change and the Food Industry 19-21 May Presentations.

April

Parliamentary debate on Supermarkets April 24

'How agricultural knowledge, science, and technology...can reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihoods and nutrition, and facilitate equitable, environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development'. The intergovernmental body responsible is called IAASTD, & involves 110 countries. Look out in New Scientist for row as Syngenta walked out.

Follow UK's International Development Committee inquiry into World Food Programme & Global Food Security.

March

Carbon Accounting for Land Managers (CALM) is a web-based calculator to help land managers work out the balance of greenhouse gases emitted by their farming business, and carbon stored in their trees and soil.

RELU conduct "Great Land Use Debate" during Science Week March 7-14 - as farmland prices rising fast (see Savills Spring Survey). Make your response to whether we have the right balance between land for food & environment

February

Local Food Schemes can now access £50 million funding for Local Food

Cadbury's calculate carbon footprint of one of their chocolate bars.

The Cooperative launch new Food Ethical Policy, which mentions "new online pesticide portal website" - and here it is - produced by EP@W

Sustain launch new web based giude: "Sustainable Food"

Nitrous Oxide - No laughing matter! Nitrous Oxide Focus Group (Presentations at launch in Feb). New Nitrate Vulnerable Zones cover 70% of UK waters as part of implementation of Nitrates Directive.

Food Environmental Efficiency Day 2008 February 5

January

Our Food Economy - Are we connected yet? DEFRA Conference Proceeedings (ppt pdfs)

Should McDonald's serve up academic qualifications? McDonald's has been given "Awarding Body" status. Vote @ BBC as McDonald's transforms itself!

Year of Food & Farming Megamap is designed to 'help schools make connections with local inititiatives'. Find your local initiatives.

Compulsory Cooking classes for pupils puts the emphasis on 'making sure pupils can master simple, healthy recipes using fresh ingredients'.

Co-operative College's Fair and Square survey is asking you about how more information may help consumers and cooperative members make a difference.

2007

DECEMBER

The Economist spells out 'The end of cheap food".

McDonald's sees 'Restauarants as green laboratories'.

Unite, the UK Farmworkers' Union, ask M&S customers to "Look behind the label" at the conditions of workers producing their meat products. YouTube video of the lobby in London. International Union asks for your support. Photo Mark Thomas in 'The (last TGWU) Record'

BBC News explores 'the complex story behind the global food supply chain and its impact on the environment. "Mad about Food" & Your Questions

IFPRI Conference Beiijing: Biannual Overview of the World Food Situation shows new driving forces - income growth, climate change, high energy prices, globalization, and urbanization that are transforming food consumption, production, and markets.

Rachel Carson lecture asks awkward questions in food policy - "Food Security or Food Democracy?" (lecture slides pdf)

Local Food Company becomes Green Business of the Year

NOVEMBER

Nestlé, Tyson, others developing sustainability indicators specific to the food processing industry.

Sainsbury's to use only sustainable palm oil in their products and sell first Equitrade product (more on Equitrade).

Benn's (Sectretary of State) vision for the Future of Farming.

Food Waste, Consumers & Resource Efficiency Conference from Resource Recovery Forum - All presentations available, well worth signing in.

Strategy Unit Project on Food & Food Policy in UK is 1st government investigation for 60 yrs into the security of Britain's food supply amid fears that the era of cheap prices is coming to an end. More in Observer article by Mathiason

OCTOBER

'Grow Sheffield' Conference takes forward urban food growing. And students at Shefield Hallam count carbon to make a sandwich.

International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council: Sustainability in Food and Agriculture - Role of Private Sector and Government Stratford Oct 07. See our Report

Big Food Debate Liverpool Oct 18.

Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) will apply mandatory emissions trading to cut carbon emissions for larger organisations including supermarkets & hotel chains.

Sustainable Agriculture Conference EU Agriculture Commissioner to open in November 07.

SEPTEMBER

Forum for the Future map out problems for retailers becoming more sustainable by 2020.

FFRAF Report forecasting food rural and agri futures examines 4 scenarios - climate crisis, energy crisis, food crisis and cooperation with nature, for future of Europe.

JUNE

Food Industry Sustainability Strategy produces Champions Group Reports including CSR, Energy & Climate Change, Ethical Trading, Transportation, Water, & Waste

MAY

Food Standards Agency opens consultation on Food Competency Framework - food skills and knowledge for young people.

Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) launch new web site with page outlining what food industry doing for the climate. Loads of links to organisations and reports relating with Food and Climate Change

FEBRUARY

Wal-Mart's "Sustainability 360" campaign has a six path strategy that "focuses on its own environmental footprint and that of its 60,000 suppliers. It has big ambitions to cut the waste sent to landfill, build more energy efficient stores and take "a hard look at what is on our shelves".

JANUARY

“Green Grocer? Tesco, Carbon and the Consumer” spells out how Tesco will begin the search for a universally accepted and commonly understood measure of the carbon footprint of the products sold and will take the first steps towards developing a Sustainable Consumption Institute to lead this work.

Marks & Spencer launch Plan A - 'there is no Plan B'. This 100-point plan means that by 2012 M&S will become carbon neutral, send no waste to landfill, extend sustainable sourcing, set new standards in ethical trading, help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle.

2006
December

3 days before Christmas, DEFRA published analysis of Food Security in the UK. It examines the consequences of "the return of globalisation and other economic trends that have weakened self-sufficiency arguments".

November

DEFRA launches Year of Food and Farming in Education, "an industry-led initiative aimed at helping children and young people learn more about how food is grown and produced and how it reaches the consumer." More on David Milliband's Blog "Schools into Farms"

Food Ethics Council spells out Six challenges for the future of farming and food - some of the stickiest questions facing farm policy in the run up to further CAP reforms. This links to an online debate about the future of food and farming at Sustainable Development Commission

September

Farm Subsidy - Find out who gets what from the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy. You can find out how much a local farm gets, the biggest farm, and manfacturers - for many countries across Europe.

Greening Supermarkets - Report from National Consumer Council rates the top eight UK supermarkets on their environmental credentials. The research used indicators that spot-checked practices that can help supermarkets customers become greener shoppers.

TUC Congress (Motion 43) decides to: "promote healthy eating campaigns through workplaces to benefit the health of workers and to support them in guiding their children"

Sustainable Use of Pesticides - new EU Directive/Regulation requires all Member States to establish national action plans and create a system of awareness-raising and training of all professional users, that includes integrated pest management and organic principles. (in Pesticide Information)