Sustainable Food Conferences

LATEST FOOD REPORTS
relating to Health and Environment

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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)