Thursday 8 January 2015 10:29

The Soil Association has hit back at suggestions that organic farming could be worse for the environment than conventional farming methods.

Climate expert Lord John Krebs told the Oxford Farming Conference on Wednesday (7 January) that organic farming might do more damage to the environment due to increased land required and carbon released from the soil.

The fact is organic farming is, in general, less productive per hectare than conventional farming and if we want to produce more organic food we need more land to do it, which releases more carbon into the atmosphere, he said.

See also: Only 100 harvests left in UK farm soils, scientists warn

Lord Krebs, who advises the government on climate change policy, argued that agricultural methods, such as minimum or no tillage, could help to protect and manage soils and store carbon to prevent the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

According to the UK government, agriculture is responsible for 9% of the UKs greenhouse gas emissions, from livestock such as cows, fertilisers and soils.

The government has committed to reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) by at least 80% by 2050.

But Lord Krebs warned agricultures proportion of GHGs could rise to 30% if no action is taken.

In his lecture, Climate Change Challenge or Opportunity, Lord Krebs also called for a smarter use of nitrogen fertiliser and said benefits from the environment could arise from the use GM crops.

Read more here:
Soil Association bemused by organic farming criticism

Published January 07, 2015

The annual Consumer Electronics Show is one of the biggest high-tech events in of the year. And while many flock to see the high-flying drones and 3D gaming, there are some futuristic food-related gadgets that will take your cooking to the next level.

From an organic food sensor to a belt that self-adjusts after a heavy meal, these innovations are definitely giving consumers some food for thought-- literally.

If you're in Las Vegas, head down to the Strip by Jan. 9 to take in the action.

Smart Diet Scale unveiled a prototype for this revolutionary device at last year's CES but now the newly patented version is making its debut. Portion control can be difficult for dieters and this scale promises to take the guesswork out of calorie counting and nutrition guidelines for good. Simply place an item on the scale and the smart sensors do the work-- sending a full nutritional profile to your smartphone within seconds. The scale currently recognizes over 300,000 food items and 80,000 restaurant dishes.

After any holiday meal, many people know all too well the feeling of gut-busting fullness. But it turns out that manually loosening a pants button or letting that fly down a little is actually way too much work. French technology company Emiota has devised Bel-T, a wearable device that actually adjusts to your size automatically as you get fuller. Is this the epitome of laziness or the future of smart clothing?

Is that apple really pesticide free? Or has that fish been treated with potentially harmful antibiotics? Now pure food enthusiasts will no longer have to rely on confusing labels to pick their produce or meats. The Penguin food sensor from Korean company BioSensor Laboratories measures various traces of chemicals, including pesticides and acid, as well as antibiotics commonly used to treat meat, poultry and fish.The high-tech sensors just need a small bit of food to read and results are ready within minutes. This handy device could really revolutionize the organic food game if it works.

Could this mean the end of water cooler talk in the office? Water cooler manufacturer Little Luxury has patented the worlds first Mini Water Cooler that filters and cools faucet water using a more energy-efficient cooling system-- and a brand newVitality filter that purportedly removes more toxic metals then your everyday filter.Unlike traditional water coolers, this freestanding device can be transported anywhere and kept on a kitchen counter or even one's desk at work.

From the company that brought us the first smartphone-compatible breathalyzer, comes what may be the world's first official bad breath detector. Breathometer is unleashing MINT, a tiny whistle-like device that detects your body's hydration levels as well as sensing bad odors in your mouth. The device works by sensing sulfuric compounds present in your mouth and provides a reading within seconds.No longer will we have to rely on our friends after chugging that cup of coffee or chomping down on garlic to confirm we need a mint.

This machine isn't your average preset coffee maker. It actually talks back to you. The coffee machine made by Smarter can grind fresh beans and adjust water levels to customize your cup every morning. Remotely check on water levels and check in when you're on the go to see if you need to pick up more beans. The machine will be available in the U.K. in March and retails for $150.

More:
Food gadgets of the future

HIGH DEMAND.DA 7 Director Angel Enriquez says there is a high demand for organic food.(SUN.STAR FILE)

WITH a growing health-conscious market in Cebu, officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 encouraged farmers to venture into organic farming.

DA 7 Director Angel Enriquez and regional crop protection center chief Wilberto Castillo said the high value placed on organic products in supermarkets should encourage farmers to consider organic farming.

There is a high demand for organic food. There is money in natural farming (because the products) command a premium price. We need to maximize this opportunity, Enriquez said. He said medical professionals, particularly doctors, are the major markets for organic goods. Some doctors she knows have started growing their food organically, and even others, turned them into businesses.

Organic goods are yields from farming practices that are not dependent on synthetic agro-chemicals. Advocates believe that crops grown organically are healthier and safer to eat, unlike products of conventional farming that make use of chemicals to grow and protect crops.

Funds

In a previous interview with Castillo, the official said DA 7 allotted P19 million for organic farming last year. The funds were available for grants to organic growers and a portion of which was used for organic farming seminars.

Castillo noted a minimal presence of organic farms in Cebu. In the next few years, he said the region is targeting at least five percent of the regions produce to be organic.

Philippine Organic Agricultural Act of 2010 or RA 10068 promotes organic agriculture.

Read the rest here:
DA 7 tells farmers to go organic

A Colorado-based organic grocery store is opening its doors in Gainesville this week.

Luckys Market, a full-line grocery store located at 1409 NW 23rd Ave., is having its soft opening today. A ceremony with live music, free giveaways and food samples from local vendors will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, said store director Garris Matthews.

This is the stores first location in Florida, although the franchise plans on expanding throughout the state, he said. The store will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

Its a unique grocery store, offering high quality, affordable, local, natural and traditionally crafted foods, he said. Were making it a really comfortable setting.

Although the store mainly offers organic food, it also offers a variety of conventional food, too.

We dont want to confine people to that, Matthews said. Its a one-stop shop for everybody.

Matthews said UF attracted the chain to Gainesville as Luckys lends itself to consumers who are conscious of what they eat and how food affects the body.

The company is passionate about giving back to the community and has donated $25,000 to Bread of The Mighty Food Bank and Grace Marketplace. Matthews said there will also be a $2,000 donation to a voted-upon individual or community group each month.

Wards Supermarket, a family-owned, organic grocery store located about half a mile from Luckys, is preparing for the added competition, said owner Trish Ward.

It is certainly a concern for us any time a new store opens, especially one thats as close as this is to us, Ward said. Weve done everything we can to prepare for it.

Read more here:
Luckys Market soft opening Jan. 6

What stood out in this Fast Company magazine article (http://tiny.cc/) were the survey statistics:

-- 70% of those surveyed said they buy some organic food but only 20% thought they knew what organic means.

-- 59% expressed concern about GMOs but only 32% could define GMO.

Now, granted, the sample size was small. BFG, the agency that conducted the study, interviewed 300 shoppers, most of them younger than 35.

But does anyone really doubt the survey? Maybe not the precise numbers, but the direction, seems right. Other studies have sounded a similar note: Everyone eats but few know much about food (http://tiny.cc/).

That's hardly a shocking notion. There's a lot to know about a lot of things in this bewildering world; no one can master more than the smallest part of it all. If we're honest with ourselves, most of us would admit that we've bought a product or voted for a candidate or judged an acquaintance based on sketchy information -- even no information.

Which raises a question: When we lack the necessary information, what substitutes for facts? Opinions, for one thing. People may not know what organic food is but they "know" it's good for them. They may not know what a GMO is but they "know" GMOs are bad.

Which raises another question, one that preoccupies marketers, politicians, public-relations people and psychologists: Where do our opinions come from? What makes us embrace one view and reject another?

Whole books have been written on this, but a simple way to think about it is to imagine yourself in a wine store. Even if you're an oenophile, chances are you won't know much about many of the bottles. How do you decide what to buy?

One way is to trust the wine merchant. He spends his whole day dealing in wine; if he recommends a particular Cabernet, he must know something about it. He's an authority.

Read more from the original source:
What Wine and Organic Food Have in Common