Food companies are acting far too slowly to clean up their soy procurement practices while new standards for responsible soy may not go far enough, say campaigners.
As Syria’s conflict continues, its livestock sector weakens. Now facing a fifth year of civil war, livestock levels are down on even on 2014’s paltry levels, with the sector facing a shortage of fodder, veterinary vaccines and available pastureland.
Food and drink manufacturers could reduce costs and improve their environmental footprint by developing new sustainable technologies as a result of the UK’s first big data centre of excellence for Agrimetrics at Rothamstead, Hertfordshire.
PepsiCo will highlight its sustainability progress across its most significant areas: water, packaging, waste, energy and agriculture at Gulfood Manufacturing 2015, in Dubai, this week (October 27).
The food industry must focus on seven key objectives in order to boost production and increase availability and access to food “significantly” over the next decade to meet the demands of a growing global population, according to Rabobank.
Organic standards in Europe will not be tightened up to include more stringent animal welfare requirements, following a vote yesterday by the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee.
EU organic legislation was supposed to dynamise the sector – but with the agricultural committee’s proposal yesterday deemed another status quo by organic groups, is future investment in the organic sector being compromised by the uncertainty?
With more than a quarter of all EU energy consumption, and a lower share of renewable energy than other industries, the European food sector must focus on sustainable use of energy, warns a new report.
Commodity prices are low and steadily falling according to the FAO – but this boon to food security comes at a cost to farmers and threatens to create a sluggish, unresponsive farming sector, it says.
Russia’s government aims to subsidise the cost of poultry, red meat and some other foods by 30-50% for 15-16 million of the country’s poorest citizens.
Transparency on sustainability needs to go beyond data on packaging if it is to really engage consumers, says Nescafé, as it partners with Google to launch a virtual reality coffee experience.
Food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture are vital to achieving the entire set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, FAO director-general José Graziano da Silva has warned.
Hassad subsidiary Zulal Oasis plans to supply up to 70% of Qatar’s vegetable demand with home-grown produce by 2023, through the use of patented greenhouse technology.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is developing an open-access database to measure water usage in the Middle East and North Africa, to improve water productivity and reduce scarcity issues.
The Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will develop a single food market policy in order to avoid unfair competition between the players involved and replace import supplies worth a total of US$ 42 billion, according to recent statements by EEU...
A ban on genetically modified (GM) crops in Scotland would seriously undermine the nation’s food and drink industry, warn nearly 30 leading organisations.
Food companies need to better safeguard their supply chains against climate shocks, according to an independent report for the Global Food Security programme.
Severe drought in Moldova already led to the acute shortage of feed grain, and the situation may significantly worsen within the coming months, the country’s officials and market participants indicate.
Calls for a meat tax in Sweden have resurfaced two years after its government ruled out the Swedish Board of Agriculture's suggestion that such a tax could curb consumption and reduce environmental impact.
Consumers must pressure retailers and manufacturers to ensure bread does not contain glyphosate, says the Soil Association – but all traces are below safe limits, insists industry.
An increasing number of commercial organic operations could be contributing to higher levels of greenhouse gases coming from each acre of farm land, say researchers who warn that organic food production needs to take the right direction on emissions.
The first two Iranian companies have received approval to export poultry products to Russia, according to Hooman Fathi, director-general, Bureau of International Affairs and Specialised Organisations at Iran’s Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called for "urgent concerted policy responses" to deal with the growing threat of climate change to global food security.
Commercial foraging is on the rise, influencing mainstream flavour trends and giving companies a sense of heritage, say market analysts - but is it as eco-friendly as it seems?
French ecology minister Ségolène Royal has apologised for urging a Nutella boycott over its palm oil content after learning that parent brand Ferrero uses sustainably sourced palm oil.
The Mediterranean diet has been held up as a model of healthy eating around the world, but the region itself is seeing a shift away from traditional diets, threatening health and the environment, says the FAO.
Wessanen has undergone a huge transformation over the past 15 years in its goal to become Europe’s largest healthy and sustainable food company – and has cut its revenue by 90% in the process.
Conflict in Yemen has pushed even more people into food insecurity, and growing shortages of food, water and fuel mean the country is facing imminent catastrophe, according to aid agencies.
During the first quarter of 2015, Russia produced 1.545 million tonnes (t) of meat, 15.2% more than in the same period last year, according to an official report from the country’s Agricultural Ministry.
An Egyptian wheat farming education programme from Mondelez and Care has seen farmers boost their wheat crops more than 10% each year, with some doubling their harvests.
Global food import costs are set to reach their lowest level in five years during 2015, even as volumes remain the same or rise slightly, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Special Edition: Beyond 2020 - The future of sustainable cocoa
The chocolate industry must ramp up support for good agricultural practices on existing cocoa farmland or else rainforest will be chopped down to make way for new plantations and it may face supply constraints, say stakeholders.
Europe needs to talk about moving down the food chain to feed people more efficiently and beat climate change, says renowned US economist and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin.
A single, unifying sustainability standard would be helpful for consumers – but it’s a long way off, says Organic Monitor president and founder Amarjit Sahota.
A Canadian union has claimed meat and slaughter sites in Quebec are operating with fewer inspectors than required to ensure compliance with safety requirements.
Water is likely to be sufficient for food production in 2050 – but increased competition means two-thirds of the world will be affected by water scarcity, according to a joint report from the FAO and the World Water Council.
More sustainable production is needed to ensure food and nutrition for future generations, but sustainability faces hidden threats, claims the Worldwatch Institute.
Russia has seen a number of further restrictions on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), as the State Duma has started to consider a new bill, which could add a number of amendments to the relevant legislation.
Eight of the 10 biggest multinational food companies have improved their food security and sustainability policies over the past year – but all must do more to put their commitments into practice, says Oxfam’s latest Behind the Brands report.
European food companies are illegally grabbing land from smallhold farmers in Africa as part of the G8 New Alliance project, says an Action Aid report published this month.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says it is committed to supporting Yemeni agriculture and will remain active in the country, despite growing instability.
