Transition Penwith

The Environment Agency has revised and updated its practical guide for farmers and land managers. It provides over 250 tips to help farmers profit by protecting the environment and shows how good management of crops and soils can guard against chemicals and sediment from farmland polluting groundwater, rivers and streams as well as how to protect against costly losses of topsoils, seeds, fertiliser and pesticides.

The twin threats of climate change and unpredictable energy supplies mean that farming systems are shifting to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in a significant move towards higher levels of sustainability and increased responsibility for our actions. During this process, considerable demand will be created for highly skilled and talented individuals as full time and part time farmers, land workers and entrepreneurs.

The annual Food Statistics Pocketbook published today, provides a round-up of statistics on food covering the economic, social and environmental aspects of the food we eat.

It has chapters on:

• Food Chain (beyond agriculture)
• Consumer Demand
• Food Supply and Prices
• Environment
• Health
• Food Safety
• Regional results

Key findings include:

Conference: Feeding the World - Are GM crops fit for purpose?

Awen Productions presents an evening of contemporary films exploring farming, our natural landscape and the people who live and work on it.

The evening is made up of three short films and a main documentary feature made by local Cornish Film makers:

Published by Cornwall Enterprise and prepared by Ruth Huxley, Food Industry Analyst. Sept 2008

Cornwall Enterprise recently published “The Distribution of Cornwall’s Food and Drink”, prepared by Ruth Huxley, Food Industry Analyst.

This is an in-depth study undertaken to investigate the reasons for distribution problems experienced by Cornwall’s agriculture and food businesses and to identify potential solutions.