The future of organic farming in Europe: How the new Regulation tightens the rules New rules on organic farming and production in the EU are set to come into effect at the beginning of 2022. In the first in a series of articles examining the update, legal experts Katia Merten-Lentz, partner at international law firm Keller and Heckman, and Caroline Commandeur, Associate at the same firm, weigh what these new measures will mean for the future of organic food in the bloc.
In line with the growing demand for products derived from natural substances and processes, the EU organic sector increased by 70% in the last ten years. Data from the European Commission shows organic retail sales reached EUR34bn in 2017.
Kerry flags ‘impressive’ health and environmental benefits of sugar reduction: ‘Sugar exacts a large environmental toll’ Taste and nutrition company Kerry has completed a life cycle assessment comparing the environmental impact of its Tastesense Sweet ingredient against the footprint of sugar. The result? “Reducing the consumption of sugar has impressive health and environmental benefits.”
Most of us know that too much sugar is bad for our health. Numerous dietary surveys and mounting calls to reduce sugar intake – alongside regulatory action such as sugar taxes – have ensured that the link between cutting sugar and personal health is firmly established. The World Health Organization, for instance, suggests that free sugar consumption should be less than 10% of dairy energy intake and notes that further reducing free sugars to below 5% of energy intake would deliver additional health benefits.
Indoor farmer unveils latest high-yield concept Infarm has launched new Growing Centres which it says will help tackle the high costs often associated with the sector.
Unlike its rivals in the vertical farming sector, Infarm installs modular mini-farms which are located within supermarkets and restaurants in Germany, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
These are currently available in 10 countries and 30 cities in thousands of stores covering 50,000 m
2 and providing fresh produce to 50% of the world’s largest food retailers including Marks & Spencer, Kroger, Aldi, Amazon, E.Leclerc, Intermarché and Irma.
The Berlin-based company has now unveiled new high-capacity, cloud-connected Growing Centers, which it calls a major step in its efforts to accelerate the benefits to people and planet by building a scalable, sustainable and resilient global farming network.
UK food makers surpass CO₂ reduction targets 5 years early, set new goals Members of the Food and Drink Federation have achieved a 55% reduction in CO₂ emissions five years ahead of schedule, prompting a revision of sustainability targets.
2021 marks five years since the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents manufacturers in the UK, launched its Ambition 2025 project.
Ambition 2025 challenges FDF members to achieve sustainability targets across a range of areas, including carbon, food waste, packaging, and water.
Yesterday (23 February), the membership organisation released its 2020 progress report, revealing ‘exceptional progress’ in some areas, and prompting a revaluation of its sustainability targets.
CBD businesses raided as regulatory confusion reigns While the CBD market scrambles to prepare for the March Novel Foods deadline, products are being seized and retailers arrested in Ireland amid mass confusion over the law, with one retailer taking the authorities to court for their actions.
JP O’Brien is a health-focused entrepreneur who moved from Australia to Ireland with his wife and baby in 2018 to set up a small CBD cafe, Little Collins CBD Dispensary, with the hope of flourishing under EU regulations. But this has been far from the case.
His cafe has been raided on several occasions and his home raided once. He tells NutraIngredients his customers have even been threatened with arrest at their homes after gardaí (the national police service of the Republic of Ireland) intercepted his online orders.