Environmental News Network

China Launches Food Recall System
Chinaâ€™s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has established a new recall system for food products produced or sold in the country. The regulation requires manufacturers to take the primary responsibility for recalling any problematic food items and to remove the products from the market within one week or less, depending on the severity of the associated health effects. >> Read the Full Article
Fairbank Farms Recalls Beef Patties
Fairbank Farms, a national company that sells ground beef, announced a recall Wednesday of 85 percent lean ground beef patties sold in Shaw's Supermarkets. The ground beef patties, sold fresh under the Shaw's label, could have been purchased by consumers in New England between about 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5. >> Read the Full Article
Climate And Biodiversity Crisis: The Gap Between Research And Policy Should Be Filled
With global diversity increasingly at risk, a mechanism like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is required, argues Michel Loreau. Biodiversity has received increasing attention from scientists, governments and the public since the 'Earth Summit' at Rio de Janeiro and the establishment of the international Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992. There are local conservation successes to celebrate as a result, but global threats to biodiversity are still on the rise. The CBD has failed to reverse this trend for several reasons, but here I focus on one that I believe could be relatively easily addressed. >> Read the Full Article
U.S. farm groups deflect pressure on Doha cuts
U.S. farm groups bristled this week at calls for deeper cuts to American agriculture subsidies, just as trade negotiators urged the United States to do more to break a stubborn stalemate in world trade talks. >> Read the Full Article
Novel insecticidal toxins from bacteria
For further information contact Mrs Michelle Hares, University of Exeter in Cornwall, tel: 01326 253740, fax: 01326 253638, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; >> Read the Full Article
Eco-Tilling Detects Resistance
A new molecular tool developed by Australian and Japanese researchers is expected to help farmers address what has become one of the major threats to conventional agricultural practices - herbicide resistance. More than 305 types of weed in more than 50 countries have been reported to be resistant to at least one herbicide, and an increasing number of weeds owe their success to their genetic diversity. >> Read the Full Article
Mo. Wineries Expect Tiny Harvest
A combination of the Easter freeze and hungry birds has left Missouri's wineries predicting a tiny harvest this year and big economic losses. Vineyards across the state are reporting 85 to 100 percent losses of certain types of grapes, while the overall loss is estimated to be around 60 percent. Agricultural officials are still assessing the damage, but they say losses could total $2 million to $3 million. Wine enthusiasts likely won't see much difference because wineries said they'll buy grapes from other states to make up the difference. But that does little to assuage the economic bite. >> Read the Full Article
Lettuce, leafy greens and E. coli
The rise in year-round consumption of fresh leafy greens such as lettuce and baby spinach is increasing the difficulty of keeping produce free from contamination by food poisoning bacteria, according to US scientists speaking today (Monday 3 September 2007) at the Society for General Microbiologyâ€™s 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK, which runs from 3-6 September 2007. >> Read the Full Article
Environmental effects kept in check on farms
Environmental activists have long criticized pharmaceutical use by hog farmers and veterinarians in treating swine disease, saying pharmaceuticals are being overused and errantly contaminating the environment. But new research from the University of Guelph has shown that environmental contamination from antibiotics does not pose appreciable risks to soil and aquatic organisms. >> Read the Full Article
Experts Urge Gene Bank of Rare Livestock Breeds to Ensure Healthy Diversity
Precious genetic material that could protect farm animals from future threats posed by disease and climate change might be lost unless action is taken to protect rare breeds from extinction, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Monday. >> Read the Full Article