He founded an ethical dairying company that would allow calves to stay with their mothers. Last week, Glenn Herud had to admit that his enterprise had failed. I’m a third generation dairy farmer. The milk business is the only business I know. Four years ago I decided to find a way to do dairy in a more sustainable way. I know New Zealanders want this. They want the land … [Read more...]
Popular seafood restaurant urged to abandon single-use plastic
Greenpeace has launched a campaign urging Ocean Basket to expand its commitment to the environment by investing in biodegradable or reusable alternatives. The following single-use plastic items should be abandoned: Plastic, polystyrene and other non-recyclable containers Plastic bags Condiments in plastic sachets and/ or other in non-recyclable packaging … [Read more...]
Six die from listeriosis-tainted corn in Europe
Nearly 200 people have died from listeriosis since January 2017 in South Africa. Ready-to-eat meat products have been blamed for the biggest outbreak of listeria the world has seen. In recent weeks countries like Australia, Namibia and now Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom have recorded listeria cases. In the most recent case, 32 people have fallen … [Read more...]
How to stop pesticide spraying in your area
The spraying of agricultural chemicals is widespread, not just on farmlands, vineyards and fruit orchards, but also in towns, public parks and gardens, playgrounds, schools, sportsfields and on verges. These notes may help you, should you find yourself exposed to spray drift. There are a few laws in South Africa that protect people and the environment: Fertilizers, farm … [Read more...]
UK government’s hypocrisy over ‘nerve agent’ spy poisoning
Anyone seeing the sight of the specialists investigating the nerve agent attack in Salisbury totally cocooned from head to toe in the most advanced chemical protective equipment and gas mask style respirators, will have raised an eyebrow or two. Not only because of the spaceman style appearance, but most strikingly because of the sight of innocent members of the public, with no … [Read more...]
Triple stacked GM maize destined for SA food
South Africa’s staple food, maize, could soon be loaded with new combinations of foreign genes, and sprayed with new cocktails of agrochemicals. Agribusiness giant, Dow, is applying to South African authorities for the right to sell yet another GM maize variety for cultivation and ultimately consumption. The variety in question is designated as MON 89034 x TC1507 x NK603. It … [Read more...]
Four countries suspend SA meat imports after listeriosis outbreak
Four countries in southern Africa on Monday took steps against South African chilled meat imports made at a factory found to be the origin of the world's worst-ever listeria outbreak. Mozambique and Namibia announced they were immediately suspending imports of the products. Botswana said it was recalling the items "with immediate effect", while Zambia called on South African … [Read more...]
Tons of recalled meat is headed for public landfill sites
The recall of millions of tons of possible listeria infected cold meat is set to create another crisis – when it is dumped at hundreds of public landfill sites scattered across the country. Disposing of the cold meats in this way could spell "disaster", said Pieter Kruger from the Waste Group. The City of Cape Town and Tshwane confirmed to Business Insider South Africa that … [Read more...]
Leading pesticide destroys healthy microbes in humans and soil
We're only beginning to learn the importance of healthy gut bacteria to our overall health—and the relationship between healthy soil and the human microbiome. We know that the human microbiome, often referred to as our "second brain," plays a key role in our health, from helping us digest the food we eat, to boosting our brain function and regulating our immune … [Read more...]
Cape stone fruit farmers develop water wise strategy
There has been very little relief from the drought that has been plaguing the Western Cape for the majority of 2017. South African producers have been forced to implement drastic, and sometimes ingenious plans, to counter climatic conditions and ensure that they will be able to see the season through, in some cases, with very limited irrigation water. However, they have … [Read more...]
Fresh bounty in demand at New Zealand eco farm
For Frank van Steensel and Josje Neerincx, the biggest milestone in 20 years of developing their eco farm is the interest their four children have in their steadily expanding business, Wairarapa Eco Farms. After buying an 8ha bare piece of land on the Tauherenikau Plains in 1996, the couple have called Wairarapa home ever since. They moved from The Netherlands to New … [Read more...]
Livestock methane emissions underestimated according to new study
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from livestock are larger than previously thought, posing an additional challenge in the fight to curb global warming, scientists said Friday. Revised calculations of methane produced per head of cattle show that global livestock emissions in 2011 were 11 percent higher than estimates based on data from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel … [Read more...]
Only 23% of SA toddlers eat a proper diet
The latest major health survey from Stats SA reveals that only 23 percent of South African toddlers are fed a diet considered to be adequate in terms of child nutrition. This is a figure which should concern us all: its implications for the future development of this demographic cohort are frightening. As a new book by agricultural economist Dr Tracy Ledger makes clear, at … [Read more...]
