Entries for the 2019 Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award, South Africa’s most prestigious accolade for restaurants contributing to more socially and environmentally responsible practices, are officially open. Introduced in 2016, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges the restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and ethically sourced produce … [Read more...]
Fight to preserve fertile Cape Flats farmland
Those who want land are not necessarily after a big, remote farm. We visited three urban farming ventures to find out what it means to farm in the Philippi Horticultural Area. A community-based organisation, the PHA Food and Farming Campaign, is challenging further development in the area in the Western Cape High Court. Read the full article at News24. … [Read more...]
How do cow farts affect global warming?
In the climate change debate, some policymakers seem to be bovine flatulence deniers. This became apparent in the fuss over the United States' Green New Deal put forward by some liberal Democrats. More precisely, the fuss over an information sheet by the plan's advocates. With tongue in cheek or foot in mouth, depending on whom you ask, the statement's authors said that … [Read more...]
Partners collaborate for community learning and food security
We are very excited to announce the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, which will demonstrate ecologically-restorative methods of growing nutrient-rich foods to improve community food security. Woolworths has joined hands with its supplier, Spier wine farm; the Sustainability Institute and its AgroEcology Academy to launch the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, in the … [Read more...]
War Chemical 2,4 D GM maize: coming to our plates soon
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has published a briefing paper titled, ‘South Africa and 2,4 D GM maize: Biosafety and Socio-economic risks’, exposing ongoing risky technological developments with South Africa’s staple food – maize. It exposes that plans are underfoot to commercially grow genetically modified (GM) maize resistant to the war chemical, 2, D (event … [Read more...]
SA targeted for testing of risky new gene silencing technology
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has lodged an objection against Pioneer Hi-Bred’s application for field trials of RNAi /gene silencing (DP-566113-9) GM maize, since the risks to the health of the environment and humans is, as yet, unknown. Just as most people were going on holiday, on 21 December 2018, Pioneer Hi-Bred advertised in the Citizen newspaper its … [Read more...]
No protection for Cape Town’s breadbasket even after drought
The Philippi Horticulture Area (PHA) Campaign - who host hundreds of UCT and foreign students a year and was presenting at this year's conference - has withdrawn from the Agroecology for the 21st Century Conference in Cape Town this week. The event is taking place at the Centre of the Book, Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town CBD 28, 29, 30 January 2019. The PHA Campaign and … [Read more...]
Sustainable palm oil-certified pies a step in the right direction
Most responsible consumers are worried about the environmental, animal and social destruction of palm oil plantations and wonder how to negotiate their shopping without adding to the damage. Woolworths pies are the first South African food products to be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Early in 2018, Woolworths launched South Africa’s first … [Read more...]
Food security campaign launched on World Food Day
The One Small Spoon campaign echoes the theme of today’s 2018 World Food Day, ‘Our actions are our future’ and emphasises that if we come together we can solve seemingly intractable problems such as hunger. Woolworths celebrates World Food Day with the launch of the One Small Spoon campaign to unite its employees, customers, suppliers, farmers, and other partners in a … [Read more...]
Food store employees assist with local schools’ food gardens
In celebration of this year’s World Food Day’s theme – ‘Our Actions are our Future’, volunteer groups of Woolworths employees from across the country have rolled up their sleeves and gone to work with learners in local schools permaculture food gardens. For most employees it will be the first time that they are participating in an EduPlant volunteer day. The schools were … [Read more...]
The search for SA’s most sustainable restaurant is now on
Entries are now open for the country’s most prestigious accolade for sustainable restaurants. Launched in 2016 as a first for South Africa, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges a restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We launched the award to acknowledge the one restaurant leading the pack in South Africa,” … [Read more...]
Questioning the status quo with Plastic Free July
I don’t normally participate in special days, or months, for the simple reason that we should be long past devoting a day or a month to the issue of human survival on this planet. What could be more important than that to prioritise on a daily basis? I am devoted to maintaining the water, or energy or waste, or whatever focus EVERY day. But I do understand that it serves a … [Read more...]
New partnership aims to improve nutrition for SA children
Stunting or impaired growth remains prevalent amongst the poorest South African children. This can result in increased episodes of illness, poor cognitive function and poor educational attainment. Woolworths has announced a new partnership with UNICEF South Africa to help increase South African children’s access to good nutrition. In line with its aim to support … [Read more...]
