Join the Food Revolution Newsletter
Issue n°7 December 2014
GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY
GMO authorisation: New scheme fails to changed flawed GMO authorisation process
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
EU Sustainable food strategy: Join the Growing call for action!
Conference in Lithuania: "Food export markets - obscurity or new opportunities?"
French organic vinemaker discharged : one battle against pesticide won
JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF THE MONTH
Every month food actors who joined the 'Join the Food Revolution' network share their story, showing the way to take back control over your plate –
WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?
Upcoming Events
GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY
GMO authorisation
New scheme fails to changed flawed GMO authorisation process
On 17th December, the European Parliament's environment committee voted to endorse an agreement on a new scheme for the authorisation of genetically-modified organisms in the EU. The Greens voted against the new scheme, as it would renationalise decisions about GMO cultivation instead of reforming the risk assessment process for GMOs, which is urgently needed
Video: Yes to biodiversity, No to GMOs!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
EU Sustainable food strategy : Join the Growing call for action!
On 11th December, at the final conference on the LiveWell project held its last conference to conclude the first phase of this project. On this occasion organisations taking part to the project called participants to the event to sign up LiveWell call to action urging the European Commission to:
• Present the Communication ‘Building a Sustainable European Food System’ within the first half of 2015.
• Develop a clear EU policy strategy and implementation plan to build a sustainable, healthy and climate-friendly food system by 2030.
• Facilitate cooperation between European stakeholders from different sectors to encourage the adoption of healthy and sustainable food consumption patterns.
Stakeholders can sign up to the call to action until 30 January, after which it will be sent to the Commission.
This action from civil society complements the coordinated action of MEPs from the Greens/EFA Group and other political Groups to call for the publication of the EC Communication. Several members recently signed a letter urging the Commission to take action on the issue of sustainable food. Let's hope this joint action will be positively considered by the new Commission. We will face many challenges over the next five years and the publication of this Communication will be considered by MEPs and European citizens alike as a positive step in the right direction for EU food security.
Read More on How to join the LiveWell call to action
Read more about MEPs common action
Conference in Lithuania: "Food export markets - obscurity or new opportunities?"
On10th December Bronis Ropė, Greens/EFA member from Lithuania organised the conference "Food export markets - obscurity or new opportunities?" in the Lithuanian Government in Vilnius. The conference focused on two main issues: the Russian embargo and the African swine fewer. The event also raised several discussions about the future of farming in Lithuania. In a country were organic farms were already very weak because of low farmers’ income and low sale on the local market, the Russian embargo made the situation even worse. Today, Lithuanian organic farmers are not sure about their future.
French organic vinemaker discharged : one battle against pesticides won
In April this year, Emmanuel Giboulot, organic winemaker from Dijon, was convicted for refusing to use a mandatory treatment on his Burgundy vines as a precautionary measure against 'flavescence doree' disease, which some have compared to the deadly phylloxera bug that devastated vineyards in 19th Century Europe. The judgement has sparked debate in the French media (and some European and US media) about whether Giboulot was right and allowed to raise once more the problems linked to the use of pesticides, with France being the first user of pesticides in Europe.
On 4th December, Emmanuel Giboulot was discharged by the appeal court of Dijon.
JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF THE MONTH
RE-FOOD is a non-profit association, based in Portugal and getting growing ground around Europe. It serves meals to local communities and share part of the food cooked with those in needs. How to do that well? RE-FOOD plates are smaller than the usual and the 20% of the plate missing is the part redistributed to people in need!
Get to know more about, volunteer for RE-FOOD and Join the Food Revolution yourself!
WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?
17/01: ‘We are fed up!’ Demonstration, Berlin
29/01: The CAP Communication Networking Event, Brussels, Belgium
