News | 01.12.2014

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Issue n°6 November 2014

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY

Novel foods: EP sends clear signals on food from clones and nanomaterials in food
GMO authorisation: 'No must mean no', as MEPs vote to strengthen GMO opt-outs for member states and regions.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

International Congress on nutrition: world leaders commit on sustainable diets fed by sustainable food systems.
Pope Francis: A new inspiration for EU Food policies?
Food Waste at the ‘Waste Reduction Week’ in the European Parliament

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JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF THE MONTH

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WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY

Novel foods: EP sends clear signals on food from clones and nanomaterials in food On 24th November, the European Parliament's environment committee voted on proposals to revise EU rules on novel foods, foods or foodstuffs that only recently started being consumed. The Greens hailed the outcome of the vote, which included very strong provisions on food from clones and the use of nanomaterials in food. Read More GMO authorisation: 'No must mean no', as MEPs vote to strengthen GMO opt-outs for member states and regions. The vote by MEPs of the Environment Committee last 11 November strengthens the grounds on which member states or regions could opt-out from GMO authorisations under the proposed new EU scheme. Read More

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

International Congress on nutrition (ICN2): world leaders commit on sustainable diets fed by sustainable food systems From 19th-21st November, 170 head of states and governments met in Rome for the 2nd edition of the ICN (ICN2). In a Political Declaration, participants to the conference engage to fight global malnutrition. A Framework for Action, compiling 60 recommendations will serve as guide for the implementation of the commitments of the political declaration. We can welcome the fact that participants to the Congress committed in particular to enhance sustainable food systems by developing coherent public policies from production to consumption; in order to meet people's nutrition's need and allow for diversified healthy diet. However, implementation guidelines lack criticism over the functioning of our present global food system and its reliance on chemical inputs and excessive meat consumption. The key role of small farmers is not raised either. Recommendations only provide a set of non-binding policy options and strategies. Governments, as well as international organisations - including the European Union - may incorporate them into their food related plans (health, agriculture, nutrition, investments) and consider in negotiating international agreements. It is push in the right direction that can serve for further development of key issues on the EU agenda: the Juncker Investment Plan, the EC Communication on 'Building a Sustainable Food System' and the EU-US trade agreement (TTIP).

Pope Francis: A new inspiration for EU Food policies?

Despite persistent concerns in matters pertaining to the Catholic Church, the Pope’s message in the European Parliament, last Tuesday 25th November brought reasons for hope for the planet and humankind. At the heart of Pope Francis' speech in the European Parliament: ‘human dignity’. Pope Francis urged EU decision-makers to lower the focus on economic and technical concerns in order to tend better to the needs of individuals and peoples. Lack of concern for human beings and the consumerist logic of present policies inexorably lead to a ‘throwaway culture’, sadly exemplified by the intolerable amount of food waste throughout the food chain. The Pope called for respect for environment and preservation of agricultural resources to stop hunger and give access to food for all. ‘Respect for nature also calls for recognising that man himself is a fundamental part of it; Along with an environmental ecology, there is also need of that human ecology which consists in respect for the person’. Read full speech by Pope Francis

Food Waste at the ‘Waste Reduction Week’ in the European Parliament

The European Week for Waste Reduction is an initiative aiming to promote the implementation of awareness-raising actions about sustainable resource and waste management during a single week. It encourages a wide range of audiences (public authorities, private companies, civil society as well as citizens themselves) to get involved. This year the EWWR took place from 21-29 November. In the European Parliament actions on waste reduction were organised by the EMAS services of the institution. Ulrike Lunacek, Green MEP and Vice-President of the EP in charge of EMAS, took the opportunity of this event to address the fight against Food Waste. She called for the publication of the EC Communication on ’Building a Sustainable Food System’, which has been delayed for several months: ‘In the EU, 89 million tonnes of food waste are generated each year, with a monetary value of about 1100 Euro per ton. And the EU rate of waste is even growing. Food waste is a strong symptom of our broken food chain. To address this problem, a holistic approach to the entire system is needed, from production to consumption.(…). In this respect, I would like to highlight the importance of the European Commission publishing the Communication on ‘Building a Sustainable European Food System’. The publication of this communication will be a positive step towards a truly sustainable food system in the European Union and we wish the new Commission will be willing to take a lead on this issue’. Join our pledge for the publication of communication on ‘Building a Sustainable European Food System’.

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