25 July, 2014
One key to sustainable arable farming
Soil is one of the most important agricultural resources.
High yields and qualities can only be harvested on fertile
soils. Protecting and enhancing soil fertility therefore is an
indispensible prerequisite to produce sustainably in the
long run. Read more…

(Photo: K+S KALI GmbH)

Abstract:
Insect pests and vectors of animal and plant diseases are a major constraint to the improvement of agricultural productivity, and a continuous threat to food security and livelihoods, particularly in less developed countries. The excessive reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides as the prevailing strategy to control pest outbreaks for over 50 years worldwide has showed some limitations with the increasing number of documented cases of field-evolved resistance and re-emergence of pests or vector-borne diseases that had been previously placed under control. More widely, agriculture intensification has contributed to the erosion of crop and livestock genetic diversity and fragmentation or suppression of natural habitats supporting biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services such as insect pest regulation. These concerns are being exacerbated in a context of … Read more…
Authors: Brévault, Thierry; Bouyer, Jérémy
Source: Outlooks on Pest Management, Volume 25, Number 3, June 2014, pp. 212-213(2)

Paul Hayward, farms Cold Harbour Farm, at Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire and was one of the first LEAF Demonstration Farms, engaging people with Integrated Farm Management since 1993, soon after LEAF was founded. Paul recently took part in an EISA (European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture) visit to Germany and here he tells us more about what he saw and learnt. Read more…

(photo: Adrian Legge)

8 July 2014:
EPRUMA has produced a short video featuring its Chairman, Gwyn Jones, who explains the work of EPRUMA and what the Responsible Use of veterinary medicines means.
Gwyn Jones is a UK dairy farmer and a strong advocate of the Responsible Use of veterinary medicines on farm.
See the video by following this link

No 151 – MAY-JUNE 2014
BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE
For many years now, we have argued that private landowners are a vital part of maintaining habitats and biodiversity throughout Europe. We have said that the participation of landowners and managers, when given the right incentives, can foster a new atmosphere of cooperation and good will between different stakeholders. We have pointed to many examples, like our Wildlife Estates, where our members are protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
This is why I am so proud to say that our LIFE+3water project has won the first ever Natura 2000 award … Read more

Ein wegweisendes Jahr für Eh da-Flächen
A groundbreaking year for „Eh da-Areas“

Introduction
In the course of the year 2013 the project of determine the potential at “Eh da-Areas” in agricultural landscapes which is initiated from the Association of the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture (Fördergemeinschaft nachhaltige Landwirtschaft, FNL) could reach sundry milestones. As a reminder: “Eh da-Areas” are areas…
Read more
(Photo: Fg, Text: Institut für Agrarökologie (IfA) / Institute for Agroecology (IfA))

The concept of Sustainable Intensification (SI) is used in the context of feeding a global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050.
The RISE report comprises the first analysis of SI in a European context, and argues it must be the paradigm within which future agricultural policy is made in the EU.
The report makes three key points:

• The agricultural input which needs to be intensified across all of Europe is knowledge per hectare. This means knowledge in managing delicate ecosystems, knowledge to ensure that pollinator populations thrive, knowledge to make water management minimise flooding, as well as knowledge to achieve more food output per hectare.

•  The EU needs to devise a measurement tool for environmental farming performance. It would be strongly preferable to build on an EU-wide set of indicators already developed, for example the Joint Research Centre’s IRENA indicators.

•  In addition to better enforcement of existing environmental regulations, and using policy measures under the CAP, changes in farming practices must also come from farmers and private actors themselves. Many companies up- and downstream   already operate sustainability schemes, some of which are reviewed in the report. These should be strengthened and broadened, with more efforts to monitor and demonstrate their impact.

Full Report available for download at
The Sustainable Intensification of European Agriculture (6 Mb)