Brussels, 18 November 2015
European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2015:
EPRUMA calls on the EU institutions to adopt a science-based antibiotic policy from a One-Health perspective
EPRUMA reiterates its commitment to promoting the Responsible Use of veterinary medicines, including antibiotics, and calls on the EU institutions to adopt a science-based antibiotic policy from a One-Health approach. Read more …
November 2015
SAI Platform and Foundation Skylark have been collaborating for years. The two organizations share the same goal of promoting sustainable agriculture. They have organized joint workshops and field visits and exchange ideas and tools.
This summer, the Skylark approach was benchmarked against the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) of SAI Platform. The outcome was ‘equivalent to FSA Silver ’, which combined with some additional measures can result in ‘equivalent to FSA Gold’. Read more …
On their 10th anniversary, EPRUMA animal health operators launch new guidance document for the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals
Brussels, 10 November 2015 – Members of the European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (EPRUMA) celebrate today 10 years of collective action to ensure best practice in animal health. EPRUMA reinforces its commitment to work together with policy and decision makers and all parties concerned at European and national levels, to promote responsible use as part of a holistic approach to disease prevention and control, and to support animal health and welfare. Read more …
November 2015
Last week, the farming industry came together at LEAF’s Annual Conference to discuss what is required to address the challenges of climate change, population growth and growing health issues, and the vital role LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has to play. Speakers and delegates, including representatives from agriculture, industry and academia, were united in the belief that science, research and innovation will be key to driving forward change. Read more…
October 2015
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a partner organisation in SIP (Sustainable Intensification Research Platform) a multi-partner research platform funded by Defra to explore opportunities and risks for sustainable intensification, from a wide range of perspectives.
Click here to download SIPScene
Policy Paper – October 2015
Meeting current and forecast demand in a sustainable way is a challenge, especially given that we are already using the earth’s resources at rates thought to be unsustainable. The livestock sector currently constitutes the world’s largest user of natural resources: with 80% of all agricultural land used for grazing or animal feed production and 8% of the global water use, primarily for irrigation of feed crops. Moreover, climate change is expected to further challenge food security through more extreme weather events and other challenges at both regional and global scales.
Thus, the European Union (EU) is faced with a dual challenge: it is called to produce larger quantities of high quality and affordable meat, milk, and eggs in response to an increasing global demand, while doing so through production systems that are environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable. Read more…
Integrated Farming Topic Sheet no 5 / 2015
Soils – abundance of life!
Whether used for agriculture, forestry, gardening, landscaping or nature conservation purposes for example, soils are home to an abundance of life: In addition to the soil minerals sand, silt and clay, and soil organic matter, literally billions of all kinds of organism can be found under one single footprint alone. This includes bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, nematodes, mites, springtails, insect larvae, diplopoda and earthworms. Their combined body weight may amount to a total of 260 to 1,650 grams per square metre of soil – and that is part of the explanation for the importance of soil life in Integrated Farming. Read more…
October 2015
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) have announced that the theme of their Annual Conference this year will be: Setting the Agenda: Healthy Food and Farming Fit for the Future. Read more…
October 2015
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), has launched a new guide: ‘Simply Sustainable Biodiversity’ to help farmers manage their land for food production as well as for wildlife. Read more…
(Photo, left to right: Dr Chris Brown, ASDA Director Sustainable Business; Caroline Drummond MBE, LEAF Chief Executive; Philip Huxtable, Director JSR Farming, Alice Midmer LEAF Projects Co-ordinator and Pearce Hughes, Agricultural Development Manager, Asda)
October 2015
Simply Sustainable Biodiversity, developed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a booklet to help farmers monitor, manage and enhance biodiversity through the adoption of Integrated Farm Management (IFM). Based on Six Simple Steps, it outlines practical ways for farmers to manage their land for food production as well as for wildlife. Download your copy here: