Baixo Alentejo Honoured as City of Wine 2026

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  Photo by Noelia Vega on Unsplash The southern Portuguese city of Baixo Alentejo has been recognised as the European Wine City for 2026. The announcement, made at an event in Brussels on Wednesday, recognises its wine growing heritage stretching back many years. Awarded by RECEVIN, the title celebrates regions  that combine excellence in winemaking with…

Danger Posed by Octopus Farming

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Photo by Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash A new report warns of the disastrous implications for the marine environment, animal welfare, and food security of octopus farming and the expansion of carnivorous aquaculture.  It claims the world’s first octopus farm proposed by Spanish company Nueva Pescanova, could require up to 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish in…

EU Approves New Geographical Indicators

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Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash The European Commission has approved the addition of Olive taggiasche liguri and Carne Salada del Trentino from Italy to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and Tharsys from Spain as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Olive taggiasche liguri are table olives and olive paste made from olives…

Harnessing the Resources of the Sea

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Photo by samsommer on Unsplash The European Union has announced a major new investment, one which promises to make waves. It says it will plough some €116 million in 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of the ocean and waters. The projects, selected under the EU Mission Ocean and Waters calls, will focus on a range…

Activists Accuse Business of Causing Wildfires

  Climáximo, the Portuguese climate justice collective have accused cellulose and fossil fuel companies of being responsible for the recent spate of wild fires, and  have held protests in support of all the people currently fighting the flames with their hands and bodies. Climáximo supporters pasted images of the fires that are ravaging the north…

Campaign Group Concern over Animal Welfare

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Photo by Jorge Maya on Unsplash Campaigners say the European Union must support farmers meet the “highest” animal welfare standards. Compassion in World Farming’s demand is in response to the Commission’s recent proposals for the next EU budget and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The animal welfare and environmental NGO expressed regret the EU budget fails to…

MEPs Call for CAP to be Strengthened

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Photo by Adele Payman on Unsplash The European Conservatives and Reformists Group, one of the mainstream parties in the EU Parliament, has called on the European Commission to safeguard and strengthen the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It has warned against any attempt to reduce funding in the upcoming legislative proposal for the 2028–2034 period. ECR Agriculture…

Listen to the Ocean Before it Falls Silent

Photo Credit Relais and Chateaux

Photo Credit Relais and Chateaux A major hospitality group is calling on chefs at all of its 580 properties, including those in the UK and Benelux, to remove threatened seafood species from their menus. The move by Relais & Châteaux is part of its stated mission to contribute to the protection and development of biodiversity….

Eating Breakfast Cereals Good for You

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Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash Eating breakfast cereals is good for you, according to a new study. The study, which coincided with the recent World Breakfast Day,  highlighted the nutrition and health benefits of breakfast cereals. The comprehensive analysis is said to have shed a light on the role that breakfast cereals can play…