Russia Weaponises Hunger

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 Photo by Tim Krauss on Unsplash Russia’s decision to halt an agreement that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa where hunger is a growing threat has been condemned. Russia’s announcement on Monday that it would end the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, also to the Middle East and Asia, has provoked a…

Morocco-EU Fisheries Agreement

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Photo by Elisa Schmidt on Unsplash Morocco will decide on the future of cooperation with the European Union (EU) in the field of fisheries in the light of the government’s own assessments and in consultation with European partners, said, on Wednesday in Rabat, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. “The Morocco-EU fisheries Agreement…

Another Blow for EU’s Green Deal

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Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash MEPs have voted to drop proposed restrictions on pollution from factory farms. Campaigners says this “sabotages” the European Commission’s efforts to step up environmental and climate action.  They also claim the vote follows “pressure by the big agribusiness lobby.” A statement by Compassion in World Farming EU said, “Parliamentarians decided to give all…

The Impact of Glyphosate on Health

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Photo by Kjartan Einarsson on Unsplash A statement published on 6 July by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide on the planet, reportedly does not pose unacceptable risks for human health, despite independent scientific evidence to the contrary. This statement, according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), could constitute a…

Commission Funding for Farmers

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Photo by Kadri Karmo on Unsplash The EU Commission has announced it will provide additional EU funding for EU farmers. It will go to those who are “impacted by adverse climatic events, high input costs, and diverse market and trade related issues.” The new support package, unveiled on Monday, will consist of €330 million for 22 Member States. In addition, Member States…

New GMO Products Approved by Commission

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Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash The European Commission has authorised three genetically modified maize and renewed the authorisation for four genetically modified crops, three soybeans and one cotton for food and animal feed.  The Commission’s authorisation decision does not allow for their cultivation in the EU, only for their use as food and animal feed. These genetically modified crops have gone through…

Factory Farms Must Clean Up Their Mess

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Photo by Jack Sloop on Unsplash MEPs responsible for environment policy have voted against proposals to give what campaigners call “industrial-scale cattle farms a free pass to avoid their responsibility in wrecking the climate.” Last month, MEPs in the Agriculture Committee voted to exempt industrial-scale cattle farming exempt from EU rules limiting industrial pollution.  Campaigners said they agreed to this…

Promoting Plant Based Drinks

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Photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash The European Parliament has been accused of “missing an opportunity” to acknowledge the need to include plant-based milks in the EU scheme subsidising school meals.  In their vote ahead of the expected EU proposal, awaited for the end of the year, deputies were accused of “showing once again very low ambition to allow…

Reviewing EU Animal Welfare Laws

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Photo by Kyle Mackie on Unsplash An ambitious overhaul of EU animal welfare laws is possible, reveals the Brussels-based publication Agra Facts. A leaked preliminary analysis written by the European Commission’s own civil servants is said to include the option to ban caged farming in Europe and to minimise animal suffering on farms, including during transport and slaughter….

My Octopus Teacher

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Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash The EU has been urged to help put an end to the world’s first commercial octopus farm. It is claimed that around one million octopuses will be reared at the proposed farm in the Port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Spain. The plans have sparked claims that this will cause animal…