Civil society launches 'European food declaration'


Organic produce (photo credit: flickr)

Brussels, 16 March – On the eve of a European Parliament hearing which will debate the future of Europe’s agriculture policy, a broad alliance of European, national and local civil society organisations concerned with the future of food and agriculture in Europe are today launching a ‘European food declaration’ to mobilise European citizens and authorities to reshape the Common Agriculture Policy.  Read more...

New report: Europe's demand for palm oil driving deforestation and land-grabbing

Palm oil plantation in Indonesia (photo credit: FoEE)

Amsterdam/Brussels, March 15 - One of the leading suppliers of “green” palm oil to Europe is causing illegal encroachment upon Indonesian forest and peat land, according to a report published today by Friends of the Earth Europe. The report exposes the illegal activities of the Malaysian showcase company IOI Group and shows that the increasing demand in Europe for palm oil in food and biofuels is leading to deforestation, breaches of environmental law and land conflicts in Asia.  Read more...

European Commission gives green light to genetically modified potatoes

Brussels, March 2 - A decision announced today by Europe's new health and consumer commissioner, John Dalli, to give the go ahead for genetically modified potatoes to be grown in Europe, has been condemned by Friends of the Earth Europe.

The ‘Amflora’ potato, designed to produce starch for industrial purposes by Germany´s chemical giant BASF, carries a controversial antibiotic resistant gene which it cannot be guaranteed will not enter the food chain. Read more...