Monthly Archives: June 2015

Soil Association calls for improvements to soil health

The Soil Association wrote to the reappointed Defra Minister of State, Liz Truss, last month calling on her to establish a long-term plan to protect and improve UK soils.

The organisation also called on her to set a target to increase soil organic matter by 20% over the next 20 years. In her letter, Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning said, “As you will know, soils are vital to maintaining and lifting our productive capacity, as a habitat for 25% of all known species and in improving our resilience to climate change.  Improving soil health requires a vision and understanding beyond the here and now, and so the start of a new term of office for the Government coinciding with the FAO’s International Year of Soils suggests that there has never been a better opportunity to establish a long term plan to improve our soils.”

As part of its Year of Soils the UN-backed Save Our Soils initiative has launched an ‘I Like Organic’ campaign on Facebook. According to the group, for every ‘like’ that the page receives, €5 from the Save Our Soils initiative will be released, enough to save 500m² of fertile soil.

Campaign founder Volkert Engelsman said: “With every ‘like’, financial support can be provided to help educate and support growers in developing sustainable farming practices and in saving soil fertility through the use of organic techniques.”

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Inoculating young plants can improve yields

A new study published in the latest issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture suggests that applying beneficial microorganisms at transplanting can promote rapid transplant establishment (starter effect) for achieving early and high yields.

Scientists treated a number of vegetable crops, including lettuce, pepper, tomato and courgette, with the microorganisms Glomus intraradices BEG72 and Trichoderma atroviride MUCL 45632. Under greenhouse conditions dry weight was significantly increased when plants were supplied with both beneficial microorganisms in comparison with the control. The increase in root and shoot weight was associated with an increased level of nutrient uptake (including P, Mg, Fe, Zn and B). Under open field conditions, lettuce shoot and root dry weights also increased following biostimulant microorganism application in field conditions, while the total yield of courgettes also increased. The authors say that the application of a biostimulant tablet containing both organisms can promote transplant establishment and vegetable crop productivity in a sustainable way.

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Changes to chlorpyrifos authorisation

The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) has issued a regulatory update (06/2015) outlining changes to the authorised use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos.

As part of the European Union’s routine review programme, new human health based safety levels (known as ‘end points’) have been agreed for chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used to control insect pests in agricultural crops and amenity situations. These new end points represent the latest assessment of risk against modern regulatory standards.

Risk assessments carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have indicated that some currently authorised uses of chlorpyrifos are likely to exceed the newly agreed end points, and we are swiftly evaluating new studies in order to ascertain whether risks are likely to occur in actual use.

With the full co-operation of product authorisation holders, where the risk assessments have already identified current uses that can no longer be supported, HSE are taking the precautionary approach of restricting those uses now.

The list of changed uses, which took effect from 21st May 2015, is as follows:
•    Apples and pears. No use after blossom except for crops destined for cider or perry production. Pre-blossom treatments can continue.
•    Strawberries. No use for 15 days before harvest (replacing the current pre-harvest interval of 7 days).
•    Plums. No use after blossom except for crops intended for heat preservation. Pre-blossom treatments can continue.
•    Brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli, calabrese, oriental cabbages, Brussels sprout, cabbage). Use only before the head forms.
•    Potatoes. Use only on seed crop potatoes.

For full details of the changes to individual products, growers are advised to contact their supplier.

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Steve’s Leaves launches new product

Vitacress has launched a new salad bowl product in Waitrose stores under its Steve’s Leaves brand to accompany its range of bagged leafy salads.

The 130g bowl includes three types of tomatoes, orange peppers and cucumber, as well as watercress and has a retail price of £2.39. The company claims that the watercress used in the salad has been planted more densely and harvested earlier to give a more delicate flavour and tender texture. Other leaves in the product include red baby cos and baby chard.

Steve’s Leaves brand manager Emily Dow, said: “At Steve’s Leaves we pride ourselves on providing unique and interesting products within a competitive market. The salad bowl market is worth £168.8 million and has seen growth of 4.3 per cent year on year. Convenience and flavour are two of the main attributes of the Luscious Leafy Tomato Trio; it’s an ideal option whether the consumer is cooking dinner for their family or looking for an accompaniment to a light lunch.”

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New members strengthen AIPH

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) says it has strengthened its importance globally with the addition of two new members representing two of the largest production countries. AmericanHort (U.S.A.) and Ibraflor (Brazil) have both been accepted as full members of the AIPH.

AmericanHort (www.americanhort.org) represents the US ornamental horticulture industry which is worth around $163 billion and supports over 1 million jobs. The association was formed in 2014 by the consolidation of the American Nursery & Landscape Association and OFA—The Association of Horticultural Professionals. Ibraflor is the Brazilian Institute of Floriculture (www.ibraflor.com), representing 489 ornamentals growers across the country including major co-operatives supplying the significant Brazilian market.  Brazilian ornamental plant production is worth €1.7 billion and Ibraflor members are responsible for much of this.

In welcoming the new members AIPH President Vic Krahn said “I am delighted to welcome AmericanHort and Ibraflor into the membership of AIPH.  The ornamentals industry now consists of a truly international supply chain and as the world gets smaller so the importance of co-operating internationally increases.  AIPH provides that forum and network.  These new members strengthen our representation in the Americas giving even greater value to them and our existing membership.”

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Underground farm signs distribution deal

Growing Underground, which produces micro greens and salad leaves in a disused London tube station near Clapham North is to start supplying online organic produce supplier Farmdrop.

Growing Underground, uses hydroponic systems and LED technology to grow salad crops, will begin providing Farmdrop with produce when it starts trading this summer. According to the company 37 suppliers currently use the Farmdrop network, which gives London consumers access to a virtual market that sources 75 per cent of its produce inside the M25.

Ben Patten, who runs Farmdrop, commented, “Farmdrop.co.uk is rapidly bringing field-fresh produce to the doorsteps of London homes, restoring the days of the City’s streets filled with the sounds of street traders. Asparagus, wild garlic, globe artichokes and rhubarb fresh from local fields are among the hundreds of local foods available for delivery.”

Farmdrop operates hubs in London to which suppliers deliver four days a week. Most of that produce is shipped out to homes and other collection points throughout London on the same day via electric vans and there are plans to expand the service to other cities and towns, within the next 18 months.

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