The resources here are specifically designed for use by farmers.
Hoofprints: Livestock and its environmental impacts
(PDF† format - 320K) Feb 2008
This briefing highlights the impact that the livestock system has on the environment and communities both here and overseas.
Farmers speak out on low milk prices
(PDF† format - 41K) Sep 2007
This briefing highlights the environmental 7and business impacts of the low prices being paid to dairy farmers.
Farmer Survey 2006
(PDF† format - 54K) Dec 2006
Our survey of supermarket trading practices suggests that the big supermarkets are damaging the businesses of farmers across the country.
Genetically modified animal feed
(PDF† format - 181K) May 2006
This briefing highlights the risks of GM animal feed and who is bringing it into the UK.
Britain's supermarkets still not supporting native apples
(PDF† format - 71K) Nov 2005
This briefing gives the results of our consumer survey of apple sourcing in a variety of retail outlets.
The
Voluntary Initiative catchment projects: are they really working?
(PDF format - 70K) Nov
2004
One of the key projects of the Voluntary Initiative (set up as an alternative
to a pesticide tax) aims to reduce herbicide pollution of water in six
catchments, and the VI has claimed that “it’s working”.
Friends of the Earth’s analysis shows that pollution incidents
are still occurring and the advice given to farmers in the VI projects
is very difficult to follow in practice.
Every
Little Hurts: Why Tesco needs to be tamed
(PDF format - 60K) Jun
2004
Tesco's share of the grocery market gives it tremendous power over suppliers,
but evidence suggests that the supermarket giant is abusing
that power. Evidence from small shops, consumers, farmers and overseas
suppliers flags up the damage that Tesco is doing to communities and
the environment.
GM contamination:
how to prevent GM contamination of the food chain and countryside
(PDF format - 346K) Mar
2004
This briefing describes the minimum measures that would be necessary
to ensure that food chains, crops and the countryside remained free
of GM contamination if the Government were to grant commercial approval
for a genetically modified (GM) crop to be cultivated or imported into
the UK.
Alliance
calls for new supermarket Code and Watchdog
(PDF format - 123K) Jan
2004
A new alliance of environmental, farming and consumer organisations
is calling for a new statutory code of practice to be imposed on the
biggest supermarkets and for a ‘retail regulator’ to be appointed
to ensure that the new code is enforced and is working effectively.
Home grown
apples in short supply...
(PDF format - 146K) Nov
2003
This briefing gives the results of our consumer survey of apple, potato
and carrot sourcing and pricing in a variety of retail outlets. For
the third year running we found that the biggest supermarkets are not
supporting UK apple growers.
Unleashing
a new pollution?
(PDF format - 636K) Jul
2003
One of the main concerns about the commercial growing of GM oilseed
rape is that it could cross breed with closely related plant species
that grow wild in the UK. Friends of the Earth has used the most recent
botanical survey data to map the location of these plants. The results
show that there is no "safe area" to grow GM oilseed rape.
Tesco: Exposed
(PDF format - 136K) Jun
2003
Friends of the Earth is attending AGMs to expose companies' records
of putting profit before people and the environment. This briefing reveals
how Tesco continues to make huge profits at the expense of farmers,
communities and the environment.
Farmers
and the supermarket Code of Practice
(PDF format - 108K) Mar
2003
The Supermarket Code of Practice has been
criticised for being too weak and there has been plenty of anecdotal
evidence that it is not working
effectively. This briefing reveals the results of a survey of farmers
in February 2003 to find out how farmers are faring under the Code and
in general under current market conditions.
Super
Markets or Corporate Bullies?
(PDF format) Mar 2003
Supermarkets claim to offer us a wide variety of cheap, convenient food.
But do they? And at whose expense? This briefing looks at the power
supermarkets wield over both their suppliers and their customers.
Genetically Modified
Crops and Food
(PDF format) July 2001,
updated Jan 2003
A comprehensive introduction to the GM debate:
- What is GM?
- Concerns about GM crops and food
- GM crops and food in the UK
- Government failures
- Feeding the world
- Alternatives
British
Apples for Sale
(PDF†) November 2002
The results of our consumer survey of apple sourcing and pricing in
supermarkets, greengrocers and markets.
Supermarkets
and Great British Fruit
(PDF†) October 2002
The impossible conditions placed on British apple and pear growers
by supermarkets.
Market
Forces
(PDF format - 124K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
Customer demand has removed the majority of GM materials from
our food. The prospects for any significant market for GM crops and
food in the UK in the next few years are poor, as there continues to
be no demand for GM food in the UK.
Gene
flow
(PDF format - 126K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
Cross pollination of GM crops and other crops or wild relatives could
lead to widespread contamination. There are serious concerns about how
GM and non-GM crops can grow and co-exist in the future.
Liability and
GM crops
(PDF format - 152K) Oct
2002
Currently there is no legislation to require biotech companies to pay
compensation or clear up any damage caused by their crops. If GM food
and crops are as safe as the industry says they are, why won't it accept
liability for any damage caused?
The Farm Scale
Trials
(PDF format - 113K) Oct
2002
The Farm Scale Trials have been heavily criticised since their introduction
in 2000 by a variety of environmental organisations, local residents,
and even the Government’s GM watchdog, the Agriculture Environmental
Biotechnology Commission (AEBC).
Herbicide
use and GM crops
(PDF format - 129K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
If GM crops get the commercial go-ahead in the UK, herbicide
tolerant crops will be the first to be grown. Claims of their environmental
benefits are looking increasingly doubtful.
Seed purity
(PDF format - 130K) Oct
2002
In order to protect the public's right to choose non-GM food, or for
farmers to grow non-GM crops, it is essential that seed stocks remain
free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This will become increasingly
difficult to achieve if GM crops are grown widely in the UK.
Economic
impact of GM
(PDF format - 127K) Oct
2002
The Government and the biotech industry are promoting GM crops
on the economic benefits they will supposedly bring. However, after
several years of growing them in the US, the evidence of the economic
benefits is far from clear.
GM crops
and food security
(PDF format - 120K) Oct
2002
Many people, not least those who live in countries where hunger
persists, believe that a technological fix will at best address the
symptoms of hunger and malnutrition, but not the causes. Many fear that
corporate control over the food chain through patents and the ownership
of seeds may even exacerbate the problem.
Greening
the Red Tractor
(PDF format) Dec 2001
In June 2000, a new food mark - the British Farm Standard - was launched.
The logo is a Red Tractor and is being heavily promoted as providing
assurance that food bearing the mark has been produced to high environmental,
animal welfare and safety standards. Friends of the Earth feels that
the scheme, as it stands, fails to live up to its promises both to farmers
and consumers.
Foot and Mouth
Crisis
April 2001
Fiends of the Earth's comments on the crisis.
The economic benefits
of farmers' markets
(PDF format) Aug 2000
This briefing sets out the economic, social and environmental benefits
of farmers' markets, with recommendations for Government, local authorities
and regional development agencies.
Farmers'
Briefing: GM Crops and Animal Feed
(PDF format) July 2000
This briefing is intended to help farmers assess whether or not to grow
genetically modified (GM) crops and to highlight the risks of GM animal
feeds.
Contaminated
GM Crops
(PDF format) May 2000
The accidental' release of GM oilseed rape into the UK countryside.
Farm Scale
Trials - a short critique
March 2000
This briefing explains why the Farm Scale Trials are not needed, are
a waste of money and are a threat to the environment. It also discusses
the issue of liability.
Bees, Honey
and Genetically Modified Crops
Sept 1999
Growing GM crops in the UK will pose a serious threat to beekeepers
and honey production in the UK. This briefing covers the issues of food
safety, liability, the cost to beekeepers and the threat to wild bee
populations.
Friends of the Earth’s response to Leeds University's application to grow GM potatoes
(PDF† format - 121K) Mar 2008
Response
to the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming
(PDF format) October
2001
FOE welcomes the establishment of the Commission but criticises the
short time it has been given and its restricted terms of reference.
FOE goes beyond these to propose radical solutions to the present food
and agricultural crisis.
Organic
Farming Scheme
(PDF format) Feb 2000
Friends of the Earth comment on MAFF's consultation on the Organic Farming
Scheme.
Breaking
the pesticide chain
(PDF format - 699K) Jul
2003
From July 2003, 320 pesticide active ingredients are being withdrawn
from the European market as a result of an ongoing safety review of
all pesticides by the European Commission. This report examines the
reasons behind the withdrawal of so many pesticides, and the extent
to which this will benefit human health and the environment. It addresses
the question of why existing alternatives to pesticides have not been
made available to UK farmers.
Science as a
smokescreen?
(PDF format 793K) March
2002
It seems likely that the conclusions of the Farm Scale Evaluations of
GM herbicide tolerant crops will be uncertain and may simply raise further
questions. It is vital that this is acknowledged, and that equivocal
results are not used as a smokescreen for Government decisions that
are motivated by a political desire to proceed with the commercialisation
of GM crops.
Local food,
future directions
(PDF format 1.53MB) November
2002
A report investigating alternative food marketing systems based on re-localisation,
looking at the benefits such schemes can bring, the barriers they face
and how Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) can help to establish such
schemes.
Merseyside
local food initiative
(PDF format - 440K) June
2002
An investigation into the economic, environmental and social benefits
of a local food project on Merseyside.
Get real about
food and farming - Friends of the Earth's vision for the future of farming
in the UK
(PDF format) October
2001
Farming is in crisis. For half a century, food and farming policy has
put production ahead of food quality and environmental protection. Get
real about food and farming is a clear blueprint with practical policy
recommendations for improving every step of the food chain.
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