PMAC weekly update 2 nd to 9 th December 1. Government agencies: ICPR Changes; Northland iwi starts planting 20- hectare avocado orchard; WTO Notifications; Mutual Recognition Arrangements 2. New Zealand News: Important role for seasonal workers in NZ; Zespri to commercialise red kiwifruit; Strawberries recalled as glass is found in punnet; Growers told change needed now; Crowdfunded Marlborough medicinal cannabis company to begin hemp planting; International Postharvest Symposium to take place in New Zealand, Nov. 2020; Farm borrowers will find lenders; European experts share stink bug tracking app success with New Zealand 3. International news: GAIN reports; Technical examination of plant varieties applying for CPVR; Action to thwart spread of deadly tomato virus; Plants and plant products exported to EU countries must carry phytosanitary certificates; The EU and China agree on the recognition of 100 mutual PGIs and PDOs; FAO launches 2020 as the UN’s International Year of Plant Health; Freshfel Europe presents priorities; Freshfel's latest Headlines; Unpasteurized spinach drink tied to increasing cryptosporidium cases; Packaging with 'zero waste' and 'zero impact' presented; Neonicotinoids: despite EU moratorium, bees still at risk; Are edible peels the new plastic?; Sustainable fruit and vegetables sourcing at a new high; The second generation of vertical farming is approaching; Pesticides: a threat to public health?; Chili pepper compound might slow down lung cancer metastasis; Potato consumption is as effective as carbohydrate gels; Live-in bacteria protect plants against infections; Millions for vertical agriculture and more Editors comments The Agency section this week contains an interesting article. It deals with an initiative in Northland where Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto iwi have plans to plant 20 hectares of Avocado’s near Kaitaia. While there are a significant number of other large avocados plantings underway up North this is notable PMAC weekly update Page 1
2. New Zealand News: Important role for seasonal workers in NZ; Zespri to commercialise red kiwifruit; Strawberries recalled as glass is found in punnet; Growers told change needed now; Crowdfunded Marlborough medicinal cannabis company to begin hemp planting; International Postharvest Symposium to take place in New Zealand, Nov. 2020; Farm borrowers will find lenders; European experts share stink bug tracking app success with New Zealand
3. International news: GAIN reports; Technical examination of plant varieties applying for CPVR; Action to thwart spread of deadly tomato virus; Plants and plant products exported to EU countries must carry phytosanitary certificates; The EU and China agree on the recognition of 100 mutual PGIs and PDOs; FAO launches 2020 as the UN’s International Year of Plant Health; Freshfel Europe presents priorities; Freshfel's latest Headlines; Unpasteurized spinach drink tied to increasing cryptosporidium cases; Packaging with 'zero waste' and 'zero impact' presented; Neonicotinoids: despite EU moratorium, bees still at risk; Are edible peels the new plastic?; Sustainable fruit and vegetables sourcing at a new high; The second generation of vertical farming is approaching; Pesticides: a threat to public health?; Chili pepper compound might slow down lung cancer metastasis; Potato consumption is as effective as carbohydrate gels; Live-in bacteria protect plants against infections; Millions for vertical agriculture and more
Editors comments The Agency section this week contains an interesting article. It deals with an initiative in Northland where Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto iwi have plans to plant 20 hectares of Avocado’s near Kaitaia. While there are a significant number of other large avocados plantings underway up North this is notable because it is an iwi initiative. Again; it is not alone and again it is not the only iwi considering horticulture . There is a lot of interest from iwi around the country looking to use their resources to establish horticultural ventures. This project has been helped along by expertise within MPI and is likely to be followed by others.
In the international space sustainability is again the word for the week . There are two articles that consider packaging. Replacing plastics in the fresh fruit and vegetable space is more difficult than for many other industries because of the role plastics can play in protecting and extending the shelf life of produce. Both articles show some of the alternatives that are being developed . It just shows if there is money to be made innovation will happen.
PMAC weekly update Page 1
Other areas covered in this section include the drive in the EU to purchase socially and environmentally sustainable products and the desire within the EU to do away with pesticides . The news that neonicotinoid residues can kill bees several years after being applied seems to support this desire. 1. Agency news
1.1. ICPR changesThe following ICPR have been updated this week for:
India which had added 24 new weed seed species in the Quarantine Pest List (Appendix 1) and exceptions added for Senecio spp. (Section 4.3.4) and Cichorium spp. (Section 4.4.1).
The USA has been updated with added requirements and additional declarations for pepper and tomato fruit in section 4.1.1, 4.3 and 4.4.1.
Learn more at Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPRs)
1.2. Northland iwi starts planting 20-hectare avocado orchardFar North iwi, Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto, has started planting its new 20-hectare avocado orchard, Rakau Ora, in Kaitaia. The project is the result of 4 years of extensive planning, in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and key businesses in the horticulture sector.
"The orchard is a means to achieve our aspiration of using our Treaty settlement assets to build a strong economic base for our people," says Rangitane Marsden, chief executive of NgāiTakoto."It will enable greater productive use of the iwi's land and create new employment opportunities. This is a platform to begin the realisation of our vision, "
It's an excellent example of promoting whānau development through whenua, as part of MPI’s strategy to grow its partnership with iwi and Māori landowners. They engaged with MPI through the Māori Agribusiness Pathway to Increased Productivity (MAPIP) Programme allowing MPI to connect them with the right expertise."
"Twenty hectares is just the start, they plan to expand this current platform with an additional 40 hectares over the next 2 years, and with a total potential to extend the orchard to 200 hectares over a planned 10 years." Full article available here
Please find attached the most recent WTO notifications from countries that are considering changes to their plant import requirements for specific products. If you have any concerns about the notifications being presented please contact [email protected] so that they can potentially make a submission to the notifying country. Changes notified over the last week include:
Canada MRL’s Chine Taipei listed an additional five viruses and six viroids to the regulated pest
list USA MRL’s for persimmon and additional regulation for hosts of hosts of Tomato
brown rugose fruit virus The embedded files for the last week (which has links through to the original
notifications)is available here
1.4. Mutual Recognition ArrangementsLast week Customs released a review of MRA’s on their web site see here Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) are formal agreements between NZ Customes and customs services in other countries with similar supply chain security standards. NZ Customs has MRA’s with Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States.
Practically, MRAs mean that Secure Export Scheme (SES) partners from mutually-recognised countries are seen as “low-security risk”. In turn, this means they can access fast-tracked customs processing in their destination countries. As an example, SES exporters are 3.5 times less likely than other traders to be examined for security purposes by United States Customs and Border Protection.
2. New Zealand News
Commentary 2.1. Important role for seasonal workers in NZUniversity of Waikato's John Gibson has stated that it’s time to start giving credit to the seasonal pickers, packers and pruners for the role they play in the NZ economy. The NZ government recently announced increases in the cap for visas under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
This increase comes as the kiwifruit and apple industries face the possibility of fruit rotting on the plants if there are not enough workers to pick it. And they aren’t the only export industry facing a shortage. No doubt the cap increases sparked arguments about ‘foreigners taking Kiwi jobs’ and raised questions about the benefits of various immigration programmes to New Zealand. But in reality, the RSE has been a good thing for the country. Click here to read the full article.
2.2. Zespri to commercialise red kiwifruitConsumers in New Zealand and Asia will soon get a taste of Zespri Red Kiwifruit after a decision was made by the Zespri board to commercialise its red kiwifruit variety for New Zealand growers.Limited releases of the variety will be available in selected supermarkets and fruit retailers in 2020 and 2021, as production increases towards commercial volumes in the coming years. This announcement is a result of more than a decade of work as Zespri had run advanced pre-commercial trials for a red variety back in 2010 but faced a significant setback when Psa-V arrived in New Zealand. More recently it had run successful market testing in New Zealand and Singapore.
The red variety is initially planned to be launched in Asia given the shorter marine transit times, while trials will continue in other Zespri production regions in the Northern Hemisphere to determine the commercial potential of the cultivar in different environments. As part of the commercialisation decision, Zespri’s directors have approved the release of at least 150ha of Red licence in 2020.
Further details on the licensing process and performance characteristics for Zespri Red will be made available to Zespri growers in March 2020. Full article available here
2.3. Strawberries recalled as glass is found in punnetIn Porirua, a Pak'nSave supermarket has pulled punnets of strawberries from sale after one of them was found to contain glass. "The glass looked very similar to lightbulb glass ... It's a very thin glass."A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the incident was isolated to the Porirua supermarket. "We can confirm that we have secured and removed all contaminated product from the store." An MPI spokesperson said the glass was caused by a broken light fitting in the store’s walk-in produce chiller.Full article available here
2.4. Growers told change needed nowOverseer will not work for vegetable growers and they have been told that farm environment plans are ‘’the best way to demonstrate good land management practice’’.
Workshops have been run by Agrilink Director Andrew Barber in conjunction with Vegetables NZ and HortNZ in Levin and Pukekohe to explain the benefits and help encourage growers to develop their own plans. The workshops help growers learn how to reduce soil loss and erosion and help to reduce inputs of water and nutrients. It is expected these workshops will be run in other regions as well. Overseer is not currently compatible for vegetable growers and if used as is could unfairly penalise vegetable growers due to its inability to allow short-rotation crops and reliance on weather and calendar averages. Growers are being reminded to get onto good practice early to help them prepare for the future, where these changes will be compulsory. Full article available here
2.5. Crowdfunded Marlborough medicinal cannabis company to begin hemp planting
Puro New Zealand had raised $3.4 million through crowd-finding and after having their license approved, will start planting low THC content hemp this week. Their site is at Kekerengu, which has a coastal micro-climate and is expected to be very successful as a place to grow hemp, due to the high number of sunlight hours in Marlborough as well as the clean air and absence of pollutants. ‘’The Ministry of Health planned to make regulations on the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme by mid-December’’, whilst a referendum for the recreational use of cannabis will be held alongside the 2020 election. Full article available here
three hectares will be planted at their Kekerengu site this week. The company expects to have 25 hectares planted within the next two years. The money raised will be used to grow current facilities and buy processing equipment. Full article available here
Bits and pieces2.6. International Postharvest Symposium to take place in New Zealand,
Nov. 2020The 9th ISHS International Postharvest Symposium will take place in Rotorua, New Zealand, on 9-13 November 2020. The symposium will bring together leading professionals in the field of postharvest research, offering a diverse program that includes interactive workshops, social events and field trips.The discipline of postharvest enables harvested fruits and vegetables to reach their markets with optimal quality and safety.
The Symposium will focus on the biological and technological postharvest research of fresh horticultural produce, including postharvest storage, treatments and underpinning mechanisms, quality evaluation, packaging, handling and distribution of fruit, vegetables and flowers. See here
2.7. Farm borrowers will find lendersThe outcome of the Reserve Bank’s review of minimum capital requirements were announced late last week. The bank has claimed that existing capital reserves must be doubled if banks are to survive a ‘’1-in-200 economic meltdown’’, however a report commissioned by the New Zealand Bankers Association displayed that higher interest rates and lower investment could result in a $2.7 billion annual cost if this is adopted. Farmers could be charged an extra $800 million a year in higher interest costs according to Federated Farmers estimates. Farmers have been advised to reduce debt as much as possible in order to prepare for inevitable change. Banks have been told that they are exposed to too much rural debt, and farmers are worried that they will decide to pull the rug due to the low returns banks are receiving from these loans. Full article available here
Biosecurity 2.8. European experts share stink bug tracking app success with New
ZealandTwo European brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) experts will share the success story of a BMSB tracking mobile app and experience in trying to gain sustainable control of the invasive pest with New Zealand biosecurity experts and stakeholders working on the threat, seen as imminent here.
Professor Gianfranco Anfora and Dr Anna Eriksson from Fondazione Edmund Mach in Italy will begin their 10-day New Zealand tour on 4 December 2019. Their research group has developed a citizen science biosecurity mapping app called “BugMap” to track the spread and densities of the pest. The success of “BugMap” in Italy has led to the adoption of the app by chocolatier Ferrero Rocher in Georgia, a country where these bugs are now affecting hazel nut supply. Full article available here
3. International news
Comment 3.1. GAIN reportsGain reports are from the “Global Agricultural Information Network” and are produced by the USDA. They are designed to provide timely information on the economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. The information in them is written for USA exporters but the majority is equally relevant to New Zealand. With regard to import regulations for a particular market New Zealand exporters should first check the countries ICPR on MPI’s web site. These are collated specifically for New Zealand product. However the Gain reports often provide additional information that is useful e.g. on grading and labelling,
economic profiles. To see the full report go to the Gain web site (https://gain.fas.usda.gov/) and search for the country and any reports released in the last month. This week see:
a) China Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional b) Costa Rica Exporter Guide c) Czech Republic Retails foodsd) Hong Kong The Impact of Continuing Protests on the Food and Beverage
Business Hong Kong government officials have warned that these protests have pushed
Hong Kong to the brink of economy downturn. Hundreds of restaurants have closed because the number of diners has declined as people eat at home and some restaurants have been unable to operate for days if they are located near large-scale protest activity. More closures are anticipated in the coming months. Inbound tourism has simultaneously dropped 34 percent in September compared to the previous year.
e) South Africa Agricultural Economic Fact Sheetf) Australia, Hungary , New Zealand Food and Agricultural Import
Regulations and Standards Country Reportg) Australia, Hungary , New Zealand Food and Agricultural Import
Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report
Regulatory3.2. Technical examination of plant varieties applying for CPVRIn cooperation with the European IP Helpdesk , the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) organised two webinars explaining the process and requirements for technical examinations (DUS tests) of plant varieties applying for Community Plant Variety Rights. This webinar (Part I) is presented by Anne Weitz, CPVO's technical expert for agriculture species, who explains how the CPVO carries out technical examinations with a particular focus on seed propagated species.
This webinar (Part II) is presented by Jens Wegner, CPVO's technical expert for ornamental and fruit species, who explains how the CPVO carries out technical examinations with a particular focus on vegetatively propagated species. Full article available here
3.3. Action to thwart spread of deadly tomato virusThe U.S. - USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently announced it is taking immediate action to prevent the introduction of tomato brown rugose fruit virus into the U.S.
APHIS has issued a Federal Order imposing restrictions on imports of tomato and pepper seed lots and transplants from all countries where the virus exists, as well as restrictions on tomato and pepper fruit imported from Mexico, Israel, and the Netherlands.
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus can cause severe fruit loss in tomatoes and peppers. It is easily spread through the use of contaminated tools, hands, and plant-to-plant contact. It was first reported in tomatoes in Israel in 2014. Since then, it has been reported in China, Mexico, Germany (eradicated), Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Turkey, and the Netherlands. Full article available here
3.4. Plants and plant products exported to EU countries must carry phytosanitary certificates
Phytosanitary certificates will have to accompany most plants and plant products — including some foods — entering the European Union (EU) counties beginning Dec. 14.The new EU rules mean expanded inspections for plant products. Before plants and other raw and minimally processed plant products can enter EU member states, or Switzerland or Montenegro, the shipments must be inspected and receive a phytosanitary certificate. Without the necessary certificate, shipments will be rejected with recourse Full article available here
3.5. The EU and China agree on the recognition of 100 mutual PGIs and PDOsAt the beginning of November, the European Union signed a trade agreement with China that involves the recognition of 100 indications and community names. The agricultural food sector welcomed the agreement because a greater opening of the Chinese market could compensate for the growing obstacles there are in the US market after it imposed new tariffs on various Spanish products.
In order for China to give its protection to a hundred agricultural food products, the EU must do the same with the same number of food products from the Asian country. Among the 100 Chinese products that will have European recognition, on an equal footing with their community counterparts, are seven brands of mushrooms and two brands of garlic. Full article available here
3.6. FAO launches 2020 as the UN’s International Year of Plant HealthThe Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last week launched the United Nations’ International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) for 2020, which aims to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.
Plants make up 80 percent of the food we eat, and produce 98 percent of the oxygen we breathe. Yet, they are under constant and increasing threat from pests and diseases.
Every year, up to 40 percent of global food crops are lost to plant pests and diseases. This leads to annual agricultural trade losses of over $220 billion, leaves millions of people facing hunger, and severely damages agriculture – the primary income source for poor rural communities. This is why policies and actions to promote plant health are fundamental for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition climate change and human activities are altering ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and creating conditions where pests can thrive. At the same time, international travel and trade has tripled in volume in the last decade and can quickly spread pests and diseases around the world causing great damage to native plants and the environment. Protecting plants from pests and diseases is far more cost effective than dealing with full-blown plant health emergencies. Plant pests and diseases are often impossible to eradicate once they have established themselves and managing them is time consuming and expensive.
New Zealand will be celebrating the International Year of Plant Health starting with a reception in Parliament in February 2020 Full article available here
Business/ Industry3.7. Freshfel Europe presents prioritiesOn 2 December, Freshfel Europe called for a fresh fruit and vegetables-in-all-policies approach as it presented its 2019-2024 priorities paper for the EU institutions ‘Fresh Fruit & Vegetables for Europe’s level of fresh fruit and vegetable consumption as part of an integral shift to a low environmental Future’ in the European Parliament. Freshfel Europe asked policy makers to help stimulate a higher impact plant-based diet, to protect both the planet and citizens’ health. The organisation indicated that this could only be achieved through increased support for the sector in the policy-making agenda over the next five years across Europe and at all levels of government, in conjunction with sector initiatives.
Freshfel Europe’s ‘Fresh Fruit & Vegetables for Europe’s Future’ paper outlines the role of the sector in significantly contributing to a low-environmental impact future for Europe and the good health of European consumers. The paper details specific policy areas to tackle over the next five years, covering the CAP, intra-EU and global trade, the supply chain, circular economy, plant health, food safety, digitalisation and health policy, to ensure that Europe is a global leader achieving a triple-win for the environment, the economy and consumer health. Full article available here
Freshfel's1 latest Headlines for the period October to December 2019 are now available here.. The Headlines gives an overview of the most recent Freshfel activities. They include: Freshfel Europe launches 2019-2024 priorities in the European Parliament Freshfel Europe launches Consumption Monitor 2019 Freshfel Europe Board reviews European Commission’s new priorities Freshfel Europe holds Food Quality and Sustainability Working Groups ‘Follow me to be healthy with Europe’ campaign present at Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show Freshfel Europe in EU-Thailand Seminar on Phytosanitary Controls and Certification
Systems Freshfel Europe builds action plan for the Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Manifesto Recommendations for action for the prevention of food waste prepared by Freshfel
Europe Freshfel Europe prepares members for EU’s Official Control Directive and Plant Health
Directive Workshop on producers’ organisations and operational programmes Freshfel Europe participates in Dutch Fresh Produce event with EU Parliamentarians Freshfel Europe represents EU fruit and vegetable sector at DG AGRI SPS Seminar in
India Freshfel Europe discusses fruit and vegetable e-Commerce at OECD meeting Freshfel Europe participates in debate with Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis Annual POMATEC of Afrucat Simona Rubbi re-elected Vice President of EU Civil Dialogue Group Quality and
Promotion CEFTA-Regional Business Advisory Group Meeting in Podgorica, Montenegro Freshfel Europe and World Bank examine trade barriers for perishable trade at border Freshfel Europe to coordinate new World Citrus Organisation
Food safety3.9. Unpasteurized spinach drink tied to increasing cryptosporidium casesOfficials in Sweden are investigating a recent increase in the number of cryptosporidiosis cases which have been linked to one brand of an unpasteurized pre-purchased freshly pressed fruit and vegetable drink. During the autumn -and in November especially- there has been a rise in cryptosporidiosis. In October and November, more than 300 cases infected in Sweden have been reported compared to about 20 to 70 infections in all November in previous years. Investigations on the origin of the spinach is ongoing: “ Full article available here
1 Freshfel Europe is the forum for the European fresh fruit and vegetable chain. Freshfel Europe represents its members at European and international level, ensuring a diverse, sustainable and robust European fruit and vegetable sector.
3.10. Packaging with 'zero waste' and 'zero impact' presentedPackaging with "zero waste" by 2025 and with "zero impact" by 2035. The Besana Group2 is increasing its green commitment and determining progressive and increasingly ambitious objectives for the next 15 years. Already in 2020 one quarter of the packaging used by the company will be recyclable and the share will rise to 100% within the next five years. The third and final stage of the "green" route is scheduled for 2035, when all packaging solutions will be produced entirely from renewable and recycled sources, for a real zero impact on the environment.
The Group sustainability objectives are based on the “4 R” principles: Reduction, Reuse, Recovery and Recycling, for a circular and totally self-sustaining route. The Group's commitment to reducing the use of plastic is also reflected in a new packaging which is currently being studied to be 100% biodegradable and compostable and will soon be introduced on the market. "It will be made entirely with materials derived from cellulose: both the base, a real substitute for the current plastic trays, and the top film that closes it Full article available here
3.11. Are edible peels the new plastic?Plastic has been used in produce aisles for decades – and for good reason. Not only is plastic protecting food from bacteria, temperatures and light, it allows for growers, distributors, and retailers alike to cut down on food waste; consumers to see the colorful, fresh produce they’re purchasing; growers to brand their produce and add additional attractive selling features on package; and retailers to charge per package versus per lb. or per kilo and offer the ever-important convenience items like ready-made salad bowls and pre-cut veggies.
According to National Geographic, if you shrink-wrap a cucumber in polyethylene, its shelf life improves from three days to 14. However, that same plastic will last more than a century, and will most likely make it to the oceans in contamination. Of the 78 million metric tons of plastic packaging produced globally each year, a mere 14 percent is recycled. Nine million tons of that plastic escapes collection annually.
There have been efforts to cut plastic waste from top seal innovation. Top seal packaging allows for the same quality and freshness to be delivered in packaging that reduces plastic use by 25% from that of the typical clam-shell lid. It promotes a longer shelf-life with macro-perforated film and its peelable format allows for re-seal of the packaging depending on the need. Top seal also gives suppliers an opportunity to stack more products atop one another to transport more at once, cutting down on transportation costs and environmental impact.
2 A company in Europe for marketing of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, chocolate, and snacks, innovation, and production.
Apeel Sciences have produced a plant-based edible peel to cover long English Cucumber. They have developed products for USDA Organic Certified and worked with partners ranging from small farmers and local organic growers to some of the world’s largest food brands. They use plant-derived materials that exist in natural peels of fruit and vegetables, seeds and pulp, to create packaging solutions that are both edible and protective enough to replace the need for plastic. They aim to double or triple the shelf life of numerous types of produce, which promotes sustainable growing practices, better food quality, and less waste!
Another alternative the industry is exploring is corrugated packaging. The advantage to corrugate boxes is that they are made from a high amount of recycled material and can be recycled again after use. There are packaging solution companies focused on providing renewable solutions using biomaterials such as corrugate and other fiber-based packaging in global markets. Full article available here
3.12. Neonicotinoids: despite EU moratorium, bees still at riskSince 2013, a European Union (EU) moratorium has restricted the application of three neonicotinoids to crops that attract bees because of the harmful effects they are deemed to have on these insects. Yet researchers have just demonstrated that residues of these chemical crop protections—and especially of imidacloprid—can still be detected in rape nectar from 48% of the plots of studied fields, their concentrations varying greatly over the years. An assessment of the risk posed to bees, based on health agency models and parameters, has revealed that for two out of five years, at least 12% of the fields were sufficiently contaminated to kill 50% of the bees and bumblebees foraging on them.
For Imidacloprid residue levels depend on the type of soil and are higher when there is more precipitation, but they do not appear to be directly linked to the spatial or temporal proximity of potentially treated crops. Though 92% of the positive samples only contained 0.1 to 1 ng/mL of imidacloprid, maximum concentrations in some cases exceeded those reported for treated plots, reaching as high as 70 ng/mL. The results confirm that imidacloprid residues remain in the environment, and spread, even turning up in rape nectar, even though neonicotinoids have not been applied to rape crops since 2013. Full article available here
3.13. "Sustainable fruit and vegetables sourcing at a new high"At the 2019 Sustainability Initiative Fruit and Vegetables (SIFAV)meeting annual monitoring has shown that
The volume of sustainably sourced fruit and vegetables, coming from outside of Europe, has risen significantly in the past years. The SIFAV partners currently trade a combined annual volume of 3.5 million tonnes, of produce such as bananas, citrus and avocados.
Some 74% is now sourced sustainably from producers with full verification of working conditions. The volume represents almost one quarter of European import from risk countries.
In its establishment, the founders of SIFAV decided to challenge market requirements, particularly with regards to working conditions at producers in origin countries. In 2012, the verification of working conditions at farm level in fruit and vegetable value chains was far from the norm. Since then the joint sustainably sourced volume of SIFAV partners has grown from 400.000 tonnes in 2013 to well over six times that volume: 2.6 million tonnes in 2018. The joining of new companies to the SIFAV partnership has contributed considerably to this growth, but the most effort has been in the consistent supporting and monitoring of the adoption of good social practices at farm level by the individual SIFAV partners.
But the journey towards 100% sustainable fruit and vegetable value chains is far from finished.”Looking forward the initiatives social agenda will focus on the topics of living wage and on working conditions, with the aim to support companies with a joint approach and tools to better assess social risks and issues in their value chains and to address them both through and beyond verification. Environmental sustainability will make up a considerable share of the SIFAV agenda going forward. The aim is to first achieve alignment on how environmental impact is measured. Agreeing on practical measurement systems and tools, setting a baseline and executing joint assessments in our international value chains is the essential starting point for better targeted impact.” Full article available here
3.14. The second generation of vertical farming is approaching Vertical farming is becoming more popular as it promotes efficient plantings and has been said to potentially have a lower environmental footprint. Capital expenditure for vertical farming is high, especially if farming with second generation technologies which allow the growing process to be automated and continuously optimised. Because of the minimal space used by vertical farms, they can reduce transportation and pollution. The technology for vertical farming is only getting cheaper as time progresses, and it is expected that eventually these farmers will be able to compete with organic producers. Full article available here
3.15. Pesticides: a threat to public health?- In Rennes, the capital of Brittany in France, an unusual crowd is gathered in front of the region's administrative court. They have come to support Daniel Cueff, mayor of the village of Langouët, summoned for having banned the spraying of pesticides on crops within 150 metres of residential housing. A measure the State says does not fall under his authority. But he is unrepentant and believes the Republic must act to protect residents from synthetic pesticides. And it appears more and more french citizens agree with him, claiming these pesticides are a danger to their health. A widespread feeling in Europe. Following Daniel Cueff's example, several French mayors have taken similar measures. Some of them had come
to support him that morning, not yet aware judges would cancel his ban on pesticides a few days later. https://www.foeeurope.org/europe-campaign-ban-pesticides-transform-agriculture-europe-310119
Neither did the farmers who had gathered that same morning in the small village of Langouet. Tensions run high between residents worried about their health, and farmers concerned about their economic survival. To comply with a European directive, the French State has plans to introduce a minimal buffer zone between crops and residential homes. But farmers say this could kill French agriculture, and pave the way for imports.
"In many parts of France, there was a time where people were allowed to build houses everywhere," and If buffer zones are imposed, it means that all the farms in all the municipalities will be affected. And if these areas are no longer productive, how do we make them profitable?" This countered by beekeepers concerns which for example Erwan Bourdon is a beekeeper in Langouet. In recent years, like many of his colleagues, he has lost many of his bee colonies - more than 60 percent last year.He blames the loss on pesticides which he says are a time bomb. "We know that these products are volatile and we need to understand that when they are sprayed, only between 2% and 20% of the product will be absorbed by the plant," he says. "Everything else is going to be directed into the air or into the groundwater. It will seep into the ground and it will enter the water table. So the impact can be much larger than a few metres around the field." Click here to read more. Full article available here
Health 3.16. Chili pepper compound might slow down lung cancer metastasisA new study, has found that capsaicin, the spicy compound in chili peppers, can successfully stop lung cancer metastasis. This might mean that the compound has certain anti-cancer properties. Full article available here
3.17. Potato consumption is as effective as carbohydrate gelsResearch has shown that ingesting concentrated carbohydrate gels during prolonged exercise promotes carbohydrate availability during exercise. This means that consuming potato puree during prolonged exercise works just as well as a commercial carbohydrate gel in sustaining blood glucose levels and boosting performance in trained athletes.
Potatoes are a promising alternative for athletes because they represent a cost-effective, nutrient-dense and whole-food source of carbohydrates, the researchers reported in the Journal of Applied Physiology. Furthermore, they serve as a savoury race fuel option when compared with the high sweetness of carbohydrate gels. Full article available here
Innovation3.18. Live-in bacteria protect plants against infectionsMicro-organisms living inside plant roots team up to boost the plant's growth and tolerance to stress. Researchers have found certain species of 'resident' bacteria can protect plant roots against fungal infections. Using DNZ sequencing they have discovered a real treasure trove of properties of which we do not even know the function yet.
The researchers found out that 'helping hands' inside the roots begin producing all kinds of useful substances. Chitinases, for example: enzymes that break down the cell walls of attacking fungal pathogens. This discovery allowed the researchers to develop tailor-made microscopic backup troops for plants, using Chitinophaga and Flavobacterium species. Experiments on sugarbeet consistently proved the effectiveness of this approach in suppressing fungal infections of the roots. Full article available here
3.19. Millions for vertical agriculture and moreWageningen University & Research (WUR) is to receive more than €8 million from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and participating bodies for two major research programmes, one involving tower garden systems using LEDs and the other focussing on improvements in the welfare of pigs and chickens. A third project, with WUR as a partner, is about sustainable fresh water management in the Dutch delta. Researchers working on the SKY HIGH programme will cooperate with lighting specialists, plant breeding companies, growers, horticultural technology companies, architects and food suppliers to make vertical agriculture systems cheaper and more energy-efficient. Another aim is to produce vegetables and herbs that taste better, have longer shelf lives and provide more nutritional value, while using the absolute minimum of water and fertilisers and no pesticides. Click here to read the complete article. Full article available here
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