GRSB Connect for January 13, 2015
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GRSB Connect for January 13, 2015 |
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A very Happy New year to all our members, and welcome to the first GRSB connect for 2015. This will be a very important year for GRSB as we move to take the very general Principles and Criteria and translate them in different countries around the world into real sustainability on the ground. There is a lot to do to agree on a harmonised system that is flexible to be used in different regions around the world, while delivering on our goals. We need to be able to determine equivalence, to report on progress and demonstrate impact. All of these are essential to delivering on our vision and mission for sustainability, and to demonstrate to sceptics and critics that we really mean to bring about and document sustainable practice. Sustainability News Intensive Agriculture Best Way to Feed World, Say Oxford DelegatesDateline: 01/08/15, Source: By Johann Tasker, Farmers WeeklyDelegates at the Oxford Farming Conference have rejected a motion that intensive agriculture is no longer sustainable. The motion – proposed by Compassion in World Farming chief executive Philip Lymbery – was defeated by 269 votes to 81 following an Oxford Union debate. Panera's Food Policy on Track: To Offer Additive–Free FoodDateline: 12/1814, Source: ZacksPanera Bread Company has recently provided details on its comprehensive Food Policy, introduced in June, regarding its shift to healthier food alternatives. The company's latest Food Policy details include the removal of additives from its ingredients. Panera's Food Policy is consistent with the growing awareness for healthy diet among consumers. Conference Focuses on Beef SustainabilityDateline: 01/08/15, Source: AgriViewThe Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef recently announced its definition of sustainable beef as a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable product that prioritizes planet, people, animals and progress. Fine–tuning that definition in the minds of producers and consumers becomes more complicated. Policy Focus Should Be Species at Risk CoexistenceDateline: 01/01/15, Source: By Ross Mcdonald, The Western ProducerCanadians have a strong global reputation for healthy coexistence, but maintaining and improving the country's natural capital requires continual re–evaluation of our goals and the corresponding policies that encourage practices to meet those goals. New Dietary Recommendations Presenting Two–Fold Challenge for Beef IndustryDateline: 01/06/15, Source: by Amanda Radke, BEEF MagazineA draft of recommendations for the 2014 Dietary Guidelines for Americans has been circulating, and it's left me wondering, "Where's the beef?" Ranchers need to respond by sharing factual information about beef as a part of a healthy, environmentally friendly diet. The USDA Might Tell Americans to Eat Less Beef for the Sake of the EnvironmentDateline: 01/06/15, Source: By John Light, GristThe Department of Agriculture is responsible for issuing guidelines on what America eats: It tells us what foods make up a healthy diet, and, during the last dozen years, what foods are organic. Beef: Still What's for Dinner, Still
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To read the entire source article, click on the link in the headline.Welcome to the Table! We Welcome The Newest Member to the Roundtable Dateline: January 2015AholdConstituency: RetailAhold is an international retailing group based in the Netherlands, with strong local consumer brands in Europe and the United States. Operating supermarkets and selling great food has been the core of their business for over a century. They also offer other formats and channels to serve the needs of today's customer. Ahold is building a true omni–channel offering, so that customers can shop whenever and wherever is most convenient for them. Members in the News Beef Information Sharing System Goes PrivateDateline: 12/16/14, Source: By Ray Baynton, Blackburn NewsThe Canadian Cattlemen's Association's Beef InfoXchange System is going private. But the CCA is not getting out of the data collection and traceability system entirely. TheAssociation is partnering with ViewTrak Technologies as the initial shareholders in a new company set up to own and operate BIXS. Farmers Deploy New DNA Test for Tastier MeatDateline: 01/08/15, Source: By Jacob Bunge and Kelsey Gee, Wall Street Journal via Meridian InstituteSome United States cattle ranches are using sophisticated genetic tests to identify prize animals whose offspring will yield a larger volume of tastier steaks – and fetch producers higher prices. The technology, developed by companies like Neogen Corp. and Zoetis Inc., allow cattle breeders to assess a bull's genetic value with the same accuracy as if it had already sired 20 calves. Meatpackers like Cargill and Tyson Foods Inc. are saying the technology could help them keep pace with changing consumer preferences. Rabobank Report: Global Beef IndustryDateline: 01/08/15, Source: AgriViewRabobank said a big question heading into 2015 with such a finely balanced market is, if Australian export rates decrease and herds in Mexico and Canada continue to be run down by the United States, have prices reached a new norm or do they still have room to rise? Tyson Names New Animal Welfare LeaderDateline: 12/15/14, Source: 4029 TVTyson Foods named Dr. Christine Daugherty its new vice president–Animal Well–Being Programs and Technology. Daugherty will oversee Tyson's FarmsCheck program, which is meant to ensure that farmers follow Tyson standards for the treatment of animals. She will also manage Tyson Foods' staff and conduct animal welfare audits. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Join Forces with McDonald'sDateline: 12/17/14, Source: Scoop NZBeef + Lamb New Zealand has partnered with McDonald's New Zealand to support the quick service restaurant company's quest to serve sustainable beef to its customers. "The programme will work with farmers and processors to identify and develop good management practices that support sustainable beef production. This means sustainable production systems, lower inputs, use of new technologies and the highest levels of animal welfare." Global News General Trend... The Global Perspective on BeefDateline: 12/17/14, Source: By Gerry Giggins, Irish Independent2014 was a turbulent year for Irish beef producers, but globally the sector is experiencing an upturn. In the past year I have visited a number of countries with very diverse beef production systems. The general trend throughout these countries was one of increasing beef price, pressure on the breeding herds and a good deal of optimism among beef producers. A lot of these issues were the reverse of what was happening here in Ireland but every time I return home I have a huge appreciation for the quality and efficacy of the beef we produce. Northern Cattle Industry Urged to Give Young Workers a Chance by Rural Training and EmploymentDateline: 01/07/15, Source: ABC AustraliaA Queensland–based rural training organisation is urging beef industry employers to give young workers a chance, in a bid to reduce high youth unemployment in regional areas. Job creation is a key issue for many Queenslanders in the lead–up to the state election, with youth unemployment reaching 20 per cent in some communities, during the past year. Dutch Government Supports Greater Farm SustainabilityDateline: 12/30/14, Source: The Cattle SiteThe Dutch government has announced financial support for 13 projects aimed at improving agricultural sustainability, including for better grassland management, local feed production and an expansion of the 'Beter Leven' welfare mark for pigs and poultry.The government is to support the country's livestock farming sector to make it more sustainable and animal–friendly. Save Civilization --- Grow TopsoilDateline: 01/01/15, Source: The Western Producer
Tanzania: Livestock Keepers Ready for Climate ChangeDateline: 01/05/15, Source:By Bilham Kimati, All AfricaThe vagaries of climate change which seem not to recognize geographical boundaries have not spared the livestock keeping communities, the Maasai, in Monduli, Longido and Ngorongoro districts in Arusha region. Apart from the migratory or nomadic nature of the herders, effects of climate such as increase of temperatures and the subsequent prolonged drought, complicated water collection efforts as well as increased aridity of the grazing land. Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health ManagementDateline: 01/1/15, Source: CourseraLearn about the impact of infectious disease on sustainable animal-based food production by understanding the science of growth, immunity, and infection and by learning the problem-solving skills needed to advance animal health and food production through optimal management practices. . News We Can Use If you have news to share with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef membership, please send it to polly.welden@grsbeef.org |
UnsubscribeCopyright © 2014 Global Roundtable for Sustainable BeefAdministrative Offices: 13570 Meadowgrass Drive, Suite 201Colorado Springs, CO 80921 USA1-719-355-2935 (Telephone) 1-719-538-8847 (Facsimile)All rights reserved.Contact email: admin@grsbeef.orgYou are receiving this message as a benefit of membership to the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef |
Dear GRSB Member,
Controversial
food and drink industry has produced an overview of current best practice and emerging options for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock.The dairy and beef sectors have already made important progress on reducing emissions. While a steady growth in demand for all animal products has resulted in a 1.1 per cent per year increase of emissions since 2000, the GHG emissions intensity of production has decreased by up to 76 per cent (range 38–76 per cent) for various livestock products between 1960 to the 2000.
Farmers need to move beyond conserving topsoil and start growing it, according to a Vermont grazier, educator and consultant. Abe Collins is part of a small group of agriculturalists who want to take that next step. He is co–founder of the Soil Carbon Coalition, a non–profit organization dedicated to transforming atmospheric carbon into soil organic matter.