How Ringspot Develops

From my observations, when you first spot the signs of ringspot on a plant, it’s a big clue that the plants nearby could be affected too. This usually gives us a tight window of about five to seven days from its first appearance to act. So, spraying a preventative fungicide quickly can help curb its spread. If ignored, these spots can spread quickly to neighbouring plants. A good practice is to use Amistar Top at the first hint of trouble, as it not only protects the healthy leaves but also supports the growth of the crop. Just so you know, if older leaves are infected, they might turn brown and fall off.

The White Blister Challenge

Now, white blister is a tricky one. It doesn’t need as much wetness as ringspot to cause trouble. I’ve seen several warnings about it this season. Amistar Top can be a trusty ally against it and other diseases like alternaria. Starting your prevention early in the season can help you keep your crops healthy till harvest. From my experience, Amistar Top is particularly good for sprouts and white cabbage crops around early autumn.

Current Market Situation

There’s some good news. Retailers are currently looking for more brassicas, especially with folks cooking more at home and the rise in demand for frozen products. This not only offers value but also helps in cutting down wastage for shoppers.

Broccoli’s Special Concern

Broccoli, especially for freezing, is in high demand. But, there’s an issue of systemic downy mildew which leaves a nasty black mark when broccoli florets are prepared for freezing. I always advise farmers to go for a two-spray strategy with Revus about five weeks after planting to tackle this. Many of our fellow farmers have mentioned that tackling downy mildew early can keep other problems at bay, like spear rot, ensuring our broccoli remains top-notch. A follow-up with Amistar plus SL567A can also help in keeping white blister in check.

White Blister Alert

A final word on white blister. Although it’s slow to start, given the number of brassicas we’ve planted and the current environment, it won’t be long before it becomes a major concern. Preparing with Amistar Top strategies early on can shield our crops.

Main Conclusions: The Farmer’s Manifesto

• Stay Vigilant: Morning dews can heighten the risk of diseases like ringspot and white blister.
• Act Fast on Ringspot: At the first signs, act swiftly. Use preventative fungicides within five to seven days to manage its spread.
• Tackle White Blister Early: Employ Amistar Top as a reliable defence mechanism.
• Boost for Brassica: Market demand is high. Maintain quality to leverage this.
• Special Care for Broccoli: Implement a two-spray strategy to combat systemic downy mildew.
• Preparedness: With white blister potentially on the rise, preparation and early prevention are key.

Stay informed, act promptly, and ensure a bountiful your harvest!

In an initiative undertaken three years ago, the National Trust designated the Purbeck Heaths as England’s inaugural “Super NNR,” aiming to transform the region into an “open grazing savannah.”

Covering approximately half of the Super NNR, the newly established ‘savannah’ will encompass a 1,370-hectare expanse, providing a habitat for ponies, pigs, cattle, and deer to graze freely. Among the livestock, National Trust plans to introduce about 200 Red Devon cattle and Mangalitsa pigs.

Back in March 2020, a coalition of seven organizations, including National Trust and Natural England, came together with the aim of interconnecting 3,400 hectares of habitats to safeguard the local ecosystems. This collaborative effort led to the establishment of the Purbeck Super NNR.

Comprising a diverse blend of lowland wet and dry heath, valley mires, acid grassland, woodland, coastal sand dunes, lakes, and saltmarsh, the super reserve emerges as one of the most biodiverse locations in the United Kingdom.

Within its boundaries, a multitude of wildlife species find residence, including all six native reptiles: adder, grass snake, slow worm, sand lizard, smooth snake, and viviparous lizard.

According to a National Trust spokesperson, the ponies, pigs, and cattle are inquisitive creatures that actively navigate the terrain, engaging in various forms of browsing and soil disruption.

“By doing so, we’re fostering the development of novel and enhanced habitats for diverse species, akin to the activities of their predecessors. While we can’t reintroduce aurochs, the indigenous forebears of our domestic cattle, our herd of 200 Red Devon cattle can mirror their grazing and behavior patterns. Likewise, Exmoor ponies emulate the behavior of the extinct tarpan horses, and the distinctive Mangalitsa pigs, with their curly coats, engage in activities reminiscent of wild boars.”

Across the nation, fishing stands as a vital pillar of numerous communities, offering employment opportunities and fostering economic stability. The sustainable seafood sector and the responsible fishing industry play a pivotal role, not only in driving substantial economic growth within the UK and beyond but also in championing and attaining global food security objectives.

Amidst the government’s call for all food producers to reduce their emissions towards achieving UK net-zero by 2050, the fishing sector assumes a vital responsibility in offering a sustainable and low-carbon food source. Key to this effort is debunking the misconception that the fishing industry inevitably harms the environment, as a sustainable fishing industry has indeed emerged.

The development of the sustainable fishing industry

The issue of hunger stands as one of the most urgent global challenges, with its prevalence increasing since 2014. The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified this crisis, as evidenced by the alarming statistics of 720 million to 811 million individuals experiencing hunger in 2020, representing an increase of approximately 161 million people compared to 2019.

The magnitude of food insecurity ranks it as the third most significant global emergency we confront today. Disturbingly, in 2020, approximately 2.4 billion individuals were categorized as moderately or severely food insecure, witnessing an alarming surge of nearly 320 million people compared to the preceding year.

The second Sustainable Development Goal set by the United Nations focuses on eradicating hunger, attaining food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. With a significant portion of the global population relying on fish as a primary source of nutritious animal protein, pelagic fish, in particular, emerge as a sustainable food resource. Pelagic fish inhabit the mid-water column of the ocean, situated away from the seabed and found in the vast expanse of the open sea.

Capturing these fish is a cost-effective process, thanks to its ability to be carried out on a large scale, with the added benefit of immediate freezing in onboard ship factories. Not only are pelagic fish a nutritious choice, being low in cholesterol, but they also offer a rich source of essential nutrients like iron, riboflavin, calcium, and beneficial long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

With the continuous growth of the global population, there arises an increasing need for affordable, protein-rich sustenance. Presently, the world’s population stands at 7.9 billion, and according to UN projections, it is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2023 and a staggering 11 billion by 2100. Meeting the dietary requirements of this expanding population inevitably necessitates the inclusion of fish as a vital food source, encompassing both wild-caught varieties and those cultivated through aquaculture practices.

In essence, the significance of fishing becomes evident when we consider the task of nourishing the world’s population. Nonetheless, meeting these demands hinges upon the industry’s capacity to adapt and demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. Moreover, it is crucial to communicate that fishing operations predominantly adhere to stringent regulations and operate within sustainable frameworks. By doing so, we can highlight fishing as a pivotal solution to address global challenges related to food sourcing and security.

So, what steps are we taking – both as a country and globally – to ensure a productive, sustainable fishing sector?

Climate and biodiversity is a core tenet of a thriving, sustainable fishing industry

The thriving fishing sector is built upon the foundation of sustainability, emphasizing the importance of minimizing bycatch and safeguarding marine biodiversity. However, as the global population continues to grow, there is a pressing need to expand marine food production to meet increasing demands. Balancing the imperative of sustainability with the necessity for scaling up production becomes a crucial challenge in ensuring the viability of the fishing industry.

For us to effectively provide sustenance to the projected population of ten billion by 2050, it is imperative that the fishing industry takes a proactive role in embracing sustainable practices. At present, approximately 82.5% of wild-caught fish originates from sustainable stocks, accounting for 66% of total stocks worldwide. As the reliance on oceanic food sources intensifies to ensure global food security, it becomes crucial to further enhance sustainability efforts while simultaneously ramping up production to meet the growing demand.

The role of research and innovation cannot be overstated when it comes to comprehending and mitigating the environmental consequences of fishing. One such instance is the substantial investment made by the pelagic fishing sector to subject all catches to rigorous scientific analysis, evaluating both operational aspects and the quality of the catch. The resulting data is widely disseminated within the scientific community, facilitating informed decision-making by government-led fisheries management in shaping regulations and policies for the betterment of the industry.

To achieve sustainable and abundant fishing stocks, international cooperation among nations, fisheries, and supranational organizations is indispensable. Such collaboration should involve the establishment of agreements, effective monitoring of waters to combat illegal fishing, and close coordination between fisheries and national governments in formulating fisheries management policies. Additionally, fisheries must prioritize ongoing investments in innovative practices, including the adoption of modern fishing equipment, greener fuels, and propulsion technologies. This commitment to innovation will contribute to the overall sustainability and environmental consciousness of the fishing industry.

UK fisheries management for sustainability goals

Taking into consideration the broader global context, it is worthwhile to examine the specific efforts undertaken by the UK to foster sustainable fishing practices. The UK Fisheries Act of 2020 outlines eight key objectives that all UK fisheries are mandated to uphold. These objectives encompass sustainability, precautionary measures, ecosystem considerations, reliance on scientific evidence, bycatch management, equal access to resources, national benefits, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. By adhering to these objectives, the UK aims to promote responsible fishing practices and ensure the long-term viability of its fisheries.

The UK’s new fisheries strategy is built upon these objectives, forming the bedrock for a comprehensive approach that integrates cutting-edge innovations with a steadfast commitment to safeguarding marine life. Serving as a blueprint, these objectives aim to establish a framework that fosters both productivity and sustainability in fishing practices within UK waters. Fisheries management policies play a crucial role in regulating fishing stocks, ensuring a consistent supply of fish to meet the needs of global communities. Continual updates to these policies, driven by research and innovation, are essential to preserve marine biodiversity and prevent the detrimental effects of overfishing. By embracing such measures, the UK strives to strike a balance between meeting the demand for fish and safeguarding the delicate marine ecosystems.

UK government funding for the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme

In a significant commitment, the UK government has allocated a generous funding of up to £100 million for the Fisheries and Seafood scheme. This financial support aims to facilitate and promote new advancements in various aspects of the industry, including catching, processing, and aquaculture. By providing this funding, the government seeks to drive innovation, boost productivity, and foster sustainable practices within the fisheries and seafood sector.

Specifically, the scheme aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Foster a more sustainable and resilient sector.
• Enhance the demand for English seafood in new markets.
• Encourage participation by involving stakeholders in co-design and co-management processes.
• Attain good environmental status by conserving and restoring the marine environment.
• Contribute to net-zero goals by reducing emissions within the industry.

As part of its commitment to sustainability objectives, this scheme incorporates funding for marine conservation efforts. By allocating resources to protect habitats, preserve ecosystems, and promote biodiversity, the aim is to foster vibrant and thriving marine environments. Such measures not only contribute to the sustainability of fishing stocks but also play a crucial role in safeguarding the overall well-being of marine life.

The government’s commitment is of significant importance, considering the vital economic contributions and employment opportunities that the fishing industry brings to coastal communities across the UK, many of which heavily rely on this sector. The sustainability and effective management of fisheries are paramount to securing the long-term success and viability of these communities. By prioritizing well-managed fisheries, we can ensure the preservation of these opportunities and the sustained prosperity of fishing communities in the years to come.

Sustainable stocks and communities

Fish is an indispensable and affordable source of nourishment, brimming with essential nutrients. It plays a crucial role in addressing the global challenge of feeding a growing population sustainably. Rather than being a problem, fish is an integral part of the solution to ensure a sustainable food supply. As the global population continues to expand, there will inevitably be an increased demand for fish. However, it is crucial that this growth in consumption is accompanied by sustainable practices. Recognizing the invaluable contribution of fish in combating hunger and its potential to provide sustenance for future generations is vital. Therefore, international investment in research and innovation within the fishing industry becomes imperative to support its sustainability and address food security challenges effectively.

The commitment demonstrated by the UK government in this initiative will play a significant role in promoting sustainable fishing stocks and practices. Not only will it contribute to the preservation of marine life, but it will also foster economic growth, offering valuable opportunities to fishing communities throughout the nation. This investment serves as a catalyst for positive change, bolstering both environmental conservation and the prosperity of those reliant on the fishing industry.

Despite years of digital government initiatives, approximately two-thirds of the UK’s farming agency’s interactions with its 21 million customers still rely on paper-based forms.

According to a recent report published by the Public Accounts Committee, as of July 2021, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ services still had significant components that necessitated users to contact helplines or complete offline forms.

The Parliamentary public spending watchdog highlighted that currently, out of the 101 transactional services offered by Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs), only 34 of them can be fully accessed and utilized online.

In 2022, Defra managed an annual budget of £4.6 billion ($5.75 billion), but this amount is projected to decrease due to public spending cuts. Despite this, the department still incurs additional expenses to maintain and operate its extensive legacy estate.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reported that the Whitehall department, Defra, manages approximately 365 main business applications. Among these applications, only 20 percent were newly developed and directly supported by the original supplier. About half of the applications were on extended support, while 30 percent were out of support and necessitated “hypercare” from the Defra tech team.

The PAC stated that Defra may incur additional charges for support in relation to the 80 percent of applications that are in extended support or hypercare. The report also highlighted that the higher proportion of out-of-support applications increased the risk of failure and vulnerability to cyber attacks.

In a concerning case, the system utilized for recording bovine tuberculosis test results necessitated users to purchase outdated laptops from eBay in order to run Defra’s application, as modern operating systems were no longer supported. The PAC noted that Defra stated it had recently invested approximately £11 million ($13.75 million) in upgrading the system, making it compatible with devices such as iPads or phones.

The legacy issue has hindered the progress of Defra’s technological advancement plans, diverting resources and attention away from moving forward. According to the PAC, Defra lacks the necessary strategy or vision for long-term digital transformation. While efforts have been made to stabilize legacy applications and address cybersecurity and operational risks, there is currently no strategy in place for transforming digital services. Additionally, Defra has not taken a proactive approach to address challenges such as reducing reliance on paper forms and making applications accessible on mobile phones.

Instead of taking a proactive approach, Defra has primarily focused on reacting to urgent matters, such as implementing IT systems for EU Exit, according to MPs. The report highlights that Defra lacks agreed standards for IT systems throughout the department, hindering consistent development across the organization. The PAC advises Defra to develop a comprehensive digital and data strategy and provide a detailed report by the end of March 2024, outlining the planned actions as part of the strategy.

The UK government unveiled a digital strategy in June of the previous year, with a goal of achieving a transformed and efficient digital government by 2025. The strategy aimed to deliver user-centric policies and public services that are aligned with the digital age and focused on meeting user needs and delivering positive outcomes. However, based on the PAC report, it appears that Defra has significant progress to make if it is to fulfill these aspirations within the next 18 months.

Despite the belief held by many, the statement that the UK and Ireland’s livestock production is not associated with rainforests is not entirely accurate. This is due to the fact that imported soybeans are often used to feed chickens, pigs, and cows, which are raised for meat production. Brazil, the largest soybean exporter globally, cultivates a significant portion of soybeans on deforested land.

Contrary to popular belief, the UK and Ireland are home to rainforests known as Celtic or Atlantic rainforests. These temperate forests are being threatened by grazing livestock, especially deer and sheep. This might come as a surprise to many people.

Fragmented forests

The rainforests in the UK and Ireland are now only a small and scattered area. According to the Woodland Trust, they have been in a state of decline for a long time due to clearances, overgrazing, and conversion to other uses.

On Twitter, there’s debate about the absence of trees in many of Britain’s National Parks being “natural,” but that’s a misconception. As soon as grazing is prevented and fences are erected, trees and vegetation can make a swift comeback.

In order to safeguard nature, we must limit any additional deforestation, while also making an effort to revive what has been destroyed. While we tend to see current tree removal as deforestation, we should also consider actions that prevent forests from naturally regenerating as such.

Grazing livestock have huge land footprints

A considerable amount of land in the UK and Ireland that could support temperate rainforests is instead utilized for grass-fed cows and sheep, as these areas aren’t suitable for arable crops that prefer drier conditions. Nonetheless, even if these rainforest zones were used for other crops instead of livestock grazing, the latter would still pose an indirect threat due to their significant land usage. To obtain 100g of protein from lamb, you would require roughly 35 times more land than you would for peas, beans, and other pulses.

Rainforests and livestock grazing are in direct competition for land usage. The UK and Ireland have the lowest forest coverage in Europe, with only 13% and 11%, respectively, and just a fraction of this is natural forest rather than planted. By reducing meat consumption and consuming more plant-based foods, your diet will have a smaller land footprint, which will free up more space for forests and rainforests to thrive.

Although grasslands with limited grazing in the British Isles can serve as essential ecosystems for wildflowers and insects, most grazing land doesn’t resemble this. Grassland nature reserves that are maintained for nature preservation rather than farming, such as Martin Down in Hampshire, include trees and shrubs, and during spring and summer, they are filled with birdsong, butterflies, and orchids. These reserves differ greatly from the intensively grazed fields and hillsides that resemble billiard tables and constitute a significant portion of the grasslands in the UK and Ireland.

While consuming meat from well-managed nature reserves might be considered acceptable for the environment and climate, such small quantities are produced that meat consumption would have to drop far beyond current reduction targets.

In addition, it’s worth noting that while British grass-fed cows primarily consume grass, they also receive supplementary crops. This results in a larger arable land footprint per 100g than British legumes. Additionally, when you consider the grazing land required, their overall footprint is significantly larger.

Preserving on-farm biodiversity is crucial, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of conserving and restoring unfarmed ecosystems that many species prefer. Unfortunately, the UK and Ireland are among the most nature-depleted countries globally, and the widespread grazing of grass-fed livestock is harming rather than benefiting nature.

Campaigners like Guy Shrubsole and Eoghan Daltun have helped raise awareness about the rainforests in Britain and Ireland. While people are becoming more conscious of the climate impact of meat, there is still less discussion about the large land footprint it requires and how it harms nature and biodiversity. This needs to change if the world is to achieve its recent commitments to protect and restore nature made at the COP15 summit focused on biodiversity.

The plan includes the creation of more marine protected areas, banning trawling in these areas, improving the management of fish stocks, and promoting the use of less energy-intensive vessels, as outlined by the French daily.

The Telegram states that the proposal was eagerly anticipated by NGOs and the fishing sector. With the Common Fisheries Policy reform a decade ago, the European Commission believes that “structural transformations” are necessary to reduce the environmental impact of the fishing sector while ensuring its profitability and carbon neutrality by 2050, as reported by Le Figaro.

According to El País, the new commitments aim to legally protect EU seas by increasing marine protected areas from the current 12% to 30%. The Spanish daily highlights that this objective aligns with the EU’s stance during COP15 in Montreal, Canada, and its strategy in favor of biodiversity.

Strengthen marine protected areas

As per Les Echos, the “flagship measure” of the action plan involves the prohibition of bottom trawling, including trawls, dredges, gillnets, etc., in protected maritime areas. While it has been banned below 800 meters since 2016, the European Union and NGOs consider bottom trawling as one of the most damaging activities for the seabed.

National administrations have until March 2024 to develop their roadmap for eliminating bottom trawling, as reported by Ouest-France. The roadmap will be assessed by the Commission, which will determine if new legislation is required. Additionally, the European executive will request member states to increase their protected areas to meet the target of protecting 30% of the seas in Europe, compared to the current 12%, as highlighted by Les Echos.

Measures still too timid?

The European Commission’s new action plan also aims to promote more transparent annual catch quotas set by member states, respecting the recommended maximum levels by scientists, as stated by Liberation. This is a crucial requirement, as Europe has been grappling with overfishing for many years, as noted by TF1. The channel further highlights that one-third of fish species in the North-East Atlantic are currently affected by overfishing (compared to 70% in the 2000s), and approximately 85% of stocks in the Mediterranean are being overexploited.

According to Ouest-France, the European Commission’s measures are seen as a timid step towards sustainable fishing. This sentiment is echoed by another local newspaper. The Telegram highlights that the European executive has not altered its stance on landing obligations, but has emphasized that this provision is poorly implemented, despite its potential to limit accidental fish catch.

Widespread discontent

The media consensus is that the proposed action plan by the European Commission has not satisfied any party. It has been criticized by fishing professionals as too timid, while environmental NGOs also find it lacking. The Telegram describes it as a “blow” for fishermen, with concerns raised about potential job losses, affecting around 4,350 fishermen on 1,200 vessels, according to the president of the National Fisheries Committee.

NGOs, including Oceana, are expressing discontent with what they perceive as a slow timeline in the proposed action plan. France info quotes the association as deploring that bottom trawling will be allowed in protected areas for another seven years, and after 2030 outside of those areas, which they consider to be a significant discrepancy between observation and the proposed actions.

The scientists presented their findings at the annual conference of the British Ecological Society, which showed that at least a third, between 33% and 41%, of earthworms have disappeared from UK soils in the last 25 years, based on data from around 100 previous studies.

Professor James Pearce-Higgins, the scientific director of the British Trust for Ornithology, who conducted the research, expressed concern about the evidence of a long-term decline in earthworms. He even referred to it as a “large-scale decline in soil biodiversity” in his remarks to the British media.

The disappearance of earthworms, which could affect the entire soil ecosystem, is a cause of concern. The loss of these creatures can have consequences on soil fertility, where they play a crucial role in making nutrients available for plants, whether cultivated or wild. Additionally, earthworms are essential links in the interconnected food chains of trophic networks, serving as prey for birds such as thrushes, starlings, and various waders.

What makes earthworms disappear?

While hotter and drier summers in the south-east of the UK are being blamed for the decline in earthworms, the main culprit is conventional agriculture, according to the study. The researchers observed a greater decline in earthworms in agricultural land and deciduous forests, whereas wilder lands at higher altitudes, further from human activity, appeared to be less affected.

According to Dr. Ailidh Barnes, a researcher at the British Trust for Ornithology, the decline in earthworm populations in the UK is likely due to changes in the countryside over the last century. These changes include large-scale drainage, the use of pesticides, and the application of synthetic fertilizers, which have negatively impacted earthworm populations. Dr. Barnes also mentioned the negative effects of plowing, a tillage technique that involves turning and loosening the soil.

While conventional agriculture practices are the main cause of the decline in earthworm populations in the UK, there are other factors at play. Dr. Matt Shardlow, a spokesperson for the NGO Buglife, notes that the decline within hardwood forests and rangelands suggests that climate change and soil pollution from livestock wormers are also contributing to the loss of biodiversity. This comes as Buglife’s latest report reveals that two-thirds of flying insects have vanished in the UK.

Better document the decline of earthworms

The researchers behind the study intend to initiate a scientific surveillance scheme focused on earthworms to gather more accurate data on their reduction.

We need to be concerned about the fate of subterranean biodiversity to preserve what we see above ground. Let’s prioritize the protection of earthworms, emphasized Professor Pearce-Higgins.

A new citizen science program called “QUBS” has been launched in France, in partnership with various institutions such as the Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University, Sorbonne University, the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, the University of Lorraine/INRAE, and the Plante & Cité association in Angers.

Focused exclusively on soil biodiversity, including earthworms, ants, and other small creatures, this ambitious project, known as “QUBS,” aims to gather valuable information on the rich, but endangered, life that lurks beneath our feet.

On January 1, the new CAP arrived, which will be applied during the period 2023-2027. It has taken five years to come up with legal texts with which Europe intended to promote a competitive and diversified agricultural sector to guarantee food security, support and protect the environment, climate and biodiversity, as well as strengthen the socioeconomic fabric of rural areas.

But environmental sustainability has eclipsed the rest, leaving the social objective and especially the economic one without support, according to the analysis carried out by the technical services of Asaja Castilla y León.

Despite the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Europe persists in its Green Pact and in complying with the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies that permeate the spirit of the CAP that we are launching with the new year.

New Strategic Plan

On August 31, 2022, the European Commission approved our CAP Strategic Plan, congratulating Spain for proposing exemplary interventions and measures to achieve the aforementioned objectives, even exceeding the minimums set for the environmental objective.

In the last days of the year, different legal texts have begun to be published at the national level, a law and 18 royal decrees. Then the regional government will develop them for application in Castilla y León.

Farmers and ranchers have had to plan and sow without knowing their obligations, “in precarious”, as the agrarian organization points out.

Food Chain Law

This law, in force since December 16, 2021, postponed until the beginning of 2023 the implementation of the Registry of Food Contracts. In the last days of the year, the Royal Decree was approved that develops the register of digital food contracts in which the contracts signed with primary producers and their groups must be registered, on a mandatory basis.

This registry, in compliance with the Food Chain Law, increases the protection of primary producers and their groups, by facilitating the functions of inspection and control of commercial relations.

The registration of contracts in the registry will start on January 31, 2023, although there will be a transitional period to facilitate its gradual implementation, until it becomes mandatory, starting on June 30.

It seems impossible to stop the “huge difference” in prices between what the consumer pays and what the producer receives, but Asaja is confident that the application of the Food Chain Law will continue to take steps to achieve this.

Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan

In November, the 44th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan was approved, which establishes all the lines of insurance whose contracting period will begin throughout the year 2023 with a line of subsidies that totals 317.7 million euros.

The plan includes the different lines of subsidies applied and the percentages established for each of them, which in total add up to 317.7 million euros.

This increase is highly relevant for farms, especially in the current context of increased production costs and higher accident rates caused by adverse weather events that have occurred during the year.

The most important novelty is the 10 percentage point increase in the base subsidy. This increase has already begun to be applied to those lines whose contracting period began on September 1, 2022.

In this way, depending on the group to which the insured belongs, between 50 and 60% of the minimum subsidy can be achieved in the most contracted modality.

Duero Hydrological Plan

Submitted to a vote, the Duero Hydrological Plan Project 2022-2027 was rejected by the members of the Demarcation’s Water Council, with a result of 42 votes against and 34 in favor.

Asaja has been one of the organizations that has voted against, refusing this approval from the outset, considering that the new Duero Hydrological Plan threatens the interests of the agricultural sector.

Other agrarian organizations, irrigation communities and the Water Council have joined this rejection. It is significant that this project defended by the Duero Hydrographic Confederation has had the support of the representatives of the hydroelectric companies, totally disconnected from the reality of the agricultural sector.

For Asaja, the modernization of irrigation is the best formula for saving water, preventing pollution from runoff and increasing the competitiveness of farms. Climate change is a reality and water plays a very important role, so today infrastructure and storage capacity for this resource are more necessary than ever.

Despite the majority rejection of the project, the Duero Hydrographic Confederation will submit the plan to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, so that, if it so decides, it can be approved as a Royal Decree.

Double electricity rate

Regarding electricity, the agrarian organization is still waiting for the Government to implement the double tariff already approved in various legal texts throughout this legislature for the agricultural sector.

In Law 30/2022, of December 23, which regulates the management system of the Common Agricultural Policy, a final provision is included that allows the owners of agricultural exploitations to take advantage of the temporary flexibility mechanisms of the supply contracts of electrical energy included in article 7 of Royal Decree-Law 18/2022 which, although it would only be in force in 2023, begins with a reason.

Asaja hopes that this new legal text will be applied and irrigators can finally benefit from a double electricity tariff that adjusts to their consumption demands, thus fulfilling a historical claim.

We also hope that the electricity marketers give the change authorizations as quickly as possible, since the law obliges them to remain with the new power for a minimum period.

Vulnerable areas

The modification of the Royal Decree on the protection of water against diffuse pollution produced by nitrates from agricultural sources proposed in 2021 by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge finally came to light in January 2022.

This new Royal Decree establishes much more restrictive criteria in determining both the contaminated areas, as well as those that could be contaminated if the appropriate measures are not taken, lowering the maximum limits of contamination by 25 or 50% over the current community directive.

By lowering these limits, there is the possibility that the entire territory of Castilla y León is classified as a vulnerable area, with the inconveniences and restrictions that this entails for our sector.

Asaja advocates in this matter for the concrete identification of the problem that diffuse pollution produces in order to have current power over it. Specific measures must be taken to find the root cause and control the problem.

The general measures, if they were not very ambitious, would not reverse the problem and if they are excessively drastic, as is the case, they could solve it or not, but in exchange for putting an important and strategic productive sector at risk.

The MAPA is also preparing a regulation in this line through the implementation of a new Royal Decree on sustainable nutrition of agricultural soils that will add new requirements and restrictions on fertilizing crops and greater difficulties in agricultural production.

The organization hopes that the administrations give a long period of adaptation to the sector and put at their disposal the necessary tools with which to work. It is also important that new generation fertilizers and formulations are accessible to the producer, both agronomically and economically.

Livestock regulations

At the end of the year, abundant regulations were published, among which a royal decree for the management of bovine farms stands out, which will limit the maximum size of newly installed farms. Time will tell if it will serve to stop the continuous bleeding of professionals, or on the contrary so that in other parts of the world they take over the markets that we lose.

On January 2, 2023, a royal decree comes into force that regulates the general registry of the Best Available Techniques (MTD) in livestock farms, as well as the support for the calculation, monitoring and notification of emissions in livestock. The standard establishes the structure of this registry and the minimum content of the information that farmers must communicate to the public administrations regarding the estimation of their emissions and the application of the MTD, in line with the obligations established in the royal decrees of livestock management. .

The decree on animal health and protection regulations during transport also enters into force, which repeals the previous regulations of 2016 and introduces changes in the welfare conditions of livestock and requirements for professionals, in line with the recommendations they make in this regard. community instances, within the current regulatory framework.

We must add a fourth royal decree with a series of national measures to promote a sustainable use of antibiotics in the field of species of livestock interest. The sale of antimicrobials in Spain is higher than the European average, so in the opinion of the Ministry it is necessary to urgently address their use in livestock farms.

Inspections of phytosanitary equipment (ITEAF)

In the last quarter of the year, the draft for updating the order that regulates the ITEAF in Castilla y León was published. The draft proposes to apply in our community the possibility offered by the National Royal Decree of deregistering ex officio from the Official Register of Agricultural Machinery (ROMA) the equipment for the application of phytosanitary products that have not passed the corresponding inspection or whose validity period has expired, prior communication to the interested party.

Asaja has requested that the owner of the machine be given the option of keeping it registered under his responsibility, since the Renewal Plan for agricultural machinery contemplates the scrapping of a machine in order to qualify for renewal and this would mean the exclusion of many farmers from our community compared to those of other territories where it does not apply.

Marine pollution from the fishing industry is significant in Canada. In the last year alone, 4,105 pieces of gear were lost according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The worst sector of the industry is lobster, which accounts for 80% of lost gear. A fact that does not spare Madelinot fishermen.

“The lockers will hook in the bottom and you can’t lift them. The current, and the bad weather, and the size of the boats cause them to be broken from time to time, ” says the president, regrouping of fishermen and fishermen from the coasts of the islands (RPPCI), Charles Poirier.

Quebec has the worst record with 1,829 gear units lost, which corresponds to 44.5% of the losses for the whole country. For lobsters, it is mainly cages that remain stuck in rocky bottoms. The cables currently used by lobster boats have a resistance of 2000 lbs. Right whale protection measures could cause a reduction in the resistance of cables, which should increase pollution.

“If we go with what the government wants to force us to do, which is 1,700 test pounds, we will lose them more easily and there will be a lot more phantom gear to recover,” concludes the president of RPPCI.

To protect the right whale, the US government wants to impose restrictions on the Canadian industry. The mammal is threatened by ghost gear that is lost by fishermen. Washington requires weaker wiring for whales to break gear. The request would apply to all sectors of fishing: from fish to shellfish.

“There are a variety of fishing gear modifications and we are still developing our analyzes to inform the approach for certain fishing activities. So it won’t be just one solution that works for everyone, for all fisheries across Eastern Canada,” says Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s gear modification manager, Andrea Morden.

Another alternative proposed was to advance the fishing period. This adjustment would make it possible to reach the quotas more quickly before the arrival of the whales.

After shortages of eggs, tomatoes and pears could run out: hit by soaring costs, the United Kingdom is heading straight for a food supply crisis, the main British agricultural union warned on Tuesday. Ultimately, “the danger is that we produce ever less of our food here and that we depend ever more on imports”, affirmed during a press conference in London Minette Batters, president of the NFU (National Farmers’ Union).

UK farmers are in ‘an emergency’ according to the union, hit by soaring costs for fertiliser, feed, fuel and energy as linked supply chains are disrupted to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Eggs have already become more rare and expensive with these additional costs, to which was added a local epidemic of avian flu. Many British supermarkets are reduced to rationing the purchase.

Faced with this situation, the costs must be shared, according to the union, which is asking intermediary companies, in particular responsible for packaging or distributors, “more equity” in the supply chain, added Ms. Batters.

According to the union, there are 7,000 fewer agricultural companies in the country than in 2019 – a drop of almost 5% – while nitrogen fertilizers, for example, increased by 240% and gas sold in bulk suffered a drop. massive increase of 650% over this three-year period. But beyond the issues of costs, which are soaring all over the world, farmers across the Channel are also suffering from the consequences of Brexit, which has notably complicated the hiring of European workers on whom the agricultural sector relied.

The NFU is calling on the government to grant more seasonal worker visas, as some growers have seen some of their crops rot on the vine this year for lack of hands to harvest them.

The country has “a high degree of food security”, the government said in a statement sent to AFP, ensuring that it is in contact with the food and agricultural sectors “to ensure that they are well prepared for a range of scenarios. “

Food and Agriculture Minister Mark Spencer is due to meet representatives of egg producers on Tuesday. “The UK has an extensive and highly resilient food supply chain” which relies on “strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes,” the executive added.