The following split of ministerial responsibilities has now been agreed...(read more)
Year of Food and Farming in Education
There have been some exciting developments on the Year of Food and Farming since the regional stakeholders meeting took place in February. The Year has now been branded, with eye-catching animation by Manchester based designers ‘LOVE’, which depicts ‘Spud and The Farm Bunch’, farm-grown characters to support the brand personality.
Read more in our Summer 2007 Newsletter
Visit www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk
or www.face-online.org.uk to read the press release
May 2007
Woodfuel Strategy for England Lanuched on 28th March
Visit www.forestry.gov.uk for more information.
The Government’s blueprint for tackling climate change is published on 13 March 2007.
The draft Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, and accompanying strategy, set out a framework for moving the UK to a low-carbon economy. It demonstrates the UK’s leadership as progress continues towards establishing a post-Kyoto global emissions agreement.
Read more on DEFRA's website
March 2007
October 2nd saw the launch of the new environmental organisation Natural England.
Natural England brings together English Nature, the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency’s Landscape, Access and Recreation division.
Natural England will, for the first time, unite in a single organisation responsibility for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and landscapes, as well as promoting greater access and recreation – helping people to enjoy more green spaces both in the countryside and urban environments.
Read More
November 2006
National Implementation Group Visit the South West
The man behind the blueprint for the government’s Strategy for a Sustainable Farming and Food (SFF) sector, Sir Don Curry, visited Devon on 12th October to be updated on the Plan’s progress in the South West.
Sir Don visited Dartmoor for talks with Devon beef farmer John Lee, who is spearheading the strategy’s delivery in the South West.
The Dartmoor Vision (© Dartmoor Hill Farm Project)
National News Home Page
October 2006
New controls on agricultural waste
Regulations made today apply waste management controls to agricultural waste for the first time in England and Wales.
The new Regulations came into force on 15 May 2006 and will apply the same controls on agricultural waste that have applied to all other sectors of industry for many years.
View full Press Release from Defra
National News Home Page
31Mar06
"Getting the Best Out of Biomass"
The Government's response to the Biomass Task Force Report has been published today. This is an "action plan to unlock the potential for renewable energy in biomass is published by the Government today.
The plan accepts that energy from crops, trees and waste can make a strong contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sets out 12 key ways to make this happen.
Measures include a capital grant scheme for biomass boilers; the establishment of a new Biomass Energy Centre to provide expert information and advice, along with further grant support for biomass supply chains and a commitment to consider using biomass heating in Government buildings."
The full report is available on: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/acu/energy/biomass-taskforce/btfreport-govresponse.pdf (626KB. 77 pages)
National News Home Page
Last Updated 17/05/07