WHAT DO THE MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES SAY ABOUT ORGANIC FARMING AND GM?

Ella's blog has a handy guide to the Elections and agri-food policy for the main parties.

Its' here

Did a quick organic farming and food food scan through the docs, and here's what I found.

FG mentions of Organic in their agri-food document: 0

(strong mention of GM and moving beyond 'idealogical posturing' on page 17)

Labour: 3 (though two are the exact same words placed into two separate locations!)

(No mention of GM in agriculture/food)

Sinn Fein: 6 mentions; incl 2nd para; A standalone heading called - A funding initiative to promote organic farming in Ireland. They also have a stated anti-GM in agriculture/food position in the doc (not done page by page, just placed on site)

FF: 0 (and No mention of GM in agriculture/food)

GP: 0 (anti-GM in agriculture/food position has a category. pg 32)

NEW GM REPORT ON SOY RAISES CONCERNS

�The weight of evidence from scientific studies, documented reports, and on-farm monitoring shows that both GM RR (Roundup Ready) soy and the glyphosate herbicide it is engineered to tolerate are destructive to agricultural systems, farm communities, ecosystems, and animal and human health. The conclusion is that GM RR soy cannot be termed sustainable or responsible.�

That's according to the recently published report, GM Soy Sustainable? Responsible?

As part of the renewed Programme for Government, there are commitments to make Ireland GM-free, and to GM-free labelling.

According to Green Party Agriculture Spokesperson Trevor Sargent TD, (previously Junior Minister at the Department of Agriculture): �This is a concerning study, which concludes genetically modified soya endangers human and animal health. It also identifies real problems with the herbicides that must be used in conjunction with this GM crop and highlights the damage that GM causes to the environment and to the rural communities where it is grown.�

The report summarises peer reviewed research and other studies into GM, and is authored by 9 senior scientists, including experts in biosciences, molecular embryology and ecology .

According to the report, though the vast majority of land (99%) and farmers (90%) don't grow GM crops, soy is exceptional: �More than 95 per cent of GM soy (and 75 per cent of other GM crops) is engineered to tolerate glyphosate herbicide, the most common formulation of which is Roundup. This allows the growing crop to be sprayed with glyphosate, killing weeds but allowing the crop to survive.�

This has led, the authors claim, to: the emergence of superweeds; increased herbicide use; land abandonment; lower yields; higher costs; reduced nutrient uptake; increased pests and diseases and increased use of fossil fuels in the production of such Soy crops.

Some of these are also factors with the no-till approach to farming that accompanies GM soy, they claim.

Indeed the combination of no till and heavy herbicide use in GM Soy production has contributed to rapid negative changes for South American farming: these include soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, loss of biodiversity (including farming biodiversity) and deforestation.

The report also states that GM Soy in South America has led to; less varied and nutritious local diets; concentration of power and resources in fewer hands and displacement of rural dwellers, including forcibly in Paraguay.

The authors claim that Glyphosate and Roundup are highly toxic to many organisms and to human cells:

Professor Andr�s Carrasco's research has linked glyphosate herbicide to birth defects �in frog and chicken embryos, in doses much lower than those used in agricultural spraying�.

Carrasco commented, �the findings in the lab are compatible with malformations observed in humans exposed to glyphosate during pregnancy.�

Severe health problems were also cited amongst villagers and farm labourers from aerial spraying of glyphosate on GM Roundup Ready soy, a practice now banned in some regions.

According to Trevor Sargent: �GM soya is predominately used in Ireland for animal feed, but GM-free options are available.�

He pointed out that Irish producers could profit if they embraced the market opportunities of GM-free meat and dairy produce:

�I would call on grain importers to ensure availability of GM-free soya into the Irish market so that farmers can cater for a growing market demand for GM-free feed produce. A move to feeding animals GM-free feed would result in only an additional 3c per kilo in the retail price of pork or 2c in the price of chicken.�

Critics would argue that:

This report in itself is not a peer reviewed report, it summarises peer reviewed and other information.

No all contributors are GM specialists; some are from broader areas like ecology.

Peer reviewed studies have suggested the oppose in many cases: e.g. no till, pesticide use reduction, yield.

The report conflates GM with generic corporate power.

There are major expert and institutional backers of GM Soy in agri-food, and also in some cases in environmental and development, (e.g. Plant Research International, members of the Round Table on Responsible Soy)

Nonetheless, this report is revelatory about global agri-food, especially in a third world context.

programme for government 2009: the organic bits

The commitments in the new programme for government to organic farming will be warmly welcomed by the organic sector.

With such a difficult budgetary situation, and the image organic food has, rightly or wrongly, as being somewhat elitist, the re-emphasis of the commitment to 5% Utilisable Land Area as organic was a significant achievement.

The context naturally worked well for the Greens who obviously felt they deserved some compensation after the local elections.

The shrinking overall majority, coupled with fear of an election also surely contributed.

Here's what the programme for government says in full on organic:

�Ensure the achievement of the target of 5% of land in organic agriculture and meet the growing demand for domestically produced organic produce by providing adequate resources and supports for the achievement of the target, with a focus on import substitution in areas where Ireland is under producing at present e.g. horticulture. Beginning in 2010, and rising in subsequent years, stepping up supports for the Organic Farming Scheme for conversion to organic production, Capital Grants for the Organic Sector and Non-Capital costs.�

There are a number of interesting elements in this. First is the fact that there are actually details: previously there was just a statement of intent.

The emphasis on import substitution is especially noteworthy. Focusing in on horticulture may, to a cynic, reflect the minister's own north county Dublin constituency, but it also represents a real area of growth potential.

There are many hundreds of people trained in organic horticulture in Ireland, while few have moved over into full time production.

The commitment to supports �rising in subsequent years� is eye catching to say the least. Indeed, the fact that all organic supports are back, having been suspended until now, is very significant.

These include the capital grant aid, which was suspended before the organic farming scheme itself earlier in the year.

In completely uncertain times, this element of the progrmame for government should help farmers who are thinking about organics:

"This firm commitment should encourage farmers who might be considering the organic option for the first time to take it a step further and prepare to apply for support in 2010", Minister Sargent said in a statement accompanying the document.

It would be inconceivable if these commitments were reneged upon in the upcoming budget.

There are other interesting elements in the programme from an organic farming perspective. The commitment to GM free is far stronger than the previous quite vague, aspirational commitment.

Not only does the new programme commit to �Declare the Republic of Ireland a GM-Free Zone, free from the cultivation of all GM plants�, �a voluntary GM-Free logo for use in all relevant product labelling and advertising, similar to a scheme recently introduced in Germany� is being introduced.

This element of the programme has received much negative press, mainly in relation to the price and availability of feed.

However, there are counter arguments. It is claimed by GM free Ireland that there is ample affordable GM-free feed availability. They cite availability from Brazil, where they claim 45% of soya produced is now GM free.

Indeed, they claim that � France imports around 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of Non-GM soya annually, equivalent to Ireland's total soy feed imports for 2007�.

They go on to claim that while GM free soya is charged at a premium, the premium is recouped with a mark up for GM-free labelled produce.

It is also the case that farming in Ireland is less feed dependent that farming elsewhere: Ireland has a very long grass growing season. The potential to aim for the higher end, grass fed, GM free and occasionally even organic markets across the EU and further afield is certainly there.

This will involve a leap of faith into a brave new world of finding better paying markets, but that is a task surely worth taking on.

feile bia, eurotoques and quality Irish food

Here is the full text of the article I had in the The Examiner last week, on the Feile Bia pullout by the chef's organisation Eurotoques. (I also had a side bar on what Eurotoques do and promote, but I won't include that here. Instead, why not have a look at their site youself? Link at end of article.)

�Naturally, we�re very disappointed�. So say�s Aidan Cotter, chief executive of Bord Bia, on the fact that Euro-toques Ireland have pulled out of the Feile Bia Scheme.

So he should be. Euro-toques Ireland represent some of Ireland�s highest profile chefs. Amongst their 200 members includes Nevin McGuire of McNean�s bistro, Darina Allen of Ballymaloe House and Ross Lewis of Chapter One. The organisation, as the name suggests, are a pan-European one, with over 3,500 members throughout Europe. As in the Irish situation, the membership includes many of the most highly regarded chefs in each country. This is reflected in the fact that the organisation was founded by chef Pierre Romeyer chef from Belgium�s Le Maison de Bouche, itself a three-star Michelin star restaurant.

What makes the withdrawal all the more noteworthy is the fact that the aims of Euro-toques seem, on the face of it, to chime with those of Bird Bia and the Feile Bia scheme in particular. Euro-toques aim to support culinary traditions and quality food. And Bord Bia are the Irish food board, who promote and market Irish food. According to Bord Bia: �Central to the F�ile Bia concept is that members source the maximum amount of freshly available produce. In addition to promoting traceability, F�ile Bia aims to encourage sourcing from artisan producers and small butchers and highlighting this supplier information on menus�.

Indeed Feile Bia was a joint initiative in the early days. Brid Torrades currently runs and chefs in two establishments in Sligo: the Atrium caf� in the Model Arts Centre and Osta caf� and wine bar. Brid has been a commissioner with Euro-toques, and was so when the Feile Bia concept was first mooted:

�Feile Bia was actually a Euro-toques initiative. It came from fete de la cuisine in Europe, which was to bring our culinary heritage back to everybody�. Brid suggests that they, Euro-toques, gathered the relevant players together, including Bord Bia. Following a brainstorming session, the name Feile Bia was settled upon.

According to Brid, Feile Bia was supposed to �support and save our local producers and through them our culinary heritage and raw materials. We felt that the original Feile Bia did just that while at the same time encouraging chefs and hotels who would not have before then considered this idea to do so.�

From then on, Euro-toques claim, Feile Bia has moved away from this position. According to their letter of withdrawl, the Feile Bia tagline change from �A celebration of Irish Food� to �a celebration of quality food� and then �certified farm to fork� is indicative of the move towards traceability scheme support and bureaucratisation.

�Feile Bia is now essentially a traceability scheme, which favours larger suppliers and larger catering operations, who can bear the burden and cost of increased bureaucracy. As traceability legislation already exists, and Euro-toques members conform to this and go far beyond it, a scheme which essentially only guarantees traceability is superfluous and only adds to the growing bureaucracy which food businesses are now subject to�.

They also suggest that their own guidelines �go much further than Feile Bia. We aspire to sourcing in season, locally, with sustainable agriculture practices and good animal husbandry; elements which cannot be guaranteed by a �Quality Assurance Scheme�. Furthermore, we believe that people should have the freedom to produce and supply quality food without being forced to be part of any scheme which may contribute to the high costs and bureaucracy which are already crippling so many producers.�

Another major issue for Euro-toques is GM. As the letter of withdrawal states: �We also have serious concerns�about the use of GM feeds in the production of meat and dairy in Ireland. We are not be happy to endorse a branding which �quality assures� such products�.

I put these concerns to Aidan Cotter, chief executive of Bord Bia. I asked him about Feile Bia and the Quality Assurance scheme: ��.the principle condition is that it has to be based on Quality Assurance�we have to have Quality Assurance as a platform on which to promote in order to stay on the right side of state aid rules.�

He also suggested Quality Assurance is about more than just safely, its about broader issues too, such as environmental health (e.g. salt levels in pork) and animal welfare.

In relation to the small producer, Aidan suggested that �We do believe that it supports small producers�. He also pointed out that the scheme itself does not cost money to join and mentions that it supports both small and large producers. Also, Bord Bia do promotional work for small producers, including the new launch of a centre of excellence to support these producers.

I then put some of these points to Lorcan Cribben, commissioner-general of Euro-toques Ireland. According to Lorcan, �it�s not difficult if you have money. If you are making a nominal amount of money, and then someone comes in and tells you to upgrade your production, and it�s going to cost twenty of thirty grand, more and more people are falling by the wayside because they can�t afford to do it.�

I also spoke to a small-scale producer. Ann O� Donovan supplies eggs to Brid Torrades. Ann�s main issues with Feile Bia are bureaucratic: the amount of hassle, paperwork, inspections and the like that the scheme would involve make it unattractive for her. Especially in a situation where she has no need or desire to upscale her production.

Ann, who just keeps 600 hens, is already overburdened with inspections: �We�d a batch of hens in May, and within 4 days we�d an inspector out. The department sent the inspector out to check the hens. Then another one checks the facilities. Another checks the feed. Possibly another for the packing house. Jan 2008, we�ll have to send away samples of hen manure for salmonella. The amount of paperwork we have means we employ an accountant. We don�t want to get in any deeper. I can�t see Feile Bia being any advantage to us - our customers have come through word of mouth�.

Brid was one such customer, who found Ann�s eggs at the local farmers� markets in Sligo: �the farmers� market has been a great outlet. I�ve got restaurants through that�.

So it seems that, from the small producer�s prespective, even if something doesn�t technically cost money, there are still costs involved. Time is money - time spent filing in forms, sending off samples and being inspected is time not doing all the other work you need to be doing, the work that actually makes money. So sometimes the only way to keep up with the regulations and bureaucratisation is to upscale production.

On GM, Euro-toques claimed that they �wrote to Bord Bia about these concerns in March last year and the response we received from Chief Executive Aidan Cotter was that �the production conditions for Irish beef are fully transparent and I am satisfied that the product continues to enjoy a strong, positive image and the full confidence of customers in the European Union, who now represent 93% of our beef export market�.�. They suggested in their withdrawal letter that �This is blatantly untrue, as few consumers are aware of the use of GM feeds in Irish food production.�

So I put this point to Aidan Cotter of Bord Bia: �what they say is correct: most consumers don�t know that most animals are fed feed that happens to be GM. It�s not deliberately GM, but it just so happens that so much of the maize and soya beans that comes across from the US and south America is GM and is not segregated. So farmers tend not to have a choice. That goes not just for Ireland, but also the UK and contintental Europe. So consumers in Europe are choosing meat locally, whether in France or Italy, that is generally fed on the same feed animals are fed on in Ireland. So when I say conditions are transparent, what I mean is that the conditions of production in Italy or France or wherever are the same, but our animals are fed to a greater extent on grassland�.

I put it to Aidan that, according to our new Food minister, this may involve a risk of the market: if consumers found out about this feed, they might be concerned. �If there is a risk, that risk is shared by all meat producers throughout Europe. Would consumers have a problem with it? We don�t know. But we have close relations with 40 retailers around Europe� and we�ve asked many of them for their view in regard to GM feed; we asked them would they be interested in a source of GM free beef products, and their answer is no.�

So consumers don�t know, and retailers are to an extent representing consumers to those who represent food producers. This retailer feedback is interesting, in a context where large retailers often claim to be GM free in their own label products, because of consumer feedback: According to Tesco, �our policy on Genetically Modified (GM) foods is driven by the view of our customers. They continue to tell us that they are not yet convinced of the benefits of GM. We do not therefore have any own-brand GM foods on our shelves�.

It is also the case that there is a body of research, including research by Teagasc, to suggest that the majority of consumers do not want GM foods.

The GM debate will obviously roll on, but Feile Bia will have to carry on without the support of the Euro-toques organisation. Last word with Lorcan Cribben: �if you do let all these artisan producers slip through the net, in 10-15 years time, Ireland will be a far poorer place for it�.

for more on Euro-toques click here....you didn't did you? click back there, on the blue word...eurotoques....

GM and media bias

You could be forgiven for presuming that the liberal media would behave in a typically liberal fashion with regard to GM...that the Irish Times might be a bit like The Guardian or some other similiar (insert random statement on pinko lefto whales here)....well, not so according to some research from DCU: here

Here is the interview I did with Green Party leader and New minister of State for Food and Horticulture here in Ireland, Trevor Sargent. It was published recently in the Irish Examiner's farming supplement, which comes out every Thursday. Nothing about organics actually, as that was kept over for the organic diary, which was published last thursday.

Oliver Moore: Being from Dublin, and with the Green Party having such an urban base�

Trevor Sargent: Hang on a second, are you labouring under the misapprehension? Aren�t you aware that half of the fresh produce in the country is produced in north county Dublin? There are also a lot of lamb, sheep and dry stock farmers there too. And, for the record, I�m not a city person - where I live is a serious food producing area

OM: So you have an automatic connection to farming�

TS: I do, also through my family in Longford and Meath, I would have been involved with farming during my summer holidays

OM: You also do some gardening, if I�m not mistaken?

TS: I do: I grow as much of my food as possible in a small suburban garden

OM: Tell me about your new role. What�s your remit?

TS: My responsibilities cover the development of the food industry throughout the country. That entails monitoring the food industry headings under the national development plan. The specific aspects include the horticulture sector, including plant health and organic production, though of course organic production goes far beyond horticulture, as the biggest growth in that sector is in livestock.


The early retirement scheme is also in my area. Insuring that farming has a future means encouraging young people to get involved in farming. This scheme can�t be made attractive enough, for somebody to let their farm be farmed by a younger person, when they get to an age when they could enjoy a slightly easier life, given that farming is such a hard life.


I also have responsibility for livestock breeding. A particular interest of mine is in establishing more abattoirs locally. Animal feedstuffs are another important area of mine.

OM: That�s a fairly broad remit. This latter area is an interesting one.

TS: It has an international dimension. Currently, we are relying on imported feedstuffs, even though much of our livestock is produced for export�we have to insure that these imports are of a standard to get the best market opportunities in our exports. So we need a full debate on the growing influence of the biotech industry in the production of GM animal feed, given that our markets are very keen to ensure GM-free produce. Examples include Co-Op Italia, and many others� Carrefour, Auchan, in the UK there�s UK Teascos, M&S, Sainsburys, Budgens stores. They all have high quality labels that require meat and dairy produce to be fed on certified GM-free feed.

OM: But we do sell meat to these countries, and these retailers you�ve mentioned are some of the biggest players in these countries. So is it that we don�t get to sell meat to them or that we are at risk?

TS: I think we�re at risk. Because at the moment, we don�t declare that the food is fed with GM. So it is taken as read that if it�s not declared as GM it must be non-GM. So we are managing to get away without having to certify it as GM free at the moment. But I�m seeing a trend internationally, where consumers are requiring far more upfront certification. In that regard, we need to be prepared for that. We have such a good grass producing climate in this country. We should be taking advantage, and insuring the greatest possible self-reliance in feed from our cereal sector, and making sure the supply of GM-free feed is assured.

OM: What is the current status of availability of GM-free feed?

TS: It is available. There has been a meeting between suppliers and the 3rd largest feed supplier in the world, the Brazilian company Imcopa. They were assuring farming organisations they have sufficient feed for the whole of Europe, should the whole of Europe decide it wanted it .They certainly would supply Ireland

OM: I suppose we then get into a whole set of other arguments, about GM, food miles, regulations in Brazil�

TS: Well this is the crossroads we are at. We need to capitalise on the high quality reputation we have, and that is to be found in guaranteeing that we are GM free. We need to both maintain and enhance our reputation. We need to look at what we stand to loose, not just the costs. We need to make the best, long term decisions. 15 dollars per tonne is the price of guaranteeing GM-free soya, according to Impoca. We need to also work at import substitution, to make sure that the money goes to our own cereal sector, rather than exporting the money. We also need to maintain our extensive production, so that we can rely as much as possible on grass feeding�it�s about playing to our natural advantages.

OM: What about the recent Teagasc report on GM, which pitches the cost of staying GM-free as somewhere between �7 and �42million, depending on the scenario considered?

TS: I want to meet with Teagasc, to see how they arrived at that figure. Because it�s very important that we take decisions based on all the information, and longer term contexts, and what potential we have to avoid costs. I think it�s fair and wise to ask those questions. Previously, let�s remember, we were all advised feeding meat and bone meal was a good cost effective course of action. We found to our cost that it was anything but. I think we should learn lessons from the past.

OM: Maybe it is the case that the scope of research Teagasc can do, while being good in its own scientific area, might not be able to take into account the market, socio-cultural realities and so on.

TS: Well I would say that (is the case), because the previous programme for government, when it came to GM, talked about taking into account both health and environmental criteria. It didn�t talk about taking into account markets. From an agricultural point of view, it�s vital that we take into account the market�. there are GM-free zones all over Europe, including Ireland�.

OM: But what about the legal status of these zones?

TS: There are ways around it. EU rules state that you need to prove that it�s not possible for GM and non GM to co-exist, before you can declare an area GM free. There�s grounds for that in Ireland�.Likewise, you can, if there�s an agreement in an area, where all the growers undertake not to grow GM, you can de facto declare the area GM free. And it would be, I would argue, in the interest of farming in the area to capitalise on their selling point in doing so. The fact that councils have declared their area GM free indicates that there is popular support for declaring an area GM free. There are ways around the WTO rules, (rules) that have been seriously influenced by the biotech industry, but I think people need to be able to determine their futures.

OM: You mentioned at the start that you were from a horticultural region of Dublin. What is the current situation regarding horticulture?

TM: In particular, they are the ones under the most pressure - so many of them are under so much pressure that they are going out of business. This is bad news not only for these farming families, but also for us nationally, because our food security is further diminished. Food and energy are intrinsically linked together. The price of energy is a large part of the food production costs. A grower in my own area, producing parsnips and leeks, has found that his energy costs have more than quadrupled in the last 5 years. And yet, he�s not getting anything more for his produce. He�s under more and more pressure every day to keep going. If we could reduce the food miles, and have more access to his produce rather than just depending on supermarkets, then there would be the option for him to continue beyond what he is currently doing

OM: So is part of your remit also farmers� markets?

TS: Very much so. There needs to be a number of measures in this job, to insure you are making progress, and the number of farmers� markets is one such measure. So I will be meetings county managers, local authorities, public representatives and officials, so that they will recognise that they have a role to play, to insure that their area has as many farmers� markets as possible.

OM: As you are aware, different local authorities have had different attitudes to farmers� markets ranging from positive to negative.

TS: Very much so, both your paper and your strong Munster readership have been leading the country in this regard. You have managed to create the association between say, west cork and gourmet food...

OM: But why is it that in Ennis they�re fined for putting up signs saying the farmers� markets is on, and in Leitrim they are funded for putting up signs saying it�s on?

TS: There is a clear inconsistency�so there should be consistency in how our markets are developed and advertised, notwithstanding regional branding diversity

OM: How will farmers� markets accommodate the very large growers in your part of the country?

TS: (These producers) are in many ways designing their operations around supermarket interests - to the point of just having one or two crops�maybe farmers� market can help these producers, if only in relation to market research. Maybe it�d be a small part of their sales, but it might provide a lot of useful information for them�for example, one thing that went down quite well, though it would be a small part of his overall business, was the selling at farmers� markets of Brussels Sprouts still on the stalk. That�s something of a unique selling point, it keeps the product fresh while people also like the idea...there needs to be some reaching out from the organisers of the farmers� markets; maybe to take delivery of some of the produce for markets from these farmers, and undertaking to sell the produce on a commission basis. There needs to be some way of connecting farmers and farmers� markets, and that requires a bit of lateral thinking�

News: European parliment votes against the 0.9% GM threshold in organic food, opting instead for 0.1%, i.e. the detection rate. This doesn't mean that that's the end of the story, just that the debate goes on and the parliment have sent a strong signal to the Commission that...

A: the GM threshold should be as low as possible
B: the parliment want's more power in legislating on organic farming and food in the EU (beyond consultative)

See the parliment's press release and some background

full article in the Irish Examiner thursday 12th on the issue

you know when something is posponed....it's often a soft landing version of cancelled, isn't it?

Many of us suspected that the BASF GaMmy spud trial was de facto cancelled last year, when it was posponed til 2007. Today in the Irish Independent, it appears that they have admitted that won't be attempting the trial in 2007. They will try in the UK instead.

Natually, they didn't admit that public opposition to the trial was a factor. They claim it is just the overly restrictive interpretation of the regulations in Ireland.

To read Irish Indo articles on line, you need a subscription - you can however read a wee bit about it in the press watch section of RTE's website, which is here:

and this is being shown on primetime TV!
Tonight!

RTE 2 at 8 o' clock

http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

ollie's christmas list: what I weally weally want

This is what I want from Santy. And if I don�t get it, I�ll be very very cross. If I do get it, the world will be a far better place.

OK, first things first. I want the Green Party to get an overall majority. Well, it is a Santy list isn�t it, and you can work wonders. You don�t even need petrol to fly around the world. The Reindeers probably produce a fair bit of Methane gas with their burps and to a lesser extent farts, but it�s still not as bad as aeroplanes now is it?

That�s another thing. I want a tax on gratuitous flying. I�ve flown once in the last two years, and I felt bad. On the plane, I read their �in-house� magazine, Cara. Hecktor, who to be fair I think is a good laugh, was interviewed in it about his travels. He made a joke about the fact that he�s flown �well over a hundred� times from Galway to Dublin. That�s completely wrong as a practice, and should have a massive environmental tax put on it. The whole world suffers because of that level and type of Co2 emissions, and it costs less than the train. Wrong, wrong wrong. Please help Santy.

Speaking of tax, how about a change in the tax system? How about punishing what harms the environment and rewarding what helps? Organic farms can sequester Co2 from the air (i.e. reverse global warming by sucking in Co2 and making it safe), have higher rates of biodiversity and loads more. OK just an increase in the REPS payment for organic producers, and an opt-out of REPS for very small organic growers. Now that�s just a wee stocking filler for a man of your talents, isn�t it Santy? Like, Denmark taxes pesticides and subsidises organic food is schools and hospitals Santy. Come on!

And speaking of organic farming, how about ending the folly of what gets called co-existence between organic and GM? We�re doing OK on that one so far Santy, but we need to stay vigilant. Can you believe, they talk about adventitious contamination, and, in the same breath, talk about the inevitability of this contamination. Santy, my dictionary says that adventitious mean �accidental�. What�s an inevitable accident Santy? I�m confused.

And what about Bird Flu. Pleeease pleeease, let the truth come out on that one. You have the power! Some experts are now are saying that wild and farmed outdoor birds are the victims, not the cause, of the deadly strain. They claim that the flu comes from the intensive factory farms of south east Asia, and gets so strong these factory farms, that it kills outdoor birds when they come into contact with it. And the flu is following poultry and poultry by-product transport routes, not the migratory paths of birds. You must have some across a few migratory birds in your travels? Did they look sick?

I also want some more stocking fillers. Little things. I want the minister for the environment to be for the environment. He argues against us even coming close to our Koyoto targets. Can you get him to go to the new Al Gore film, An InconvenientTruth? It�s really good. Very clear. Stark, I�d say. It�s on at the moment- I�m sure he�d have a chance over the season. While you�re at it, can you give him a copy of George Monbiots� new book, Heat? Well actually, seeing as this is a santy list, can you read it to him each night as he sleeps, so it embeds in his subconscious, and he just starts to act on the stuff in the book.