9 July  '08:   This month's whyorganic has the usual competitions and prizes and the farmer's blog; garden diary; news and recipe.  Do check it out. 

27 May '08:   Reason for health benefits of organic milk discovered in new study see the Soil Association press release . 

3 Apl '08:   The Soil Association Scotland stand at the Royal Highland Show, 19-22 June 2008, is happy to display the wares of any organic producers's wares, regardless of certification body. For more information call Lyn Matheson on 0131 666 0847.  

2 Apl.'08: “Genetic Roulette” If you feel the opposition is wearing you down and you need revitalising, or if you would like a book to recommend to GM supporters, then please do remember Jeffrey M. Smith's new book, “Genetic Roulette”. In his rational and very easy to read style he covers all the documented health risks of genetically engineered foods, showing the very worrying way in which all signs of risk are covered up. He discusses the flaws in the arguments which state that we need GM; illustrates that the regulations which are in place are inadequate to protect public health and demonstrates that, right from the beginning when US FDA made the claim, counter to the belief of the scientists involved, that there was no difference between GM food and normal food, that there have been no studies, or very poor studies, by the GM industry, into the safety of GM Food.  Ask your public library to order it.

23 Mar '08: Small farm shop has opened outside Klondyke's (Howdens) near Inverness Retail Park. Leanne and Gordon Whiteford from Highland Eggs have started a small shop to the right of the entrance to Klondykes.  They are selling organic vegetables from Macleod Organics; their own organic eggs and locally produced meats and preserves etc. 

7 Mar '08:   Organic feed makes the immune system more alert.  For further details see the FQH - Organic Food Quality & Health website. 

2 Mar '08:   Kirkhill Village Market is held every second Saturday from 10 am to 12pm and is run by Real Organics and Kirkhill Eco Schools.  They sell fresh organic salad, crops, root veg, bread, cheese, eggs, preserves etc.  Coffee, tea, homebakes for a small charge, book stall, bring and buy.  See the Winter edition of An Arainneachd, newsletter of the Highhland Environmental Network

2 Mar '08:   EarthShare is advertising for a new Organic Grower.  See the Wants page or www.earthshare.co.uk 

7 Jan '08:   Scottish Food & Drink ExcellenceAwards 2008 which has awards for Direct Marketing, Healthy Eating, Retail, Food Service Product & Brand Development. Closing date 22 February. Please see websites in early January for electronic entry forms. www.royalhighlandshow.org   and www.scottishfoodanddrink.com  

7 Jan '08:   The Soil Association is hosting the Natural and Organic Industry Awards 2008. These awards have become the benchmark for excellence and set the standard for innovation, quality and commitment within the organic industry.  Awards are to be presented for Best Organic: Large Shop, Small Shop, Home Delivery Service, Textile product, Restaurant, Babycare Product, Facial Skincare Product and Bodycare Product.  The deadline for entries is Monday 3 March so for more information on criteria and how to enter go to http://www.soilassociation.org/industryawards 

3 Nov '07:   New Partnership Will Deliver Consumer Insight To Scottish Farmers And Small Food Producers. SAC has launched an initiative to provide consumer insight to Scotland’s farmers and small food producers, to help them compete more effectively in the market. The initiative is being delivered by SAC on behalf of the industry leadership organisation Scotland Food and Drink, with funding support from Scottish Enterprise. For further information, see the SAC website  

2 Nov '07:   Organic food is healthier for you.  See the results of a four year study which is showing that there are more antioxidents and nutrients in some organic food.  See the Soil Association website.  

21 Oct '07:   'Dairy cattle suffer less from lameness when reared on organic farms' .  See the full article from Saturday 20 October 2007's The Herald.

15 Sept '07:   Power to the pedal. Three young people are cycling the length of Britain (Land’s End to John O’ Groats) starting on 22 September to raise awareness of the importance of reducing our ecological footprint. They will be eating local organic food and wearing organic clothing. The ride is planned to take 13 days, averaging 70 miles a day and will take in visits to organic farms along the route. Further information can be found at http://www.powertopedal.org.uk  

15 Sept '07:   Shetland Organic Producers' Group have just updated their website with their September 2007 Newsletter.  There are updates on the following: the Organic Native Shetland Wool Project; Shetland Aets & Bere Living Heritage Project and Native Shetland Hill Bred Lamb.  See their website.  

9 Sept '07:  Tio Ltd, the Forres-based organic vegetable producer, is planning an expansion which could create up to 20 new jobs after a getting an enterprise grant. HIE Moray approved a £266,300 award to Tio Ltd to market the organic vegetable produce of Mid Coul Farms. The company, which was established in 1998, supplies Tesco with its organic root vegetables. For further information, see their website  

8 Sept '07:   Get a free bag from Marks & Spencers.  If you spend £10 on organic food at M&S at the moment they are giving away a sturdy cotton shopping bag.  Don't forget that, according to the Soil Association "The only supermarket to produce all its non-organic milk, eggs and fresh meat without GM feed is Marks & Spencers". 

26 Aug '07:   Living Food at Cawdor Castle - this year the event, which has been widened to include an environmental segment, will take place on Saturday 29 September, from 10am until 5pm.  See HIOA's Events page for further details. 

26 Aug '07:   Extending the season: focus on protected cropping on Friday 14 September 2007 at Anam Cara Inverness & Natural Vegetable Company, Torbreck, Inverness. See the HIOA's Events page for further details 

19 Aug '07: New Black Isle Farm shop open in the main street of Fortrose selling organic and local food. 

8 June '07: The Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) membership was launched at at Cirencester in December 2006, commercial growers and others who wish to support organic horticulture are invited to join. The objectives of the Alliance are to bring growers together to promote common interests and to share and benefit from both individual and collective opportunities and experience. See the Garden Organic website.

27 May '07:   Wake up to an Organic Breakfast campaign is being run by the Soil Association during the Soil Association Organic Fortnight.  To see how you can become involved go to the Soil Association website . 

7 May '07:  Perthshire Organic Gardeners are looking for new members - see their website for further information. 

3 May '07:  By collecting tokens from packs of Yeo Valley organic milk and natural yoghurt, customers will be able to support the Woodland Trust’s vital woodland conservation work across the UK.  See the Woodland Trust's website: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/yeo/index.htm

7 April '07:  Caledonian Organics, www.caledonianorganics.com recently launched their new website with a link to their organic stores and breeding stock search website, www.organic-stores.co.uk This search and email facility is open to all organic producers. 

7 April '07:   The SAC is proposing to facilitate a 4-day HAWL course (see below) to be held in Aberdeen during the summer. It will be held on 4 separate days, approximately 3 – 4 weeks apart. The cost for the 4-day course is estimated to be about £400 per person. To make this course viable commitment from between 15 and 18 participants is needed. Contact Caroline Baysliss directly on 01224 711073 if you are interested in participating in this event. 

7 April '07:   The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo), is to offer funding to members who wish to attend homeopathy courses. In a move, that is the first of its kind by a dairy cooperative, OMSCo has agreed to pay half of the fees towards Homeopathy at Wellie Level (HAWL) three day courses.  See their website to find out details. 

7 April '07:   More research is appearing which shows that organic food is better for you.  See the Guardian article.  

7 April '07:    The Black Isle Brewery has a special Easter offer on its beer.  From now until Monday 30 April they are giving a 10% discount on any of their mail order cases of 12, 20 or 24 bottles.  They deliver to the door.  See their website www.blackislebrewery.com 

24 Feb '07:   Connage Highland Dairy, near Inverness, was runner up in the NFU Scotland Innovation Award - they have moved beyond traditional farming and into a new and innovative business.  See the Scottish Food and Drink website. 

28 Jan '07:  Entries for the Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards are due in by Wednesday 21 February.  See the Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards website  

21 Jan '06:  The Soil Association has appointed a certification offficer for Scotland. This new post, which has been filled by Marjorie Grant, a graduate of the Scottish Agricultural College’s distance-learning Masters Degree in Organic Farming, will provide Scottish licensees with a dedicated officer based in Scotland and is the direct result of the steadily increasing number of Scottish farmers who are choosing organic certification with the Soil Association. Her role will also extend to some parts of northern England. For more information contact David Mowat, Producer Certification Manager, on 0117 914 2412, email dmowat@soilassociation.org, or Indira Mann, media and information officer on 0131 666 2474 email imann@soilassociation.org 

12 Jan '06:   Soil Association Conference 'One Planet Agriculture: Preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future' is now fully booked. 

20 Dec '06:   December's edition of An Arainneachd, the newsletter of the Highland Environmental Network can be downloaded from the website www.highlandenvironment.org.uk  

3 Dec '06:   Buy Organic Olive Oil from Iberialba, based in Skerray, by Thurso.  As a company, Iberiialba is committed to co-operation, fair trade and sourcing pure, natural and healthy products.  See their website www.iberialba.com 

3 Dec '06:   Co-op shops sell organic food from Highland Wholefoods.  The Co-ops in: Carse, Inverness; Church Street, Inverness; Beauly and Fortrose in the Black Isle, Ross-shire are all selling a small selection of organic food from Highland Wholefood. 

25 Nov '06: Organic Burns Supper 24 January 2007 at Inverness High School, Montague Row, Inverness. Soil Association Scotland, in partnership with the REAL (Real Education Active Lives Project) are organising this event.  The pupils will help to grow, cook and serve the food.  See the Soil Association's website

7 Nov '06:   Award given to David Younie, SAC Organic Specialist, at the Royal Northern Agricultural Society's annual awards lunch on Friday 3 November.  This award recognises David's “years of hard work, dedication and commitment” to organic farming.  See the SAC website.  

5 Nov '06:   Nominations for the Seafood Awards 2007 have to be in by 30 November 2007.  For more information and nomination brochures see the Scottish Food and Drink website.  

5 Nov '06:   The BBC Good Food Show is to be launched at the Scottish Exhibition Centre Glasgow next year on 2-4 November 2007.  For more information on exhibiting at the show see the BBC Good Food Show website.  

5 Nov '06:   Simmers of Edinburgh withdraw batches of Nairn’s Organic Herb Oatcake products due to possible glass contamination.  See the Food Standards Agency website. 

5 Nov '06:  HIOA's AGM is on Thursday 7 December at 7.30 at Anam Cara. 

31 Oct '06:  Tesco is to pay the costs of organic inspection and technical support for all existing and new organic dairy farmers in its supply chain for the next three years as a part of its commitment to develop the sector.  See Tesco's website . 

20 Oct '06:   Tamar Organics seed catalogues can be obtained by going to their website 

2 Oct '06:   Do you want to know how to use your compost bin from the council? Go to Ask Organic's website and click on "Composting Daily (PDF file, 3MB) - New leaflet for Borders households." to see Ask Organic and Scottish Borders Council's information leaflet. 

30 Sept '06:  The Organic Statistics for the United Kingdom for 2006 can be seen Scottish Food and Drink website.  

30 Sept '06:   Loch Ness Organic Meat Co Ltd had its debut at the 'Living Food' festival at Cawdor Castle today.  Local organic meat producers Donnie McLeod, Willie Wilson, Andrew Fraser have joined with the experienced butcher, Shaun Smith, to form Loch Ness Organic Meat Co Ltd..  They are operating from Unit 5 Cromwell Units, Lotland Street, Inverness - telephone 01463 716264.  Contact them for a price list and purchasing details. 

16 Sept '06:   The Soil Association, the UK’s leading environmental organisation promoting organic farming and championing human health, is celebrating its 60th anniversary year.  See the Soil Association website for further information. 

16 Sept '06:   Organic school meals for all children in Arran.  Today's Herald is running an article on The Food for Life programme which is now being extended to all eight schools in Arran.  See Saturday 16 September's edition of the Herald. 

2 Sept '06:   Some Scottish winners of the Soil Association Food Awards are: A Bronze award for David Gladwin, Black Isle Brewery, Ross-shire for his Blond Beer.  A Bronze award for Ian Chapman from Gordon & Macphail, Elgin for a Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A Silver award for Lucy Maclean from Inverawe Smokehouses, Argyll for Gravadlax (Salmon marinated with dill). 

2 Sept '06:   The Soil Association Organic Food Awards have been announced.  Out of 948 entries 110 awards were presented.  There are also special awards, the results of which can be seen on the Soil Association website.  

27 August '06:   The Highland Environmental Network's August edition of An Arainneachd is out and you can get your free copy from admin@highlandenvironment.org.uk or by contacting Glachbeg Education Centre, Allanglach Wood, North Kessock, IV1 3XD.  They have a short article on HIOA and there is an update on their Plot to Plot project which is encouraging a small number of schools to grow fruit and vegetables. Also information on Lochaber Larder's pilot accreditation and marketing scheme which informs customers of the biodiversity advantages of buying from them.  Plus future events in the Highlands and many other articles.

17 July '06:   "Living Food". An organic festival at Highland Games Field Cawdor Castle on Saturday 30 September 2006. There will be no charge to get into the Games Field this day and it is the one day in the season when the Castle is open for free.  For further information see HIOA's Events page or contact Info@cawdorcastle.com or tel: 01667 404401 fax: 01667 404674 

8 July '06:    The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum Awards 2006 are now open for entries from businesses in the Highlands and Islands region.  See the Scottish Food & Drink website.  

30 June '06:     Jamesfield Organic Farm are offering an Organic Lamb Pack £60 incl.delivery.  Contents are: Gigot leg chops 6 x 200gr; Loin Rack 1 x 400gr; Rolled Shoulder 2 x 1kg; Lambs Mince 2 x 500gr; Cubed Lamb 2 x 500gr;
See their website or email jamesfieldfarm@btconnect.com or phone 01738 850498

30 June '06:     Caroline Baylis's Organic Market Link Producer Newsletter no 8 is out with lots of optomistic news for organic producers.  If you want to see a copy of this very informative organic newsletter then contact Caroline.bayliss@sac.co.uk  

12 June '06:   Poyntzfield Herb Nursery is offering a workshop on how to make medicines from plants and also giving a guided tour.  See their website www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk  

7 June '06:   Poyntzfield Herb Nursery's herbs were used in the Silver Award winning garden, 'A Highland Retreat', at Chelsea Flower Show.   See the write up in  Friday 2 June 2006's copy of The Inverness Courier.

3 June '06:   Garden Organic won a silver award at Chelsea Gardens with their display of dying flowers and rotten vegetables.  They were promoting composting. See their website .

3 June '06: Supply of ‘local food’ to Scottish food service outlets is being encouraged, with part funding by SEERAD, by a new SOPA led initiative.  See the SOPA website . 

3 June '06:   Organic Works.  See the Soil Association webiste for a report based on the first national survey of labour on UK organic farms by the University of Essex. Organic farming in the UK provides 32% more jobs per farm than equivalent non-organic farms.  It's attracting more and younger people into farming and organic farmers are more likely to be involved in on-farm processing, marketing and retailing, building on the trust and connection between farmers and consumers of organic food.  

3 June '06:   Organic article in The Big Issue, 1-7 June 2006.  This week's Big Issue has a brief article on the problems of supply of organic produce in Scotland and the need for box schemes - Roger Beecroft and Christine Jones are quoted -  to import.  James Withers, deputy chief executive of the Scottish national farmer's union is quoted at the end saying that there would be more organic farmers if there was a "strengthened supply chain to ensure farmers get a fair reward" 

14 May '06:   No Catch Organic Cod, produced by Johnson Seafarms at Vidlin in the north of the Shetland islands, has taken the supreme prize in the 2006 Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards.  Taken from the Scottish Food and Drink website.  

8 May '06:   Review Of Organic Farming’s Benefits For Scotland’s Natural Heritage.  SAC's Dr Christine Watson has recently led a successful tender for a £25K project which will review evidence for the potential for organic agriculture to provide natural heritage gains in Scotland, within the context of UK and international farming systems. Collaborators include the British Trust for Ornithology, the Centre for Environment and Hydrology, the Organic Centre Wales, Elm Farm Research Centre and the Scottish Organic Producers Association.  For further details see the SAC website.

27 April '06:  Caledonian Organics Ltd are recruiting a Market Development Manager. A dynamic individual is sought for challenging and pivotal role developing integrated supply chains for organic red meat in Scotland and the UK. Proven business and marketing skills will be essential. Key duties include recruiting members, negotiating supply contracts and coordinating all procurement. Fulltime, flexible basis , Home-based. c £22.5k with company car (full driving licence necessary). Apply to calorgboard@smartgroups.com or Eunice Mole, c/o SAOS, The Rural Centre, West Mains, Ingliston, Newbridge, EH28 8NZ. The closing date is 5 May 2006. This is taken from the SOPA website. 

22 April '06:   New leaflet out from Pesticide Action Network UK giving advice to anyone with concerns about the health effects of pesticide exposure, or whose health has been affected by pesticides.  For further information see the Elm Farm Research website . 

22 April '06:   The results of the Soil Association's annual Supermarket Survey for eight different organic: fruits, vegetables and meat produced in the UK can be seen on their website . Five of the eight main supermarkets now source over three quarters of key staple organic foods within the UK, compared to just two in 2003. On average, supermarket availability of UK, seasonal, organic food staples has risen by 10% - from 72% two years ago when the survey started, to 82% currently. 

22 April '06:  Pillars of Hercules (Fife), a remote, grass roots company which has fought against the odds has won one of the Soil Association's Seven Organic Industry Awards. These were given out at the Soil Association's Organic Trade Conference 2006 on 9/10 April 2006.  See the Soil Association website for more details. 

22 April '06:   New deal for Organic Meat from Sainsburys.  Sainsburys have announced a new drive to issue contracts to its British organic beef suppliers, with the first signed this week – and another fifty to follow within the next four months. This is the start of a drive between the company and Anglo Beef Processors to support and provide a long standing template for British organic meat supply.  See the SOPA website from where this came.

18 April '06:   Gordon and Leanne Whiteford of Highland Eggs have won £1,000 and been named Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Highlands and Islands.  They will also go forward to the Scottish finals in June.  See Tuesday 18 April 2006 edition of the Inverness Courier. 

10 April '06:   Soil Association's Organic Food Awards  Entries have to be in by 28 April 2006.  You can nominate yourself or anyone else for the following categories: Product Award (up to 29 different categories); Producer of the Year; Box Scheme of the Year or Local Food Initiative of the Year.  Judging will take place on 5/6 July. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will present the awards at a ceremony on Friday 1 September 2006 at Bordeaux Quay in Bristol.
For further information see the Soil Association website.
Send or fax completed forms to the following address by the deadline 28 April 2006: Feona Horrex, Events Officer, Soil Association, Bristol House, 40–56 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY; tel 0117 314 5000; fax 0117 925 2504 

9 April '06:    The Black Isle Brewery are now offering: boxes of 12 X 500ml bottles at £31.50, delivered anywhere in mainland Britain; Heather Honey beer; top quality Organic Brewery T-shirts, made with 100% Organic Cotton and they are completing an extension to their Brewery shop and this year will be selling beer by the pint straight from the cask to take away and enjoy – pick up one of their 4-pint containers or bring along a jug!
For more details see our Sales and Wants page or their website: www.blackislebrewery.com

9 April '06:   West Highlands’ first Slow Food Fair is on Easter Saturday, 12 noon to 3pm at Ardtornish House, Head of Loch Aline in Morvern. Around twenty of the finest food producers from Lochaber and North Argyll will set up stall to provide lunch to an expected crowd of some two hundred in Ardtornish House’s great hall. This promotional event is open free of charge to the public.
Contacts: Pam Rodway of Slow Food Moray and Highland convivium; tel 01309 676566
Jane Stuart of Smith of Ardtornish; tel 01967 421394 or 07884 361545 (until Tuesday 4 April and from Wed 12 April)
Bill and Sukie Barber of Bluebell Croft, Strontian; tel 01967 402226
Robert Linton of Lochaber Enterprise; tel 01397 704326

6 April '06:   Death of wild swan confirms bird flu - the bird was found in Cellardyke, Fife. See the Soil Association's website for background information. 

3 April '06:   New Organic Easter Lamb pie from Simple Simon's Pies in Biggar at £3.50. Organic black faced hill lamb from Easton Farm is marinated in olive oil, white wine, carrots, onions and rosemary before being casseroled and finished with crab apple, mint and redcurrant jelly. The finished casserole is then encased in light puff pastry on a bed of steamed potatoes They can be shipped directly to your door within 48 hours of ordering on-line.  See Simple Simon's website. 

3 April '06:   Are organic techniques suitable for you on your Nature Reserve?  See the decision tree which has been developed under contract to English Nature to help you decide.  Revised edition came out in March 2006.  See the Organic Research Centre's website.  

31 Mar '06:   The Co-op in the Carse, Inverness has started selling Highland Wholefood's organic produce.

30 Mar '06:   New and improved fee payment for Soil Association Certification. There is a certification fee freeze for existing licensees and from 1 April 2006, all new applicants to Soil Association Certification will pay a one-off application fee of £199, covering the first six months of organic certification and their initial inspection. They will then benefit from a fixed minimum fee for the next two years – irrespective of land area.  For more information see the Soil Association website. 

29 Mar '06:   The Video of 'Biodynamic Man' - Philip Carr, a WWOOF host in the South East - which was shown on Community TV Channel can be downloaded from the WWOOF website 

29 Mar '06:   A target date of 2010 has been set by which time all fish meal and fish oil incorporated into Soil Association organic fish diets should come exclusively from Marine Stewardship Council's certified sources. The Soil Association, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Waitrose and  Aquascot have launched a unique and unprecedented partnership to develop these feeds. See the Soil Association's website . 

28 Mar '06:   A one-day organic salmon conference hosted by the Soil Association, with partners Waitrose and Aquascot, had a hundred delegates.  "The Soil Association, the UK's leading champion of organic food and farming, is pioneering the development of standards for organic salmon farming in the UK. Sales of organic salmon have increased steadily since certification started in 1999."  "Aquascot is one of Scotland's leading fish processing companies, and, as a business acutely aware of sustainability issues at every stage of the supply chain, has been an invaluable source of expertise to the Soil Association. It is the sole supplier of farmed salmon to Waitrose.
Waitrose was recently named as one of the leading retailers of sustainable seafood by both Greenpeace and the Marine Conservation Society. It has recently announced that it will shortly, and for the first time, be opening two stores in Scotland – both in Edinburgh, in Comely Bank and Morningside."  Taken from the Soil Association website.  

21 Mar '06:   Organic vegetable market continues to grow.  The UK organic vegetable market grew a further 13 per cent during the 2004-2005 season, according to a study by HDRA, the organic organisation.  The UK Organic Vegetable Market study, funded by DEFRA, reports that 152,100 tonnes of organic vegetables were traded during this period, representing a total retail value of £223 million. The rate of growth in the UK organic vegetable market exceeded the growth rates of both the conventional vegetable and total organic food markets. Additionally UK self-sufficiency in organic vegetables increased to 64 per cent whereas self-sufficiency in conventional vegetables decreased.   This is taken from the Garden Organic website

19 Mar '06:   Glasgoforest is tops for organic silage and yields.  Glasgoforest is a 260 acre lowland unit just out side of Aberdeen with 110 Holstein cross Friesian milking cows. They regularly win in silage competitions at the Royal Northern Spring Show, at Thainstone, and in the North of Scotland Silage competition.  See the Scottish Farmer 18 March 2006  

19 Mar '06:  Organic Aid Scheme 2005 application results are summarized in the SOPA website . 

19 Mar '06:   Caroline Bayliss's SAC Organic Market Link Project Producer Newsletter No 6 and her SAC Organic Market Project Producer Survey, Summary Report have now been distributed and give good news for organics in Scotland for the coming year.  Lamb, beef and grains are all in demand.  APB are now killing in Perth for Sainsburys. For further information see the SAC website or contact Caroline at caroline.bayliss@sac.co.uk  

18 Mar '06: New - 100% organic dog treats called De'lish Organic is now being produced by the already established organic pet food manufacturers, Pet Organics - a Scottish family business located in Edinburgh.  See their website www.petorganic.com

12 Mar '06:  Toxic 'cocktail additives' in children's foods    The Soil Association presented, on 8 March 2006, to the offices of Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, the Secretary of State for Health, the results of a three-year study on the effects of combining the following four food additives: E133 Brilliant Blue, E621 monosodium glutamate (MSG), E104 Quinoline Yellow and E951 L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. The research suggests that specific combinations can have a neurotoxic effect.
The mixtures of the additives had a much more potent effect on nerve cells than each additive on its own. The effect on cells was up to four times greater when Brilliant Blue and MSG were combined, and up to seven times greater when Quinoline Yellow and Aspartame were combined. The study shows that when the nerve cells were exposed to MSG and Brilliant Blue or Aspartame and Quinoline Yellow the additives stopped the nerve cells from normal growth and interfered with proper signalling systems.
See the Soil Association's website .

5 Mar '06:  In common with several other EU Member States the UK takes the view that the organic status of poultry flocks would not be affected as a result of measures which operators were required to take under the law to restrict access to open-air runs as a precaution against avian influenza so long as all other requirements of the Compendium of UK Organic Standards continued to be met.  See the SOPA website .

19 Feb '06:  A major global boost to organic farmland area has been clocked at the annual world organic food fair - Biofach - in Nuremberg, Germany.
According to the figures from an IFOAM survey, currently more than 31 million hectares of farmland are under organic management worldwide, a gain of around five million hectares in a single year.  The major increase in organic land has taken place in China, where nearly three million hectares of pastoral land were recently certified.
In terms of organic land, excluding wild collection, Australia leads the pack with 12.1 million hectares, followed by China (3.5 million hectares) and Argentina (2.8 million hectares).  Most of the world's organic land is in Australia/Oceania (30%), followed by Europe (21%), Latin America (20%), Asia (13%), North America (4%), and Africa (3%) The countries which have the largest percentage of organic farmland in comparison with the total agricultural area are Austria, Switzerland and much of Scandinavia.  In Switzerland, for example, more than ten percent of the agricultural land is managed organically.  In 2004, the market value of organic products worldwide was reckoned at 27.8 billion US$ (23.5 billion EUR), the largest share of organic products being marketed in Europe and North America. This is taken from the Elm Farm Research Website . 

19 Feb '06:  Market research study into the market penetration of Scottish organic produce.  Website publication date 8 February 2006.  See the Scottish Executive's website for the full report. 

19 Feb '06: Ask Organic is a company run by a couple in the Borders and they offer advice and help on home composting and organic gardening.  See their website www.askorganic.co.uk - we now have a link to them on our website as well.

16 Feb '06:   "MSP Robin Harper challenged Jack McConnel to explain what the Executive was going to do to get organic agriculture back on track, after it was revealed the budget for promoting organics to farmers had been slashed from £8.44m to £2.3m."  See the Scottish Farmer 18 February 2006.

16 Feb '06:   A Major Reason Why Organic Food is Better: Healthy Soils and Animals Mean a Healthy Diet.  Read Robin Maynard's article from The Guardian (London) 14 February  2006 in which he discusses Felicity Lawrence's report on the need to look at soil health before deciding on what is a healthy diet. Mineral levels have sharply decreased in the last 60 years coinciding with the increase in fertilizer dependent agriculture.  See the full article on the Organic Consumers Website. 

16 Feb '06:  The proposed revision of the EU Council regulation governing organic food and farming gives grave cause for concern.  See, on their website, the Soil Association's response to it.

16 Feb '06:   The Borders Organic Gardeners newsletter - BOG News, February 2006 has a number of interesting articles in it.  An update on their slug trials at Woodside - their organic garden; information about their Potato Day on Sunday 5 March 2006 and a useful article about the solitary Red Mason Bees which can be encouraged into your garden by giving them nest sites and which will pollinate flowers earlier and more productively than the honey bee.  To join BOG see their website bordersorganicgardeners.org.uk at £5 it's worth it for the newsletter alone. 

12 Feb '06:  SOPA's Winter 2006 Newsletter came out a couple of weeks ago. It outlines the Organic Aid Scheme 2006; has an article on the scientific approach to overwintering - food, housing and health - of cattle; gives details of the SOPA/SAC Conference which has now been; includes general SOPA and Market news and ends with a plug for Caledonian Organics. If you're interested in joining SOPA, phone 0131 333 09490 

11 Feb '06:  The first director for Soil Association Scotland - Hugh Raven - has been appointed.  Those employed by the Soil Association, Scotland, have increased from two full-time emplyees in 2002 to twelve.  See the Soil Association website. 

11 Feb '06:   "Half the demand for organic produce in Scotland is now being met by Scotland's own organic farmers according to a report published today (8 February 2006). As part of Environment week, Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Rhona Brankin today announced Scotland's Organic farmers are on target to provide 70% of demand for home-grown organic food, and are also succeeding in UK and international markets.  The Minister also announced that payments to organic farmers will increase, and some will even quadruple, as the Executive assists them in converting to and maintaining organic farm land."  Taken from the Scottish Executive's website.  

11 Feb '06:  The Islay Health Living Project has been loaned the old walled garden/orchard from the owner of Islay House (on Islay) and they have started to restore it as an organic project 

11 Feb '06:  Organic Aid Scheme 2006 - deadline extended until 30 April 2006.  See the SOPA website. Also, the Organic Aid Scheme 2006 Explanatory booklet is now available from the SEERAD website.

11 Feb '06:   WTO Draft report on the Trade Dispute between the US and Europe - see our 'GM News' page

1 Feb '06: One of the finalists for the NFU Scotland Farmland Biodiversity Award is an Organic farm ie Michael Johnston from near Keith in Banffshire.  The winner will be decided on 2 March at the NFU AGM and will receive £500 plus a Biodiversity Farm Audit and night in the St Andrews Bat Hotel.  See 'The Scottish Farmer', 28 January 2006 or look at their website www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk  

31 Jan '06: Green Health Watch Magazine, Winter 2005 is now out and giving the other side of the story to many health issues including articles on Organic food and GM crops. See their website www.greenhealthwatch.com .  The publishers are based in Forres. 

31 Jan '06: Connage Highland Dairy have their website on the net - have a look at www.connage.co.uk

22 Jan '06:  Cadbury's buy up Green & Blacks.  An old piece of news, but in case you missed it, see the BBC website Friday, 13 May, 2005, 

16 Jan '06:  Vacany for an organic gardener at Earthshare.  See our 'Sales and Wants" page. 

15 Jan '06:  Chemical treatments of fruit and vegetables give cause for alarm.  See the centre page of the Highland News for the week ending 14 January. This article, entitled "Sins of the fresh",  has Donnie McLeod featured along with the Soil Association.  It explains that 'Smartfresh', a chemical called 1-methylcyclopropene which is "pumped into cold stores where apples, bananas and tomatoes" are kept and allows the fruit to remain 'fresh' for up to a year and also that bagged salads washed in chlorine can stop the leaves from going brown.  Grapes are put on pads containing carbon dioxide to stop fungal attack etc.  None of these are mentioned on the label and they are not allowed with Organic food. 

5 Jan '06: New Organic Aid Scheme Rates for 2006 see the SOPA website  

3 Jan '06: Simply eating better could cure deprssion.  See the article in The Scottish Farmer , December 31, 2005.  Industrialised farming  introduced pesticides and altered the body fat composition of animals because of the diet they were fed.  "As a result, the population's intake of omega-3 fatty acids had decreased whilst the consuption of omega-6 fatty acids had increased.  According to the research, this unequal intake, combined with a lack of vitamins and minerals, is associated with depression, concentration and memory problems." 

26 Dec '05: HBS Ring Ltd run training courses using funding from the SAC.  Training is available throughout the winter on such things as operating your forklift, ATV, chainsaw or working your computer or managing your staff (or yourself!).  For further information see their website .  Don't forget, HIOA members can get discounts at HBS Ring Ltd.

26 Dec '05:  The Organic Catalogue can meet all your gardening needs for the coming year ie seeds, fertilisers, pest and disease controls, books and tools.  Order on line or have a copy of the catalogue sent to you, free. 

19 Dec '05:  Ardersier based Leanne and Gordon Whiteford have started a company, Highland Eggs, which  produces organic eggs for Peebles based Glenrath Farms.  See Saturday 17 December 2005's copy of the Press & Journal.  

17 Dec '05: Crofting Courses are being run in the Highlands & Islands over the winter, starting in January. Funded by he European Social Fund and organized by the Scottish Crofting Foundation, the Crofters Commission and the SAC.
Courses do include animal husbandry and welfare. See the SAC website for further details.

5 Dec '05:  Coulmore farm is selling boxes of beef and lamb - see our 'Sales and Wants' page. 

25 Nov '05:  Organic food sales growing by £2.3 million a week as local markets boom.  A news release by the Soil Association - see their website . 

21 Nov '05: EFRC (Elm Farm Research Centre)  - A sense of proportion in a world gone Avian Flu mad.  See the SOPA website . 

21 Nov '05: The Press & Journal article on Caledonian Organics, the newly formed, farmer run, organic meat group can be seen on the P&J's  website . 

17 Nov '05:  Grazing available for overwintering sheep on the Black Isle - 7.5 hectares - contact Duncan Ross at info@poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk or 01381 610352