“The scale of the land deals being struck is shocking”, said Mittal. “The conversion of African small farms and forests into a natural-asset-based, high-return investment strategy can drive up food prices and increase the risks of climate change. Growing more food through investing in growing more food is going to drive up food prices how?

As the world's population approaches ten billion, issues like climate change, growing scarcity of oil and availability of quality land and water are challenging the planet's capacity to produce enough food for everyone - a paradigm shift that could potentially pave the way for a new global 'food crunch'.

Emerging issues such as food security and growing consumer calls for quality food should form part of the EU's long-term policy goals, according to a visionary document adopted by European farmers' organisation Copa. 

Banning supermarket food promotions risks making life harder for families, a range of consumer groups has warned amid a growing backlash against Gordon Brown's war on waste.

Penistone & Stocksbridge MP, Angela Smith, has awarded the Waggon & Horses at Langsett a certificate in recognition for its quality food and drink. The award is part of a promotion run by the All Parliamentary Beer Group to support local pubs. Commenting on the nomination, Angela said: “Local pubs are important for many reasons, however, it is important that they offer quality beer ...

Scotland's "quality and growing" reputation for food and drink has driven record growth of £700 million in the sector, industry leaders said.

For the overwhelming majority of those who live in the UK, it will come as no surprise their, class prejudiced little nation has been named in a recent survey as the worst place to live in Europe for quality of life. Even coming behind countries like Ireland and Italy whose economies have or are about to hit the rocks. According to the latest uSwitch Quality of Life Index:  This is the UK&rsq...

Yesterday, in the wake of the Oxfam report, Felicity Lawrence told us that food was going to get much more expensive and we’d better do something about growing more. Today Felicity Lawrence tells us that China investing lots of money in growing lots more food is a bad idea. Eh?

Good to see co-ops doing well again in the BBC Radio Food and Farming Awards 2008. Calon Wen, a co-op of 20 farmers in Carmarthenshire, won Best Food Producer for the quality of its organic milk. It is the first dairy in the UK to achieve the Soil Association’s Ethical Trade Symbol. And Unicorn Grocery of Chorlton in Manchester was joint winner of Best Local Food Retailer. Unicorn is a worke...

"What is the point of growing food if you let them get destroyed by pests? And another thing, if a sheep gets a headache, I'd give it an asprin." That was broadly the gist of a remark made this morning on a BBC food show by Gregg Wallace, the grocer and UK television presenter, who is not a devotee of organic food. Ah, I thought, this guy is prepared to pull the chains of the...