News on Energy and Environment from United Kingdom

Organic farms may be seen as wildlife friendly, but the benefits to birds, bees and butterflies don’t compensate for the lower yields produced, according to new research from the University of Leeds. In the most detailed, like-for-like comparisons o...

Marks &Spencer (M&S) announces a programme to be the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015, launching 80 major new commitments under M&S’ eco and ethical plan, Plan A. The new commitments will mean we ensure all M&S products becom...

Potato supplier Greenvale AP has revealed plans to install a wind turbine at its factory in Fenland.Plans have been submitted to Fenland District Council for a temporary 60-metre tall wind mast at the Flood's Ferry factory, near Doddington.A spokesman...

Hilary Benn, UK's Environment Secretary, said in future people will have to eat less “carbon intensive” foods like red meat or excessively packaged products to make sure Britain meets targets to cut greenhouse gases.To help consumers do this, new “gree...

The anaerobic digestion plant at Branston's headquarters in Lincoln will use low value potatoes and peelings to produce enough electricity to cut the firm's reliance on grid electricity by 40%.Work started on the plant last week, project director Vee G...

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is today publishing findings of a qualitative research project commissioned to explore public attitudes to genetic modification (GM). This report is timely and will be considered by the independent steering group that ha...

Greenvale's new packaging for its Lady Balfour organic potatoes has increased shelf life, decreased wastage and reduced complaints about greening by over 50%.Greenvale AP is the UK's largest supplier of fresh potatoes and Lady Balfour is one of the UK'...

Farmers must stop squabbling over whether organic or conventional agriculture is most environmentally friendly, a leading scientist has warned.Ian Crute said it was vital to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all types of agriculture. “The notion tha...

For years, healthful-food advocates have said organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown. But that claim — trumpeted on the Web sites of organizations ranging from the national Organic Trade Association to the Seattle-based PCC Natural ...

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found. The Food Standard...

The UK government has unveiled plans to cut carbon emissions in a bid to tackle climate change.The Low Carbon Transition Plan calls on farming to reduce emissions to 6% lower than the level predicted for 2020.It suggests this should be done through an ...

A UK Government initiative on anaerobic digestion that includes using food and bioplastic packaging waste to create energy could play a key role in helping cut landfill volumes, said an industry body. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) welcomed the go...

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) identified opportunities for energy savings and the related CO2 emission reductions related to improved temperature management in frozen food manufacturing and in cold stores.The project had support and fundin...

Labels showing a product's carbon footprint should be displayed on goods and services to help consumers tackle climate change, according to an influential committee of MPs.Some foods are already displaying "carbon reduction labels"alongside t...

You can boil them, mash them and roast them but rarely are potatoes burned to a cinder to generate electricity - but that's what one Lincolnshire company is going to do.Branston Ltd has been given permission to build an energy from waste plant at its M...

The United Kingdom has become Pepsico's testing ground for a revolutionary manufacturing process for potato chips: "Continuous Kettle Fried Potato Chips". This new process results in a "fresher-tasting, delicious product with the perfec...

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has signalled that the retailer is willing to back genetically modified (GM) foods, saying consumer attitudes have changed and it has a vital part to play. Speaking at the annual City Food Lecture, held in London, ...

Consumers are turning away from organic food in favour of cheaper ethical alternatives as the recession bites. Is this the beginning of the end for organics? On its website, the Soil Association highlights its desire to turn the UK 'organic by 2050'. A...