What the Common Agricultural Policy means for citizens of Europe The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU’s agricultural policy, is a behemoth of rules and regulations. It is one of the bloc’s largest (and oldest) policies, taking up to 41% of the EU’s budget in 2016. This may sound distant and technical, but it is...
EU’s top court confirms safety checks needed for new ‘GMO 2.0’
The EU’s top court ruled today that a controversial new generation of food genetic engineering techniques should be subject to EU safety checks and consumer labelling. [1] In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Justice confirmed that new techniques to modify genetic material in plant or animal cells – so called ‘GMO 2.0’ –...
Will GMO 2.0 come to Europe via the back door?
For more than 20 years, civil society, farmers, politicians and the food sector have successfully fought for GMO-free fields and the right to choose food without GM ingredients in Europe. But this could be about to change. On July 25, the EU’s top court will rule whether new genetically modified (GM) seeds and foods – so-called...
What’s in season – July
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. We are currently working on a project, Citizen’s CAP, highlighting the importance of citizen involvement in agricultural policy to ensure healthy food and protection of our agricultural land. In a way, this is a continuation...
What’s in season – June
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. We are currently working on a project, Citizen’s CAP, highlighting the importance of citizen involvement in agricultural policy to ensure healthy food and protection of our agricultural land. In a way, this is a continuation...
What’s in season – May
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. It’s all about the legumes this month. I already spotted the first chickpea shells lying on the street corner, testament to the old men catching up on village gossip while munching away on fresh, raw...
What’s in season – April
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. It’s hard to imagine that it could escape anyone’s attention, with stalls along the roadside and the immensely popular Festa Frawli in Mġarr last weekend, but it’s strawberry time on our islands! Even though the...
What’s in season – March
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. The globe artichoke, what a curious vegetable. So spiny and prickly on the outside, but when cooked, so soft and buttery inside. Keep your eyes peeled for fields full of these massive plants this month....
What’s in season – February
Every month we feature a fruit or vegetable that is in season, along with a fun fact or recipe idea. An odd one this month: fresh garlic, also known as green garlic or spring garlic. When we presented the AgroKatina report and pocket guides to the public during an event at Vincent’s Eco Farm, we...
Nature Therapy open day at Villa Chelsea
Together, Friends of the Earth Malta and the Richmond Foundation, have designed and implemented the Nature Therapy project. Through workshops and activities such as vegetable and herb planting, composting, pollinator friendly flower planting, and building garden furniture from pallets, the project engages the clients and support staff of the community at Villa Chelsea in nature...