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Scientists warn that farming practices must be adapted to a warmer world and rises in global population. (Damian Carrington – guardian.co.uk – Thurssday 5 May 2011) Global warming has already harmed the world’s food production and has driven up food prices by as much as 20% over recent decades, new research has revealed. The drop in the productivity of crop plants around the world was not caused by changes in rainfall but was because higher... read more →

A joint investigation by the company and Norfolk fire chiefs is still under way to discover why an industrial fat fryer ignited last Friday teatime at the plant, on Station Road, Westwick, which employs about 200 people. Alex Hurrell , Reporter Thursday, May 12, 2011 7:00 AM The fire is understood to have damaged the roof of a building known by workers as the old packing house. Heinz invested more than £16m in the factory between 2006-2010 to boost productivity... read more →

A company has today been fined after three workers were taken to hospital following a chemical incident at a Spalding vegetable grower and supplier. Spalding Magistrates’ Court heard that on 11 September 2009, a Latvian agency worker at Emmett UK Ltd was cleaning food processing machinery when he accidentally mixed two cleaning chemicals which reacted together to produce a toxic gas. The factory was evacuated and three workers were taken to hospital... read more →

British TV chefs and restaurateurs are keen for us to eat locally grown produce. But is there a single national vegetable? Leeks are Welsh. Potatoes are associated with Ireland. And overcooked cabbage, cauliflower and sprouts are classic school dinner fare. Asparagus is a strong contender for an English vegetable, coming into season on St George’s Day, says Nora Ryan, editor of the BBC Food website. But is there one that could be described as Britain’s... read more →

Supermarket group Morrisons has reported a rise in annual profit but has also warned that 2011 will be challenging. The company announced a pre-tax profit of £874m for the 12 months to the end of January, up from the £858m it made in the same period a year ago. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel and VAT, rose 0.9%. The group also said it planned to launch an online shopping service in the coming two years. Morrisons is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket... read more →

More than 100 people could lose their jobs after a Lincolnshire food produce company announced plans to close its site. Exotic Farm Produce (EFP), owned by Icelandic company Bakkavor, employs 116 people in Kirton. All employees have been notified of a 90-day consultation period stating the company’s intention to close. A statement from Bakkavor said the business had been unprofitable “for a sustained period of time”. “This is due to... read more →

The battle over Fox’s biscuits firm Northern Foods continues to simmer after the UK’s biggest sandwich maker again refused to rule out a bid. Dublin-based Greencore said it was still considering its response to a rival £342m offer from the owner of the Harry Ramsden’s fish restaurants. That deal, struck in January, scuppered Greencore’s hopes of a merger with Northern. It has been reported that Greencore, which makes ownlabel... read more →

Farmers groups have said they are disappointed plans for a giant dairy in Lincolnshire have been withdrawn. Nocton Dairies Ltd wanted to house 3,770 cows near Lincoln but faced widespread opposition. Concerns were raised about animal welfare but environmental objections were blamed for the withdrawal. The National Farmers’ Union and the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers warned British farming had to develop if it was to feed the nation. Nocton... read more →