Swiss voters to cast ballots on pesticide-free farming

Wine grower Jean-Denis Perrochet fills his tractor’s spray tank with diluted milk. That’s what he uses to get rid of fungus on the vines on his vineyard near the town of Neuenburg in northwestern Switzerland.

Perrochet and his family started exclusively using organic farming methods back in 2012. They do not use chemical pesticides, weed killers or artificial fertilizers. Instead, they enrich the soil with homemade compost and remove weeds mechanically. 

“We create in a healthier way — that’s the advantage of these methods. We don’t spread poison,” said Perrochet. “Before, with the synthetic sprays, there was a feeling that it wasn’t good for people or the environment.”  

Perrochet says the switch to organic complicates an already difficult job. But he is convinced that all farmers can live without pesticides. That is why the vintner and fellow campaigners launched the people’s initiative “For a Switzerland without artificial pesticides” in 2016. 

The initiative has since gathered enough support to force the Swiss parliament to hold a referendum on June 13. If successful it would ban all pesticides containing substances that do not exist in nature and would affect not only farmers, but anyone who uses pesticides, including amateur gardeners. Swiss voters will also decide on a second clean drinking water initiative which wouldn’t totally ban pesticides but would stop farmers who use them from claiming government subsidies. 

Swiss not neutral on pesticides 

Pesticides have been a public concern in Switzerland for some time. In 2019, a study by the Swiss Water Research Institute EAWAG on pesticide residues in groundwater made headlines and in 2020, the country banned fungicide chlorothalonil after the EU classified it as a potential health hazard.

But big farmers’ associations and groups of lobbyists, rallying under the slogan “2x No to the extreme agricultural initiatives,” are pushing back against the anti-pesticide campaigns. 

In the run-up to the vote, agrochemical giants Syngenta and Bayer have been promoting the benefits of pesticides online and in social media campaigns, while the Swiss government is also urging the public to reject the initiatives.  

If the pesticide ban wins out, it would have serious consequences, including a drop in domestic food production that would see a surge in imports to fill the void and a rise in food prices, said Sandra Helfenstein, spokeswoman for the Swiss Farmers’ Union. 

“These agents are used because there are diseases and pests,” said Helfenstein. “They’re not going to suddenly go away just because we don’t want to use pesticides anymore.” 

The agricultural sector has been making an effort to cut its dependency on pesticides, adds Helfenstein. Synthetic pesticide use in Switzerland has dropped 40% in the last decade.

Farmers feel they’re being singled out and “bashed” unfairly in the debate. 

Vegetable farmer Thomas Wyssa wants more understanding from the public about when and why pesticides are necessary. He already has problems producing his Brussels sprouts. They’re planted in May and harvested in November. The crop has to contend with insects, diseases and the weather during the long cultivation period. A ban would make his job even more difficult, he says.  

“We don’t want to poison anyone. We eat our own vegetables ourselves,” said Wyssa.

The good and bad of pesticides  

Intensive farming  with pesticides protects plants from pests and diseases, increasing yields and allowing more people to be fed than ever before in human history. But it often comes at the expense of the environment. 

Pesticides harm insects directly as well as indirectly  through toxins and by killing off the undesirable weeds that are their source of food and refuge. When insects decrease so too do the birds that feed on them. 

Chemicals also rarely remain in the fields where they’re sprayed. Wind and rain spread pesticides into rivers, lakes and other habitats and studies show extreme declines in flora and fauna on the edges of farmland.  

Some pesticides are suspected of causing long-term damage to human health. Studies show farmers are more likely than the average population to suffer from diseases such as nervous system disorder Parkinson’s  and cancers like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In France, Parkinson’s disease is now recognized as an occupational hazard for farmers.   

Land consumption: Where organic farming falls short 

Still, scientists question whether eliminating all synthetic pesticides is possible and if doing so would weaken food security. 

Agroscope, the research center of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture, studied potentially high-risk synthetic pesticides that could be replaced. Some of these pesticides could be easily eliminated, according to the study. Wine and fruit farmers would have little difficulty in adjusting but cultivating sugar beets, corn and rapeseed would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. 

Organic farming has other drawbacks too. 

A meta-analysis published in the journal “Nature” found average harvests on organic farms were about 15% smaller compared to conventional farms. A switch to purely organic cultivation would require more land to compensate for lower yields. 

Not all land is suitable for organic farming, said says Arndt Feuerbacher, a researcher in sustainable agriculture at the University of Hohenheim in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. 

On organic farms, farmers usually plow the lands to get rid of weeds, but that worsens soil erosion, especially in areas prone to it. Conventional agriculture offers cheaper, less labor-intensive alternatives, including the use of herbicides to kill the unwanted plants. 

 “100% organic is very difficult to justify from an economic standpoint, and it doesn’t necessarily make sense from an ecological standpoint either,” said Feuerbacher. 

If more soy and corn have to be imported from Brazil due to lower domestic yields, more rainforest will be lost to make way for cultivation. The problems will simply be shifted to other regions of the world, Feuerbacher added.    

But a shift to organic agriculture could be feasible if people ate fewer animal products  and wasted less food, say scientists. 

Some 71% of the world’s arable land is used to grow livestock feed, and 18% is used to cultivate food for human consumption. At the same time, a third of what we produce is never eaten, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  

Creeping change toward organic farming?  

Switzerland isn’t the only place where people are pushing for a pesticide-free future. The alpine village of Mals in northern Italy made headlines in 2014 when residents voted to ban all synthetic pesticide use. 

A court eventually overturned the decision after several landowners pushed back. But the local government plans to appeal that ruling. The jury is still out on the ban but Koen Hertoge, one of the people behind the original campaign, said he has seen a shift in attitudes in Italy. 

“People have become aware that pesticides are a dead end,” said Hertoge. “More and more farmers in this region are converting to organic farming  and use fewer pesticides.”

The same goes for Switzerland. One in six farms in the country is now certified as organic and the number is growing, according to organic farming umbrella group, Bio Suisse. 

Polls show the Swiss pesticide ban stands only a tiny chance of passing, but campaigners like wine grower Perrochet hope the public debate will at least spur farmers to rethink the issue and that organic farming continues to bloom. 

Complex Fertilizers Market Is growing Continuously in Global Business Industry from 2020- 2027 | Know the businesses List Could Potentially Benefit or Loose out From the Impact of COVID-19

The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

   May 07, 2021 (Market Insight Reports) --

Complex fertilizers(compound fertilizers) is a combination of two or more type of macro-nutrient fertilizers and these fertilizers can be further mixed with elements that offer plant nutrients, which are known as a secondary nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. They can be distributed and packaged in granular or liquid form.

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May 6: News from around the Driftless Area

‘News from Around the Driftless Area’ is a compilation showcasing the excellent work and interesting tidbits from the community journalists sprinkled throughout our area.

VIROQUA –Approximately 150 Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers from the 107th Maintenance Company will deploy to Eastern Europe this spring. The Sparta-based unit, with detachments in Viroqua and Camp Ripley, Minnesota, will mobilize to U.S. European Command in Eastern Europe to conduct maintenance and recovery operations in the region in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, and a multinational joint exercise – Defender-Europe-2021… The Legal Affairs Committee of the Vernon County Board of Supervisors again discussed decreasing the size of the county board at their April 14 meeting. Supervisor Shawn Redington, who represents District 29 in parts of the towns of Greenwood and Hillsboro, was the first to bring the topic up. He also suggests that many of the county board committees be combined. Redington contends that surrounding counties all have smaller boards, and feels Vernon County should go the same way… Friends of Vernon County Parks & Forests will offer ‘Yoga in the Park’ at Sidie Hollow County Park on Friday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m., with instructor Jackie Burhans. Participants should bring a yoga mat, water, and an enthusiasm for nature… Friends of Vernon County Parks & Forests will offer their first ‘Music in the Parks’ event at the Sidie Hollow Campground on Saturday, May 15, at 1 p.m. Music will be provided by ‘Spring String Thing.’ They’ve got a mini-music festival planned with High & Rising, Pigtown Fling String Band and Crooked Willow. Each band will play two sets of music at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Pack a picnic and a cooler, and stay for the entire day, or book a campsite and stay.

LA FARGE – The Kickapoo Valley Reserve has announced an all-outdoor lecture series for the spring of 2021. Hikes are free and open to the public. Register for the talks at the KVR website. On Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m., the subject will be ‘Spring Ephemerals.’ Cathy Chybowski, naturalist and life science teacher, will take participants on a walk to look for a profusion of spring ephemerals and more. Learn what an ephemeral flower is, why they are seen in the spring, why they bloom in the woods, and so much more… Hayden Benson of LaFarge High School has been named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Team. It is an honor to be named a participant to the WBCA All-Star games as this event showcases seniors in each division who possess great talent and tremendous character… A three-alarm fire in McMinnville, Oregon, on Tuesday, April 20, destroyed the Organic Valley Creamery. The company, based in LaFarge, owns the creamery. Fire officials stated that damage to the facility could be upwards of 40 to 50 million dollars. The buildings are completely insured. Residents within a half-mile radius of the plant were told to evacuate when the fire was burning due to the possibility of an ammonia leak. When it was determined that there was no damage to the large ammonia tanks, the order was rescinded. The McMinnville Fire Department said the fire was accidental, and broke out during routine maintenance in one of the dry warehouses. None of the 47 employees was injured in the fire.

ONTARIO – The Wilton Fire Department burned the former Sterling-Schwartz home near the intersection of Highway 71 and Walker Street on a recent Saturday morning. A new Dollar General will be built on the site later this year… A Monroe County highway worker was recently injured in a two-vehicle crash near Kendall. The incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of paying attention while driving in work zones. In the accident, a Monroe County Highway Department truck was struck from behind by a semi traveling eastbound on Highway 71. The highway truck was the last in a row of vehicles that were performing maintenance work on the shoulder of the road. The driver of the highway truck was injured in the crash and taken to the hospital, and the driver of the semi was uninjured… The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department has announced it is seeking members of the public to join the Monroe County Sheriff’s Reserves. After some years of not expanding, the sheriff’s department has restructured the program, which has been in existence since 1966. Members of the Reserve help by assisting with a number of law enforcement services, including large event security, traffic control, inmate transport, and guarding and crime scene security.

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN – The Prairie du Chien Historical Society began welcoming the public back to Fort Crawford and the Prairie du Chien Museum beginning on Saturday, May 1, and will be open throughout the season until October 31. The museums will be open seven days per week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 2021 season marks 25 years of existence for the Prairie du Chien Historical Society, which has many celebratory events planned for the season… St. Peter Lutheran Church members recently held their spring ‘Gods Work, Our Hands’ trail clean up event. Church members young and old were able to help clean up trash along the bike trails of the by-pass and South Marquette Road… Fifteen years ago, a monthly mobile food pantry began at St. John’s Catholic Church in Patch Grove. The pantry, formed to serve the need of the community, remains in operation to this day, and serves families from Grant and Crawford counties, and Northeast Iowa. The food the pantry distributes is supplied by Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Recipients can travel from anywhere to the pantry, and no income guidelines are required. Distribution occurs every second Tuesday, starting at 12:30 p.m. About 14 volunteers staff the mobile pantry, and food is distributed in a COVID-friendly drive-through format… Former Prairie du Chien Chief of Police Gary Knickerbocker was recently ‘pooched’ on his 76th birthday. This involved his neighbor making a donation to Rivers & Bluffs Animal Shelter, allowing for canine cutouts to be placed in Knickerbocker’s yard… Iowa turned away over one quarter of its allotted COVID-19 doses week before last due to low demand. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the state declined 18,300 of 34,300 Moderna vaccine doses, as well as 3,510 of 46,800 Pfizer doses. Among the 43 of 99 of Iowa’s counties declining at least some of their doses was Clayton County.

BOSCOBEL – A serious injury accident involving three vehicles on Highway 61 a half-mile south of Dry Hollow Road, in Marion Township just to the south of Boscobel, was reported to the Grant County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, April 21 at 3:22 p.m. Clayton Ottman, 26, Boscobel, was operating a 2007 Ford Focus southbound on 61 when Ottman crossed the centerline, and entered the northbound lane. Jobert Bermudo, 36, Readstown, was northbound on 61, driving a 1982 Chevy K10. Bermudo attempted to avoid Ottman, but was struck head-on, causing Bermudo to go airborne and overturn, coming to rest in the southbound shoulder on its top. Ottman’s vehicle then collided with a 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Darren Cornell, 50, Boscobel. Bermudo and Ottman were transported to Gundersen Boscobel Hospital with injuries. All three vehicles were towed from the scene… Grant County Board Chair Robert Keeney feels confident that Grant County’s plan to replace the obsolete emergency communication tower system is ‘shovel-ready’ enough that it will qualify for the Federal Community Project program. The project would create a system with 11 new communication towers spread across the county that would give complete radio coverage and eliminate dead zones. The towers will be tied together with 172.4 miles of fiber optic lines set up in a loop, ensuring that the system would continue to function even with a break in it… The Boscobel Public Library held a Children’s Bike Rodeo recently in the Kronshage Park parking lot, with 37 kids participating.

Protecting the legacy and keeping Ghana in business

Early Days

For many years, Ghana’s export sector focused on cocoa, gold, timber, bauxite, rubber and oil. However, during the 1980s and 1990s pineapple exports became an important area of activity. This was largely due to the vision of a few people, but it is also a sector that has struggled to adapt.

The story starts in the late 1970s, when Daniel Osei Yaw Safo, the modern ‘Tetteh Quashie’ of the pineapple industry, set off to turn an untapped pineapple resource into a multi-million-dollar industry. Daniel returned to Ghana after serving as a manager for Ghana Commercial Bank in London. He was committed to achieving something new in Ghana.

Coming from a very humble background, Daniel Safo valued hard work and had the drive and initiative to pursue his vision. He founded Combined Farmers Ltd (CFL) to support the large-scale cultivation of pineapple. In the 1980s he then expanded his horizons with exports to Europe.

Due to the landmark revolution he brought into the Agricultural landscape, he was recognized during the maiden edition of the National Farmers’ Day celebration in 1985 as the National Best Farmer. Together with a group of other innovative entrepreneurs, such as Koranco, a significant market share was secured and gave Ghana a strong reputation for producing high quality pineapples.

These were delivered by air, ensuring speedy delivery and high quality. However, back in the 80’s, there were only five flights per week from Accra to Europe, making it difficult to export even 10% of the produce. Seeking to increase production to meet the demand in the European market, Mr Safo established a cargo airline to support airfreight of the commodity.

As the business blossomed, he brought together more exporters to form an association that enabled them to build sufficient volumes of fresh pineapples for air-freighting.

The Ghanaian exporters were able to take advantage of the favourable climatic conditions to build a flourishing industry. The ‘smooth cayenne’ species started to appear on the shelves of many European supermarkets. Back home, the business supported livelihoods and contributed to the improved nutrition of thousands of people.

CFL and the other exporters continued to increase the frequency of their shipments, making pineapple exports one of the most significant growth areas in Ghana. The exports grew 14-fold between 1980 and 1998 from US$1.8 million to US$26.8 million. As a result, Ghana gained a real foothold in the European market.

Challenges

In 2001, the industry was hit with its first major setback following the September 11 tragedy. With resilient titans like Safo involved, 9/11 was not the end of the business. However, there was a shift of focus.

Further expansion involved a transition to sea-freight, but this also created the challenge of managing cool-chain distribution and ensuring quality was not compromised. Mr Safo helped arrange common handling of sea-freight logistics and was instrumental in facilitating market access. Working in close cooperation with the then ‘Ghana Standards Board’, he promoted common export standards.

The exports continued to increase rapidly to the close of 2004, when the commodity reached 71,000 tons and generated about US$22 million. Although exports of fresh pineapples increased significantly in 2004, making Ghana the second largest pineapple exporter after Cote d’Ivoire, it represented a mere 12% percent of the global market.

There was still potential for Ghana to considerably grow the industry. However, new challenges were soon to appear. Contrary to the high expectation of increased market share (after the impressive 2004 export year) Ghana’s smooth cayenne began to face rejection in Europe.

From 2005 onwards, Costa Rica promoted the new MD2 variety (‘Del Monte Gold’), which took over the European pineapple market. This had previously been dominated by Ghana and other African countries.

This sudden shift resulted in a significant decline in Ghanaian export share, while Costa Rica continued to establish itself as the new market leader. As a result of the MD2 initiative, more than 500,000 smallholder farmers lost their jobs. The high cost of investment required to establish the new variety, and also issues of disease among other varieties, made it very difficult for many to get back into profitable business.

The situation deprived Ghana of the millions of dollars it used to get in foreign exchange. In addition, many fruit processing companies ceased trading, while pack houses and cold chains in some pineapple growing areas became redundant. Many farmers either converted their farms to grow other crops or sold them for construction of residential properties. The number of exporters also reduced from 50 in 2004 to around 15 a few years later.

This MD2 invasion and the displacement of Ghana and other African countries from the market, highlights the reality of global markets and the challenges African producers face. Staying competitive requires a strategy to constantly adapt to new market demands and competitors’ innovations.

Del Monte had started researching into the shortcomings of the smooth cayenne back in 1996 and had resolved to come out with a variety that would take over the market. So what lessons can Ghanaians take from this hard lesson?

Perhaps most important is the need to appreciate the fundamental role research and innovation plays in ensuring market sustainability. These issues affect not only production practices but also competition between different supply chains.

In addition, the country’s marketing and promotion programs have to be strengthened with clear brand “identities” and “labels” that convey a message. We can’t rely on traditional “brand loyalty” when there are significant new developments taking place.

Most farmers who survived decided to switch from smooth cayenne (SC) to MD2. But Mr. Safo believed that abandoning the SC completely was not the way to go. There were still opportunities to promote its advantages in order to regain some of the lost market share.

He argued that the smooth cayenne offered better juice, flavour and fibre than MD2, which could enable Ghana to re-enter the market place. Mr Safo stood vindicated as the MD2 was found to be more expensive to grow in Ghana due to the climate and soil conditions.

Those who switched to MD2 faced an uphill task in catch up and significant competition. Costa Rica has ideal growing conditions for MD2, low costs of production and massive economies of scale. Daniel Safo believed that the focus should have still been placed on improving the smooth cayenne (and the delivery logistics) rather than competing head-on with Costa Rica over the MD2.

He saw opportunities to gain competitive advantage in organic pineapple and tap into the “fair trade” movement.

The organic food and drinks sector in Europe had starting growing rapidly at an average rate of 13% from 2002. With the market value of organic food and drinks sector in Europe projected to increase to 67 billion USD by 2012, it made no sense to neglect that niche market opportunity.

This idea worked for Ghana when Waitrose started retailing whole organic pineapples, supplied by Blue Skies in 2005 to the United Kingdom. We should also note that Daniel Safo was one of the original sponsors of the Blue Skies project, started back in 1997.

The cool-chain (air-freighted) export of fresh cut pineapple started in 1998. Mr Safo also tried to diversify the CFL business by venturing into coconut cultivation, which has since developed to become one of the biggest coconut plantations in West Africa.

Future Possibilities

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority, in line with Mr Safo’s suggestions, embarked on a project to revitalize and boost the production of the smooth cayenne pineapple as part of its implementation of the National Export Strategy. With other contributions from the World Bank, USAID and the U.S.

Millennium Challenge Corporation towards the revitalization of the horticulture industry, Ghana began seeing signs of a new resilience and greater competitiveness. In 2016, Ghana recorded export of fresh cut pineapples worth $53 million. In 2018, Ghana had a 1.1% of the global shares with volumes of 661.5k metric tons. The export value was 29.52 million USD.

The few farmers who have survived strive to keep their heads afloat and re-gain market share in Europe, However, in recent years there have been ongoing problems, including land encroachment. It reminds us that successful, sustainable business requires ‘enabling conditions’ backed by effective systems and the rule of law.

Perhaps the lasting legacy of Mr Safo is to remind Ghanaians that the country needs to harness its natural resources and talent. This requires a clear vision, backed by guiding principles on how to conduct business. One of Daniel’s often repeated quotes from the 1990s was “lazy, corrupt people block progress”.

He saw the need for research, development and innovation that supports future success. The country can learn from his example.

Revealing the impact of 70 years of pesticide use on European soils

Pesticides have been used in European agriculture for more than 70 years, so monitoring their presence, levels and their effects in European soils quality and services is needed to establish protocols for the use and the approval of new plant protection products.

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In an attempt to deal with this issue, a team led by the prof. Dr. Violette Geissen from Wageningen University (Netherlands) have analyzed 340 soil samples originating from three European countries to compare the content distribution of pesticide cocktails in soils under organic farming practices and soils under conventional practices.

The soil samples were obtained from two case study sites in Spain, one case study site in Portugal, and one case study site in the Netherlands. These covered four of the main European crops: horticultural products and oranges (in Spain), grapes (in Portugal), and potato production (in the Netherlands). Chemical analyses revealed that the total content of pesticides in conventional soils was between 70% and 90% higher than in organic soils, although the latter soils did also contain pesticide residues.

Although in 70% of conventional soils mixtures of up to 16 residues were detected per sample, only a maximum of five different residues were found in the organic soils. the residues most frequently found and in the greatest quantities were the herbicides Glyphosate and Pendimethalin. The samples were collected between 2015-2018, as no major changes occurred in terms of management, there are indicative of current situation, and likely of other Eu agricultural areas.”

Once the presence of these pesticide cocktails in European agricultural soils is unfolded, it becomes necessary to have a greater understanding of the effects that these complex and cumulative mixtures have on soil health, an area in which there is currently a major lack of information.

The research team emphasis the need to define and introduce regulations and reference points on pesticide cocktails in soils in order to protect the soil’s biodiversity, and the quality of crop production. Additionally, taking into account the persistence of residues in organic soils it is necessary to reconsider the time required for the transition from conventional agriculture to organic agriculture, making it dependent on the mix of residues in the soil at starting point and the time they take to degrade.

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                                        <a class="text-medium text-info mt-2 d-inline-block" href="https://phys.org/news/2019-01-pesticides-european-soils.html" rel="nofollow">Pesticides found in more than 80% of tested European soils</a>
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                                            Violette Geissen et al, Cocktails of pesticide residues in conventional and organic farming systems in Europe – Legacy of the past and turning point for the future, <i>Environmental Pollution</i> (2021).  <a data-doi="1" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116827" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116827</a>


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Clean Jobs Can Replace Coal Jobs In European Regions, WWF Report

 Jobs in coal are plummeting across Europe as countries

shift to renewable energy sources – WWF is calling
for EU countries to phase out their coal power by 2030 to
fight the climate crisis and uphold the Paris
Agreement. Phasing out fossil fuel-based electricity
generation, especially coal, is a prerequisite for
fulfilling the European Union’s commitment to the Paris
Agreement and the leadership role the EU strives to have in
global climate policy. Such a major change must be
accompanied by a comprehensive Just Transition
Strategy to minimise hardships for workers and
their communities in the associated industries through
active political and financial support, as well as shifting
local economies towards sustainable economic activities.
This is particularly significant for the coal producing
Stara Zagora, Pernik and Bobov Dol regions of
southwestern Bulgaria.

The European
Commission has set up a €17.5 billion Just Transition Fund
to help mediate the social impacts of the shift from coal in
regions whose economies have been based on it. Communities
can access the fund by drawing up plans which are submitted
by their government to the European Commission. The Fund –
and its sister schemes under the Just Transition Mechanism,
in combination with the national and private funds, are a
huge opportunity to shift to a durable, climate-neutral
economy. The new WWF report, Europe’s
Coal Regions: Boosting Employment, Environment and Economy
through ‘Just Transition’ takes an in-depth look
at the problems and opportunities in the Stara Zagora,
Pernik and Bobov Dol regions of southwestern Bulgaria;
Silesia and Eastern Wielkopolska in Poland; and Western
Macedonia and Megalopolis in Greece.

The report finds
that planning, local participation, transparency and a
commitment to end fossil fuels are crucial aspects for all
the regions which, alongside the financing, can turn coal
communities into sustainably and economically thriving
places to live.

“The analysis in Bulgaria shows
that 15,600 direct coal sector employees will easily find
jobs in existing economic sectors, but they will be lower
paid. Only 2,850 jobs will be created based on innovations
and new technologies generated by the Just Transition Fund
that will pay higher than current levels. That is why it is
crucial that the Fund’s resources are directed to
sustainable and innovative economic activities which will
allow a real Just Transition.” – Georgi Stefanov,
Chief Climate and Energy Expert, WWF Bulgaria

Just
Transition in Central and Eastern Europe

(CEE) will
contribute to achieving EU climate neutrality and the local
development of target regions by having a positive impact in
all the important aspects of the transition process –
social, economic and environmental. For example, the total
coal reserves in Southwest Bulgaria are estimated to be
relatively small –

less than 15% of the country’s
overall reserves; 5% of which is extracted. The two
operational thermal power plants (TPPs) in the region, TPP
Bobov Dol (Bobov Dol municipality) and TPP Republika (Pernik
municipality) burn about 2.5% of the coal, and generate
approximately 5% of Bulgaria’s annual electricity
production. Closing down these two coal-fired power plants
will leave an annual 903,781 MWh energy gap that will need
to be filled by alternative sustainable sources and energy
saving measures.

For example, there are over 150
protected areas of all types in Southwest Bulgaria,
including two of the country’s three national parks: Rila
National Park (the largest in Bulgaria) and Pirin National
Park (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). These conditions
favour economic alternatives such as the development of
various forms of tourism, organic farming, organic
stock-breeding, sustainable forestry and fishing. Moving in
this direction would also comply with the desire that
economic activities should be compatible with the
conservation of valuable species, habitats and nature in
general. This fact should be a prerequisite for a
sustainable future and be considered when deciding on
alternative, Just Transition Mechanism-funded economic
investments in the region.

Read
Report

“The lessons for the EU are
clear. We can get this right, but to do so, the EU Just
Transition Mechanism must only be used in ways that support
a transition to a net-zero carbon economy, like by investing
in job-creating renewable energy or the circular economy –
and not in anything that would undermine it or create
stranded assets, like the false solution of fossil gas.
What’s more, the EU Commission must check local level
plans aim for zero fossil fuels and are drawn up in a
participatory, transparent and fair way.” – Katie
Treadwell, WWF European Policy Office

The report also
finds that: 

Job numbers in mining are
falling and many more are at risk.

In Silesia, Poland,
15,000 to 18,000 workers in mining-related companies are at
risk of losing their jobs by 2030 [1]
. 2,200 coal jobs in Greece are under imminent
threat;

The impacts go beyond employment
numbers.

Local communities in Western Macedonia,
Greece, will suffer income losses of some €3.1 for every
€ 1 taken off lignite-fired activity;

However in
many regions, sustainable jobs can more than replace those
lost.

Up to 22,000 jobs could be created in Poland’s
Eastern Wielkopolska region alone, making up for the jobs
lost in the coal lignite sector and related sectors;
and

To enable a successful Just
Transition, the Just Transition Mechanism should prioritise
investments linked to the net-zero carbon
economy.

This will help use the skills of
former coal workers and take advantage of the growing demand
for technologies and products in a low-carbon
economy.

When approving Territorial Just
Transition Plans, the Commission should:

• Verify
  that the “Partnership Principle” has been upheld. Verify
  that investments will not prolong fossil fuel extraction and
  use, and that a clear end date for coal is
  set;
• Verify respect for the Polluter Pays
  Principle;
• Seek to promote transparency by sharing
  and publicising draft plans;
• Ensure that plans set
  out a framework of support for all workers affected;
  and
• Emphasise the importance of all pillars of the
  Just Transition Mechanism and other national and EU public
  funds such as the broader cohesion funds, to implement
  plans.

The foreseen Action Plan on
Social Economy and the implementation of the European Pillar
of Social Rights should take particular account of
the needs of regions in transition and particularly coal
regions; and

The Commission should ensure
that the Territorial Just Transition Plans are consistent
with other EU funds – including the main recovery
fund, the “Recovery and Resilience Facility” (RRF) –
and in line with the EU Sustainable Investment Taxonomy and
the Do No Harm Principle.

© Scoop Media

Scientists and industry cheer outcome of Commission study on gene editing

Genomics researchers and the agriculture industry have welcomed the publication of a long-awaited report recommending EU legislation on genetically modified organisms be updated to allow the use targeted gene editing in crops.

In the study, the European Commission acknowledges the potential of gene editing and notes most research into commercial applications is taking place outside the EU.

The Commission carried out the study at the request of member states, to assess if gene editing can be used safely for agriculture, industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The report is based on expert opinions from the Commission’s in house science and policy advice services, the Joint Research Centre and the Scientific Advise Mechanism, and contributions from member states and stakeholders.

Precision breeding of plants through gene editing is banned in the EU following a 2018 ruling by the European Court of Justice, which found these techniques are subject to the 2001 EU directive banning genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“The GMO directive is not up to date with new technologies. Finally, we are happy to see that the Commission comes to similar conclusions,” Petra Jorasch, manager of plant breeding innovation at the industry group Euroseeds told Science|Business.

Oana Dima, science policy manager at EU-SAGE, a group of scientists from 134 European plant science institutes and societies agreed, saying, “We are happy that the Commission sees that the current regulatory framework has negative implications for research in Europe.”

Researchers and the agriculture industry are calling for an update to the GMO legislation so that crops developed by modern plant breeding techniques that do not involve the introduction of genes from other species are excluded. Gene editing using Crispr-Cas9 and related techniques can improve plant characteristics without introducing foreign DNA.

According to the report, technologies such as Crispr-Cas9 can help the EU make food production more sustainable, with new plants that are more resistant to diseases and harsher environmental conditions and which do not require the use of pesticides and fertilisers.

The EU has a grand plan to make the continent carbon neutral by 2050 and sustainable agriculture is a big part of this. The Commission’s farm to fork strategy aims to reduce the use of fertilisers by 30% and turn 25% of agricultural land over to organic farming. The Horizon Europe research programme will fund projects to improve soil health and reduce the use of pesticides and antibiotics in agriculture.

“New genomic techniques can promote the sustainability of agricultural production, in line with the objectives of our farm to fork strategy,” said Stella Kyriakides, EU commissioner for health and food safety.

The biotech industry has warned before that the current GMO legislation is way behind the times and hitting Europe’s global competitiveness in food production. “It’s time for a change that ensures innovation leadership to market, not just in the lab,” said Claire Skentelbery, director general of industry group EuropaBio.

Argentina changed its laws to allow genome editing in crops in 2015. Other countries, such as US, Canada, Australia and Japan, soon followed suit. The debate is ongoing in the UK, Russia, China, India and South Africa. The EU remains the only major region in the world where genome edited crops are regulated as GMOs.

Legal proposal

The Commission will present the results to the EU council next week and member states are likely to come up with a position in the coming weeks. They will then consult the European Parliament and should set out a legal proposal later this year. “Any kind of legal proposal would need support from parliament and council,” said Jorasch.

The EU27 largely agree the current legislation is not fit for purpose but have yet to agree on a common approach to gene editing. Jorasch said the negotiations will be difficult because the decision in member states could fall between agriculture and environment ministries. “There is still need for further discussion,” she said. “Ministers of agriculture are more likely to be supportive, whereas minsters of environment are more critical.”

As one case in point, last week Germany’s environment minister Svenja Schulze said the current EU law on GMOs should continue to be applied to gene editing, so that products continue to be tested and labelled for risk. However, Germany’s agriculture minister Julia Klöckner said the Commission’s report signals the need for an, “overdue modernisation” of EU GMO legislation.

In addition to potential hurdles in some member states, organic food producers are opposed to any changes to the GMO legislation, arguing the benefits of gene editing are hypothetical and achievable by other means.

Organic farmers’ associations say novel genomic techniques should be treated with caution and warn that allowing gene editing in agriculture would undermine the farm to fork strategy. “A weakening of the rules on the use of genetic engineering in agriculture and food is worrying news and could leave organic food systems unprotected,” said Jan Plagge, president IFOAM Europe, an international association of organic farmers.

The environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth warns food products based on gene editing would not be labelled as GMOs on shelves and new legislation could exempt a new generation of genetically-modified crops from safety checks.

However, Dima said organic farmers and conventional farmers could both thrive under a new legal framework. “I think there is some common ground, in view of what we want to achieve,” she said. “We need to find a way to ensure coexistence.”

Still much to learn about controversial European Union ag proposal

“The Green Deal itself covers many sectors (of the European economy) directly, and literally every sector indirectly. This requires a huge policy review and overhaul across many areas of European legislation,” a lengthy, complicated process, said Alan Hardacre, director of public affairs for CropLife Europe, which represents Europe’s crop industry.

                        <p>Further, the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, a key part of the Green Deal, is just beginning to be implemented, and figuring out its potential impact, particularly on U.S. agriculture, isn't easy, he said.</p>                            <p>"It's quite difficult to tell what the full impact of the whole package will be until all of the items are in fact concluded," he said.</p>                            <p>Hardacre was among the panelists during a April 27 webinar on<i> </i>"Understanding the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Implications for U.S. Agriculture." The event, sponsored by the Farm Foundation, which says "it accelerates practical solutions for agriculture," was open to the news media.</p>    
    <div id="live-and-newsletter" class="p402_hide">

        <div id="newsletterSignup">

  </div>
</div>                        <p>Other speakers were Tassos Haniotis, director of Strategy, Simplification and Policy Analysis, Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission; Marta Messa, director of Slow Food Europe; and Jayson Beckman and Maros Ivanic, economists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, or ERS.</p>                            <p>Here's the background of the European proposal:</p>                            <p>The initiative, sometimes known as "Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies," is proposed by the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union — the political and economic union of 27 primarily European countries with a combined population of about 450 million. </p>                            <p>The proposal is part of an EU "Green Deal" that aims to promote sustainability in ag. It calls for a 20% reduction in the use of fertilizer and 50% reductions in the use of pesticides and antimicrobials. It also calls for 10% of existing farmland to be removed from ag use, all by 2030. The proposed reductions would be from 2020 levels.</p>                                      <p>A recent ERS<a href="https://www.agweek.com/business/agriculture/6920315-European-Union-ag-proposal-has-global-significance-USDA-report-says" target="_self" rel="nofollow noopener"> report</a> concluded that the initiative threatens to drive up global food prices, cut into trade worldwide and worsen food insecurity around the world. Beckman and Ivanic were among the authors of that report.</p>    



                    <p>Since the report was published, the report's authors have received feedback from Europeans who question some of its assumptions and conclusions.</p>                            <p>During the webinar, Haniotis said he disagreed with parts of the report. For example, the EU proposal would boost innovation, not stifle it, which would offset some of the negative impacts projected by ERS, he said.</p>                            <p>Beckman acknowledged that the ERS report didn't take some important factors, including labeling, pesticide risk, animal welfare, organic production and environmental considerations, into account.</p>                            <p>He and Ivanic said the ERS has adjusted some of its assumptions, and the results weren't quite as negative as before. </p>                            <p>Messa, with Slow Food Europe, called the EU initiative "an important stepping-stone. We need to move swiftly."</p>    



                    <p>Her organization, founded in 1989, describes itself as "a global, grassroots organization" that "envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it and good for the planet.</p>                            <p>Messa said while Slow Food Europe isn't opposed to science or innovation, it believes there's too much attention on productivity. For example, curtailing food waste would eliminate at least some of the need to raise productivity to feed the world's growing population, she said.</p>    

EU ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy: Guidance towards more sustainable and resilient farming and food systems

Ensuring sustainable food security is a vital element of Sri Lanka’s
agriculture sector and the country’s economy at large. The COVID-19 pandemic has
highlighted the importance of a robust and resilient food system that can
function in all circumstances and can ensure access to a sufficient supply of affordable
food for all. The current pandemic is just one example. The increasing recurrence
of droughts, floods or new pests are a constant reminder that our food systems
must become more sustainable and resilient.

The European Union (EU) has developed its ‘Farm to Fork’ (FtF) Strategy to
support sustainable food systems in Europe and its partner countries. This
initiative maps a new sustainable, inclusive growth trajectory for the
development of fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food systems. The
Farm to Fork Strategy is part of the EU’s ambitious Green Deal that lays out a vision
for a sustainable climate-neutral and resource-efficient future by 2050.

As Sri Lanka gears up for its participation to the United Nations (UN)
Food Systems Summit scheduled to be held in September 2021, the EU’s Farm to
Fork Strategy provides useful guidance for improved food systems considering all
sustainability dimensions.

The ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy as well as the agricultural challenges and
opportunities faced by Sri Lanka, were the subjects of the webinar ‘Farm to
Fork: How EU and Sri Lanka are moving towards a more sustainable food system?’
organised by the EU Delegation in Sri Lanka and the EU-funded “Technical
Assistance to the Modernisation of Agriculture” programme (TAMAP). The event
brought together a panel of experts that discussed the new strategic approach
towards food system sustainability, the EU’s role in contributing to more
resilient and sustainable food systems, and challenges and opportunities faced
by Sri Lanka in moving towards sustainable farming.

Launching the webinar, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to
Sri Lanka and the Maldives Frank Hess stated that “agriculture and rural development are among key priorities of the EU’s
partnership with Sri Lanka. For nearly a decade, the EU has been supporting the
national authorities, local communities and farmers to move towards a more
inclusive, modernized and sustainable agriculture.” Dr Olaf Heidelbach, lead
speaker on behalf of the European Commission, explained the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy
by highlighting that “when it comes to
integrating environmental, social and economic sustainability in agriculture
policy developments, there are many similarities between the EU’s and the Sri
Lankan food systems”. For these reasons, the EU would like to collaborate
with the Sri Lankan government to further enhance the global impact of the EU’s
‘Farm to Fork’ strategy.

Ms Champa Magamage (Horticultural Crop Research and Development
Institute, HORDI), Dr Sumith (Registrar of Pesticides), Ms Disna Rathnasinghe (Department
of Agriculture), and Ms Ranmalee Gamage (GIZ Sri Lanka) addressed the current
issues faced by Sri Lanka’s agriculture and food industry, including practical concerns
and regulatory efforts related to the use of chemicals in food, food labeling
and certifications, and promotion of organic agriculture practices.

The presentations and the subsequent discussion highlighted that, while
many efforts have been already made, Sri Lanka is still facing several challenges
in guaranteeing sustainable food security to its people. Better access to and affordability
of safe, nutritious and high-quality food, capacity in implementing solutions
identified, or better consumer awareness are just few areas in which Sri Lanka could
strengthen its strategy framework for sustainable food system development.

The World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in coordination with Sri
Lanka’s Ministry of Agriculture, will soon be launching a series of national
consultations to prepare for Sri Lanka’s participation to the UN Food Systems
Summit to be held in September 2021. In a recent policy brief on ‘Sustainable
Food Systems’, WFP Sri Lanka provides policy recommendations to deliver
sustainable food systems, noting that the agricultural sector needs to
transform and adapt its existing policies and practices in order to move
towards a sustainable food system which delivers economic, environmental and
social benefits. The ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy serves as a powerful example for such
a transition towards a more sustainable agriculture sector.

Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, defies imagination, wonder and luxury

MIAMI – Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo unveiled the company’s third ship in the company’s industry-transforming “new luxury” Edge Series – Celebrity Beyond. Designed to give guests endless opportunities to disconnect from the world – while simultaneously reconnecting with the world that surrounds them – Celebrity Beyond goes further than imagined possible for a cruise ship, creating a new world of wonder and luxury. 

Inspired by a vision to take the cruise industry into the next era of luxury, Lutoff-Perlo assembled a dream team of modern lifestyle icons to bring to life extraordinary experiences that allow guests to connect with each other, the sea, and their journey. Celebrity Beyond showcases the design talents of multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE; celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; and lauded Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku; the innovation of British architect Tom Wright; and the culinary gifts of Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud. The ship will also feature experiences and products from goop CEO and founder Gwyneth Paltrow, the brand’s new Well-Being Advisor. 

Redefining luxury again, Celebrity Beyond builds on the features and design of its award-winning predecessors Celebrity Edge (2018) and Celebrity Apex (2020) by creating innovative spaces that set the brand apart from others in the industry. Every element of Celebrity Beyond’s look and feel has been carefully curated with re-imagined spaces and more luxurious versions of the brand’s most popular signature spaces, including:

• The Retreat, an exclusive resort-within-a-resort area for suite guests, highlighted by a new two-story sundeck;
• Transformed accommodations from modern two-story villas with private plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living;
• An expanded Rooftop Garden and stunning Resort Deck featuring unique cantilevered float pools;
• A multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar redefining the ship’s aft;
• A first-ever Daniel Boulud fine-dining restaurant at sea;
• A boldly redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks, creating an airy and open indoor space;
• And, the return of the Magic Carpet®, an engineering feat soaring cantilevered above the sea, offering guests uninterrupted vistas while sipping cocktails or having dinner.

“Celebrity Cruises has always been an innovator at sea, and now we have challenged the status quo with a vessel that goes beyond expectations, beyond imagination,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “Celebrity Beyond shatters any and every preconceived notion of the cruising experience. This exquisite ship offers a journey at the intersection of elegance and approachability filled with what’s important to our guests today: forward-thinking design, culinary excellence, unparalleled well-being and incomparable service.”

“With Celebrity Beyond, we saw an opportunity to take the extraordinary features of Celebrity Edge – like the focus on the connection with the ocean and the grand spaces – and really amplify them,” said Richard Fain, Chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “We focused on providing more openness, height and spaciousness throughout the ship’s most popular spaces. The end result is a next generation ship that embodies the intersection of architecture and design.”

The Retreat: A Resort In and of Itself
One of the most sought-after interior designers in the world, Kelly Hoppen CBE, has reimagined aspects of the design for The Retreat, the unrivaled and exclusive resort space for suite guests, including all new suites, and brought her globally renowned style to outdoor venues such as the Rooftop Garden and the main pool area on the Resort Deck.

The new, two-story Retreat Sundeck will offer more unadulterated outdoor bliss and ways to rejuvenate in the fresh ocean air with secluded cabanas, chic new seating areas, additional water features and the exclusive Retreat Bar. The warm and inviting Retreat Lounge is a newly stylish space to unwind; while Hoppen’s new take on the adjacent private restaurant Luminae, now at the front of the ship, becomes a space where every corner provides a new experience with each visit, in keeping with the daily changing menu.  

An array of contemporary suite accommodations featuring fresh color palettes and design details by Hoppen await guests of The Retreat, including the redesigned two-story Edge Villas with outdoor plunge pools, and Celebrity’s famous Iconic Suites, the largest in the fleet, offering better views than the captain’s quarters.

Connecting Two Worlds
Nowhere is more rejuvenating than the open sea, and Celebrity Beyond ensures guests are able to take full advantage of both the luxurious design of the ship while soaking in the world around them.

Perhaps best known for designing the world-famous Burj Al Arab Hotel, lead architect Tom Wright of WKK has expanded the exterior spaces on Celebrity Beyond, transforming them into serene outward-facing sanctuaries leveraging endless ocean vistas and breath-taking panoramas of the extraordinary places the ship will visit. His design both lengthens the ship by 20 meters and raises the ship to 17 decks tall, allowing for the reimagination of The Retreat, the Resort Deck, and the Rooftop Garden – outdoor spaces increasingly important to today’s traveler.

The main open deck, 40 percent larger than on previous Edge Series ships, features an enormous living Rooftop Garden designed by Hoppen and includes increased seating offering new private nooks and more spaces for movie watching, enjoying live music and outdoor dining at the expanded Rooftop Grill. A highlight of this area is Wright’s incorporation of two spectacular floating pools cantilevered six and a half feet over the side of the ship, taking guests beyond the water’s edge.

On the Resort Deck, guests will enjoy a stunning asymmetrical space with a 25-yard lap pool surrounded by a terraced pool deck and new sunken seating areas designed by Hoppen.

Wright also designed the signature Edge Series Magic Carpet, a tennis-court sized cantilevered platform that scales the side of the ship and transforms from open-air lounge or restaurant hovering above the ocean along higher decks to a tender platform for going ashore on lower decks.  Featured on Celebrity Beyond, it debuted on Celebrity Edge in 2018 and is still considered one of the most unique design innovations ever for a cruise ship.

Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series Design Ambassador Nate Berkus stepped into the role of designer himself, to imagine one of the most anticipated venues on Celebrity Beyond – the Sunset Bar. Inside this space that is nearly twice as large as previous iterations, Berkus has created a chic, Moroccan-inspired escape that is reminiscent of a modern-day Casablanca.

Guests will enter through a pergola-covered entrance to enjoy one of the hottest spots at sea. With more conversation niches and covered enclaves to allow guests to connect in a more intimate way, the Sunset Bar’s cascading terraces will combine to provide the perfect place to soak in spectacular views and create unforgettable memories.

Luxury in Every Detail
The core of Celebrity Beyond’s vision of luxury is the Grand Plaza, a transformational place at the center of the ship designed by Jouin Manku – the team responsible for designing the Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower – and offering a different experience with every visit. Inspired by the piazzas of Italy that serve as life centers of towns where architecture and social connection become one, the Grand Plaza spans three decks at the heart of the ship, boldly declaring it is the place to see and be seen. 

Larger than Grand Plazas on its sister Edge Series ships, the Celebrity Beyond Grand Plaza has an airier atmosphere with more room for intimate seating. The added space allowed designers to move the Martini Bar into the center of the venue as a full, circular bar.

Hanging proudly above the new Martini Bar, the Grand Plaza’s iconic chandelier boasts a new, organic shape with hundreds of individual LED lights that cast an inviting glow at all hours—taking center stage with talented bartenders at night during their exciting and theatrical Flash Flair Fusion performance.

Connected to the Grand Plaza is the top table of culinary excellence at sea, the new, intimate 50-seat restaurant by world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud. Aptly named Le Voyage, travel is the inspiration for the globally inspired flavors within, designed to transport guests to the very places that inspire the Michelin-rated chef. Complementing the menu, world-class sommeliers will pair the perfect wine with every dish from Celebrity Cruises’ “most awarded” wine collection at sea.

Complementing Chef Boulud’s world-class menu is the restaurant’s ambiance, which is also the result of Jouin Manku’s creative talents. Intimate seating cocoons are surrounded by luminous portals highlighting the themes of journey and travel, while graphically lit “glass flutes” provide layers of light and texture to create an enchanting experience.

Providing a sense of occasion and flow, the Le Voyage experience begins with a dedicated entrance and concludes with a customized sweet prepared in Daniel’s own farewell boutique as guests are wished ‘au revoir.’

Rethinking Wellness at Sea
Luxury didn’t stop at the architectural design and culinary experience, but extended into how Celebrity Cruises thought of wellness on Celebrity Beyond. New to the ship are AquaClass SkySuites, an immersive living experience that helps guests find their center. From floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private verandas, luxurious bedding and other wellness amenities, Celebrity Beyond has thought of everything to nourish its guests’ mind, body, and spirit on vacation.

Celebrity Beyond also sets sail with a new partnership with actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, serving as the line’s new Well-being Advisor. All Aqua Class guests across the entire Celebrity Cruises fleet (excluding Galapagos sailings) will be treated to onboard wellness offerings, including fitness kits from Paltrow’s modern lifestyle brand goop, aimed at enhancing self-care and collective well-being. Paltrow and her team at goop will also curate onboard wellness programming and participate in the line’s new Women in Wellness initiative.

Welcome Beyond
Celebrity Beyond will depart on her maiden voyage on April 27, 2022 from Southampton, England, on a 10-night Western Europe cruise visiting Bordeaux, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, Spain. She will then offer a variety of Mediterranean journeys including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries through early October, when she then heads to the Caribbean. Voyages are on sale as of April 28, 2021 at 3p.m. ET.

Like her industry-changing sister ships, Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, the former of which was named one of TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places” following her 2018 debut season, Celebrity Beyond will connect guests to the breath-taking world around them like never before. Celebrity Cruises’ onboard and onshore experiences stand it apart as a new luxury travel brand without comparison. 

Hungarian Wine Is Above the Radar Once More

By Athena Lucero

Hungarian wines could have been a household word today, but two world wars and 40 years under communist rule forced a major pause on this once-formidable wine-producing country.

“Wines from Hungary were considered the best in the world!” a wine store owner excitedly replied when I inquired whether he carried any. He didn’t that day because Hungarian wines in the United States are hard to come by.

A look at the world map shows that Hungary in central Europe is about the size of the state of New York and shares the same viniculture-friendly latitude and Mediterranean climate with Austria, Switzerland and France to its west. Historical records indicate that Hungarians began making wine before the Romans. Its acclaimed Tokaji Aszu dessert wine comes from Tokaj, the oldest classified wine region in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a favorite of King Louis the 14th of France, who called it the “wine of kings, king of wines.”

During communism Hungary, the largest wine-producing country in the Eastern Bloc, exported huge amounts of wine to the Soviet Union, which was more interested in quantity than quality. When communism ended in 1989, land was returned to rightful owners, including winemaking families and others keen on being a part of Hungary’s winemaking renaissance. The late 1990s marked the rebirth of fine winemaking throughout the country.

Covering three-quarters of the country, Hungary’s 22 wine regions flourish in climate conducive for growing grapes and lush romantic landscapes ranging from basal-vulcanite mountains to the lowlands and plains rich in volcanic limestone, clay and sandy soils. Its four most popular winemaking regions stretch across the country: Nagy Somlo in the west, Villany in the south, then Eger and Tokaj (Hungary’s crown jewel) in the north.

Hundreds of grape varieties — from indigenous to international — grow throughout the country. The most popular white grapes include Furmit, Harslevelu, Irsai Oliver Juhfark, Keknyelu and Olaszrizling. Cabernet Franc, Kekfrankos, Kadarka and Portugieser are some of the celebrated reds.

While the COVID-19 pandemic put restraints on travel, it didn’t stop me from finding Hungarian wines online, thanks to Taste Hungary, Hungary’s most successful tourism operation, based in Budapest.

Founded in 2008, co-owners Carolyn and Gabor Banfalvi (she’s American, he’s Hungarian) shared a passion to “reintroduce” visitors to Hungary, its re-emerging wine culture and “culinary paradise.” Carolyn holds a culinary school degree and is a Hungarian food book author (“Food Wine Budapest”).

By 2014 the Banfalvis opened a wine cellar, The Tasting Table, in Budapest and soon after a wine shop across the street for clients and the public to sample and buy wines produced throughout the country.

In a most intuitive move before the pandemic, they decided in 2019 to offer an online wine shop in the United States for their American clients back in the States who longed to enjoy Hungarian wines they had learned to love, not to mention Hungarian ex-pats thirsty for wines from the homeland. Its popularity helped them survive the lockdowns.

At first glance, the online offerings were dizzying, and the labels were in Hungarian. But I closed my neophyte eyes and went for it — two whites (from Tokaj and Somlo) and a red (from Villany). The English description of one of the whites —- Erszebet, Lunee, 2019 ($19.90) — had me hooked: “There are few places in the world where Muscat Blanc makes such exciting wine” and “Mexican food and light spicy food are a perfect match!” At first sip the floral character jumped out with delicious flavors of grapefruit zest, elderflower, passion fruit and mango.

“Hungary has quite a big and long history of winemaking,” Carolyn Banfalvi explained to me over the phone, “but it is still one of the unknown countries in the U.S. Travelers are blown away when they discover a whole new wine culture … and Americans who like discovering new wine love it here because there are so many native grapes that are only found in Hungary.”

Growing more fascinated with Hungary’s wine culture, I also connected with Athena Bochanis, owner of Palinkerie Fine Hungarian Imports in New York. She focuses exclusively on Hungarian wines and spirits.

“I became enthusiastically entranced with Hungary’s culture, food and wine,” said Bochanis, who lived a year in Hungary during law school — and learned to speak perfect Hungarian.

A few years later, in 2013, after in-depth research and combing small wineries around Hungary, Bochanis took the leap of faith and founded Palinkerie to promote exciting wines produced by Hungary’s younger and less-represented generation of winemakers.

Bochanis describes the winemakers she partners with — some second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-generation winemakers — as “a great blend of knowing what’s going on in the world” and willing to invest in new methods of winemaking such as pet-nats, natural and organic wine. But coming from the long tradition of winemaking families, they still want to work with classic styles and traditional grapes to make wines that “tell you they are from Hungary even if they have a modern sensibility.”

The benefit of being a small operation, says Bochanis, is that “I have an opportunity to import some of the best wines.”

Winemaking in Hungary is back.

WHEN YOU GO

To learn more about Hungarian wines, view virtual wine-tastings and purchase wines online, visit www.tastehungary.com and www.palinkerie.com.

(SET CAPTION2) Athena Bochanis of Palinkerie Fine Hungarian Imports (right) and Hungarian winemaker Tamas Kis of Somloi Vandor Winery partner to provide Hungarian wines for American audiences. Photo courtesy of Taste Hungary. (END CAPTION2)

Athena Lucero is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

The Szekszard vineyard in southern Hungary is one that is putting Hungarian winemaking back on the map. Photo courtesy of Taste Hungary.

America’s Newest Destination Restaurants Aren’t Where You’d Expect

AH, SPRINGTIME. The trees are ridiculously colorful, tulips spill out of bushels at the farmers markets, little peas take center stage and a kaleidoscope of birds is migrating. Chefs are, too. Just as WFH executives were drawn to life in the sticks as the pandemic settled in, many of the country’s notable chefs—facing restaurant closures, indefinite furloughs and notoriously thin profit margins—have heard the call of the country. Specifically, country hotels.
Last spring, when April Bloomfield first saw Mayflower Inn & Spa, the newly renovated 58-acre posh compound in Washington, Conn., she took a deep breath. “It looked so bright and airy, and it was exactly where I wanted to be at that moment,” said the chef, best known for the Spotted Pig and the Breslin in New York City. A four-month residency at the Mayflower, an Auberge Resort, that started in fall 2020 has now turned into a long-term, post-Covid gig—with a kitchen about three times as large as any she’s toiled in since she started cooking at 16 in her native England. “It’s nice for me to be able open the back door, step out and look at the colors, listen to the birds, see the sunset,” she said. “It’s a gift.”
Parker Brothers could make an excellent board game out of the exodus of city chefs to pastoral hotels—due in part to the pandemic. Call it, say, the Fork Ran Away With The Spoon. The arrangements include full-time posts, three-month residencies and one-off weekends, and they’ve opened up a whole new landscape for people who travel, in some measure, for good food.
Dan Silverman, who started his career under star chef David Bouley, spent years in celebrated New York City kitchens before leaving Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village for points north. He’s set himself up at Hutton Brickyards, a 31-cabin-and-suite hotel, spa and events retreat on 73 rolling acres in Kingston, N.Y., due to open in May. There he’ll run the River Pavilion, an open-air restaurant that relies solely on wood-burning heat sources and has views of the Hudson unblocked by crowds or tall buildings. “It’s gorgeous, right on the river,” said Mr. Silverman, from the house in Catskill that he and his wife presciently bought in 2019. It’s a 35-minute drive to Hutton Brickyards. “Before, we lived in Brooklyn and I worked in Manhattan. My commute was longer then.”
Mads Refslund, a founder of Noma in Copenhagen who is now based in New York, bounced around between resorts—foraging in Aspen, diving for clams in Cabo—before signing on to oversee the food and conduct workshops at Shou Sugi Ban House, a Japanese-influenced wellness enclave in the Hamptons hamlet of Water Mill on New York’s Long Island. “When I’m in this paradise, I realize how happy I am,” said Mr. Refslund. “When you’re in the city, you forget. I’m very connected to nature—the produce, the farmers and the fishermen. I always come up with new things and cook randomly.” Among the random creations: Mr. Refslund’s roasted lobster with green strawberries and pickled rhubarb.

Meet Dr. Ove Jakobsen, pioneer of “ecological economics” in Bodø

An interview by Norway Today.

We spoke with Dr. Ove Jakobsen, Professor of Ecological Economics at Nord University and Ecological Economics Projects Coordinator for Bodø2024 – Bodø European Capital of Culture 2024.  

Welcome! Please introduce yourself to our readers.

“My name is Ove Jakobsen and I’m a professor of Ecological Economics at Nord University in Bodø.

“I’ve been working with topics such as business ethics, environmental management, philosophy of science, political philosophy… for years. Now, I’m trying to connect all of these different topics in one important field: ecological economics.

“I’m also Coordinator of the Ecological Economics project for Bodø2024 European Capital of Culture. That started in January of this year and it’ll last until 2024. So I have three years to come up with more research [laughs].”

What is “ecological economics”?

“In my interpretation, ecological economics is completely different from the traditional economy we have today. Ecological economics is about reaching revolutionary goals with evolutionary means. For example, we have ideas about how to solve the problems outlined in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – by introducing what we should do more than focusing on what we shouldn’t do.

“Ecological economics focuses on developing local societies in a direction where we focus upon the enjoyment of life and quality of life for humans and all other living entities on Earth.

“One of the questions at the core of ecological economics is: How can we share resources on Earth to satisfy the basic needs of human beings without disturbing the balance of the ecosystems? And then we apply that to a change in the economy.

“We want to ensure a fair share of goods and an economy that’s not growth-focused – because after all, the planet we live on is not growing. So, it’s not logical to continue using more and more resources in ecosystems that are not growing.”

How long have you been working in ecological economics?

“The field of ecological economics was first introduced as a university topic in the USA at the University of Maryland in 1989.

“We started with ecological economics at Bodø Business School in 1995. We were very early here in Bodø, in Norway. I think we’re still the only school in Norway with courses in ecological economics, doing research on the topic.

“Other business schools are working more on the ‘green economy’ and the ‘green shift’. The ‘green shift’ is a kind of economy where we try to reduce the negative symptoms of the existing system – without actually changing the system.

“So, they’re trying to develop a green economy… But within the rules of the existing game. In ecological economics, we challenge the rules of the game directly.”

Are the “green shift” and “ecological economics” the two main types of sustainable economics in place today?

“Yes.

“Then there’s the traditional economy where there is no focus on environmental or social problems at all.

“Most companies and most leaders in the political world talk about sustainability all the time… But it’s a question of what they actually mean; it could be nothing, they could actually be questioning the system, or it could be just reducing negative symptoms within the system.”

In your opinion, where is Norway on the list of most sustainable countries?

“Norway thinks that they are in the forefront, but I’m not so sure.

“Many other countries are working on experiments of the ecological economics type. New Zealand, Scotland, Finland, Iceland, and others.

“But there are also areas – not necessarily a whole country – doing well. Eco-regions in Italy, for example, work in the same directions as ecological economics. There is also the US-based Sustainable Connections organization and the English Transition Towns movement. So there are initiatives in many different countries. Things are clearly changing and I hope Norway will join.

“Maybe the problem in Norway is that we have too much money from oil and so on. So we say Ok, we’ll just pay for the symptoms. The Norwegian government is still very green and not very ecological.

“There is hope for Norway, though. We’re working on international cooperations – including a few potential upcoming ones for Bodø2024. I’m trying to arrange for the local authorities here in Bodø to meet people in Minnesota working on similar initiatives. Maybe that’s not very surprising because Minnesota and that part of America have many people from Norway living there [laughs].

“But we also have cooperations with people in Hungary, Italy’s eco-regions, and so on. For some places, we see the whole country is moving in the right direction but in most countries, we only have small groups and regions working in this positive direction.

“There is absolutely hope for change, though.”

Let’s talk accountability. Who do you think is accountable for the lack of sustainability: the average consumer, governments, corporations? Where do small businesses stand?

“The way I see it is that the people in the local society must be participants and co-creators. If people are co-creating their own future, they will also be co-responsible.

“Look at the distance between top and bottom, the gap between rich and poor, the gap between the politicians at the top and ordinary people… The bigger it is, the less responsible people will be.

“So, in ecological economics, we talk about a more democratic way of developing society. People should be more involved in the processes.

“It should be a combination of bottom-up initiatives and top-down common rules for certain things (like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals). We need some rules [chuckles] for the whole Earth internationally.

“In our perspective, global society is an integration, a network, of local societies. This is why the focus on local societies is key. And the thing that we’re missing most today is engagement from the bottom. People must participate in the development of their own local societies.”

So how can individuals be motivated to participate in ecological economics?

“We’re currently working on that. One of our activities is fostering participation by arranging dialogue meetings. We use a mix of many different methods (socratic dialogue, open-space dialogue, and so on) which we call a utopian dialogue.

“Much of our inspiration is from Karl Mannheim [1893-1947], a Hungarian sociologist, and Paul Ricoeur [1913-2005], a French philosopher. And now also Ruth Levitas [b. 1949], an English professor of sociology working with utopian research.

“So, this is how it goes. We invite different people in local societies to come together and have a dialogue. First, we ask them to use their own experiences, their histories, to try to synthesize values and principles that they have in common. In the second stage, we ask them to develop concrete projects to materialize their ideas and principles. And in the third stage we try to combine it all; to create cooperation between different projects and to make them more easily implementable in practice.

“Our goal, though, is that these processes become self-organizing in the future. Institutions shouldn’t always have to organize such things. Therefore, we also offer courses in different dialogue methods.”

How can corporations and governments be motivated to participate in ecological economics?

“I have no answer for that – that’s the main problem [laughs].

“We see some bosses, for example, having meetings with private jets, and being well connected; they have contact with the military or they have a very strong economical background. These enormous, mega-sized global businesses are above the political level in a way. It can be hard to do something to combat that.

“I do not think we can do it with a violent revolution – it must be peaceful and it must be step-by-step. If we do it peacefully, build up, and find solutions others can learn from it. I truly think that local society connections can be the driving forces.

“When people ask this question, this key question, I always say it’s better to work in a positive direction. It’s more inspiring to do that.

“I think that in countries all over the world, people are already going in the direction of ecological economics and they might not even know it. They might have other names for it. But the local initiatives are key – ‘Local food for local markets’, a project we’re working on, for example, is mentioned in many UN reports. It deals with healthy, good food grown in an ecological way by reducing[ the distance between production and consumption.

“So, I think if we can succeed in developing many good examples, their power can be far-reaching.”

How much time do we have, in your opinion, before we run out of resources?

“There are different prognoses about that…

“But I think we have to start as soon as possible with the change process.

“In fact, it has started already.

“Many people are working in the right direction. Not always under the same name – they don’t always call it ecological economics, it could be called other things. In India, they call it Buddhist economics, there’s also cooperative economics and new economics… There’s any number of ways to call it.”

What would you say to someone who says: “We only have XY years to save the planet. We have to act more quickly and more radically”?

“I would say that we agree on one thing: we need revolutionary goals. But we cannot change everything at once. We have to take it step by step. And if we start today, it’s better than waiting ten years.

“Maybe we do need stronger actions. Some people argue about rebellion and think we need to do something very big very fast and very dramatic. But it’s not a good idea to start killing each other to make changes. That’s a very bad idea. A violent revolution is not a good thing.

“I think people are more motivated when we’re working towards something positive than just focusing on not doing all these negative things. If you’re doing all these positive things, then you don’t have time to do the negative things. So the problem will, in a way, be smaller. But we’ll see if that’s enough [chuckles].

“Also, there must be different solutions for different countries. We have different ecosystems and different cultures – we should stimulate the development of the local traditions connected to the local ecological conditions and cultural conditions. We should not look backward but forwards, and hope they will use this to make a better world in a way. And a better world is not a world where everything is similar – it must be different.

“For example, in cooperation with Nordland County, we could engage the population (through decentralized networks) to participate in planning of concrete activities.

“Freedom is a very important part of it. We must be free to develop our own directions within some common rules.”

Are there any historical examples of ecological economists?

“Ecological economics ideas are not new today; we can find them in ancient history, too. The first person recorded talking about such ideas was Aristotle, over 2000 years ago. He said Economy should use resources in a way that is best for human beings. Aristotle pointed out the problems of chrematistics – which is finance today. In terms of trade, he noticed that it was dominated by finance; not by real products, but by money. The ancient Greeks were already buying and selling money and earning a whole lot of profit back then [laughs]. But this specific way of profiting was a bad thing in a good economy, according to Aristotle.

“Critical voices have said for centuries that we cannot go on in a competitive economy based on growth. Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner and Russian philosopher and anarchist Peter Kropotkin were also already talking about such themes in the 19th century. Kropotkin spoke about the development of local societies based on cooperation and fairness; peacefully of course. He was a pacifist and likely one of the inspirations behind Gandhi‘s peace philosophy.

“Kropotkin said We have to change from mechanistic to organic thinking after studying the development of different countries from an ecological perspective. He discovered that organic thinking was the basis for a change in a more fair direction and a more ecological direction.

“Then in the 1970s these ideas really exploded in the Western world. Alternative economists emerged from all parts of the world. Some were young, some were old. Women, men. And all of them had one idea in common: that we have to develop an economy and society that is based on ethical principles and fairness; that does not disturb the ecosystems.

“American ecologist and economist Herman Daly, one of the most important people in the development of ecological economics in the late 1980s, used the example with Aristotle to make a distinction between real economy and chrematistic, that is, finance-based economy. We need finance in the new economy, too, but it shouldn’t be used as a means to get the economy working.

“We have to have a good economy, but economy should be used for the common good, not for maximizing individual profits.

“How this will end up is impossible to say today – because we’ve decreased usage of even physical money in favor of internet-based transactions. Maybe we can come into a society without money, some talk about that, too.”

So, a Star Trek society ???? Was there a point in history up until which all humans lived sustainably or ecologically?

“The Industrial Revolution was a turning point, but in the wrong direction in a way.

“We do need industry – but we have to find a new direction in which to do it.

“That’s especially interesting in these corona times. Do we go back to how things were before corona, or do we look forward to find out how we can change things and come into a better path in the future?

“I think we must take a step forward and ask new kinds of questions like what are the main ideas in a good society, a fair society, a society where people want to live?”

If there was an ideal world where ecological economics were in place, what would that look like?

“That’s also a very interesting question.

“We are actually not trying to describe an ideal world but rather a process that’s changing all the time. So when we talk about a Utopia, it’s very important that we define it. ‘Utopia’ is not a description of an ideal society – it’s a description of a process.

“Instead of talking about how the future will be, we ask the question how we want the future to be; and how we want the future to be will change. So if we ask a local society today if they want to develop in this or that direction, and then ask again in ten years, maybe the answer will be different.

“We have to focus more on Utopian thinking than on a prognosis. A prognosis is descriptive: ‘The future will be…’. On the other hand, when you work with Utopian methods you ask, ‘In what direction do we want to go?’ And then you start working in THAT direction. But, it’s really a question of both and not one or the other.

“The answer is – I don’t know what the future will be but I hope it will be different in different places. That is, that local solutions in Australia, India, South Africa, the USA, Norway, etc. will be different. Even on a micro-local level, that community solutions will be different.

“This is something that we learn from nature. A strong ecosystem is an ecosystem characterized by diversity. Diversity leads to resilience, and the same thing can be applied to a social dimension and an economic dimension. There’s a book called The McDonaldization of Society illustrating how many things are similar all over the world… To combat the negative effects of this, we try to develop different solutions based upon the values, characteristics, and peoples living in their specific local societies.

“Another thing here, Ruth Levitas has a very interesting thought: she says that people criticize you for coming up with ideas that seem utopian.

“You can answer that the utopian solutions are less impossible than following the same route we’re on now – THAT’S what’s impossible! We cannot use more and more resources. Exponential growth on a globe that is not growing is logically impossible.

“In order words, utopian ideas are less impossible than continuing on in the same direction.”

What are some of the biggest projects you’ve worked on to actually implement these ideas so far?

“Currently, it’s the Bodø European Capital of Culture 2024.

“Then there are three projects.

“One is Local food for local markets. The second is the Dialogue Society where we try to implement and stimulate dialogue-based processes in local societies – not only Bodø but all around the country. The third is making networks of SMEs to foster participation in the development of local societies.

“So these are three projects I’m currently working on implementing in Bodø2024, as well.

“I hope that by 2024, these projects will be growing, working and that they will develop into the future.

“As the EU panel said in the answer to Bodø’s application for European Capital of Culture 2024: Ecological economics in Bodø is interesting in a broader European context as well.

“The corona pandemic has made it a bit difficult now in the start – we cannot have meetings with many people in person. We can do certain things online, but it’s very important that people participating in the movement can come together physically and have a more direct dialogue. So let’s hope that the pandemic is over very soon and that we can start these physical meetings.

“Norway can learn from Europe, and Europe can learn from Bodø European Capital of Culture 2024. So let’s start learning!”

Where can our readers find you?

“I have my own homepage.

“There, you can check out some of my articles and books, as well as a presentation in English about my interpretation of ecological economics.”

To our readers…

If you’re interested in learning more about Bodø2024 – or better yet, planning a visit! – head to the project’s official website here for more info.

What do you think about the concept of “ecological economics”? Write to us and let us know.

Source: #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayTravel

Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at info@norwaytoday.no

Pitch Update: M&S, Adidas, cinch, Diageo, Argentina tourism and more

Marks & Spencer has begun a review of its regional product PR and local communications across the UK.

Jori White PR has been appointed by NewMedia Creative Technology Studio, the Argentinian Tourism Ministry’s designated European agency, to help drive UK visitor numbers to Argentina in the post-pandemic landscape. The agency has been tasked with delivering a digital campaign to highlight all that Argentina has to offer in food and drink, culture, fashion and adventure. 

SteelEye, a provider of compliance solutions for financial services firms, has appointed Boldspace as its retained PR agency. Boldspace will deliver strategic communications support and press office delivery, increasing awareness of the regtech firm with key market media. 

Pitch Marketing Group has won a competitive pitch process to become cinch’s retained sponsorship activation agency.

Popcorn has been appointed by The British Honey Company as its consumer PR agency across its collection of spirits brands.

Channel marketing agency Boutique has been appointed by Nottinghamshire-based sun blind specialists, Car Shades, to manage its digital PR, organic and paid social media strategy.

Common Industry has been brought in by London-based fintech, ikigai, to launch their digital banking and wealth management offering. The remit includes running an integrated launch campaign for the business, Crowdcube consultancy, production, PR strategy and media relations.

InstaVolt, which operates a network of public rapid electric vehicle chargers, has hired The PHA Group for a press office and strategic communications brief, which includes promoting InstaVolt’s consumer offering and public profile. 

Diageo has appointed United Partners as strategic culture and entertainment partner to its Eastern Europe marketing team.

The Film and TV Charity is seeking an agency partner to deliver a behaviour change campaign, as part of its work to tackle the mental health crisis in the film, TV and cinema industries. The campaign will launch in late summer, with an indicative budget of £150,000. More information is available on this web page.

PinkNews has hired Talker Tailor Trouble Maker as its sole PR shop months after the agency resigned its partnership with Pride in London

Adidas has hired Havas Middle East to lead the brand’s communication efforts in the GCC. 

Espresso has won a brief for Ultimate Travel Club. The agency will support its crowdfund via PR and business profiling of key figures at the business, as well as support the launch of Ultimate Travel Club in the summer.

Maison Communications has won a global PR brief from interior design and architecture Conran and Partners.

Love Brownies has appointed Leeds-based integrated agency Umpf to drive traffic to their website and footfall to their stores.

Birmingham-based EAST VILLAGE has been appointed to launch Treetop Adventure Golf in the Bullring this summer. The agency has also won brief for The Cross Guns Inn.

Gabrielle Shaw Communications has added digital beauty concierge Ruuby to its wellness and beauty practice.

Analysis: Europe’s Green Revolution? Italy’s spending plans raise doubts

By Gavin Jones and Stephen Jewkes

ROME (Reuters) – The European Union is billing its 750-billion-euro pandemic Recovery Fund as the opportunity of the century to transform the region’s economy and help it lead the world in reducing carbon emissions.

But a closer look by environmentalists at the spending plans prepared by Italy – the biggest recipient of EU cash – raises questions about how green Rome’s contribution will be, how it will be measured and even what investments can be classed as “green”.

They have criticised the plan presented to parliament this week as falling well short of the revolution that was promised.

Mario Draghi’s government aims to submit the 273-page document to Brussels on Friday to obtain more than 200 billion euros ($242 billion) from the kitty aimed at making the bloc’s 27-member states more ecological, digital and resilient.

The EU requires the largest slice of the investments in each country – some 37% – to go towards projects that will green the region’s economy. But ecological lobbyists and think tanks say Italy’s plan does not meet the threshold.

“A not very green Plan,” is the headline of a report by Greenpeace Italia, which gathered outside parliament this week with other Green advocates to protest against what they see as a lack of ambition on the environment.

Draghi’s document offers 59 billion euros of EU money under the ecological transition heading, to be spent over the six years of the plan – some 10 billion less than the draft prepared by his predecessor Giuseppe Conte, who lost power in January.

That amounts to 31% of the EU funds, versus the 37% prescribed. Draghi has topped this up with 9 billion euros of separate government borrowing, but lobbyists point out this money will not be subject to Brussels’ scrutiny and can therefore easily be revoked.

Draghi told parliament this week green policies feature in several of the six chapters of his plan, not just the “Green Transition” one, meaning that Brussels’ 37% target was met.

The European Commission has two months from the moment it gets a national scheme to check it meets the criteria. EU finance ministers then have another month to evaluate them.

One official said this week many countries were planning to spend as much as 50% of their funds on green projects but that in any case, all plans would be carefully scrutinised.

ELECTRIC TRANSPORT

More specifically, objectors say Draghi’s plan offers little for conversion to electric transport, vital for the cities of Italy’s industrial north which are among the most polluted in Europe, or for a conversion to organic, less intensive farming.

The plan provides just 750 million euros to develop charging stations for electric cars and 300 million for electric buses.

Rome has raised doubts about forcing the pace on electric cars if batteries are not charged by power from renewable sources.

Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani argues that with a polluting public transport system and ageing car pool, Italy’s priorities are clear. “We need to fix public transport first,” he told Reuters. “That’s an absolute emergency.”

Yet Greenpeace Italia said that is not even being done. Draghi’s plan to extend Italy’s urban public transport lines by some 240 kilometres (150 miles) is adequate for Rome alone, it said.

Germany will receive much less EU Recovery Fund money than Italy, but plans to use more than 5 billion euros of it for measures to favour electric and hybrid vehicles.

Electric transport is also a cornerstone of the Spanish plan, which dedicates 6.5 billion euros to “sustainable, secure and connected mobility” in cities.

“Draghi has allocated just 3.6 billion euros to developing public transport lines and 24 billion to high-speed trains without any CO2 impact assessment,” said Matteo Leonardi, co-founder of Italian energy and climate change think-tank ECCO.

ECCO also accuses the government of having “no strategy for renewable energy.”

Its goal to install 4,200 extra megawatts from renewable power sources is only sufficient to ensure Italy meets the quota of renewable energy recommended by the EU for a single year, the think tank said in a report.

SLOW PROCESS

Italian energy firms say the real problem is a labyrinthine process which means it can take years to get permits for new solar and wind capacity.

Italy’s biggest utility Enel reckons at current rates it would take some 100 years to reach solar power targets for 2030.

“We have the strength to install 6-8 gigawatts a year but to do that we have to change the rules… and now,” says Cingolani.

Much of the Recovery Plan’s energy strategy is based around the use of hydrogen, but environmentalists complain it does not spell out how the gas must be produced.

Hydrogen is not necessarily “green” because it can be generated from fossil fuels that Italian energy companies continue to invest in.

Green hydrogen, made by electrolysis using renewable power from wind and solar, is currently too expensive for widespread use and Enel has previously said electrolysers need to cost six times less to make it viable.

ECCO said that with no decisive push towards renewable energy or electric transport, Italy’s plan risked being mere

“greenwashing, in the interests of state companies that aim to maintain a system based mainly on fossil fuels.”

On taking office Draghi created a new Ecological Transition ministry headed by Cingolani, a prominent physicist who was previously head of innovation at Italy’s state-owned defence company Leonardo.

Cingolani’s illustrious scientific career has focused on areas such as robotics and nanotechnologies rather than climate change. Some observers suggested he may have been a better fit at the infrastructure ministry which went to Enrico Giovannini, who is instead a prominent expert in sustainable development.

In his maiden speech to parliament in February Draghi said “we want to leave a healthy planet, not just a healthy currency.” Some environmentalists doubt the former European Central Bank chief’s Recovery Plan matches that commitment.

($1 = 0.8280 euros)

(Reporting by Gavin Jones in Rome, Stephen Jewkes in Milan; Additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski in Brussels; editing by Mark John and Elaine Hardcastle)

Fairy Rings

Watering the lawn has not been on anyone’s list lately. The ample, if not excessive, rain has placed a temporary hold on this necessary task to maintain most home lawns and landscapes.

It is true the spring weeds are enjoying the liquid bounty supplied from above. Flowerbeds and gardens have new residents peeking through the mulch and soil’s surface daily with tiny green leaves intent on staking out new territory for their species.

If monitoring their real estate holdings, the Madison County homeowner can at least witness the slow but steady progress of the uninvited plants. Sometimes, however, there are sudden surprises which stand in stark contrast to green pallet of domestic bliss.

As if by magic and seemingly overnight, the lawn is home to a collection of mushrooms. Even more startling, the fungi are arranged in a circular pattern which reflects some forethought and organization by an unknown hand.

These mysteriously appearing shapes are collectively known as fairy rings and have been reported in meadows, paddocks and pastures for more than a millennium by reputable members of society. Depending on the location and culture, the name and meaning of these abrupt appearances have a variety of meanings.

During the medieval period in Western Europe the superstitious residents explained this apparent anomaly as the site of dancing fairies the previous night. Other cultures in Eastern Europe and Western Asia assigned much more sinister meanings to the toadstools and their placement.

Reality and rationality have a benign, if somewhat boring, and much less ominous explanation for this apparent enigma. 

Fairy rings can be caused by multiple fungi. Among these are Chlorophyllum spp., Marasmius spp., Lepiota spp., Lycoperdon spp., and other basidiomycete fungi.

These fungi and mushrooms are categorized as one of two diverse divisions of the subkingdom Dikarya and commonly identified as the higher fungi. To the homeowner who is surprised by the sudden blemish on their lawn, the new arrivals are just a pest.

Fairy rings are most commonly seen during the warmer months. It is usually during this time of year when north Florida receives the majority of its rainfall. 

The mushrooms occur when large quantities of cellulose based organic matter, such as tree stumps, roots and limbs are naturally located in or have been buried under a lawn. The fungi feed on and grow supported by this material decaying in the subterranean environment. 

The mushrooms, which can be all sizes and shapes, are the fruiting stages of these fungi. The species emerging is based on the spores which randomly landed there at a point in the past. 

Some of the mushrooms, such as Chlorophyllum, are toxic to mammals so mushrooms should be carefully removed and destroyed if there is a potential exposure to children or pets. The use of rubber gloves is recommended when handling all unknown mushrooms.

The rings will disappear naturally overtime, but can recur if the decaying debris remains buried in the lawn. Removal of the wood based nutrient concentrations can be done, but at the sacrifice of damaging the lawn’s appearance. 

While the mythical fairies may leave real surprises in the lawn, at least homeowners do not have to feel like trolls when cleaning up after the dainty sprites. 

To learn more about mystery mushrooms in the City of Madison, Cherry Lake and Madison County, contact the nearest UF/IFAS County Extension Office or visit https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/. To read more stories by Les Harrison vsit:Outdoorauthor.com and follow me on Facebook.

Celebrity Cruises unveils new ship Celebrity Beyond, set to sail from UK waters in 2022

Celebrity Cruises has unveiled its latest Edge series ship, Celebrity Beyond, which it claims ‘defies imagination’.

The ship will embark on her maiden voyage from Southampton in April 2022 and guests onboard will enjoy a vast array of features.

Some of the hottest highlights include two-storey villas with private plunge pools, wellness programmes devised by Gwyneth Paltrow and the ‘Magic Carpet’. This Celebrity Cruises speciality is a tennis-court-sized cantilevered platform that moves up and down the side of the ship.

On the accommodation front, as well as the villas, the liner will boast staterooms with ‘infinite verandas, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living’ as well as ‘Iconic Suites’ that are ‘the largest in the fleet, offering better views than the captain’s quarters’.

The vessel will also have AquaClass SkySuites, which Celebrity Cruises says are an ‘immersive living experience that helps guests find their centre’. They feature ‘floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private verandas, luxurious bedding and other wellness amenities’.

These amenities include ‘fitness kits from Paltrow’s modern lifestyle brand goop, aimed at enhancing self-care and collective well-being’.

Meanwhile, Paltrow, the cruise line’s new wellness advisor, and her team at goop will also curate onboard wellness programming and participate in Celebrity Cruises’ new Women in Wellness initiative.

When it comes to stretching the legs and breathing in the sea air, guests are well catered for.

Architect Tom Wright of WKK – best known for designing Dubai’s Burj Al Arab – has ‘expanded the exterior spaces… transforming them into serene outward-facing sanctuaries leveraging endless ocean vistas and breathtaking panoramas of the extraordinary places the ship will visit.’

On the Resort Deck, guests will ‘enjoy a stunning asymmetrical space with a 25-yard lap pool surrounded by a terraced pool deck and new sunken seating areas designed by Kelly Hoppen’. The deck will also boast a huge elephant sculpture.

Meanwhile, the Rooftop Garden, which will be 40 per cent larger than on previous Edge series ships, will feature ‘private nooks and more spaces for movie-watching, enjoying live music and outdoor dining at the expanded Rooftop Grill’.

Celebrity Cruises adds: ‘A highlight of this area is Wright’s incorporation of two spectacular floating pools cantilevered six and a half feet over the side of the ship, taking guests beyond the water’s edge.’

Wright also designed the Magic Carpet platform that ‘transforms from open-air lounge or restaurant hovering above the ocean along higher decks to a tender platform for going ashore on lower decks’.

The cruise line explains: ‘Featured on Celebrity Beyond, it debuted on Celebrity Edge in 2018 and is still considered one of the most unique design innovations ever for a cruise ship.’

Also on board is The Retreat, which is described as an ‘unrivalled and exclusive resort space for suite guests’, with aspects of the design by Hoppen.

The Retreat Sundeck will offer ‘unadulterated outdoor bliss and ways to rejuvenate in the fresh ocean air with secluded cabanas, chic new seating areas, additional water features and the exclusive Retreat Bar’.

This area also features the ‘warm and inviting Retreat Lounge’, which is described as a ‘stylish space to unwind’. Adjacent is the private restaurant Luminae, where ‘every corner provides a new experience with each visit, in keeping with the daily changing menu’.

At the centre of the ship will be the Grand Plaza, designed by Jouin Manku – the team responsible for designing the Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.

Inspired by the piazzas of Italy, the Grand Plaza spans three decks and is larger than the Grand Plazas on its sister ships.

Celebrity Cruises explains: ‘The Celebrity Beyond Grand Plaza has an airier atmosphere with more room for intimate seating. The added space allowed designers to move the Martini Bar into the centre of the venue as a full, circular bar.

‘Hanging proudly above the new Martini Bar, the Grand Plaza’s iconic chandelier boasts a new, organic shape with hundreds of individual LED lights that cast an inviting glow at all hours, taking centre stage with talented bartenders at night during their exciting and theatrical Flash Flair Fusion performance.’

Connected to the Grand Plaza will be Le Voyage, an ‘intimate 50-seat restaurant’ by world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud – best-known for his two-Michelin-starred New York restaurant Daniel.

According to Celebrity Cruises, ‘travel is the inspiration for the globally inspired flavours within, designed to transport guests to the very places that inspire the Michelin-rated chef’.

The restaurant itself will have ‘intimate seating cocoons’ that are ‘surrounded by luminous portals highlighting the themes of journey and travel, while graphically lit “glass flutes” provide layers of light and texture to create an enchanting experience’.

Meanwhile, another venue onboard will be the Sunset Bar – designed by American interior designer Nate Berkus.

Celebrity Cruises says: ‘Inside this space, which is nearly twice as large as previous iterations, Berkus has created a chic, Moroccan-inspired escape that is reminiscent of a modern-day Casablanca.

‘Guests will enter through a pergola-covered entrance to enjoy one of the hottest spots at sea. With more conversation niches and covered enclaves to allow guests to connect in a more intimate way, the Sunset Bar’s cascading terraces will combine to provide the perfect place to soak in spectacular views and create unforgettable memories.’

Celebrity Beyond will depart on her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 27, 2022, on a 10-night Western Europe cruise.

She will visit Bordeaux, Lisbon, Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona.

The vessel will then offer a variety of Mediterranean journeys, including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries until early October 2022, when she will head to the Caribbean.

Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo says: ‘Celebrity Cruises has always been an innovator at sea, and now we have challenged the status quo with a vessel that goes beyond expectations, beyond imagination.

‘Celebrity Beyond shatters any and every preconceived notion of the cruising experience.

‘This exquisite ship offers a journey at the intersection of elegance and approachability filled with what’s important to our guests today: forward-thinking design, culinary excellence, unparalleled well-being and incomparable service.’

Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, adds: ‘With Celebrity Beyond, we saw an opportunity to take the extraordinary features of Celebrity Edge – like the focus on the connection with the ocean and the grand spaces – and really amplify them.

‘We focused on providing more openness, height and spaciousness throughout the ship’s most popular spaces. The end result is a next-generation ship that embodies the intersection of architecture and design.’

A green Germany could pump up Europe’s fiscal push

Another crisis, another lagging recovery for Europe, and again the size of fiscal stimulus is a factor. But Germany isn’t the obstacle it once was, and the rise of its Green Party could further push both country and continent toward the U.S. model of aggressive government stimulus.

<p>Angela Merkel, the conservative chancellor who has led Germany since 2005, has already eased some of her past opposition to borrowing. She isn’t running for re-election this September and polls put the Greens in second place, close behind Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union-led alliance. They could emerge as either junior partner or even leader of the next governing coalition.</p> 

The Greens have evolved from an antinuclear pacifist party to a pragmatic left-of-center group that regularly participates in coalitions federally and in Germany’s states, called länder. The party still has its hard-line environmentalist wing, but leadership is in the hands of its moderate wing, which includes Annalena Baerbock, the 40-year-old parliamentarian nominated last week to run as chancellor this fall.

“Many people formerly thought the Greens would never do economic policy—they only want to do organic farming and vegan Yoga courses,” Sven Giegold, a Green member of the European Parliament and a party spokesman on economic issues, said in an interview. “But these times are over. We are in government already in 11 of 16 länder and in one of them, the prime minister. We are not naive. We know how governing works.”

As the Greens have moderated, the rest of the world has moved left, particularly on climate. Thus, the Green platform wouldn’t look out of place in many mainstream liberal parties. They want to slash carbon emissions faster by raising carbon prices and phasing out coal and the internal combustion engine, boost taxes on the rich and multinational corporations and promote industries of the future, such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence.

Unlike right-wing populist parties, they are staunchly globalist, supportive of global agreements on trade, human rights and the environment. They are tougher toward China and Russia than Ms. Merkel, citing similar reasons as the U.S.: geostrategic rivalry and human rights.

The Greens also differ from Ms. Merkel on something that would be utterly unremarkable in any other country: a willingness to run budget deficits.

Germany’s prevailing economic ideology, ordoliberalism, treats debt as almost immoral. A constitutional debt brake requires länder to balance their budgets and limits structural federal deficits to 0.35% of gross domestic product. By comparison, eurozone members’ (frequently breached) deficit limit, enshrined in the Stability and Growth Pact, is 3%, and the U.S. federal deficit averaged 5% from 2009 to 2019.

Ms. Merkel’s government long boasted of its “black zero”: deficit-free budgets that actually paid down debt. Such fiscal discipline was historically prudent, but not in the last decade when the world was chronically short of demand.

The eurozone has a built-in bias toward austerity because of the Stability and Growth Pact and because a heavily indebted country like Italy can’t borrow as much when it no longer controls its own currency. In the last decade Germany amplified that bias by resisting joint efforts to bail out Greece, backstop the region’s banks or borrow via Eurobonds to support the region’s growth.

In the last year, though, Germany has changed. Ms. Merkel threw her support behind a €750 billion ($907 billion) European Union recovery fund, financed by Eurobonds, a big step toward a U.S.-style fiscal union. Her government also suspended the debt brake to pump pandemic aid into the economy.

These steps were meant to be temporary; the Greens would make them permanent. “Germany has a bigger problem than debt,” Mr. Giegold said. “The biggest problem is the lack of investment [that] is risking our competitiveness.”

The Greens would like to amend the debt brake to allow borrowing for public investment, which they argue is economically astute since German interest rates are negative. “The smart entrepreneur doesn’t save, they invest. The smart state does the same,” the party platform declares.

The party has proposed investing €50 billion a year on faster internet, research and development, charging stations, expanded railways, emission-free buses and urban development.

That is comparable to President Biden’s infrastructure plan when measured as a share of economic output. But the Greens don’t share the U.S. left’s more expansive embrace of deficits. They are “pragmatic, not dogmatic,” said Marcel Fratzscher, president of DIW Berlin, a German think tank. “I would not put them in any [economic] camp, even Keynesian.”

The Greens want to make the EU’s recovery fund permanent, expand the EU’s budget financed by its own taxes, and reform the Stability and Growth Pact so that “excessive pressure to save is prevented and investments in the future can be further increased,” according to its platform.

The obstacles are considerable. Even if the Greens come out on top in September, they will lack the votes to amend the constitution. Indeed, the rise of the Greens doesn’t reflect a leftward shift in German politics, but rather disintegrating support for the Social Democrats, Ms. Merkel’s current junior governing partner.

Across Europe, traditional centrist parties have leached voters, often to antiglobalist movements on the right. The EU has already lost Britain to an antiglobalist backlash.

For now, though, leaders in France and Italy are once again watching the U.S. race ahead and keen to mimic its fiscal formula. Germany seems ready to join them.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.