Singapore sets the bar higher with new organic standard

Demand for organic produce in Singapore is growing, but availability of appropriate land is the challenge. Recognising an opportunity, the Singapore Standards Council and Enterprise Singapore have workshopped and subsequently issued a new organic standard for urban and indoor agriculture to ensure beneficial, widespread applicability in the long term. The new standard has been designed to take account of local growing conditions whilst adhering to organic agriculture principles. Unlike the US, Singapore will not allow hydroponically grown crops to be labelled as organic, instead supporting the use of appropriate planting mediums designed to support root systems naturally. The standard is also intended to cover post-harvest processes such as storage, transport and labelling. Believed to be the first of its kind in the world, Singapore’s bold step forward in setting the bar higher for organic agriculture will hopefully set the stage for change in global organic standards — and aid consumers interested in food provenance.

Germany set to ban glyphosate use

The German government looks set to stick to its guns on its commitment to ban the public use of glyphosate in Germany. German federal minister Julia Kloeckner recently announced an end to the use of glyphosate weedkillers in gardens, parks and sports facilities, along with massive restrictions to its agricultural use. This decision flies in the face of the hugely unpopular upcoming merger between German agri-giant, Bayer, and one of the world’s most hated companies, Monsanto.

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