Will new parasite hinder UK otter recovery?
Is a new ‘mystery parasite’ likely to stop the recovery of the UK otter population? It appears that we can hope not, but can’t yet be sure. I recently came across a mention in the magazine of the local wildlife trust of such a parasite spreading through otter populations in the south-west of England. The…
Insect protein: an alternative to fish meal?
Fish meal and oil are major components of feed for farmed fish, particularly carnivorous species. Fish meal, however, is a finite resource which cannot be produced in sufficient quantities to sustain the current growth in aquaculture; its rising cost is another cause for concern amongst fish farmers. Research into alternatives to fish meal is now…
Melamine: important information being ignored?
The saga of the pet food contamination in North America (‘The Recall’ as it is now being called) rumbles on with some murky new twists. The culprit seems to be a chemical called melamine, an industrial chemical that boosts the nitrogen content of food giving it the appearance of having higher protein content. There are…
Cod this mean the end for Gadus morhua?
I was planning a brief summary of cod wars and arguments over fishing zones, but after a little digging I found that many countries, particularly the UK, have been involved in a row over cod fishing at one time or another, and I just don’t have time to go into it all.So, the point is…
Patents, pigs and pastoralists
Patents and animal genetic resources make a controversial mix. There are many ethical questions that relate to the patenting of animal genes and whole organisms, genetically modified or not. Some of the most poignant are those addressed in a recent discussion paper published by the League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development, entitled ‘Patents…
The State of Britain’s Moth Species
The Moth Count Project was launched today by Sir David Attenborough. The project aims to involve thousands of volunteers in monitoring populations of moths through the National Moth Recording Scheme, which is expected to be the largest project of its kind in the world. The hope is that more detailed information will highlight locations where…
Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Rhubarb…
Spring comes & a young man’s fancy turns lightly to….RHUBARB….. if he’s a fair-weather gardener, that is. If he’s a true obsessive, he’s probably already harvested his first sticks! Mine are still fighting the battle with the slugs. Love it or hate it – you’ve got to admit its versatile and easy to grow. Now…
It’s sweet, but is it safe?
It’s sweet, but is it safe? As we reported this week on the In Brief and In Depth section of CABI’s nutrition and food sciences portal (‘FDA Refutes Aspartame Carcinogen Accusation‘, 25/04/07), the FDA has laid to rest accusations that aspartame is carcinogenic. It may not be ‘natural’, but it’s not dangerous. Laid to rest?…
And how would you like your flowers Madam?
Genetically modified? Yes, GM bouquets could be the future of floristry, with consumers demanding more choice in flower colour, Australian company Florigene are hoping to import and market their GM carnation Moonaqua™. The flower is the lightest shade in Florigene’s Moonseries range being pale lilac in colour, created by modifying genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis…
Cowpox, cats, smallpox and history.
It is 30 years since the last recorded case of naturally acquired smallpox. The eradication of this terrible disease which caused the deaths of hundreds of millions over the centuries, could raise the possibility that cowpox virus, which played an important part in the fight against smallpox, could be taking advantage of the removal of…