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CALU NEWS - December 2006

GM POTATOES?
Much press coverage has been given to BASF's announcement that they are to trial potatoes which have been genetically modified to resist blight.
For two years CALU has been demonstrating the benefits of Sarpo potatoes which have a natural genetic resistance to late blight.
The press coverage being given to BASF's genetically modified potatoes is also increasing interest in the natural benefits of Sarpo potatoes.
To find out more, contact the Sarvari Research Trust 01248 689156 and look at CALU's information sheets and project reports on the Sarpo variety trials.

CALU plots of Sarpo potatoes - naturally blight resistant

NEW YEAR EVENTS
As 2006 draws to a close, CALU is planning new events for next year.
In January (22nd) we will be holding a training day on protected cropping at the Welsh College of Horticulture.
For those interested in the benefits that shelterbelts can provide, we will be holding training days on the 18th January (Pontbren) and 23rd January (Ceredigion - venue to be confirmed).
The Welsh Organic Herbs project has been generating a great deal of interest. The first open meetings for potential producers will be held on Monday 19th February at the Welsh College of Horticulture and Monday 26th February at Aberglasney Gardens.

WELSH CHEVON FEATURED AT GOOD FOOD SHOW
Since its inception, CALU has been promoting the benefits of goat meat. We were very heartened to see chevon (goat meat) from Carmarthenshire being featured at this year's good food show.
Our new "one to watch" is dairy sheep production - you heard it here first!

IN BRIEF
Spanish researchers have found that oregano oil is capable of killing the e-coli bacteria. Spanish researchers are looking into ways of incorporating herbal products into packaging to reduce spoilage and improve the safety and shelf life of foods.

ANGLESEY WINE
Entrepreneurial vintners from Anglesey are seeking to get Protected Geographical Indication for their product (which would be similar to the French AOC and Spanish DOC).
There are more than 13 vineyards in Wales, with two productive sites on Anglesey.
Vineyard owner Tom Barlow believes Anglesey has the perfect climate and soils for wine production.

WINTER FAIR 2006

Both the UK and Wales Governments are busy working on biomass strategies at the moment. This huge topic is often contentious and certainly thought provoking. The Country Landowners Association has published a document - Renewable Energy - More Than Wind? One of the points highlighted in the report is the contribution that Anaerobic Digestion (biogas) could make to the renewable energy budget. CALU has produced an introductory leaflet on AD and hope to do more work on the subject in the near future.

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If you have a news item you would like to see featured on CALU's News page, please contact us:

e-mail: calu@bangor.ac.uk

NEW TECHNICAL LEAFLETS
New additions to the CALU library of free technical leaflets this month are:
Dairy Sheep Production - could this offer a diversification for Welsh farmers? Sheeps' milk is particularly well suited to cheese production.
Small Scale Lettuce Production; Exotic Winter Salad Leaf Production; Green Manures and Internal Parasite Control in Goats.
If there is a topic you would like to see a technical leaflet written on, let us know!

CALU exists to transfer technology to any business in Wales that is interested in horticulture, biomass, alternative crops, alternative livestock and/or farm woodlands.

CALU is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government