What's been happening in the world of food, sustainability and restaurants in July 2010... plus how you can get involved and help make the UK food scene more sustainable

• AWARDS

• GET INVOLVED

• ROUND UP OF FOOD AND SUSTAINABILITY NEWS IN JULY

AWARDS

• Cateys
  

This year's Catey Awards 2010 took place on Monday 5 July and were a real celebration of sustainable movers and shakers in the restaurant and catering industry. As Mark Lewis, Group Editor of Caterer and Hotelkeeper, puts it: "Against this uncertain backdrop, there has never been a greater need around the industry for high-achievers with the ability to inspire others and steer their businesses safely. All the winners of the 2010 Cateys are exemplars of great operations or hard-working individuals, dedicated to raising or upholding standards." As an organisation striving to help make UK restaurants global leaders in sustainability – and get them to inspire each other to do more – we'll certainly second that. Cateys 2010 winners (with just some of the sustainable reasons for choosing them) include:

Sustainable Business Award: Apetito
A leading supplier of meals on wheels for the elderly, with a sustainability policy that goes way beyond simply caring for its customers including slashing energy and waster use, recycling 99% of aluminium from packaging, committing to more fuel efficient vehicles and seeking consultancy on their supply chain

Menu of the Year: Corrigan's Mayfair
Renowned for game, native and naturally grown produce and hand-picked suppliers

Chef Award: Mark Hix
Celebrated for his immaculate choice of British produce, regional and seasonal food – the original 'Mr British'

Lifetime Achievement Award: Roy Ackerman
Awarded a CBE in 2000 for services to gastronomy, the king of the restaurant concept is keen to pass on his knowledge and expertise and each year takes on projects on a no fee basis such as giving advice to aspiring new chefs or restaurants on sites or set-ups, helping community or charity organisations set up or maximise potential from their existing catering operations.

• CIWF Awards: Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards

Factory farming is by far the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet. Billions of animals are crammed, caged and confined. That's why Compassion in World Farming’s Food Business Team has pioneered engagement with some of the world’s top food companies – retailers, producers and manufacturers. The companies they work with are an integral part of the drive towards a more ethical and sustainable food supply. And why in addition to the Good Egg Awards (launched in 2007) it has launched the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards. They build on the success of the Good Egg Awards to celebrate a wider range of the fantastic work being done by leading food retailers, suppliers and producers to ensure that farm animals are reared more humanely. The Award Ceremony took place on 14 July and Good Farm Animal Welfare Award 2010 Winners include:

Most Compassionate Supermarket: Waitrose
For commitment to improving life for all the animals in their supply chain (for their Good Chicken Award they are committed to converting all fresh, frozen and ingredient chicken to higher welfare by the end of the year)

Good Egg Award: Metropolitan Police
For feeding only cage-free eggs to more than 50,000 staff members every day

Good Egg Award: Virgin Trains
For leading the way in sustainable transport, serving only free range chicken across their catering operation

GET INVOLVED

• Go foraging for native food

We had a great time at the Port Eliot Festival (22-25 July), eating mutton burgers from the River Cottage team, scoffing on local produce from Fifteen Cornwall, watching cooking demos in the fabulous kitchen and stocking up on must-have foraging tips. We love the River Cottage Handbooks, which you can also buy online. Stock up your bookshelf with Handbooks on Hedgerows, Preserves, the Edible Seashore, Mushrooms, Bread, the Veg Patch and Sea Fishing.

• Bake Local Loaves for Lammas
  

Check out Sustain's Real Bread Campaign website for loads of brilliant information on how you can support Local Loaves for Lammas (31 July to 1 August) – a celebration of Lammas Day, the traditional start of the harvest (Lammas takes its name from hlafmaesse, the Old English for 'loaf mass'). Ideas include:

Find events at regional bakeries, cafes, baking associations and even working windmills, where you can taste their wares or watch demos

Organise a Real Bread Picnic, baking competition or Lammas Feast

Use the Real Bread Finder to find a local loaf and find Real Bread Recipes

• Celebrate the Glorious Twelfth
  

Find a restaurant to dine on some great British grouse as the Glorious Twelfth kicks off the grouse shooting season. Last year Square Meal had a great list of restaurants with grouse on the menu including SRA Members The Modern Pantry and The Cinnamon Club. Check out our Restaurant Directory to find contact details or book a table.

• Get spicy at the Notting Hill Carnival
  

There's nothing quite like the smell of Notting Hill Carnival. We're talking about the wonderful aromas of traditional Caribbean food. The Notting Hill Carnival provides the perfect introduction to jerk chicken, rice and peas and rum punch as well as the occasional taste of other exotic cuisines. Bring a healthy appetite along to Carnival, as there are patties, curries, jerk chicken and fried plantain from the street stalls to sink your teeth into. Find recipes for curried goat, jerk chicken and rice and peas on their website.

• Create a sustainable pizza for Pizza Express

Pizza Express are currently running a a challenge to design the nation's next favourite pizza. Why not enter a sustainable option, flagging up native or seasonal ingredients? You could see your winning pizza at Pizza Express outlets across the UK, win £5,000 and promote sustainability at the same time! Here's how to enter>

ROUND UP OF NEWS FOR JULY

• Switch off your lights!

Simply switching off lights reduces the UK's CO2 emissions - according to a new report by the Imperial College of London, which highlights the importance of individual measures taken against climate change. Another great reason for everyone to be more sustainable! Read more>

• Fairtrade Towns to top 500

Fair trade is growing fast with ever more Fairtrade towns that promote ethical shopping and even twin with their producer communities. A decade on from the crowning of the first Fairtrade Town - Garstang - the Fairtrade Foundation  is set to crown the UK's 500th Fairtrade town, with Basingstoke and Deane borough in England, Fife in Scotland and the Welsh town of Llanelli all in the running. Read more>

• Sustainable Fruits de Mer in Devon and Dorset

Want to find the pick of the best sustainable seafood in Devon and Dorest? Check out this top ten guide from SRA Member Mitch Tonks. Read more>

• UK to open Earth Observation Hub, to help monitor environmental data

Science minister David Willetts has announced a new UK centre for monitoring the Earth from space. The Earth observation hub will focus on acquiring environmental data, such as information on deforestation and the impact of climate change. The hub will be based at the International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell in Oxfordshire, which will open in April 2011. Read more>

• London Museum opens first green roof

The Museum of London has a new green roof – watch the video here of what could be a trendsetter for more buildings in the capital and across the UK Read more>

• UK axes it's sustainability watchdog

It's farewell to the Sustainable Development Commission as the government axes a number of green bodies to make way for new reforms. Read more>

• Defra shakes up departments

Defra also announced a Draft Structural Reform Plan to support British farming and encourage sustainable food production. Read more>

• Government clarify new role of the Food Standards Authority

Some thought it was getting the axe, but instead there's been a shake up with a new role for the FSA Read more>

• MSC comes good in DNA survey

Next time you spot the telltale blue MSC ecolabel at your fishmonger's counter, you can be doubly sure that your sustainable fish is exactly that thanks to a new report that DNA tested fish to make sure they were telling the truth about their origins Read more>

• Hyperlocal is the latest trend as restaurants grow their own

When local isn't local enough it's time to go 'hyperlocal' and grow your own as many restaurants and individuals across the UK are doing Read more>

• Google Earth Climate Change Map unveiled

A new Google Earth map has been launched that can show the potential impact of climate change across the world. How will the results help? Read more>

• Adnams claims UK first with beer AD plant

Brewing firm Adnams is claiming a UK first as it nears completion of building work on its anaerobic digestion plant. Read more>

• Slow food on campus from Slow Food UK

With the support of the Slow Food UK students are now setting up their own Slow Food initiatives on campus Read more>

• Transport for London launches Barclays Cycle Superhighways and Barclays Cycle Hire

Find out about the new and proposed blue routes across the capital and how to sign up to hire a bike Read more>

• A sustainable food plan for the Olympics

On your marks, get set, grow! The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 praises the work done by London 2012 in linking food and sustainability. This is the first summer games to make the connection. Read more>