Individual irresponsibility – that’s the reason we’re all overweight, unhealthy and eating unsustainable diets, right? If you agreed with the dominant political messaging of the last few years, then you’d answer yes. But there’s a growing recognition that our environment – the shops and food available in our neighbourhoods, the advertising we see, how different […]
Inheritance tax changes – what do they mean for farming & net zero?
What could the impact be on farming and its ability to weather the changes ahead and lead the transition to a more sustainable food system? How might the changes affect farmers’ ability to reduce emissions or enter into natural capital markets and contracts?
Labour’s first 100 days in office – where are we heading on food, farming, climate and health?
Labour is back in power, but with a brimming intray for matters related to food, farming, climate and health: Yet food and farming do not feature as one of Starmer’s five key ‘missions’, so where does that leave it?
Alternative proteins – what’s in it for farmers & land use?
Livestock production and alternative proteins are likely to sit side-by-side in the coming years, with alternative products taking greater market share. But what might this mean for farmers? And what potential might this present to use more land for carbon sequestration and other needs?
Chris Stark – what I’ve learnt about climate change policy and agri-food
A deep dive into Chris Stark’s insights, frustrations and reflections as the country’s leading climate change policy expert. Chris is one of the most well-known figures in climate policy, and was until recently one of the most senior independent officials working on the issue, as chief executive of the UK’s Climate Change Committee.
Using systems thinking to transform our food: Beans as an analytical lens
This webinar looks at a systems approach to food system transformation, through the lens of the BeanMeals project, which was designed to explore systemic innovations using beans as the case study. The benefits of incorporating more beans into our diets and farming systems are well documented: not only can they contribute to healthier and more sustainable diets and lower shopping bills, but they can increase soil fertility, provide a home-grown livestock feed, and ultimately reduce GHG emissions.
8 scientists and industry innovators on turning methane emissions into energy and income
The highlights from a ‘Methane Deep Dive’ event in Bristol, co-organised with the International Fugitive Emissions Abatement Association (IFEAA).
Systems Thinking: How to address highly complex problems
Anyone who’s tried to unravel and address problems in the agri-food system will know how complex it is: Agri-food researchers, stakeholders, and professionals working towards net zero also have to account for other economic, health, social and environmental issues, which are often multiple, interlinked and overlapping. If this sounds familiar, so will the below characteristics […]
Methane, muck, and money – are we missing a trick with manure?
Are we missing a trick with manure management that others around the world are starting to see? New research suggests the scale of UK methane emissions may be larger than first thought – but also that better management could significantly reduce this, while technology could harness emissions to generate energy and income. All of this […]
The peatland dilemma – should we continue to cultivate and if so, how?
Peatlands are incredible – globally they cover 3% of land area but hold more than twice the carbon in all the world’s forests. But managing them is a conundrum and a balancing act between short and long term food security, biodiversity, climate, and livelihoods: Their carbon-rich soils make them food-producing power-houses (accounting for 30-40% of […]
Food security under pressure: UK vegetable & salad crops in an era of climate change
Food system transformation models often rest on us all eating more fruit and veg and less meat and dairy. But even if consumers were persuaded to choose a more plant-based diet, our supply of fresh produce is on a knife edge: Mounting pressures from Brexit to supermarkets, and labour to energy costs, mean many UK […]
Food security under pressure: UK fruit in an era of climate change
Food system transformation models often rest on us all eating more fruit and veg and less meat and dairy. But even if consumers were persuaded to choose a more plant-based diet, our supply of fresh produce is on a knife edge: Mounting pressures from Brexit to supermarkets, and labour to energy costs, mean many UK […]