Farm Gate

Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) chew over the week’s news. News picks from our discussion: Upland farms worse off under current ELMs offer Farmers treating insects as “livestock” in trial to fight pests More research and innovation needed to make insect farming a success Virgin flies world’s first transatlantic “100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight” Cargill’s commitment to ending deforestation in South America is an “important but incomplete step” King Charles calls for investment in regenerative agriculture at opening of COP28 Nicole Pita, IPES Food, Cities lead on real food and climate action Food loss and waste represent half of GHG emissions from food systems African food system leaders say, “Put people, nature and livelihoods at forefront of climate action” Three steps towards real action on food at COP28

Interviews with: Nicole Pita from IPES Food (cities and regions leading the way on climate and food systems), Xander Mahony from Tilhill (learning to love Sitka), Jo White from Human Behaviour Change for Life (benefits of switching from a trade in live animals to a trade in meat), And Dominic Elsworth from Whistlebare farm (Britain's wool trade).

Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) chew over the week’s news. SHORT PICKS Adapting to climate change needs our "urgent, unswerving attention" says National Trust Cities and regions lead the way on real food and climate action Forestry leaders must improve public perception of Sitka LONGER CONVERSATIONS Buried Environment Agency report shows toxic sludge is being spread on UK farmland Landmark ruling has far-reaching implications for UK’s polluted rivers Conflict over land will increase unless global demand is reduced Scientific censorship is often self-inflicted and it’s on the rise POLICY Efra Committee criticises incoherent approach to food policy across government

Features interviews with: John Willis from Planet Tracker, Chris Uttley from Stroud District Council, And Tom Munro from Dorset National Landscape. More land news at 8point9.com

Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) and ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) chew over the week's news. PHIL'S PICKS Higher consumption of UPFs increases the risk of cancer and long-term heart conditions https://8point9.com/higher-consumption-of-upfs-increases-the-risk-of-cancer-and-long-term-heart-conditions/ Investigating the “halo effect” of food claims https://8point9.com/investigating-the-halo-effect-of-food-claims/ Nitrogen fertiliser production outstrips global needs and exceeds planetary boundaries https://8point9.com/nitrogen-fertiliser-production-outstrips-global-needs-and-exceeds-planetary-boundaries/ FFINLO'S PICKS Diverse forests hold huge carbon potential if well managed https://8point9.com/diverse-forests-hold-huge-carbon-potential-if-well-managed/ #GetFairAboutFarming petition hits 75,000 signatures https://8point9.com/getfairaboutfarming-petition-hits-75000-signatures/ THE BIGGER STORIES Ruth Chambers, Green Alliance, New Defra Secretary https://8point9.com/ruth-chambers-green-alliance-new-defra-secretary/ Patrick Holden, A farmer’s view, New Secretary of State https://8point9.com/patrick-holden-a-farmers-view-new-secretary-of-state/ AIC calls for independent committee to boost sustainable food security https://8point9.com/aic-calls-for-independent-committee-to-boost-sustainable-food-security/ The Wildlife Trusts lists the UK’s Government’s broken promises to nature https://8point9.com/the-wildlife-trusts-lists-the-uks-governments-broken-promises-to-nature/

Interviews with: Ruth Chambers from the Green Alliance. Patrick Holden from the Sustainable Food Trust. And Leonardo Gava from the Climate Bonds Initiative

Phil's choices UK must double fruit and veg production to divert from “bleak” future https://8point9.com/uk-must-double-fruit-and-veg-production-to-divert-from-bleak-future/ Genetic discovery promises high-iron vegetables and cereals https://8point9.com/genetic-discovery-promises-high-iron-vegetables-and-cereals/ Milestone reached in evidencing sustainability credentials of Welsh upland farms https://8point9.com/milestone-reached-in-evidencing-sustainability-credentials-of-welsh-upland-farms/ ffinlo's choices Government communication hampering avian flu control measures https://8point9.com/government-communication-hampering-avian-flu-control-measures/ Free comic book features flood management https://8point9.com/free-comic-book-to-engage-young-people-around-flood-management/ Government complacent over rural mental health https://8point9.com/government-complacent-over-rural-mental-health/ Main conversations Landmark report shifts focus from food system emissions to fossil-fuel reliance https://8point9.com/landmark-report-shifts-focus-from-food-system-emissions-to-fossil-fuel-reliance/ Historic herbivore densities could be substantially higher than thought https://8point9.com/historic-herbivore-densities-could-be-substantially-higher-than-thought/ Experts predict “catastrophic ecosystem collapse” of UK forests within 50 years https://8point9.com/experts-predict-catastrophic-ecosystem-collapse-of-uk-forests-within-50-years/

In 8.9 Newsweek: Interviews with Patty Fong from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food & Sara Grady from British Pasture Leather. And a discussion about Patty's new report, Power Shift -Why we need to wean industrial food systems off fossil fuels.

In Wheat from the Chaff (WFTC) ffinlo Costain (Editor-in-Chief of 8point9.com) and Phil Carson (UK Policy Lead for the Nature Friendly Farming Network) talk through the week's news on 8.9ha. SHOW LINKS - PHIL'S PICKS: Strength in diversity – mapping healthy microbiome relationships M&S Food donates one million meals in new partnership with FareShare Transformational impact of Farms for City Children highlighted by Harper Adams research FFINLO'S PICKS: Nuffield report calls for increased support for Black and People of Colour in agricultur Red Tractor says “sorry” and puts Greener Farms Commitment on hold Green walls flourish at Dutch Design Week MAIN CONVERSATIONS: Petition calls for the proposed EU Soil Health Law to be supported, but tightened The Guardian questions motives of Dublin Declaration authors Demand for sustainable fabrics could exceed supply by 130m tonnes by 2030 FURTHER LISTENING: Farm Gate: Diversity in agriculture & animal sciences Farm Gate: What does less and better mean?

In this week's programme we hear: INTERVIEW: With Dr Antje Ahrends from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh about ground-breaking research that shows that rubber is driving deforestation three times faster than previously thought. DISCUSSION: A new report has warned that demand for sustainable fabrics could exceed supply by 130m tonnes by 2030. To discuss how we meet the rising demand for sustainable fashion, ffinlo Costain is joined by Dr Alana James from Northumbria University - Zoe Gilbertson from the UK Bast Fibre Network - and by Alice Robinson, author of Field, Fork, Fashion, and co-founder of the company, British Pasture Leather.