Farm Gate

In Field, Fork, Fashion, Alice V Robinson takes readers on a journey into the afterlife of Bullock 374, to help people understand the origin story of leather and its intrinsic connection to food and farming. ffinlo Costain is joined by Alice V Robinson - and by Sara Grady - who, with Alice, recently established British Pasture Leather, which sources and processes cattle hides from Pasture for Life farms for the UK fashion industry. You can buy Field, Fork, Fashion here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781645021193 And visit British Pasture Leather here: https://britishpastureleather.com/

ffinlo Costain (8.9) and Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) discuss the week’s land use news. Tree equity map shows less affluent areas have lower tree cover Commoning and pastoralism central to Dartmoor land management British Sugar fails to deliver on 3 year plan to end use of banned neonicotinoids OF&G white paper highlights benefits of 10% organic English farmed area Patrick Holden, COP28, Reflections from the inside AIIB proposes defining nature as infrastructure Final consultation opens for Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme Grass measuring reduces input costs by £20,000 for Welsh Dairy farmer Sheep farmer trials peas and beans as soya alternative

Interviews with: Lesley Lambert from the Sustainable Food Trust - in advance of COP28 - talking about the opportunities Andrew Mahon from the Bromborough Estate Company on agroforestry Amy Bateman, the photographer behind Forty Farms - and coffee table book and now a farm trail photography exhibition Patrick Holden on COP28 - his reflections from the inside.

ffinlo Costain (8.9) and Phil Carson (Nature Friendly Farming Network) discuss the week's land use news. Clash of world views: Parliamentary push back against regen farming based on “outdated world view” Green Alliance: Failure to support farmers to cut carbon could cost £100 billion by 2050 Cost of poor food policy: Annual cost of UK obesity soars to £98 billion Cost of living crisis results in lowest vegetable purchases for 50 years COP28: The Elders’ calls to action for COP28 Exploring the benefits of shade and shelter Andrew Mahon, Bromborough Estate Company, Agroforestry UK food basket at risk from extreme weather Policy: Welsh farming and environment groups call for rural budget to be maintained

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