Farm Gate

Signatories to the European Chicken Commitment must move from standard intensive indoor production systems for rearing meat chickens, to more humane, extensive indoor systems by the 1st of January 2026.  The Commitment has attracted widespread attention from broiler producers, and several major brands have already signed up - including KFC. How will the Commitment improve the lives and deaths of chickens reared for meat?  What are the practical implications of delivering the required standards, within the established time-frame? In this programme ffinlo Costain talks to Jenny Packwood, Director of Responsibility & Reputation for KFC UK & Ireland, and to Annie Rayner and Kelly Watson, experts in broiler systems and behaviour, working at FAI Farms. Produced by Farmwel and FAI Farms.

Dominic Cummings, the UK Prime Minister's strategist-in-chief, has said that he wants to shake up Government.  He's asked for ideas - and it would be churlish if we didn’t offer to help. ffinlo Costain has spoken to five big beasts of the UK food & farming community: Patrick Holden (Sustainable Food Trust), Mark Bridgeman (CLA), Sue Pritchard (RSA Food, Farming & Countryside Commission), Guy Smith (NFU), & Vicki Hird (Sustain).  Each has two minutes to pitch their reforms, followed by a conversation about their ideas.   The podcast is bursting with grand plans - and it's the perfect length for Dominic Cummings to listen to on his commute. Produced by Farmwel.

FAI Farms runs a beef and sheep operation near Oxford, UK, which is currently undergoing a transition from an organic to a regenerative system. With baseline carbon and nature foot-printing in place, progress will be closely monitored. Input costs have already reduced, with livestock now wintering outside on grass. FAI anticipates increasing its herd/flock size while also becoming global warming neutral and boosting biodiversity. In documenting and showcasing the transition in progress, they hope to inspire other farmers and companies to join the regenerative agriculture movement. Farm Gate presenter, ffinlo Costain, talks to farm manager Clare Hill, and regenerative farmer and consultant, Caroline Grindrod, from https://www.rootsofnature.co.uk/ Produced by Farmwel.

A farming life is generally a good life but it can be demanding & stressful.  It's hardly surprising that farmers can feel isolated, depressed, or unable to cope.   ffinlo Costain talks to Graham Morgan MBE, about farming, mental health, & mental illness.  Graham works for the Mental Health Commission for Scotland & volunteers with HUG action for mental health.  Graham's book, Start, describes his life, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.  It is fresh, unguarded, rather joyful, and surprisingly funny.   Graham recently spoke about mental illness to a conference organised by the National Farmers' Union of Scotland.   Produced by Farmwel.

Sam Hall is the director of the highly influential Conservative Environment Network.  With nearly 60 MPs making up its parliamentary caucus, CEN is the most important and influential network of environmentally-motivated Conservative activists and politicians in the United Kingdom. Produced by Farmwel.

I'm talking to Professor Myles Allen & Dr John Lynch (University of Oxford), & Roland Bonney (farmer, & co-founder of FAI Farms & Benchmark Holdings). Although cattle and sheep produce methane almost constantly, the focus on their emissions is misleading – it’s the warming impact of those emissions that actually matters.  Far from being unsustainable, as many people continue to argue, well-managed grass-based cattle and sheep systems can become rapidly climate neutral and help to restore biodiversity and soil health.  Research by a global team of scientists based at the University of Oxford has established a new way of measuring the impacts of methane - a metric known as GWP*.  This metric allows us to accurately assess the impact of ruminant methane for the first time. Produced by Farmwel.

Dr Tara Garnett (FCRN) and Caroline Grindrod (Primal Meats) join ffinlo Costain to discuss whether 'vegan' has become a dirty word? Produced by Farmwel.

In this panel discussion, ffinlo Costain is joined by Gudrun Ravetz (former president, British Veterinary Association), and Laura Higham (Vet Sustain).  We discuss the link between animal welfare, and good environmental management and farm performance. Produced by Farmwel and FAI Farms.

Farm Gate host, ffinlo Costain, talks to Laura Higham (FAI Farms/Vet Sustain) and Simon Doherty (British Veterinary Association).  We ask how vets contribute to sustainability - and what’s the link between animal welfare, and good environmental management and performance on farms? Produced by Farmwel and FAI Farms.