Category Archives: Agriculture
Upland farmers should paid to protect the landscape
The Commission for Rural Communities is to propose today that upland farmers should recieve payments for the services their land provides. Speaking on the Today programme, Dr Stuart Burgess emphasised the importance of upland regions, which are “[just] as important … Continue reading
New Technologies Needed to Feed a Growing Population
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference yesterday the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor John Beddington, made clear the Government’s view that using the latest advances in science, such as GM and nanotechnology, is vital to make sure that the world … Continue reading
Raising the ALARM for Pollinator Decline in Europe
New research conducted under the EU-funded ALARM project (Assessing LArge scale environmental Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods) has identified land-use practices and agrochemical use as the main pressures causing a decline in pollinating insects, including bees, in Europe. It … Continue reading
Can GM Technology Feed the World?
An interesting piece in the New York Times (October 26th) explores whether ‘biotech foods can explore the world’. Six experts, from economics, agriculture and policy, deliver their views on whether GM provides an answer to projected food shortages. The United … Continue reading
GM Re-emerging onto the Political Agenda
After quite a few years in the background after talk of ‘Frankenstein foods’ and the suchlike, genetically-modified (GM) crops appear to be re-emerging onto the political agenda. Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, has said that the only … Continue reading
Defra Launches Consultation on the Future of UK Food Policy
The Government today launched a consultation on what a secure food system in the UK should look like by 2030. After last year’s sudden jump in food and oil prices, as well as growing appreciation of the future impacts of … Continue reading
EFRA Committee Publish Report on Food Security
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has today published a report examining the UK contribution to ensuring food security globally to 2050. “Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges for the UK” urges Defra to take … Continue reading
UK Government to Increase Support for GM Crop Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Observer yesterday reported that the UK Government is set to increase support for the development of GM crops in sub-Sarahan Africa to the tune of £100m. In a new White Paper, the Government proposes to spend £80m on the … Continue reading
Reducing Herbicide to Tackle Weeds on Arable Land
A study from France has shown that it is possible for farmers to reduce the amount of herbicide they apply to their fields, and still tackle weeds effectively. Herbicides are commonly applied to crops to manage weeds but can be … Continue reading
Reducing Agriculture’s Ecological Footprint
A new study published in Food Policy and reported in this week’s EU science policy digest; ‘Science for Environment Policy’, suggests that subsidies from Governments could play a key role in helping to reduce the ‘ecological footprint’ of food production. … Continue reading