Farming Today

02/05/25 Gene-edited pigs, pea genome, agricultural transition


Listen Later

Gene-editing technology which makes pigs immune to a highly infectious virus, developed at Edinburgh University’s Roslin Institute, has been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The virus causes a disease called PRRS or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, which causes premature births in pigs as well as other painful symptoms and costs the pig industry billions. Current legislation doesn't permit its use in the UK. We speak to one of the scientists who's been working on the project for more than seven years.

All week we’ve been taking a closer look at pulses, the dried seeds of crops like beans, lentils and peas, for both human and animal food. In the UK the peas we eat are generally frozen or fresh but dried peas are a major source of protein to millions of people around the world. Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have been working with researchers in China, the USA and France to uncover the genome of 700 different varieties of pea, from many different countries, to help develop better commercial varieties.

The sudden suspension of England's biggest environmental scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, earlier this year was met with horror and disbelief by farmers and environmentalists alike - we preview a special documentary which charts the transition of agricultural policy from the old EU farm subsidy system and the Common Agricultural Policy to the new 'public money for public goods' approach that we have in England today.

Presenter = Caz Graham

Producer = Rebecca Rooney

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Farming TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

53 ratings


More shows like Farming Today

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,456 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

365 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,805 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,625 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

242 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,742 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,088 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

42 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

37 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

895 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

155 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

282 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

268 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,093 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,044 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

45 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

106 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

140 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,198 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,994 Listeners

The Farmers Weekly Podcast by Farmers Weekly

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

16 Listeners

The Great Post Office Trial by BBC Radio 4

The Great Post Office Trial

45 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,036 Listeners

FED by Farmers Podcast by FED by Farmers

FED by Farmers Podcast

28 Listeners

Rare Earth by BBC Radio 4

Rare Earth

11 Listeners