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.

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.

This is a new format - please bear with us - any feedback welcome!

SHOW NOTES:

Red Tractor’s voluntary environment module available from next April

https://8point9.com/red-tractors-voluntary-environment-module-available-from-next-april/

Budget cut adds to “unprecedented challenges” for Welsh farming

https://8point9.com/budget-cut-adds-to-unprecedented-challenges-for-welsh-farming/

Nature charities publish Nature Markets Principles to help combat greenwashing

https://8point9.com/nature-charities-publish-nature-markets-principles-to-help-combat-greenwashing/

Experts warn of risk of civil unrest in UK due to food shortages

https://8point9.com/experts-warn-of-risk-of-civil-unrest-in-uk-due-to-food-shortages/

World entering uncharted climate territory – Earth’s conditions may be unliveable for half the world’s population by 2100

https://8point9.com/world-entering-uncharted-climate-territory-earths-conditions-may-be-unliveable-for-half-the-worlds-population-by-2100/

Rubber drives deforestation three times faster than previously thought

https://8point9.com/rubber-drives-deforestation-three-times-faster-than-previously-thought/

8.9 TV:

David Webster, Chief Executive, LEAF Marque

https://8point9.com/david-webster-leaf-marque/

Antje Ahrends, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Rubber deforestation

https://8point9.com/antje-ahrends-royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh-rubber-deforestation/