The Sustainable Food Trust Podcast

Ever wondered what goes on at all the food & farming events that take place throughout the year, but no time to actually go to them? Look no further – this special edition of the SFT Podcast lifts the lid on the most thought-provoking conversations and engaging debates that took place at our recent Harmony in Food & Farming event.

From conversations on how to finance the transition to sustainable farming, to how to stop paying so much for your farm's energy to what nutrient density is and how to get it – this episode provides a 30-minute rundown of the most interesting conversations being had in food and farming right now.

Watch this space for a future programme of events designed to find real solutions to the real challenges facing food and farming right now.

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the most exciting names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

These conversations were recorded at the SFT's Harmony in Food & Farming event at Bwlchwernen Fawr in West Wales in July 2026.

Timestamps:

0:00: Harmony in Food & Farming 2026

1:06: Measuring sustainability on farms

7:46: Farm-based education and outfoor learning

13:20: Renewable energy and fossil-free farming

19:15: Financing the sustainable agricultural transition

27:28: The link between environmental health and public health

34:15: Goodbye + share you feedback!

How can we make the land we have in the UK work best for nature, for people and for producing food?

Our final episode recorded in our Podcast Tent at Groundswell this year, focused on a contentious yet hugely important topic: land use. Simply, do we have enough land in this country to do everything? To produce food, to support nature, to generate energy, to store carbon, to build housing, to maintain community spaces – the list goes on.

The SFT's Stuart Oates is joined by our CEO and organic dairy farmer, Patrick Holden, journalist and presenter of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4's Rare Earth, Tom Heap, and organic mixed farmer and Nuffield scholar, Dave Oates – they discuss whether or not crop rotations and rotational grazing offers the solution to doing it all, how 'agrihood' initiatives across the world are successfully integrating food growth and productive green spaces into residential areas, and ask how can regulation and government policies better support multifunctional land use?

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the most exciting names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This conversation was recorded in the SFT Podcast Tent at Groundswell in July 2026, sponsored by The Rothschild Foundation. To listen to more podcasts recorded live at this year's festival, click here.

Timestamps

0:00: Welcome + who's on the podcast + initial thoughts

02:26: The challenges of land use and food production

05:21: Balancing nature and demand for food

08:27: The role of diets and consumer behaviour

11:48: Is animal agriculture a good use of land?

14:39: Innovative approaches to land use

17:45: Integrating agriculture with community development

21:39: Organic vs regenerative

24:07: Balancing productivity and environmental targets

28:43: Regulation and measurement in agriculture

29:43: Integrating solar and agrivoltaics

32:03: Community ownership

36:05: The future of biofuels and land use policy

39:33: What's one change you'd make to land use in the UK?

What's it like to be young in an industry where the average age is nudging 60 (and climbing)? Why would you want to join it, and what happens if no-one does?

On this week's episode, Stuart Oates sits down with Summer Wyatt-Buchan, Craig Alexander Byrne and Jessica Walker – three members of Nuffield's Next-Gen class of 2026 to find out what really matters to the UK's next generation of farmers, what they think about the big regen debate and why they decided to visit no less than 45 farms around the UK – plus what they discovered along the way.

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the most exciting names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This conversation was recorded in the SFT Podcast Tent at Groundswell in July 2026, sponsored by The Rothschild Foundation. To listen to more podcasts recorded live at this year's festival, read this month's newsletter or visit our podcasts page.

Learn more about the Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship and find out how to apply at https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/scholarships/nuffield-farming-next-gen-scholarships

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Timestamps

0:00: Introduction – what is the Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship?

01:50: Personal journeys into regenerative agriculture

04:45: Insights from farm visits

08:44: Reflections on the Nuffield Farming experience

12:27: Community engagement and social metrics in farming

15:34: The debate on regenerative certification

20:08: Bridging the gap between conventional and regenerative farming

25:04: Advice for future scholars

Could the rise of GLP1s such as Ozempic be a catalyst for more sustainable farming?

Sounds ridiculous right? But for anyone eating less, the calories you do consume need to really count. As more and more people use anti-obesity medications (the UK is already Europe's largest market for GLP1s and uptake is projected to increase dramatically), the focus on nutrient density is only going one way. The public is waking up to what nutrient density actually means, and crucially, what it means for their health.

If nutrient dense food depends upon nutrient dense soil – and the route to nutrient dense soil is agroecological farming – will this create greater demand for sustainable farming practices?

Join Stuart Oates and expert panellists Dan Kittredge (founder of the Bionutrient Food Association), Dr Lucy Williamson (author of Soil to Gut and award-winning registered nutritionist), and Tom Pearson (Nuffield farming scholar and medical doctor) to find out what might happen next.

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the biggest names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This conversation was recorded in the SFT Podcast Tent at Groundswell in July 2026.

Missed the action at this year's Groundswell-SFT Podcast Tent? Don't worry – we've rounded up some of the highlights 💚 Key themes include the organic versus regenerative divide, nutrient density, and that all important soil to human health connection. We'd like to thank all our incredible podcasters and guests for making the inaugural Podcast Tent such a hotbed of debate, ideas and inspiration – and huge thanks to Groundswell and The Rothschild Foundation for their generous support.

We'll be sharing links to all of the podcasts recorded at this year's festival in our upcoming newsletter (out 5th August) – sign up via our website: https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/newsletters/

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the biggest names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky.

These conversations were recorded in the SFT Podcast Tent at Groundswell in July 2026.

In this very special edition of the SFT Podcast, Patrick Holden sat down with John Cherry and Joanna Bowen, creators and co-founders of Groundswell.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Glastonbury of the Food and Farming world was even bigger and better this year - and for the first time, hosted its very own Podcast Tent (a collaboration between the Sustainable Food Trust and Groundswell, and generously supported by The Rothschild Foundation). Patrick was joined by Groundswell co-founders John and Joanna to talk through how what started as 400 people in a field in 2016, has today transformed into one of food and farming's most anticipated events with over 10,000 eager participants from farming, food and beyond.

Find more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the biggest names in food and farming, at our main podcast page. Keep up to date with news, policy updates and more by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky.

This conversation was recorded in the SFT Podcast Tent at Groundswell in July 2026.

End track 'Assurance' courtesy of and licensed through Soundstripe.

Timestamps

0:00: Welcome to the SFT Podcast Tent!

00:43: The origins of Groundswell

2:56: Transitioning from conventional to no-till farming

5:55: Inspired by American farmers and the No-Till Alliance

8:56: The first Groundswell

14:45: The organic versus regenerative divide

19:45: The power of storytelling in agricilture

26:07: What does the future of Groundswell look like?

34:10: Making regenerative agriculture profitable

41:13 Goodbye!

In this episode of the SFT Podcast, Patrick Holden is joined by doctor, broadcaster and bestselling author Chris van Tulleken for a wide-ranging conversation about ultra-processed food, public health, farming and the future of our food systems.

Best known for his TV appearances and ground-breaking book Ultra-Processed People, Chris has played a major role in bringing the realities of ultra-processed food into public debate. In this discussion, the conversation explores the deeper connections between food production, corporate power, human health and environmental damage.

Patrick and Chris examine where responsibility for our broken food system really lies – with consumers, governments or multinational food companies – and discuss the growing influence of ultra-processed food corporations over public policy, scientific research and public understanding of nutrition.

The episode also explores the relationship between farming methods and health outcomes, asking whether the way food is produced matters as much as the way it is processed. From organic farming and pesticide use to food affordability, regulation and the hidden costs of industrial agriculture, the discussion highlights the overlaps between public health and environmental sustainability.

Throughout the conversation, Patrick and Chris find common ground in their belief that meaningful change will require a better-informed public, stronger regulation and a food system that works in the interests of both people and planet.

To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, sign up to our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media: @susfoodtrust.

What's really going on in food and farming? Two farmers – Patrick Holden, founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, and Stuart Oates, founder of the Fossil Free Farm project – get behind the headlines to unpack the biggest stories shaping what we eat, how we farm and the future of the planet. Expect lively debate, real-world experience, and unique insights from some of food and farming's top voices. In this episode of the SFT Podcast, we take a deep dive into the realities of salmon farming – one of the UK's most significant food industries and its largest food export.

Prompted by a recent open letter questioning whether farmed salmon can ever be considered sustainable, Patrick and Stuart explore the environmental, ethical and nutritional implications of modern aquaculture. Drawing on Patrick's firsthand experience with organic salmon certification in the 1990s, the conversation traces how the industry has evolved – and why its foundations are now being challenged.

From feed production and ocean pollution to sea lice, disease, fish escapes and the impact on wild salmon populations, this episode examines the complex web of issues surrounding farmed salmon. The discussion also considers the wider consequences for marine ecosystems, public trust in food systems, and the difficult balance between economic importance and environmental responsibility.

As always, the conversation remains open and exploratory – asking whether a more sustainable model is possible, what alternatives might look like, and what this means for consumers trying to make informed choices about the food they eat. To join in the conversation, get in touch with us at [email protected] or send us a message via any of our social media channels.

For this episode of the SFT Podcast, we hear from Owen Shiers – Welsh folk singer, researcher, grain grower and cultural historian.

In his late 20s, Owen was rewarded a scholarship from the Finzi Trust to research folk music in Ceredigion, where he grew up – a moment which he describes as the 'beginning of his journey'. What was originally intended to be an exploration of culture, became an exploration of agriculture as Owen came to learn about the significance of black oats in Wales. During his research, Owen crossed paths with Gerald Miles, an organic farmer from Pembrokeshire, and Iwan Evans Coedfadre, a Welsh folk singer and farmer.

Whilst Gerald had been searching for black oats for 20 years, having all but disappeared and been replaced by more modern varieties of oats, Iwan was the last farmer in Wales to be growing them. Through this research, Owen was able to connect Gerald and Iwan, which led to the creation of the Llafur Ni Network ('Our Cereals') – a project they co-founded with the Gaia Foundation, bringing together farmers and growers across Wales to revive black oats and other rare welsh grains.

Owen's music, (Cynefin – Owen's 'musical brainchild') is firmly rooted in the customs and cultural vernacular of Ceredigion. His most recent album Shimli, explores the intersection between music, poetry, food and the natural world. Stick around until the end of this episode to hear 'Y Medelwr' (The Reaper Man) from Owen's latest album, and for an explanation about the origins of the song.

Elsewhere in the episode, Patrick and Owen also talk about the impact that religion has had on Welsh folk music; how the cultivation and preservation of seeds compares to that of the cultivation of wool and other animal by-products; and they ask, how can we create economic opportunities for people in a food and farming system which is often working against the principles of sustainability?

You can listen to Cynefin's music here and and follow him on Instagram.

To find out more about the Llafur Ni Network and how Owen first came to meet Gerald and Iwan, watch this brilliant film from The Gaia Foundation and Andy Pilsbury.

To listen to more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the biggest names in regenerative food and farming, head to our main podcast page. And to keep up to date with our news, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky.

This conversation was recorded in January 2026.

Timestamps:

0:00: Welcome to the SFT Podcast!

0:49: Who is Owen Shiers?

3:17: Exploring the roots of Welsh folk music

5:03: The Methodist Church's impact on folk music in Wales

7:55: Black Oats in Wales

11:06: What can poetry tell us about farming culture?

13:40: Stuck between a rock and a hard place: valuing culture versus making a profit in farming

17:53: Opportunities in agricultural education

23:40: How do we create economic opportunities for people in a system set against the principles of sustainability?

28:18: The Llafur Ni Network

42:06: How does the cultivation and valuing of seeds compare to wool?

45:28: How can we make sustainable food and clothing more affordable?

49:11: Owen reads some Welsh poetry

51:52: Goodbye!

52:31: 'Y Medelwr' (The Reaper Man)

What's really going on in food and farming? Two farmers – Patrick Holden, founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, and Stuart Oates, founder of the Fossil Free Farm project – get behind the headlines to unpack the biggest stories shaping what we eat, how we farm and the future of the planet. Expect lively debate, real-world experience, and unique insights from some of food and farming's top voices.

In this episode of the SFT Podcast we're talking about food security – as the war in Iran shows no sign of easing, with thousands of casualties and many people displaced from their homes, we discuss the impact of the conflict in terms of food security in the Middle East, as well as how agriculture is often weaponised in times of conflict.

We also reflect on how the conflict has impacted food security in the UK, and what steps could be taken to ensure the country is more food secure and our farming sector is more resilient in the face of local and global shocks.

This week, Patrick and Stuart are also joined by Megan Perry, the SFT's Head of Policy & Campaigns. Megan has a degree in international politics and has been working with the SFT for 12 years, heading up our work the UK's small abattoir sector. Alongside her experience at the SFT, Megan has also spent time visiting and supporting organisations and individuals working in the agriculture sector in places like Palestine and Lebanon who have been significantly affected by the ongoing conflict.

To join in the conversation, get in touch with us at [email protected] or send us a message via any of our social media channels.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Feeding Britain report: https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/our-work/feeding-britain/
• Food sovereignty report: https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/pathways-towards-food-sovereignty-in-lebanon/?tztc=1
• Tim Lang: UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/07/uk-stockpile-food-climate-shocks-war