Five simple steps to take to help our bees
Planting bee-friendly flowers and cutting grass less often are among five simple steps the public are being urged to take to help our precious pollinators thrive—as, despite public concern about bee populations, more than half of those asked say they have not taken any pollinator-friendly actions in the last year. In a recent YouGov poll, […]
£8 million monsoon project launches in India
A project involving scientists from the UK and India to predict monsoon rainfall by studying ocean processes in the Bay of Bengal launches today. Scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) will release underwater robots to monitor how ocean conditions influence monsoon rainfall. Meanwhile collaborators from a partner project led by the University of […]
Kellogg’s enlists ‘Compost Chef’
Kellogg’s has enlisted a ‘compost chef’ as it begins working towards its landmark sustainability commitment to more than halve its greenhouse emissions. Renowned soils expert Anna Becvar is working with Kellogg’s British farmers to ensure the health and sustainability of their crops. Ms Becvar is advising farms in the Kellogg’s Origins Programme – the Manchester-based […]
Farmers betrayed by Government failure to renew agri-environment scheme
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has reacted angrily to a Welsh Government announcement that there will not be an entry-level agri-environment scheme application round in 2016, describing the decision as a betrayal of the commitments which underpinned the introduction of the Glastir scheme. Speaking at Thursday’s (February 11) Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 Start of Term […]
Yara confirms commitment to combating climate change
Yara is present at the UN Climate Summit in Paris between November 30 – December 11 to highlight the role of agriculture in tackling climate change. A quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to agriculture. It is therefore important to recognize the huge potential for reducing these emissions through better land use […]
Vital soil saving techniques being trialled as International Year of Soils comes to an end
As World Soil Day on 5th December 2015 marks the ending of the International Year of Soils, it is reassuring to know that scientists will still be working to find solutions to protect our soils. 2015 was declared ‘International Year of Soils’ by the United Nations in order to raise awareness of the profound importance […]
Stay green; look after your on-farm environmental features
Retaining core on-farm environmental features, such as buffer strips and field corners, established under agri-environmental schemes is absolutely essential for farming even after the schemes end, says the Campaign for the Farmed Environment. Any farmer or landowner who has recently reached the end of an ELS agreement or have agreements expiring in 2016 should take […]
Ambitious research identifies shrunken GHG footprint of UK arable products
The results of a major UK research project on ‘Minimising Nitrous Oxide (MIN-NO) have been announced today showing emissions due to nitrogen fertiliser use on UK arable land, to be less than half the level previously estimated. Roger Sylvester-Bradley, MIN-NO Project Lead and Head of Crop Performance, ADAS UK, said: “This research is the most […]
LEAF Marque – sustainable fruit and vegetables
LEAF’s principles of Integrated Farm Management LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has announced that its global assurance system, LEAF Marque, has been accepted as one of the Sustainability Initiative Fruits and Vegetables (SIFAV)’s approved environmental standards. SIFAV aims to make imports of fruits and vegetables from Africa, Asia and South America 100% sustainable by 2020. […]
