Mark Driscoll (Tasting the Future)

The Guardian view on food and farming: climate chaos hits crops hard – and that should worry everyone | Editorial Editorial: Last year’s floods have been followed by heatwaves. Ministers must throw their weight behind resilient, adaptable agriculture

A Guardian editorial underlines how climate extremes—last year’s torrential rains followed by this summer’s unprecedented heatwaves and drought—are battering UK agriculture, shrinking yields, and driving up food prices.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Climate Change is Coming for Your Bananas Bananas have long been a supermarket staple for consumers around the globe. But that could soon change.

Rising diseases and shrinking viable land could slash banana-growing regions in Latin America and the Caribbean by 60%, raising prices. The banana industry employs more than one million workers, who are expected to be hard hit by the climate crisis.
time.com/7310462/bana...

Food Security in the Trump Era: The Risks and Opportunities We are living in VUCA times – a phrase that describes the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous nature of today’s world. Here, Mark Driscoll reflects on the perilous challenges presented by Pr…

With a US-UK trade deal now imminent, this blog reflects on the perilous challenges presented by President Trump to global food security due to policy shifts affecting trade, community feeding programmes, international aid, agriculture, and environmental regulations.

wp.me/p9tNRx-1aU

Attenborough at 99: naturalist ‘goes further than before’ to speak out against industrial fishing in new film The celebrated presenter warns of ‘modern day colonialism at sea’ as he highlights the destruction caused by overfishing and bottom trawling

In his new film, released ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, Sir David Attenborough, at 99, says industrial fishing has 'wiped out two-thirds of all large predator fish'. In Antarctica, he warns that 'trawlers may be removing the foundation of an entire ecosystem'.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Expanding UK fruit and veg growing ‘could add £2.3bn to the economy’ Green Alliance said the £5 billion horticultural sector accounts for 9% of the total contribution agriculture makes to the economy.

Boosting UK fruit and veg production to meet healthy eating guidelines could increase farm profits, create jobs and add £2.3 billion to the economy, a report has suggested.
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Farmers warn that 2025 is make or break for future of Britain's food system - edie Farmers, landworkers and NGOs are this week urging the UK Government to enshrine a ‘right to food’ and enhance its nature-friendly farming approach, with a UK-USA trade deal on the horizon that could ...

Farmers, land workers, and NGOs urge the UK Government to enshrine a ‘right to food’ and enhance its nature-friendly farming approach.With a UK-USA trade deal on the horizon, cheap food imports produced to low environmental standards could flood the market.
www.edie.net/farmers-warn...

Connecting Communities to Food: Why Wassailing Is More Than Just an Excuse for Cider When was the last time you considered the journey and life cycle of the food product you are about to consume? Where was it grown? What were the names of the workers who picked it and processed it?…

In this latest blog, we interview the Colwall Orchard group, who tell us why community orchards are a great opportunity to bring people together and reconnect them with their food.
Traditions such as 'wassailing' are a powerful reminder of the ties between people, land, and food.
wp.me/p9tNRx-19K

Connecting Communities to Food: Why Wassailing Is More Than Just an Excuse for Cider When was the last time you considered the journey and life cycle of the food product you are about to consume? Where was it grown? What were the names of the workers who picked it and processed it?…

In this latest blog, we interview the Colwall Orchard group, who tell us why community orchards are a great opportunity to bring people together and reconnect them with their food.
Traditions such as 'wassailing' are a powerful reminder of the ties between people, land, and food.
wp.me/p9tNRx-19K

THRIVING Food Futures - Home The THRIVING Food Futures research hub will find policy solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of our diets whilst maximising health co-benefits.

Super excited to announce the launch of THRIVING Food Futures - our new policy research hub funded by @ukri.org and @nihr.bsky.social.

Over the next five years we will focus on policies that align UK diets with #NetZero targets and maximise health co-benefits. More details on our website below.

Connecting Communities to Food: Why Wassailing Is More Than Just an Excuse for Cider When was the last time you considered the journey and life cycle of the food product you are about to consume? Where was it grown? What were the names of the workers who picked it and processed it?…

In this latest blog, we interview the Colwall Orchard group, who tell us why community orchards are a great opportunity to bring people together and reconnect them with their food.
Traditions such as 'wassailing' are a powerful reminder of the ties between people, land, and food.
wp.me/p9tNRx-19K

Opinion: Food, farming and our future – why Europe must lead the way Opinion: Food, farming and our future – why Europe must lead the way

With a fresh EU vision on agriculture and food due out tomorrow, this blog highlights the opportunity for a healthy and sustainable approach to food and farming in Europe.
www.birdlife.org/news/2025/02...

“In power, Labour’s agenda has been stripped back to an empty obsession with growth & an imitation of Reform UK. The public isn’t falling for it”.
Spot on @johnharris1969.bsky.social People deserve better than a government with no conviction, no hope & no vision

Broken Plate report front cover

🚀 We've just launched our latest Broken Plate report!

It highlights the fact too many people are struggling to access healthy food and much of the food marketed to us is damaging our health and the planet.

Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/3PR0Gal
#BrokenPlate

Global food production has resulted in significant biodiversity loss, new research shows Agricultural and fishing practices are changing the biodiversity and stability of entire regions.

Global food production has resulted in significant biodiversity loss, new research shows theconversation.com/global-food-...

Regeneratively farmed is the new buzz label on supermarket shelves – but what does it actually mean? While regenerative agriculture might seem like a pioneering new approach, this term isn’t new. Here’s how it differs from organic.

Regeneratively farmed is the new buzz label on supermarket shelves – but what does it mean? Does the lack of a standardised definition risk undermining the credibility of regenerative farming?
theconversation.com/regenerative...

Lidl promotes plant-based diet - RetailDetail EU Across all 31 countries where Lidl operates, the chain will increase its focus on plant-based proteins and wholegrain products.

Great to see that Lidl are the first retailer in the UK to commit to a healthy and sustainable diet www.retaildetail.eu/news/food/li...

More than 80 campaigners call for urgent Healthy Start improvements Anti-poverty campaigners and health organisations are urging the government to ensure pregnant women and those with babies and toddlers living in poverty receive the basic support they need for their children to grow up healthily.

80+ campaigners call for urgent improvements to the government's Healthy Start scheme.

It's meant to prevent food insecurity and malnutrition amongst pregnant women and young children, but too many families living in poverty are missing out.
Read more: ➡️ bit.ly/3WjaX2H

The science behind the plant-based hype Dr Ann Ashworth looks at the history and science behind plant-based eating and why it is so important right now.

Great article in Wikedleeks exploring the health, nutrition and sustainability benefits of plant-based eating
wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/features/the...

Nobel prize winners call for urgent ‘moonshot’ effort to avert global hunger catastrophe More than 150 Nobel and World Food prize laureates sign open letter calling for immediate ramping up of food production

Whilst admirable in intent, focusing on productivity and technological innovation seems misguided.Whilst productivity solutions are important, a systems approach is required for any moonshot effort here-dealing with waste and consumption drivers are as important
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Labour’s agriculture plans will increase chicken waste in rivers, say campaigners Steve Reed says planning rules ‘have got in the way’ of farmers and apologises for ‘shock’ of inheritance tax change

The Environment Secretary wants to make it EASIER for farmers to build industrial chicken sheds?! This is legitimately stupid.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

No nature, no farmers, no food! | The Wildlife Trusts Farming policy needs a stronger vision and increased funds to deliver for farmers, food security and nature, say The Wildlife Trusts.

A new briefing from the The Wildlife Trusts released to day highlights that urgent changes are required to ensure ELM schemes in England to addresss food security challenges.
#foodsecurity #farming #wildlife #climatechange

www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/no-natu...