What’s going on here? These are the words of Pascal Canfin, of the European Parliament (environment committee) which has recently passed a law banning the importation of goods that are linked to deforestation. This approach aims to prevent products entering the European market which are produced at the expense of natural forests and habitats. What does this mean? The new rules will…
Without bees pollinating our crops, we would be hard-pressed to grow much of anything without costly and time-intensive intervention. The relationship between bees and plants is a win-win. The plant provides the pollinator with nectar and pollen for food, and the pollinator transfers genetic material for the plant that allows it to reproduce. This makes another crucial bee fact particularly concerning: The…
Whatʼs going on here? The mammoth and the meatball. Sounds like it could be one of Aesop’s fables, right? Well, the life lesson you could pick up from this article is about your future food choices, based on how the meat industry is shifting; this is spotlighted by the recent creation of a meatball using cells that replicate that of the long-extinct…
What’s going on here? Scotland becomes one of the first countries to pay for climate change by sending money to Malawi through the new “loss and damage” fund. What does this mean? At COP27, a “loss and damage” fund was created to ensure developed countries foot the climate crisis bill. Loss and damage is one of three different types of climate action…
It is well documented that our addiction to meat and dairy is harming the planet, emitting nearly 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Campaigns like Veganuary encourage us to switch to plant-based diets in order to reduce our impact on the climate. Because of this, veganism is on the rise and many of us, especially in January, are thinking more consciously…
Agroforestry isn’t a new phenomenon; Indigenous peoples have been practising it for thousands of years, but it’s now gaining popularity across the globe. What is agroforestry? Agroforestry is a land management approach in which trees are grown on the same area of land as crops or pasture. There are many types of agroforestry, but the two most common approaches are: 1. Silvopastoral…
What’s going on here? Wine grapes are a sensitive crop. Shifting weather patterns due to climate change will mean that we see huge differences in where our wine comes from. What does this mean? The ‘wine map’ is expanding. Wine usually grows 30 – 50 degrees North and South of the equator. Now, wine is being produced in Norway, as far North…
What’s going on here? A project in Spain is restoring ancient water channels which have been around as far back as the mediaeval times. These channels are important for dealing with drought and the increasing demand for water from intensive farming. What does this mean? Acequias are networks of irrigation streams. They distribute water from snow melt in the Sierra Nevada mountains…
What’s Going On Here? After an application from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and British Sugar, last week Defra authorised the ‘emergency’ use of a neonicotinoid pesticide treatment on sugar beet crops planted in England in the 2022 season. In 2018, the EU banned all outdoor uses of neonicotinoids due to evidence that they cause harm to bees. What Does This Mean? …
