Science for
Sustainable
Agriculture
Science for
Sustainable
Agriculture
Articles - archive
ELM: What are Defra ministers going to do about it?
Paul Temple, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2024
Supply chain interest in climate positive farming: is it a route to net zero?
Dr Nigel Davies, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2024
Environmental NGOs are undermining society’s need for more climate-adaptive, sustainable farming
Stuart Smyth, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2024
What will a Labour UK Government mean for agricultural science and innovation?
Prof Johnathan Napier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2024
The world is richer than ever, but it’s not due to communism or capitalism, it’s science
Hank Campbell, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2024
Professor Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2024
Matt Ridley & Daniel Pearsall, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2024
Sustainable food production must focus on outcomes, not labels
Dr Derrick Wilkinson & Daniel Pearsall, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2024
No big deal. Co-existence of precision bred and other crops in England
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2024
30% fall in UK organic area shows producers need access to better tools and technologies
David Hill, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2024
As the EU stalls, England must not let precision breeding opportunity slip
Nigel Moore, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2024
Our food system is not broken!
Professor Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2024
Is UK agriculture facing a downward spiral?
Paul Temple, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2024
Fresh approach needed to secure UK organic seed supply
Dr Anthony Hopkins, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2024
Dr Harriet Bartlett, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2024
What is (risk) appropriate regulation of gene editing technology?
Graham Brookes & Stuart Smyth, April 2024
The importance of translating plant science into practice
Prof Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2024
ELMS: It’s time for Defra to go back to the drawing board, and listen to the science
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2024
Sustainable Yield Growth – a gamechanger for the SDGs?
Dr Derrick Wilkinson, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2024
False dawn for gene edited crops in the EU?
Steven E. Cerier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2024
Why the Nuffield Council on Bioethics must revisit its report on genome editing in farmed animals
Professor the Lord Trees & Lord Curry of Kirkharle, February 2024
Focus on genetics and IP needed to boost Britain's horticulture sector
Peter Button, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2024
Steven E. Cerier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2024
Harnessing the power of farm-level data
George Freeman MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2024
Europe’s farmers are fighting for the ability to continue to farm
David Zaruk, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2024
Is hi-tech, intensive livestock production more sustainable, more biosecure?
Earl of Caithness, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2024
Gene editing: Is it time for full disclosure of all plant breeding methods?
Nigel Moore, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2024
Throttle back on production to spite the supermarkets? Has UK farming finally lost the plot?
Paul Temple, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2024
Professor Tina Barsby OBE, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2024
Land use: OF&G claims for organic farming benefits don’t stack up
Daniel Pearsall & Dr Julian Little, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2024
IP in agriculture benefits everyone
Peter Button, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2023
Precision breeding: Food Standards Agency’s plans must not put England behind the EU
Karen Holt & Daniel Pearsall, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2023
Can agriculture save the planet? Insights from COP28 and beyond
Jack Bobo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2023
Defra must publish a full impact assessment of farm policies on domestic food production
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2023
Which farming system better preserves insect populations: organic or conventional?
Jon Entine, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2023
Regenerative agriculture – hype or hope?
Professor Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2023
Britain’s organic producers must not be locked out of the gene editing revolution
David Hill, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2023
Time for a fresh look at the UK rulebook on using the GM method for crop improvement
Professor Jonathan Jones FRS, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2023
Label organic products, not gene edited, on food safety grounds
Daniel Pearsall & Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2023
At last! A new, more science-based, outcomes-focused approach to defining regenerative agriculture
Dr Julian Little, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2023
Reduce synthetic fertilisers and improve yields? The microbiome revolution comes to agriculture
Henry Miller & Kathleen Hefferon, Genetic Literacy Project, October 2023
Agri-Tech Catapult is a sensible move - but it must learn from past mistakes
Professor Tina Barsby OBE, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2023
No such thing as natural farming
Maarten J. Chrispeels, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2023
Robin Wood, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2023
Quantifying the contribution of advanced livestock genetics to more sustainable protein production
Banks Baker, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2023
In its 'zero tolerance' approach to gene editing, the organic sector may seal its own demise
Paul Temple, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2023
Is it ethical to hold back the promise of gene editing in livestock?
Dr Craig Lewis, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2023
Do Europe’s farmers support plans to ease restrictions on gene-edited crops?
Steven Cerier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2023
Europe's Green Deal 'Farm to Fork' Plan: How Not to Grow Food Sustainably
Jon Entine, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2023
Feeding the UK sustainably: time for policy inaction to end
Graham Brookes, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2023
No room for the Greens' blind prejudice in Scotland's gene editing debate
Rachael Hamilton MSP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
David Zaruk, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
Regenerative agriculture doesn't have to be contentious: Take 2
Shane Thomas, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
Farming innovations to deliver Net Zero
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
Will EU switch eclipse England's lead on precision breeding?
Samantha Brooke, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
Regenerative agriculture doesn't have to be contentious
Shane Thomas, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2023
Streamlined regulatory approach needed to unlock precision breeding potential
Prof Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Current land use policies risk accelerating farming's environmental impact
Andrew Balmford & Ian Bateman, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Gene editing: It's time to change up the narrative, ScotGov
Finlay Carson MSP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Gene editing: a plan for survival
Alwin Schönberger, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Norwegian Committee set up to review advances in gene technology calls for ‘softening’ of regulation
Dr Julian Little, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Addressing the productivity gap in UK agriculture
James Wallace, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Dr Stuart Smyth, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2023
Is the EU ready to join the global gene editing revolution?
Dr Petra Jorasch, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2023
Antibiotics have no place in organic farming, but gene editing does
Lord Rooker, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2023
Biotech can help make our food healthier, safer and more sustainable
Prof Johnathan Napier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2023
Why the European Union needs to grow genetically engineered crops
Steven E. Cerier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2023
Minding the gap: Where is the vision for UK food production?
Ian Munnery, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2023
The great organic seed swindle
Matt Ridley, Martin Jenkins & Daniel Pearsall, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2023
Post-CAP farming policies for England "lack scientific rigour"
Minette Batters, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2023
Is England's new gene editing law at risk of becoming an empty shell?
Nigel Moore, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, April 2023
Time for a better debate about industry science, and so-called 'conflict of interest'
Prof Tina Barsby OBE, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2023
Farm to Fork: How the Ukraine war has exposed Europe's green farming plan as unsustainable
Steven E. Cerier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2023
We must use scientific evidence to drive best practice in sustainable agriculture
Dr Harriet Bartlett, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, March 2023
The unnatural nature of food (Part 4)
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2023
Graham Brookes, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2023
Transitioning to 'agroecology' would make zoonotic pandemics more likely
Val Giddings, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2023
Gene editing: Is Labour really a pro-science party?
Professor Johnathan Napier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, February 2023
Dr Craig Lewis, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2023
Robin Wood, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, January 2023
Feeding 8 billion people has never been easier
Bill Wirtz, Discourse Magazine, January 2023
Professor Andrew Balmford & Dr Lydia Collas, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2022
Precision Breeding Bill could supercharge investment in UK crop innovation
Professor Mario Caccamo, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2022
UK plant breeders support transparency on precision breeding techniques
Nigel Moore, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2022
Lord Trees, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, December 2022
Wringing your hands or getting the ball rolling? Two approaches to decarbonising agriculture
Dr Julian Little, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2022
ELMS review is an opportunity to put scientific evidence and data at the heart of farm policy
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2022
Gene editing - three simple questions for ScotGov
Finlay Carson MSP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2022
The unnatural nature of food (Part 3)
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, November 2022
Graham Brookes, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2022
Promoting Science for Sustainable Agriculture
Nigel Moore. Seed World Europe, October 2022
We must consider the ethical implications of not embracing genome editing in farmed animals
Professor Helen Sang, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2022
ScotGov must adopt a more science-based approach on gene editing
Samantha Brooke, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2022
Livestock breeding and sustainability
Professor Geoff Simm, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2022
Are anti-science campaigners trying to mislead over Precision Breeding?
Professor Tina Barsby OBE, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, October 2022
The unnatural nature of food (Part 2)
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2022
We must look to scientific innovation in agriculture to deliver Net Zero
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2022
Professor Johnathan Napier, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, September 2022
ScotGov must do the right thing by science on gene editing
Finlay Carson MSP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
Graham Brookes, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
The unnatural nature of food (Part 1)
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
National Trust lunacy shows why we urgently need a science-based land use strategy
David Hill, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
Respect the science - BBC must address ‘false balance’ in biotech coverage
Phil Lodge, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
Defining and measuring agricultural sustainability
Julian Little, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, August 2022
Industrialisation of organic will seal its downfall
Matt Ridley, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2022
Time for bold Government action on crop genetic research
Jane Langdale, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2022
We need a much better conversation about science and technology in agriculture
Julian Sturdy MP, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2022
Precision Breeding Bill: Plea to respect the science in the gene editing debate
Jonathan Jones, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Precision Breeding Bill: let’s focus the debate on using scientific innovation for public good
Alan Tinch, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Julian Sturdy MP, AgFunder News, June 2022
Intensive livestock farming may actually reduce the risk of pandemics
Harriet Bartlett, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Graham Brookes, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Nigel Moore, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
We can learn from Health Canada’s science-based approach to gene editing regulation
Karen Holt, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Abandoning farmland for nature recovery
Alastair Leake, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, June 2022
Feeding the world was made possible by genetic science – we cannot stop now
Matt Ridley, Sunday Telegraph, May 2022
Gene Editing: We need a much better conversation on consumer choice and labelling
Paul Temple, Science for Sustainable Agriculture, May 2022
Gene editing is the definition of a 'green' technology
Johnathan Napier, Farmers Guardian, March 2022
'We must learn lessons from the GMO debate'
Paul Temple, Farmers Guardian, September 2021
Organic food isn't better for us - or the environment
Matt Ridley, The Spectator, July 2021
Covid-19 vaccines and genetic modification
Graham Brookes, Open Access Government, June 2021
Time for a grown-up conversation about crop protection
Matt Ridley, Farmers Guardian, May 2021
Science for Sustainable Agriculture – a call to arms
Tina Barsby, European Seed, April 2021
Breaking away from EU rules on gene editing should be a no-brainer for Government
Julian Sturdy MP, Farmers Guardian, May 2020