26/05/21 - An agroecological future, the Environment Bill returns, fighting bumblebee disease and PYO fruit and veg

Farming Today

• Episode: 26/05/21 - An agroecological future, the Environment Bill returns, fighting bumblebee disease and PYO fruit and veg
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:31
• Published: 2021-05-26 07:00

A new report from the French think-tank the IDDRI - which specialising in sustainability - finds transitioning to agroecological farming systems and local food supply chains would increase rural jobs, provide sustainable diets, and combat climate change. But how would that work in practise and would it mean increased food prices? The long-awaited Environment Bill is returning to the House of Commons after being delayed several times. The Bill includes new amendments to set and meet legally binding targets on species abundance by 2030. There will also be amendments to reduce the harm from storm overflows to rivers, waterways and coastlines and a plan will be published to reduce sewage discharges into rivers by September 2022, with progress having to be reported to Parliament. Pollinator strips on farmland could be helping bumblebees more than we thought. New research shows the nectar from some wildflowers contains caffeine, which helps protect bumblebees against disease. Anna Hill hears from a scientist who says wildflower mixes could be tailored to act as a natural pharmacy for the bumblebees in that area. And with many family days-out closed over lockdown last summer, farms offering Pick Your Own saw a big increase in footfall. But that can present new challenges! We visit a farm offering PYO asparagus and soft fruit in Surrey, which is now issuing guidelines to visitors on how to behave and has even been employing martials, to keep the crowds in check. Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons