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Why a blog?
The Farming Futures blog is for farmers, land managers and their advisers to discuss and debate the issue of climate change and sustainability in agriculture.
We’re interested in how you think we can produce more food for a growing population in the context of Government targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hotter, drier summers, higher energy and input prices, and the increased consumer interest in 'low carbon' food.
This is your place to take part in the debate. Find out why we think a blog is important by clicking here.
Blogs marked with our weak signals logo explore ideas, trends, technologies or behaviour changes that are as yet unrecognised by the mainstream farming industry. They might have a big impact on future farm practices or they might disappear. They help us to challenge assumptions about the future, navigate risk and seize new opportunities. If you spot a weak signal, get in touch and we'll get it on the site.
Want to contribute? Contact Tamsin: farmingfutures@niab.com (01223 342329).
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Blog: Biomass
So, it’s happened.
Farming Futures, like the iconic friendly local corner shop, is “under new management”.
OK, so you’ve just got used to it as a handy place to find a wealth of helpful information, chat about new ideas, and...
Farming Futures~Monday, 26 September, 2011 - 12:38 | 0 comments
Farming Futures enters a new phase this month. As you know, we were looking for a new host after our five-year Defra funding came to a close. So we're very pleased to announce that the project has a new home! The Centre of Excellence for UK Farming (...
Madeleine Lewis~Wednesday, 15 June, 2011 - 13:57 | 0 comments
She grew up on a dairy farm, bought her first cow when she was seven, and her husband's a dairy nutritionist. So when Michele Payn-Knoper was stumped by her Holstein dairy calf not weaning, she did what any self-respecting 21st-century farmer would:...
Madeleine Lewis~Tuesday, 29 March, 2011 - 15:10 | 0 comments
Farming Futures has scored a hattrick and won the Climate Week award for the 'Best Campaign'.
Having recently won a Global Green Award and voted the best website for climate change and agricuture information by Farmers Weekly, we wanted to go one str...
Claire Wyatt~Wednesday, 23 March, 2011 - 11:47 | 1 comments
The launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive on 10th March was welcome news to many farmers and rural businesses. Farmers can now invest in renewable heat technologies, reduce their costs and carbon footprints.The £860 million government scheme i...
Rebecca Seaman~Friday, 18 March, 2011 - 09:49 | 2 comments
Farming Futures has been shortlisted for the inaugural Climate Week Awards! Having recently won a Global Green Award and voted the best website for climate change and agricuture information, we're hoping to romp home with a hattrick next week.
Climat...
Claire Wyatt~Wednesday, 16 March, 2011 - 17:33 | 0 comments
Dr Karen Wonnacott spoke at the Dairy and the 21st Century Diet: Nutrition and Sustainability conference on the 27th January. We managed to catch her for a few minutes to ask how the dairy road map is progressing and what her one wish for the sector...
Karen Wonnacott~Tuesday, 15 March, 2011 - 13:46 | 0 comments
The Government have today announced the long awaited Renewable Heat Incentive but will it be enough to make Anaerobic Digestion (AD) financially attractive to farmers?
In the UK we have all the right ingredients for a strong farm-based AD industry. E...
Dr Matthew Aylott~Thursday, 10 March, 2011 - 14:11 | 0 comments
Here at Cottage Farm we have demonstrated that it is perfectly possible to farm sustainably and in a resilient manner, that is organically, without using fossil fuels but still utilising machinery and energy.
The best place to find out what else we a...
Paul Sousek~Tuesday, 1 March, 2011 - 18:20 | 0 comments
Climate News and Knowledge is our fortnightly round up of some of the main stories covering climate change and sustainable farming. This time there is talk of the power of the people, the fallout from the FIT review and climate change winners and los...
Will Frazer~Friday, 25 February, 2011 - 17:32 | 0 comments
Mark Pettigrew, Agricultural Development Manager, is leading PepsiCo’s bold project to slash their carbon and water footprint by 50% in the next 5 years. In 2011, the focus is working with PepsiCo’s 350 potato growers to measure the impac...
Mark Pettigrew~Tuesday, 8 February, 2011 - 14:56 | 1 comments
Here at the Lakes Free Range Egg Company we are aiming to become the first UK carbon neutral, sustainable egg packing operation. Always trying to be at the forefront of innovation, we are installing modern technologies and equipment to make us more e...
David Brass~Thursday, 6 January, 2011 - 09:00 | 0 comments
Australian researchers have developed a fast-growing giant napier grass that cleans up toxic soil, and can also be converted to ethanol for transport or combusted for electricity.
Grown at an experimental plantation at Shaoguan University in China, t...
Madeleine Lewis~Tuesday, 4 January, 2011 - 09:00 | 0 comments
Climate News and Knowledge is our fortnightly round up of some of the main stories covering climate change and sustainable farming. This time there is talk of super dairies, sustainable woodland, investment in agriculture and yet more concern over fu...
Will Frazer~Monday, 13 December, 2010 - 13:51 | 0 comments
Trudging through the snow yesterday in our wellies was just like any other day for the Farming Futures team. We’ve held many a workshop in the snow, freezing cold, gusting winds or driving rain. But yesterday was a little different – unde...
Madeleine Lewis~Friday, 3 December, 2010 - 13:10 | 0 comments
Climate News and Knowledge is our fortnightly round up of some of the main stories covering climate change and sustainable farming. This time there is talk of super dairies, sustainable woodland, investment in agriculture and yet more concern over fu...
William Frazer~Friday, 26 November, 2010 - 13:20 | 1 comments
Climate News and Knowledge is our fortnightly round up of some of the main stories covering climate change and sustainable farming. This time there is talk of investment in research, counter-productive biofuel plans, the credibility of solar PV and s...
Will Frazer~Friday, 12 November, 2010 - 12:00 | 0 comments
To start November with a bit of a bang, the Farming Futures team are very excited to announce that we have been nominated for another award – the project has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Green Public Sector Campaign’ at the global...
Kate O'Hagan~Thursday, 4 November, 2010 - 10:11 | 0 comments
Farming Futures has been shortlisted for the Good Web Guide's 'Website of the Year Award'! The Good Web Guide received 1809 entries and we were one of the chosen few selected by the judges on Thursday to get through to the final round. Thanks to all...
Kate o'Hagan~Friday, 29 October, 2010 - 10:20 | 0 comments
By 2050 electricity demand will at least double current levels, and simultaneously, the UK is legally bound to reducing carbon emissions by 80%. This means we’re going to see an increasing electrification of every part of our energy network. He...
Juliet Davenport~Thursday, 28 October, 2010 - 14:03 | 0 comments