pollinator

Experts state that seed quality often directly correlates with a farmer’s crop yield. High-quality seeds are superior to other seed varieties in physiological purity and are usually free from seed-borne diseases. For those unfamiliar with the agricultural industry, you can determine seed quality...

Climate change is affecting both agriculture and the environment. As a leader in agriculture, we are committed to providing technologies, services and training to help farming become carbon neutral as well as reducing the climate footprint of our operations in line with the Paris Climate...

Woody Harrelson and Kiss the Ground may have brought the approach to a wider audience, but regenerative agriculture is nothing new. In the first installment of a three-part series, Peter Dunne explains what regenerative agriculture is, and why we should extract with the knowledge and intent to...

Lower Smite Farm Lower Smite farm has been owned by the Wildlife Trust since 2001 and demonstrates how sensitive farming techniques can improve the agricultural landscape for wildlife. Caroline Corsie has managed the farm since 2008 and quickly started improving the farms soil health and...

This funding has been allocated to the Small Research and Development (R&D) Partnerships and Research Starter Pilot competitions. Small R&D Partnerships The Small R&D Partnerships competition, managed by UK Research and Innovation’s Transforming Food Production (TFP) challenge, ran from October...

RESOURCE EXPLAINED: The Wild Pollinator Farm Health Check is based on a model (the Pollinator Habitat Assessment Guide) developed by the Xerces Society in the US. You can identify where you can make improvements on your farm to encourage wild pollinators and beneficial insects through scoring...

By Alyssa Gordon It’s no secret – modern agricultural systems could use a facelift. Although vast fields of corn and soybeans are a marvel to behold, alternatives to monocultures are increasingly popular among large-scale growers and smallholders alike. In the face of global challenges like...

RESOURCE EXPLAINED: This document was created as an accompaniment to a podcast as part of a Farming the Future A-Team Foundation-funded project that aimed to promote agroforestry as a way of farmers and landowners simultaneously and sustainably growing food, transitioning into the new ELM...

Baobab trees in Madagascar. The pulp of the baobab tree’s fruit is one example of a lesser-known healthy tree food, due to its extreme richness in vitamin C. SRUC has contributed to a new report which explains the essential role of trees and forests in delivering nutritious food to all while...

Dr Cate Williams: IBERS, Aberystwyth University. The environmental issues and emerging resistance to pesticides has prompted the consideration of alternative strategies, including biological agents. Toxins from bacteria have been incorporated into biopesticide formulations as efficient...

RESOURCE EXPLAINED: Growing two or more plant species in close proximity (‘plant teams’) is a practice that can be used to improve crop production in terms of increased productivity, more efficient resource use, reduced reliance on crop protection chemicals, and enhanced biodiversity. This...

Abstract: More than twenty years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations contributed to the growing recognition of the role of pollination in agricultural production, with the publication of “The Pollination of Cultivated Plants in the Tropics”. Since that time, the...

Abstract: For centuries bees, busy as they are known to be, have benefited people, plants and the planet. But did you know that bees are not the only ones that sustain life on earth? By carrying pollen from one flower to another, bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators facilitate...

Nori Balances the Interests and Concerns of Both Sides of the Carbon Market Nori has created a different kind of carbon marketplace. We’ve lowered the barrier to entry for new carbon removal projects because we believe that farmers can make money while benefiting the environment. The more...

Integrated pest management The over-use of pesticides can cause chemical resistance in weeds, pests and diseases, leading to yet greater use of pesticides as higher strengths are needed, which can lead to the eventual long-term loss of an active ingredient through regulations. What Integrated...

Addressing the challenges of climate change requires global collaboration and local action. According to the Climate Clock nonprofit, the world now has little over six years to achieve net zero emissions and rein in the creeping rise in average temperatures. Traditional agricultural activities...

Rome - Hard-working little creatures, precious allies for the health of the planet and the lives of human beings, bees and other pollinators play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems, are critical for food production and livelihoods and directly link wild ecosystems with agricultural...

RESOURCE EXPLAINED: Our pollinators contribute around £690 million a year to the UK economy yet their numbers are continuing to decline. Whether its bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths or beetles - more than 6,000 species of invertebrate can provide pollination services to varying levels...

Combating Weeds Without Combing Through Fields Physically inspecting every hectare or acre of your farm for potential problems is neither realistic nor cost-effective. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why data-driven digital tools have become a vital part of monitoring crops for a variety of...

UK grasslands are an essential cog in ecosystem function. They lock in vast amounts of carbon, accounting for one-third of the earth’s carbon storage and two billion tonnes of carbon in UK grassland soils. Above and below the surface, species-rich grasslands support diverse life, including...