Professor Ian Boyd DEFRA exit interview

[JP1]

Anyone else hear him and his interview with Roger Harrabin on BBC Radio 4 Today programme a moment ago ?

Chief Scientific Advisor at DEFRA on leaving

UK Farming inefficient and will have to change

Red meat production will have to change to fast, inside production to reduce CO2 and methane overall production. Red meat consumption should also fall

Hills should be covered in trees not sheep and cattle

Harrabin’s report did state (but no counter interview) that the NFU was diametrically opposed to this view

I conclude he leaves a legacy of many Civil Servants affirmed to his beliefs

To me a massive kick in the nuts and for everything I hold so dear with regard to hill and extensive livestock farming working with natural resources and for real stock people who’ve created and maintain our beautiful landscape

 

[tje]

Yes ! Heard it as well ...very disappointing...

 

[David.]

What do you expect, Defra was loaded with ministers and officials opposed to the status quo of maximum production agriculture under Blair from its inception, to rub farming's nose in the MAFF failings that led to foot and mouth. Surely you have not forgotten all the gleeful Orwellian references to the "New Normality", in the aftermath, and having then having put political non entities like Beckett in charge..

 

[primmiemoo]

What a shame he hasn't kept up with the science, and shows little understanding of how his ideas would lead to the UK importing a greater environment impact of living in general.

 

[JP1]

Today. Right now. Ideal open goal for the NFU to score a winning penalty @Guy Smith ?

 

[delilah]

Today. Right now. Ideal open goal for the NFU to score a winning penalty @Guy Smith ?

Didn't hear the interview, but it is surely beholden on the NFU to get themselves on r4 and respond forceably to this, or if they don't have anyone to hand (and if they haven't, then why not ?) then they should get this guy on:

https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaign...lture-can-help-us-deliver-net-zero-emissions/

 

[yellowbelly]

Seems from Wikipedia....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_L._Boyd
...that he is more of a marine scientist.
There's an interesting quote amongst that lot.....

In October 2013, Professor Boyd rebutted these opinions. Boyd stated that the point he was making in July was that "it is not their (scientists) job to make politicians' decisions for them – when scientists start providing opinions about whether policies are right or wrong they risk becoming politicised. A politicised scientist cannot also be an independent scientist."

.......seems he doesn't practice what he preaches

 

[Bogweevil]

Balanced report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50092540

 

[milkloss]

Today. Right now. Ideal open goal for the NFU to score a winning penalty @Guy Smith ?

I like it when people are all bright, cheery and optimistic the morning. Sadly I’m just not one of those.

 

[JP1]

Balanced report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50092540

Partly. Belching is a pejorative term for a start. The radio didn't feature any of that alternative view

 

[delilah]

Partly. Belching is a pejorative term for a start. The radio didn't feature any of that alternative view

This is the problem though: There is nothing alternative about that NFU stance. They are still saying that methane from cows is a problem, and that it will be bred out of them.

METHANE FROM COWS IS NOT A PROBLEM.

Until the NFU get their heads around this, they continue to be part of the problem themselves.

 

[kfpben]

A response below. Quite good I thought from the NFU. Especially the part where Sir Ian says the NFU have too much political influence. ?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50092540

 

[delilah]

A response below. Quite good I thought from the NFU. Especially the part where Sir Ian says the NFU have too much political influence. ?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50092540

That article was posted further up, and my response above covers it. This is not a good response from the NFU, they are simply perpetuating the myth that methane from cows is a problem.
See the thread in the livestock section: What sort of an industry goes around admitting to crimes it hasn't committed ?

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/warning-contains-positive-news.303245/

 

[PB1507]

I heard the report this morning and it did nothing to improve my rain sodden mood. Yet again an "expert" telling us all where we have gone wrong ? hasn't the policies of DEFRA got us where we are today ? And as for inefficiency, every challenge given to UK agriculture we rise to. Enjoy your retirement.

 

[JP1]

@egbert

 

[Two Tone]

Deaf-Error at its absolute best again!

 

[vantage]

Retiring to walk the dogs in the countryside, created and managed by farmers.

 

[egbert]

@egbert

yeah, I know. I'll probably weave it in somewhere, but that bird has flown now.
Bet there's a nice golden handshake and/or socking great pension with the job.
Who succeeds? (and the answer is NOT 'a toothless parrot')

 

[Cowgirl]

Why anyone is listening to a biologist / environmentalist from St Andrews University with no knowledge of farming is beyond me!

 

[David.]

Because he has letters after his name, to have any credibility you have to be a professional. Professors score double points; Lacey, he was right wasnt he..