06 June

A new law which is intended to protect nature and reverse the loss of wildlife has been introduced by the Welsh government. If the bill passes, it will allow the public to challenge organisations in Wales, including councils, on environmental issues such as water pollution. Public bodies in Wales will also be forced to publish nature recovery action plans, with targets set by the Welsh government.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has rejected a request from the Tenant Farmers Association to allow a wider range of farmers to finish their Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 scheme applications, who argued that they should have been given six weeks’ notice by Defra before the SFI scheme closed unexpectedly in March.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Alistair Carmichael MP has called for a “single regulator from the farm gate to the supermarket shelves” to protect food producers and consumers from the behaviour of major supermarkets during a debate in parliament on the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

A new report from the Coronation Gardens for Food and Nature project is calling upon local councils to raise their ambition for community food growing after finding significant benefits for community well-being and nature restoration, including boosting soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and soil carbon storage.

A recent report from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has shown the extensive effects of the drought conditions of early Spring on crop growth. As of late May, only 36% of winter wheat crops were rated in good or excellent condition, a significant drop from 60% just one month earlier. As well as the drought conditions, poor nutrient uptake and limited tillering are also reported to be exacerbating the pressure on yields.

From 1st June, disposable vapes are banned across the UK. The ban on vapes has long been campaigned for by environmental groups, as they pose multiple threats to soil health, ranging from soil pollution from the plastic and heavy metals they contain, to releasing neonicotinoids which are harmful to pollinators.

Premier Foods has announced a new regenerative agriculture trial aimed at reducing emissions across its wheat supply chain. The trial includes using low carbon fertiliser and precision farming technology to reduce the quantity of fertiliser used, soil management improvements, and the use of straw at harvest.