Archive for the ‘ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS’ Category

Greenhouse Gas Emissions /energy and biodiversity

Tuomisto H L, Hodge I D, Riordan P and Macdonald D W (2012). Comparing energy balances, greenhouse gas balances and biodiversity impacts of contrasting farming systems with alternative land uses, Agricultural Systems 108 (2012) 42–49

Conclusions  Even though the conventional systems had the highest energy inputs and GHG emissions per food product output, the whole farm energy and GHG balances were far more favourable for the conventional systems compared to the organic systems once the availability of extra land was taken into account. The results also suggest that integrated farming systems that use the best practices for producing high yields while using environmentally beneficial farming practices can lead to more favourable whole farm energy and GHG balances and the lowest negative impacts on biodiversity compared to organic and conventional systems.

 

I think its called sustainable intensification !!

FFEN Defra Risk assessment for climate change in UK with full evidence review for Agriculture (hort also) and Biodiversity (includes peat )

Click Here to view the Defra Climate Change Risk Assessment

You can also find the Agriculture Review here

and the Biodiversity Review here

The Defra Task Force publishes its Work Programme and timetable (notice subtle change of name from Sustainable Growing Media TF to Peat TF )

Click Here to view article

Hedgerows provide corridors for foraging bumblebees

Researchers at the University of Northampton have published research on how bees use hedgerows to search for nectar-rich flowers.

Read an article in the Guardian about the research here. The original article in the scientific journal Oikos can also be found here.

STC currently have a pilot project looking at adding value to hedgrows and other farming landscape features by sowing wildflowers and shrubs along the hedge base. Stc are also looking at choosing tree and hedgrow species to provide nectar and pollen for bees during their entire active season. For further details, please contact Dr Luke Tilley (luketilley@stc-nyorks.co.uk)

FFEN Greener living is a hard sell Report from Rowntree Foundation

Click Here to read the report.