Sustainable Food Trust
Articles, films and images from the Sustainable Food Trust.
Articles, films and images from the Sustainable Food Trust.
As talk of transition, hard borders and ‘no-deal’ spreads, we wanted to find out how farmers and food businesses across the country were feeling about the future of UK agriculture.
In this podcast Andrew Green talks to Andrew Parr, chairman of J & FJ Baker and Co Ltd - the only remaining oak bark tannery remaining in Britain.
Matt Dunwell from Ragmans Farm interviews Darren Doherty on the true cost of our agricultural systems on the environment and our health, ahead of a new course led by Darren on Regrarians Farm Planning...
The Sustainable Food Trust welcomes Michael Gove's comments in support of small abattoirs
In this recorded interview with Professor Michael Lee we explore the importance of grass and grazing livestock, as well as the role of dairy in a healthy diet
Take part in the All-Party Group for Animal Welfare inquiry into the importance of small abattoirs
In the final of our Brexit series on farmer and food industry perspectives, Nathan Richards, organic grower in West Wales, gives his thoughts on what Brexit entails for small-scale vegetable growing
In this interview originally published by Borough Market, Ellie Costigan asks Patrick Holden why our food system needs to change if irreversible climate change, a biodiversity catastrophe and the brea...
Dairy and arable farmer Haydn Evans says post-Brexit he "would like to see more bespoke support systems with less regulation and more opportunity for innovation and investment that allows the rural ec...
Our session at the Oxford Real Farming conference, provided an update on the progress being made in persuading governments and markets to adopt an approach, which could for the first time link outcome...
Arable farmer Peter Lundgren shares his hopes for an Agriculture Bill post-Brexit that will reverse the damage caused by the Common Agricultural Policy.
Watch our video from the Nitrogen panel at the Oxford Real Farming Conference
As recent studies suggest consumers are becoming more concerned about avoiding plastic than they are about price, can small businesses be nimble enough to take advantage of this new consumer awareness...
"I’m not confident at all that the UK Government will be sufficiently prepared to support the British horticulture industry when we leave the EU – which is really worrying to me as a producer" say...
We would greatly appreciate it if you would write to your MP (find out who here), asking them to consider supporting Amendment 49 to the Agriculture Bill, which would see small abattoirs included in t...
Adventurer, journalist and runner, Alice Morrison travelled to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco to live with the Imlilin whilst training for the Everest Trail Race. Alice describes why family, food and ...
Sanjay Rawal is a film director based in the United States, his latest film, '3100: Run and Become', follows the participants of one of the world’s most elusive and challenging multi-day races. Sanj...
While we welcome the analysis in the EAT-Lancet report, we argue that some of the main dietary recommendations are incompatible with the food production outcomes of truly sustainable farming systems
In light of our recent session on 'Nitrogen Pollution' at the ORFC, and at the start of what will surely be an eventful and affirming year in terms of agricultural policy in the UK, we spoke to dairy ...
At the Oxford Real Farming conference 2019, the Campaign for Local Abattoirs and the Sustainable Food Trust hosted a session on Local Abattoirs, which discussed why they are closing and how we can sav...
Eliot Coleman in conversation with Patrick Holden at the Oxford Real Farming Conference
Amidst a week of heightened political uncertainty, we speak to Garth Clark, Estate Manager at Waddesdon, about the future viability of the estate post-Brexit
With only a few months remaining before our scheduled departure from the European Union, we speak to Tim Budden of Higher Hacknell Organic Farm in North Devon, who says that his "biggest concerns abou...
Farmer Andrew Barbour reflects on what effect Brexit might have on the uplands, where his farm is home to a herd of 50 sucklers and 400 sheep.
With the Welsh Government’s consultation period for Brexit and our land: Securing the future of Welsh farming closing today, the Sustainable Food Trust has released a policy briefing paper on our vi...
The SFT is pleased to support the key messages in The RSA’s Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s ‘Our Common Ground’ progress report
In a Parliamentary Briefing paper the Sustainable Food Trust and the Campaign for Local Abattoirs call for the assistance of MPs and Peers in helping to ensure the survival of the local meat sector, w...
The Agriculture Bill received its second reading on Wednesday and in response, the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT) published a policy briefing paper to outline its position on the Bill. While the briefin...
In this important paper, Craig Sams, former Soil Association Chairman and co-founder of Carbon Gold, argues compellingly for the introduction of soil carbon building incentives in the post brexit po...
The Sustainable Food Trust has welcomed key aspects of the Agriculture Bill but remains concerned that in extending the scope of the post-Brexit farm support package to embrace wider environmental obj...
Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths visited Patrick Holden founder and chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust at his organic dairy farm Bwlchwernen ...
The Sustainable Food Trust has been greatly saddened to learn of the death of Lord Peter Melchett
Thirty-four organisations, reflecting a wide range of food, farming, consumer and nature conservation interests have written to Defra’s Secretary of State, Michael Gove, asking him to take urgent ac...
On 3 July, members of the Campaign for Local Abattoirs gave presentations to a well-attended meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare
National Craft Butchers have outlined their position on the future of small abattoirs, calling for constructive and innovative government involvement
In a session at The Future of UK Farming conference the panel discussed how to transform the economic environment for sustainable food production by empowering farmers to deliver measurable public go...
In this interview with Food Tank, Patrick talks about TEEBAgriFood and their recent report on how to evaluate agriculture and food systems while considering a range of social, human, and environmenta...
This end of project report from the Scottish Islands Abattoir Project shows how significant and beneficial small, island abattoirs are to farmers and the local economy.
Patrick Holden sets out the Sustainable Food Trust's position on a range of issues and shares his thoughts on the future of UK farming post-Brexit in this For Food's Sake podcast with Matteo De Vos
The Sustainable Food Trust submitted a response to the government’s call for evidence on controlling live exports for slaughter and to improve animal welfare during transport after the UK leaves t...
If you missed The Future of UK Farming Conference, or simply want to re-live it, these films capture the sessions in full and include a series of thought-provoking audience questions related to themes...
Check out these recently published books on a range of sustainable food and farming issues
This is an exciting opportunity for someone to experience living and working on an organic smallholding in a beautiful setting
The 2018 Bristol Food Connections festival, taking place from 11 th – 17 th June, includes over 120 events and activities in all corners of Bristol including Patrick Holden and Richard Dunne explori...
The Future of UK Farming conference this April 2018 included keynote speeches from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove and NFU President Minette Batters, w...
Patrick joins Sir Peter Kendall (AHDB), Angela Francis (Green Alliance) and Angela Karp (Rothamsted Research) in a debate chaired by Tom Heap to explore the meaning of 'public money for public goods' ...
The week-long celebration of Bristol’s food scene will take place from 11-17th June, with over 120 events & activities in all corners of Bristol
The Sustainable Food Trust has submitted a response to Defra's command paper consultation, Health and Harmony: The future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit
The Campaign for Local Abattoirs submits their response to the Defra Health and Harmony command paper consultation
The Future of UK Farming conference, organised by the SFT, took place this past weekend with over 300 people attending. Hosted by Sir Alan and Lady Parker at Fir Farm in the beautiful Cotswolds, it wa...
At the Future of UK Farming conference an expert panel explained why the continuing decline of small abattoirs is bad for animal welfare and runs against the growing public demand for local, traceable...
Michael Gove became the first Defra Minister to accept the critical link between sustainable food systems and healthy diets, and warned we must not, “hack at the roots of the tree of life”
The Future of UK Farming conference made the news following Secretary of State for Environment, Michael Gove's statement on meat and livestock as well as our session on the issue of small abattoir clo...
A farm walk journeying three miles from the source of the River Dickler, marked the start of the recent Future of UK Farming Conference. Led by Guy Hayward of the British Pilgrimage Trust, the walk ...
The Future of Farming, a 2-day conference [1] on 27-28 April, organised by the Sustainable Food Trust [2] is taking place at a crucial time in the final week of Defra’s Health and Harmony command pa...
John Mettrick is a butcher and small abattoir owner in Derbyshire and President of the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders. The NFMFT have now put out a press release endorsing many of the k...
The Sustainable Food Trust hosted a session on re-localising farm animal slaughter at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2018
A new report from the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT) finds that the UK’s network of small local abattoirs is near collapse. Without urgent action there will be a huge loss of consumer choice because t...
Llandovery College has created an exciting new internship programme linking principles of food, harmony and health. Interns will learn about, and help to develop, a healthy and nutritious food system...
Watch the film of our session at the Oxford Real Farming Conference where we presented our work on sustainability metrics
Building upon the success of last years conference, the SFT hosted a Harmony in Food and Farming inspired session at this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference highlighting the importance of integra...
This report demonstrates a significant opportunity for convergence in sustainability assessment tools by identifying the best features of the existing tools and where there is scope for further harmon...
Patrick speaks on The World Tonight alongside Labour MP Kerry McCarthy about Michael Gove's post-Brexit plans
A new report by the Sustainable Food Trust on the hidden cost of UK food finds that UK citizens pay twice as much for food as they realise
Patrick Holden shares his thoughts on The Secret Life of Cows as well as the inspiration he took from it in relation to his own dairy herd
This is an initial response to Grazed and Confused, a report by Food Climate Research Network
A new report by the Pesticide Action Network UK reveals that fruit and vegetables given to four to six year old children contain residues of 123 different pesticides
In this short summary film we bring you highlights from our Harmony in Food and Farming conference, each clip capturing the essence of the event and what it means to bring principles of harmony into t...
Here you can find films of the parallel sessions from our Harmony in Food and Farming conference
Artist Sandra Pepys created an exhibition at our Harmony in Food and Farming conference that sought to convey the theme of harmony through painting
The Prince of Wales gave a keynote address at our Harmony in Food and Farming conference where he spoke about the harmony principles for the first time. Here we publish a transcript and film of his fu...
The keynote speeches from the Harmony in Food and Farming conference explore the breadth of harmony principles and how they relate to agriculture, including music, education and the economy
These images of the Harmony in Food and Farming conference were captured by Ashley Dobbs of the Green Cities Foundation
The Sustainable Food Trust today publishes summary proceedings of an international conference which brought together leading experts to establish the true cost of American food
Barny Haughton, Bristol-based chef and founder of the Square Food Foundation, speaks to us about why he got involved with the Harmony in Food and Farming Conference
Dame Ellen MacArthur will be speaking at our Harmony in Food and Farming Conference on 10th July, in Llandovery, Wales. Read this Q&A to find out more
Gaye Donaldson and Nick Mayhew will be running a session at the Harmony in Food and Farming Conference called Reconciling Systemic Discord in which they will introduce a leading-edge methodology used ...
The eminent conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner will be taking part in our Harmony in Food and Farming Conference on the 10th and 11th July 2017 where he will explore the connection between harmony in m...
Looking for a new book to read? Check out our recommended reads for 2017. From stark and sobering warnings about species decline to practical how-to guides for small farms, our list has something for ...
Bronwen Percival, cheese buyer at Neal's Yard Dairy, tells us more about her work and the importance of fostering and managing natural microbial communities through admirable farming practices
Watch our new film about Ragman's Lane - a farm based on permaculture design principles. The farm has a diversity of enterprises and is a hub for farmer-led innovation in biofertilisers and education...
One farmer's story about switching to more sustainable practices and how grazing livestock can be key to rebuilding soil and reducing chemical inputs
At Blaencamel, a 50-acre organic farm in the Aeron Valley in Wales, compost is the key to success. This film is about how to make compost the Blaencamel way.
Register your interest for our Harmony in Food and Farming Conference, taking place on the 10th and 11th July 2017 at Llandovery College, Wales
How can remote areas with harsh climates eat local, sustainably produced food all year round? This film is about Blaencamel, an organic farm in west Wales
Watch the film about part three of our sustainable livestock event with Joel Salatin, featuring Lord Newborough, Tim Field, John Meadely, Joel Salatin, Patrick Holden and Nessie Reid
This new programme from hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones features Sustainable Food Trust Chief Exec Patrick Holden on his farm in West Wales
Our series of films featuring Joel Salatin continues with the second session from Fir Farm in which we discuss at the importance of on-farm processing
In this film from the Oxford Real Farming Conference, Richard Young argues that almost everything we've been told about fats is wrong and has had serious negative consequences
In this film, Joel Salatin talks about taking sustainable livestock production from theory to practice. We also hear from dairy farmer Robert Craig and cattle farmer Andrew Brewster
Farmers share their thoughts, take home actions and exciting ideas following an inspirational two days at Fir Farm in Gloucestershire with pioneering livestock farmer, Joel Salatin
Findings of a new peer-reviewed study led by Dr Michael Antoniou reveal major differences in the composition between a GMO corn and its non-GMO parent
This week: Hill farmers face poverty and resort to food banks following late subsidy payments, Lidl gravy contains paint thinner chemicals and new study adds to evidence that neonicotinoids harm bees
Watch the film of our event in Bristol featuring a fantastic talk by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, USA, followed by an engaging panel discussion and audience Q&A
This week: free range eggs have higher levels of Vitamin D, new study suggests saturated fat could be good for you and global palm oil brands are profiting from child labour
From seed diversity to the ethics of meat eating, these recent films will make you think more about your food and where it comes from
Do livestock hold the key to a healthy planet and population? Tickets are available now for our upcoming event in Bristol, featuring Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm
By identifying, quantifying and monetising the costs and benefits of farming systems, Dr Harpinder Sandhu's farm sustainability assessment allows us to understand the true cost of food
The findings of a new study highlight the need to address overuse of antibiotics in intensive livestock production in order to tackle rise of antibiotic resistant infections
Watch the parallel sessions from our True Cost of American Food conference, featuring discussions around food waste, education, the future of food and more