The Source

This technological evolution is not merely changing the machinery in the field; it is forcing a complete rethink of agrochemical formulation, accelerating the development of novel active ingredients, and colliding head-on with the shifting regulatory landscape of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

Greenhouse gas emissions, acidification and eutrophication potential all declined over the past decade, though reductions vary widely between regions.

In the agricultural sector, how employees are paid, hourly or salaried, can have a significant impact on both the business and the individual. As someone who works closely with farm owners, managers, and candidates throughout the various stages of recruitment, I see first-hand how these payment structures influence hiring, retention, and overall job satisfaction.

The OneWelPig project is focused on creating a more sustainable way to raise pigs. This work is guided by the ‘One Welfare’ idea, which is simple: the health and happiness of animals, people, and the environment are completely linked.

The Review provides a portfolio of Niab’s current and recently completed fruit research projects, providing short summaries of the results and key findings for the industry.

A farm’s new riparian woodland shows how targeted tree planting can deliver major water and climate benefits.

“Our findings indicate that in-field flower strips or derived legume-based intercropping systems can help reduce reliance on pesticide use in agriculture.”

The position that farming holds in the public consciousness can have the power to make or break a sector. Rarely is the whole of agriculture under threat at once but most of us have seen the industry suffer body blows when it comes to the rise and fall of public opinion. 

The Scottish Government has published its ‘Rural Support Plan’ (RSP) for 2026-2030.

In essence, removing grazers set off a chain reaction: grasses were replaced by shrubs, which in turn changed the soil’s microbial and chemical environment in a way that favoured the breakdown of the most valuable, long-lasting form of soil carbon.

This study strengthens the case that prescribed burning and carefully executed cutting both have roles in maintaining healthy, functioning peatlands. Both methods help shift vegetation towards species typical of active bog, support biodiversity, and reduce long‑term risks such as wildfire and heather senescence

Result-based payments with collective contracts motivate higher conservation efforts in our experiment when external risks are high. Further, high risks appear to foster group cooperation under collective contracts, potentially leading to more equitable and predictable outcomes.