Environment minister accused of conflict of interest over farm subsidies
Lord Gardiner, who will be involved in reforming EU farming support post-Brexit, receives £49,000 a year in payments, it has been revealed One of Theresa May’s new environment ministers has been accused by campaigners of a conflict of interest over tens of thousands of pounds he receives annually in EU farming subsidies. Lord Gardiner is […]
One Nation's Malcolm Roberts vows to halt 'ridiculous lies' on climate change
Roberts wins second seat in Queensland for Pauline Hanson’s party and calls for government to abandon all policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gases On the day the government moved to save 15 of 35 climate science positions planned to be cut at the CSIRO, the Senate election results in Queensland showed One Nation’s Malcolm […]
National Trust calls for complete reform of British farm subsidies
Proposals would see the basic income support system of subsidies scrapped and farmers being paid out of public funds for environmental services The National Trust has called for complete reform of the British farm subsidy system after Brexit, by ending payments for owning land and only rewarding farmers who improve the environment and help wildlife. […]
Sea shell, a masterpiece of animal architecture
Warkworth beach, Northumberland Wave-agitated sand had ground down the shell revealing its hidden structure, a helter-skelter chamber We have beachcombed this tideline on scores of summer days but have only gone home with painted top shells (Calliostoma zyzyphinum) on a handful of occasions. Of all the shells washed ashore here, this is the most desirable: […]
CSIRO cuts: Turnbull government orders U-turn on climate science research
Organisation to lose 20 positions instead of initial 96 as Greg Hunt says ‘it’s a new government and we’re laying out a direction that climate science matters’ Only 20 climate science positions will be lost from the CSIRO, down from an initial 96, after the Turnbull government intervened, issuing a ministerial directive to the independent […]
Mining town Coober Pedy shows the rest of Australia how to turn to renewables
The South Australian town is abandoning its reliance on expensive diesel and forging a future in which most of its power comes from wind and solar Coober Pedy is the epitome of the Australian mining town. Located in the South Australian outback, it is as famous for its opals as it is for the extraordinary […]
Queensland fisherman caught selling bills of endangered sawfish
Exclusive: In photographs obtained by Guardian Australia, a fisherman can be seen selling the rostrums – long, saw-like bills – at a market in Mackay in June A commercial fisher in Queensland has been caught selling bills of sawfish, which experts say are the world’s most endangered marine fish. Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
Can blockchain be a ‘trust machine’ for food supply chains?
The food industry faces significant challenges, recent analysis has claimed that nearly 50% of all US food produced is wasted, while global estimates put the figure above 30%. This is especially difficult to accept to in a context where a significant percentage of the global population still live without secure access to plentiful amounts of […]
Brexit could herald end to British fruit and veg sales, producers warn
Many of the country’s biggest producers say that without a scheme for seasonal workers, homegrown produce would all but vanish from the shelves Farmers and migrant workers: how has Brexit affected you? British fruit and vegetables would all but vanish from shops if Brexit means the foreign workers who pick virtually all the home-grown produce […]
Italy tackles food waste with law encouraging firms to donate food
Restaurant customers will be encouraged to use doggy bags as part of move to save 1m tonnes of food a year Italy has made it easier for companies and farmers to donate food to charities and is encouraging greater use of “doggy bags” at restaurants as part of a legislative push to curb the epidemic […]