Can Britain be a nation of tea growers? Scientists say yes – and it could even be good for your health

From Devon to mid-Wales, scientists are finding that UK-grown tea isn’t just possible – it could be good for people and the planet.

Nigel Holt, Professor of Psychology, Aberystwyth University • conversation
June 17, 2025 • ~6 min

The psychology of climate traps and how to avoid them

Climate shocks trigger emotional distress, which limits long-term thinking and can lead to environmentally harmful choices.

Lucrezia Nava, Assistant Professor, Climate Psychology, Carbon Dioxide Removals, Business School, University of Exeter • conversation
May 21, 2025 • ~7 min

How to tackle new strains of potato blight and avoid another great famine

Dependence on a single crop is risky. When blight strikes vulnerable communities, the consequences can be devastating.

David O'Connor, Associate Professor, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University • conversation
May 20, 2025 • ~7 min

How human connections shaped the spread of farming among ancient communities

Human history has been shaped by interactions between communities.

Alfredo Cortell, Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology • conversation
April 25, 2025 • ~8 min

When farmers and scientists collaborate, biodiversity and agriculture can thrive – here’s how

Farmers can take ownership of nature recovery actions and scientific expertise can adapt to local knowledge in the design of environmental outcomes.

Matt Lobley, Professor of Rural Resource Management, University of Exeter • conversation
April 1, 2025 • ~8 min

Methane emissions are turbocharging climate change – these quick fixes could slow it down

Cover landfills and manure tanks and shrink dairy herds, for a start.

Euan Nisbet, Professor of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London • conversation
March 5, 2025 • ~8 min

How smarter greenhouses could improve the UK’s food security

Around 70% of the Britain’s 12,000 greenhouses are more than 40 years old. So there’s a huge opportunity for hi-tech horticulture to improve food security.

Sven Batke, Associate Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange - Reader in Plant Science, Edge Hill University • conversation
Feb. 11, 2025 • ~7 min

Five reasons why vertical farming is still the future, despite all the recent business failures

The world’s largest indoor vertical farm closed its doors in late 2024, capping a bad run for this fledgling sector.

Gail Taylor, Dean of Life Sciences, UCL • conversation
Jan. 28, 2025 • ~8 min

Protesting farmers are having to fight off the radical right, conspiracy theorists and climate sceptics

Until farmers get a fair deal, other groups will seek to exploit the situation.

Tom Carter-Brookes, Leverhulme Doctoral Scholar, Sustainable Rural Futures, Keele University • conversation
Dec. 13, 2024 • ~6 min

Five steps agriculture in Wales should take to help reach net zero

Wales is considering how to achieve net zero by 2035, but significant changes are needed to meet this target.

Judith Thornton, Low Carbon Manager, Aberystwyth University • conversation
Nov. 27, 2024 • ~7 min

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