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Farming Today: Self Sufficiency Day, WW1 egg collection, Crohn's disease

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07/08/2014

Self Sufficiency Day, WW1 egg collection, Crohn's disease

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Self Sufficiency Day, WW1 egg collection, Crohn's disease

Today is Self-Sufficiency Day, but what does it mean when it comes to food security?

Farming news with Felicity Evans. Today is Self-Sufficiency Day, the date we would run out of food if we didn't import it. Does it matter whether the UK is self-sufficient or not?

The National Farmers' Union has dubbed August 7th 'Self Sufficiency Day' - the date we'd run out of food if we didn't import any. But does it matter whether or not the UK is self-sufficient in food, and what impact does it have on food security? Felicity Evans chairs a lively discussion between Phil Bicknell, the NFU's chief economist, and Gene Philhower, agriculture councillor at the US Embassy in London.

New research has found that a bacterial pathogen that comes from cattle, sheep and other animals, and is suspected of being associated with Crohn's Disease in humans, is sometimes present in the fine spray from rivers and our bathroom showers. MAP, as it's known, has already been proven to cause Johne's Disease in cattle. Professor Roger Pickup from Lancaster University tells Felicity what his research revealed.

And, continuing a week of special reports to commemorate 100 years since the start of the First World War, we hear the remarkable story of Chrissie Squire from Dorset. She collected eggs for wounded soldiers and wrote poems and letters on the shells - an act of kindness that's remembered to this day.

Presented by Felicity Evans and produced in Bristol by Anna Jones.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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