Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: Wheat Genome, Fishing Quotas, Willow Bats

17/08/2018

Wheat Genome, Fishing Quotas, Willow Bats

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Wheat Genome, Fishing Quotas, Willow Bats

Wheat genome, Fishing quotas and harvest of willow for cricket bats.

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside. Scientists have mapped the entire sequence of the wheat genome. And a Devon fisherman is fined for cheating on his quota.

Wheat is one of the most complex structures on the planet and now the complete sequence of the wheat genome has been published. And that's a big deal for farming because understanding the vast data discovered will lead to new innovations in breeding and disease resistance. Philippa Borrill, a Research Fellow at the John Innes Centre in Norwich is one of the 200 scientists, from 73 research institutions world-wide, who've unlocked the secrets of the wheat genome. 

A Plymouth based fisherman has been fined for cheating on his quota of fish. Graeme Searle was charged £22,000 in fines and costs for landing 4 tonnes of pollock from one of boats, but claiming it was caught by a different boat, which hadn't actually left the harbour. The false record would have allowed him to exceed his quota for the month. 
Searle is part of the Plymouth-based Sole of Discretion small boat collective which brands itself as 'ethical & sustainable' business providing fish to restaurants, delis and box schemes. It was set up by Caroline Bennett who founded the Mushi Mushi sushi restaurant in London in the mid-1990s. Caroline accepts that Graham Searle broke the rules but she argues the case highlights a hopeless situation for Britain's small boats, which have a tiny proportion of the total UK quota. 

And we meet a Shropshire farmer who's planted willow trees to make cricket bats. 
Presented by Sybil Ruscoe and produced by Sally Challoner.

BBC Radio 4

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

Wheat Genome, Fishing Quotas, Willow Bats

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4