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Farming Today: 04/06/20 Green recovery after Covid19; blackcurrants; wildflower meadow restoration; antibiotics

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04/06/20 Green recovery after Covid19; blackcurrants; wildflower meadow restoration; antibiotics

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 04/06/20 Green recovery after Covid19; blackcurrants; wildflower meadow restoration; antibiotics

Environment after lockdown; breeding blackcurrants; restoring meadows; antibiotics on farm

What future for the environment post coronavirus? Scientists breeding the perfect blackcurrant. Restoring wildife meadows. Antibiotics and US/UK trade talks.

Cornavirus has had a massive impact on the world economy, with warnings that it will take years to repair the damage, now there are calls for our financial recovery to take more account of environmental issues. The Green Alliance, an environmental think tank and charity, is calling for "a green and just recovery" at a virtual event.

Changing climate is a particular problem for some crops. Blackcurrants need a cold winter to kick start their growth so Ribena has been working with farmers and scientists at the James Hutton Institute to develop varieties which can cope with warmer weather. We speak to agronomist Harriet Prosser. 

A community group in Devon is helping turn pasture into wildflower meadows which is encouraging insects and butterflies. Donna and Kevin Cox  have restored over 30 acres  on Dartmoor, including a rare wet meadow habitat. 

Farmers argue American food imports shouldn’t be accepted here unless they meet the same standards that British producers must meet. They claim that in the USA antibiotics are overused. But American farmers insist this argument is more about protectionism than real differences. We speak to Coilin Nunan, the Scientific Advisor for the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics

Presenter: Charlotte Smith
Producer: Rebecca Rooney

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04/06/20 Green recovery after Covid19; blackcurrants; wildflower meadow restoration; antibiotics

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