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Farming Today: 07/01/21 Gene Editing, Cropping Willow for Energy, British Wool

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07/01/21 Gene Editing, Cropping Willow for Energy, British Wool

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 07/01/21 Gene Editing, Cropping Willow for Energy, British Wool

Consultation begins into changing UK gene editing rules, and money-saving at British Wool

Consultation begins into changing UK gene editing rules, money-saving at British Wool, and why a water company is planting fields of willow.

The Government is today announcing the start of a consultation in England on allowing gene editing research to be used to produce crops and livestock. Under EU rules, gene editing is classified as genetic modification (GM), and is subject to the same restrictions and is in effect banned. But the Government believes gene editing is a different technology, and so should be regulated differently. 

This week we are looking at different types of energy being produced on farms. One way of generating heat is through burning biomass. Much of what we burn has in the recent past come from overseas forestry - but now more effort is being put into growing our own crops - including willow, which as Caz Graham finds out, has many added values.

And British Wool is to close some of its grading centres in a restructuring designed to save money. As we’ve reported its been a difficult market for wool, with the pandemic only adding to the pressures. Last year some farmers resorted to burning or burying fleeces as the money British Wool was offering for them wouldn’t cover the cost of transporting them to be graded.  

Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Natalie Donovan in Bristol

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