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Farming Today: 09/08/21: Imports v Home Grown; Forestry; Beach cows

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09/08/21: Imports v Home Grown; Forestry; Beach cows

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 09/08/21: Imports v Home Grown; Forestry; Beach cows

Can imported food really be greener? plus why cows are back grazing the dunes of Dorset.

Can buying imported food really be better for the environment than locally sourced produce? plus why cows are back grazing the dunes of Dorset.

It seem counter-intuitive to think that importing food from the other side of the world would ever be better for the environment than buying local- but that's the conclusion in a recent report from the Government's Board of Trade, which says buying imported food does not always mean a larger carbon footprint. We speak to an environmental researcher about how these calculations are made, and a farmer and agronomist who says there is more at stake here.

All this week we're focussing on forestry. We begin by speaking to Confor, the association that represents commercial growers, about how the industry is coping with increasing demand for wood.

And we report from a beach in Dorset where cows have been allowed to roam again for the first time in 90 years. The National Trust has brought a herd of Red Devon cattle to graze the dunes - we find out why.

Presented by Sybil Ruscoe
Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan

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