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Farming Today: 15/02/23 Environment Agency delays; Meat in space; Seabirds

15/02/23 Environment Agency delays; Meat in space; Seabirds

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 15/02/23 Environment Agency delays; Meat in space; Seabirds

Poultry farmer says admin delays are jeopardizing business. Space-grown meat; Seabirds.

A farmer who lost ducks to avian flu says Environment Agency delays are preventing him from restocking with chickens. Scientists grow meat in space. Wind turbines and wild birds.

A Suffolk farmer who invested in growing ducks but got hit by bird flu, is trying to switch to chickens instead but says his plan is being jeopardized because of labour shortages at the Environment Agency. Tom McVeigh from Kenton Hall lost 95,000 ducks to avian flu. He now wants to rear broilers but needs the Environment Agency to sign off the change of use. However, he says there are big delays to the paper work and it could stop the project going ahead.

DEFRA Secretary Terese Coffey is in America and will be speaking at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Conference. It's the first time a foreign minister has addressed the gathering. Dr Coffey is expected to talk about forging a sustainable future and US/UK co-operation.

All week we're getting a very different perspective on farming and finding out how space research and exploration could impact agriculture now, and in the future. What do astronauts eat for lunch? Well if it's been pouches of pre-prepared meals they might like a change. How about steak? A company called Aleph Farms based in Israel has made lab-grown meat in space.

Conservationists say offshore windfarms in the North Sea need to reduce the impact they’re having on seabirds. The warning comes as the latest windfarm, Hornsea 4, has been delayed, following concerns about the Kittiwake – an endangered species of gull.  Hornsea 4’s developers say they’re working hard to ensure green energy and seabird populations can co-exist. 

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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15/02/23 Environment Agency delays; Meat in space; Seabirds

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