DEFRA

  • What’s in Gove’s plastic bag of tricks?

    What’s in Gove’s plastic bag of tricks?

    The new environment secretary’s praise for the carrier bag tax suggests that a previously regulation-shy government could get tough on waste. By David Burrows. What a difference 5p makes. New DEFRA figures show that seven of the UK’s largest food… Read More

  • Challenge for agriculture as emissions progress stalls

    Challenge for agriculture as emissions progress stalls

    Agriculture is expected to miss key reduction targets for greenhouse gases. With bold new policies needed, shifting demand could be the next step. By Nick Hughes. The UK’s transition to a resilient low-carbon economy is in danger of being derailed… Read More

  • Is there an appetite for free school meals?

    Is there an appetite for free school meals?

    Theresa May dropped plans to cut universal free lunches from the Queen’s Speech – but that doesn’t mean an expensive and unproven policy is safe. By David Burrows. On June 16th, Jamie Oliver suggested the prime minister would be committing… Read More

  • More foodservice ‘influencers’ needed to shift people to plant-based diets

    More foodservice ‘influencers’ needed to shift people to plant-based diets

    The UK needs to “rethink the way it eats” in order to meet the Paris Agreement targets, according to WWF-UK. And the charity, which published its revised “Livewell Plates” this week, has identified chefs and supermarkets as “key influencers” in… Read More

  • Mixed reception for new DEFRA secretary Michael Gove

    Mixed reception for new DEFRA secretary Michael Gove

    Michael Gove has been appointed as secretary of state at DEFRA, prompting major concerns amongst environmental campaigners and opposition MPs. In a surprise return to the front bench, Gove will take the lead on pressing issues such as air pollution,… Read More

  • Analysis: Business leads the way on veggie alternatives

    Analysis: Business leads the way on veggie alternatives

    With a DEFRA report on cutting meat consumption mouldering in the archives, there’s no point waiting for the government to set the agenda. By Nick Hughes. In July 2013, at the height of holiday season, DEFRA quietly published a report… Read More

  • Litter strategy swerves action on coffee cups

    Litter strategy swerves action on coffee cups

    Defra has unveiled a wide ranging littering strategy which will see heavier fines for the worst offenders and more bins placed in public places; but it has chosen not to take direct action to reduce the number of coffee cups… Read More

  • US trade deal could tempt food fraudsters

    US trade deal could tempt food fraudsters

    A trade deal with the United States could open “a very new can of worms in terms of food fraud”, according to a world-leading expert in the subject. Chris Elliott is professor of food safety and founder of the Institute… Read More

  • Leadsom offers assurances on animal welfare

    Leadsom offers assurances on animal welfare

    Animal welfare standards will not be watered down once Britain leaves the EU, the environment secretary has promised. Addressing the NFU conference this week, Andrea Leadsom said the government would honour the pledge in the Conservative Party’s 2015 manifesto that… Read More

  • UK misses sustainable palm oil target

    UK misses sustainable palm oil target

    The UK has failed to meet a target to achieve 100% sourcing of “credibly certified sustainable palm oil” by the end of 2015. Figures just released by DEFRA show that 87% of imports were RSPO certified by the end of… Read More