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13/11/21 Farming Today This Week: Methane and meat discussed at COP26, Chair of the new TAC, cultivation

At the end of the second week of the COP26 climate conference we talk methane and meat.

At the end of the second week of the COP26 climate conference we talk methane and meat. A new report by Compassion in World Farming recommends we all eat no more than 300g of meat per week to bring down emissions. That鈥檚 less than two chicken breasts, or around nine rashers of bacon. The National Farmers' Union insists the industry can meet the Government target to reduce methane emissions and its own of being net zero by 2040 without reducing livestock numbers.

"Toothless but hopefully not meaningless" is how the new Chair of the Trade and Agriculture Commission sums it up. The TAC had its first meeting this week. This is the new version of the independent body set up by the Government to look at UK Free Trade Agreements, assess their impact on food and farming and report to Parliament.

And how farmers are moving away from ploughing to instead use direct drilling or 'no-till'. It's cheaper, good for stopping soil erosion and better for not releasing carbon. But it relies on the herbicide glyphosate to control weeds, so organic farmers struggle to forgo the plough.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

25 minutes

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  • Sat 13 Nov 2021 06:30

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