THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

by | Mar 6, 2023 | Agri-Food

The Circular Economy

We looked at regenerative farming in a recent piece and that has led us to think about another concept that is being discussed widely in the Agri-Food industry. The Circular Economy. As the name implies this is looking to move away from a linear economy where a large proportion of material ends up as waste, towards as much reuse as possible. 

Ellen MacArthur

One of the leading organisations in promoting the circular economy is the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Started by the round the world sailor they have produced several key reports that have influenced policy makers at COP26 and elsewhere. They suggest four key principles.   

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4 Key Principles

  1. A true circular economy is zero waste. Nothing is thrown away because waste is designed out.
  2. There are two types of industrial ‘ingredients’: disposable and durable. Disposable ingredients are those that can biodegrade, such as paper or fabric. Second, there are ‘technical’ ingredients like metal or plastic that can be reused. Things must be one or the other so that everything can be either reused or put back into nature.   
  3. If this industrial cycle is to be sustainable, then the energy that powers it needs to be entirely renewable. This also reduces businesses exposure to resource depletion or supply shocks.
  4. Customers are no longer consumers, but users. This means that companies will want the materials back when you’re done with them.

1.2 Billion Tonnes of Waste

What does this mean for food production? We have looked before at a WWT report which suggests that 1.2 billion tonnes of food are wasted before it leaves the point of production.  Farm to fork initiatives are ideal ways to look at the 4th principle as milk producers have often returned to using glass bottles which can be used multiple times. Meat and vegetables can be offered in paper or card packaging, or none at all. 

2nd Principle

The 2nd principle also has implications for food production. The machinery used to manufacture food whether on the farm of in factories will need to be rethought as the components “should be designed to be dismantled so that they can be sorted into the two categories, disposable and technical, at the end of their lives.” There are hygiene considerations to be thought through with regard to making equipment fall in with the principle, meaning a fundamental shift in the way all industrial plant and machinery is designed and built.

The big food redesign study is another of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s projects and is another step change in the way food and agriculture work. We will look at that in more detail next time.

How we can help

Super Motion create films about agriculture and food that document the inspiring stories of change and growth in the drive for improved food production methods. At our Agri Food Pioneers You Tube channel we talk to people in the agri-food industry about the positive and environmental changes they are making to deliver a sustainable, low carbon and regenerative future. Our mission is to deliver powerful stories from the agri-food world that captivate our clients’ audiences. Book a strategy call with us today to learn more about how video can communicate your story effectively.

REGENERATIVE FARMING – THE KEY LIES IN THE SOIL

REGENERATIVE FARMING – THE KEY LIES IN THE SOIL

by | Jan 3, 2023 | Agri-Food

Regenerative Farming – The key lies in the soil

The world of sustainability is full of jargon and buzzwords. One of the current favourites is “regenerative Farming”. It has been discussed on BBC Countryfile, was a talking point on the Nature Day of COP26, and features in media articles regularly. One of the problems seems to be that there
are many different interpretations of what regenerative farming, or regenerative agriculture is. In fact it can be broken down to a fairly simple process, better management of the earth.

Top Soil

As far back as 2006 the Environment Agency was warning that “2.2 million tonnes of topsoil is eroded annually in the UK and over 17% of arable land shows signs of erosion”. Soil loss is often seen
as a problem associated with deforestation, and desertification. But with changing weather patterns soil loss and degradation can occur anywhere. The Soil Protection Review is part of a cross compliance system of tackling threats to earth degradation and the countryside in England. It is carried out by farmers annually and involves identifying soil issues, deciding on measures to manage and protect soils, and then reviewing success. This is an ongoing process that has slowed the rate of degradation, at least in this country.

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Organic Matter

Regenerative agriculture starts with building healthy soil by focusing on rebuilding organic matter and the natural living biodiversity in the soil. There are some basic practices that can be implemented to start soil improvement. These include using cover crops, reducing tilling, rotating crops, spreading compost, and moving away from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and factory farming. US President Franklin D Roosevelt said as far back as 1934: “The nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself.” Conventional intensive farming pays little attention to soil life or soil health, relying on artificial means to boost productivity and viability, and intensively farmed areas in the US Midwest, Russia and Australia have been grappling with the problem of soil
degradation for decades.

Build from the soil

Regenerative Farming builds the soil and then protects and nurtures the natural productivity, fertility, and biodiversity in the soil by working with nature rather than against it. As the health of
the soil recovers it becomes naturally fertile and productive and allows soil life to return and thrive. Additional benefits are improvements in water infiltration and increases in the ability to absorb carbon from the air and store it within the soil, rather than releasing it as is the case with more
conventional farming.

Resource Management

Resource management is another key factor in regenerative agriculture, and we will return to that and to look at other bits of Agri-Food jargon in future. The use of complex terminology the often obscures positive stories about work being done in the Agri-Food industry for the person in the street.

How we can help

Super Motion create films about agriculture and food that document the inspiring stories of change and growth in the industry. At our Agri Food Pioneers You Tube channel we talk to people in the agri-food industry about the positive and environmental changes they are making to deliver a
sustainable, low carbon and regenerative future. Our mission is to deliver powerful stories from the agri-food world that captivate our clients’ audiences. Book a strategy call with us today to learn more about how video can communicate your story effectively.

HAVING A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

HAVING A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

by | Dec 15, 2022 | Agri-Food

Having a sustainable Christmas

The pressure of rising costs is making living up to expectations, often self-imposed ones, about how Christmas should be done this year, means this may be the time to pause, and rethink how Christmas can look with an eye on sustainability and food resilience.

Christmas Trees

There has been an ongoing debate about the benefits of real or artificial trees. The argument for artificial trees revolves around how many years it is reused for. As well as being manufactured mostly in China, they are made from non-recyclable materials. But if you keep a fake tree for 10
years then the case for them is better, but they will still end up in landfill when they become unusable.
In the Soil Association’s opinion, “a real tree that’s been grown with care is the most sustainable choice for Christmas.” A tree from a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) approved source, or one with “Grown In Britain” certification will have been grown on a responsibly managed plantation using a minimal amount of pesticides. If trees are chipped for mulch or composted the that adds to the sustainable credentials. The Soil association even suggest leaving it to decompose in your garden providing bugs with a home and birds with a source of food in the bugs.

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Christmas Dinner

With an outbreak of Avian Flu causing the culling and quarantining of millions of turkeys and chickens we could be looking at alternatives to the traditional bird. Poultry are the most wasted foods in the UK with 100,000 tonnes being thrown out every year. So, perhaps try something from
the growing range of plant-based meat alternatives?
The good news is that eating traditional Christmas vegetables, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and the half a billion sprouts we eat each December, all in season in the UK at this time of year. Investigating local farm to fork initiatives means that you are sourcing your food as close to home as possible.

Food Waste

As we mentioned earlier poultry is a very high waste food. This part of a trend that sees nearly a third of all food produced annually go to waste. Planning what you will eat ahead and being realistic about how much food you need can save so much. The bedlam in supermarkets on Christmas Eve when people stock up for the two days, they are closed is one of the less positive aspects of Christmas. Being inventive with how you can use leftovers is easy with plenty of zero waste recipes available online.

Presents

Supporting local businesses for your gift giving. Or maybe consider planting a tree through the Woodland Trust, or a membership of a nature-based organisation. Much of the wrapping paper we will use in the next few weeks is not recyclable, so consider an alternative material to wrap presents. It’s the shared experience of opening, especially for children, that is often the key part of a Christmas present.

How we can help

Super Motion will be here throughout 2023 to bring you the latest stories and innovations in Agri-Food on our Agri Food Pioneers You Tube channel. Our mission is to deliver powerful stories from the agri-food world that captivate our clients’ audiences.

Book a strategy call with us today to learn more about how video can communicate your story effectively

IS THE FUTURE OF PROTEIN INSECTS?

IS THE FUTURE OF PROTEIN INSECTS?

by | Oct 12, 2022 | Agri-Food

Is the Future of Protein Insects?

When we think about protein, we probably picture a medium-rare steak or perhaps some salmon. However, there are a wide variety of potential options when it comes to protein. In fact, some of the options might surprise you. When experts weigh in on the future of nutrition, a surprising topic that keeps coming up is insect protein. Let’s take a look. 

Why Is Insect Protein a Topic of Conversation?

Insects as a source of protein keeps popping up in worldwide discussions on the future of human nutrition because it can solve numerous problems. Much has been documented about the fact that our forests and cropland are dwindling. In fact, 33% of all farmland is currently used to feed animals, which are our major sources of protein. 

However, as the world population grows, the demand for food will increase. With only so much farmland to go around, it is important to find sources of protein that can supplement our use of livestock to provide meat. Thus, when people envision the future of human nutrition, they look for opportunities to support the current agriculture industry with items that can be produced without the need for much space or resources – hence, insects. 

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How Much Protein Can You Really Get from Insects?

When you think about it, it may be hard to believe that an insect could be a strong source of protein. After all, insects are incredibly tiny. However, the reality is that they contain an incredibly large proportion of protein. 

The average insect is roughly half protein by weight while some insects are up to 75% protein. This puts them comparable to the vast majority of other animals that more typically serve as protein sources. However, an additional benefit is that problems such as the need for grain feed, use of hormones, and overuse of antibiotics are not found in insects. 

Eating insects can also provide significant health benefits overall. Many types of insects such as mealworms and crickets serve as good sources for all around nutrition, with many minerals in 

An Argument for Insect Farming

Farming livestock is incredibly difficult and resource intensive. However, farming insects is largely quite simple and low tech. They don’t need large areas and can be stacked vertically. Most insects are also quite adaptable to farm environments. 

Furthermore, insects reproduce quickly and often have large numbers of offspring, meaning this food source can quickly expand. In fact, the biggest potential problem for eating insects as protein is a reluctance of people in western nations to accept the practice. 

Fortunately, it may not be that difficult to make insects more appealing for people. After all, insects can be used as an ingredient in items (much like grain currently is) in order to give additional protein. For example, adding ground up insects into protein bars can easily be done without the consumer even realizing they are eating insects. 

Additionally, insects are already normally consumed in many parts of the world and a standard part of a diet in some. You can find insects as food sources in Central & South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In fact, over 1,000 insect species are used as food for people. 

Insect protein could prove quite effective in helping address issues like environmental degradation, world hunger, and rising food costs. It seems like a near perfect solution. 

How we can help

There is so much good news to be shared about how we are meeting the challenges facing the Agri-food sector and Super Motion will be there to document it. At our Agri Food Pioneers You Tube channel we talk to people in the agri-food industry about the positive and environmental changes they are making to deliver a sustainable, low carbon and regenerative future. Our mission is to deliver powerful stories from the agri-food world that captivate our clients’ audiences. Book a strategy call with us today to learn more about how video can communicate your story effectively

CLARKSON’S FARM A HIT FOR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

CLARKSON’S FARM A HIT FOR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

by | Oct 12, 2022 | Agri-Food

Clarkson’s Farm is a Hit for Agriculture Industry

While most people may not think quite often about what it takes to get food on their plates or in their corner markets, the reality is that agriculture is a major industry constantly running behind the scenes. The recent hit television series Clarkson’s Farm has succeeded in making the process of agriculture relatable and interesting, a boost to the overall industry. 

What is Clarkson’s Farm?

Clarkson’s Farm is a television series that was initially produced by Amazon Prime, airing on the company’s streaming service in 2001. The show centers around the exploits of host Jeremy Clarkson, recognizable to many from Top Gear and The Grand Tour fame, as he seeks to farm his land without any experience at all. 

The show is set at Clarkson’s own property in Oxfordshire. This land included a large number of arable fields which Clarkson contracted out to a local farmer. However, when the farmer retired in 2019, Clarkson decided he would attempt to take care of the fields himself. 

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He ultimately renamed this new venture “Diddly Squat Farm,” a humorous homage to the farm’s lack of productivity. The show follows Clarkson and his team of actually experienced farmhands and advisors as they help him navigate this effort.

Throughout the course of the show, Clarkson’s character becomes quite endearing for his efforts. It is also quite humorous as many things seem to go wrong as he tries to get the farm to be successful. The show ultimately became a surprise hit, earning a 9.0/10 rating on IMDB and a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The popularity led the show to be renewed for a second season, a decision made in the summer of 2021. The next season is anticipated to air in 2023. 

Reception from the Agriculture Industry

Clarkson’s Farm was ultimately well received within the agriculture industry. Many people initially expected it to be underwhelming or simply fall into a typical “tour of a farm” format. However, Clarkson was quite relatable, and the show’s production was filled with expert storytelling. 

It particularly received positive feedback for its realistic depiction of farming and the difficulty of running a farm in modern times. Issues covered on the show such as unpredictability of crops, weather, and livestock paint a picture of some of the many challenges experienced within the industry. 

The show also succeeds in showing just how steep the learning curve is when it comes to farming, further showcasing the importance of the agriculture industry. Ultimately, Clarkson’s Farm was a surprise hit that has gained a significant following. There will undoubtedly be more adventures to come in season two. 

How we can help

There is so much good news to be shared about how we are meeting the challenges facing the Agri-food sector and Super Motion will be there to document it. At our Agri Food Pioneers You Tube channel we talk to people in the agri-food industry about the positive and environmental changes they are making to deliver a sustainable, low carbon and regenerative future. Our mission is to deliver powerful stories from the agri-food world that captivate our clients’ audiences. Book a strategy call with us today to learn more about how video can communicate your story effectively