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New blog post: Creating new opportunities for small farmers through dynamic purchasing This blog post, written by Dr Matt Reed, Dr Dan Keech and Prof Damian Maye, notes that it can be difficult for small food producers to supply public sector buyers in the UK, such as schools, hospitals and prisons. Barriers include the large quantity of food required by public buyers and the complexity of the procurement process. The authors set out how so-called dynamic purchasing systems could make it easier for small local food producers to access public procurement contracts.

New report and blog post: Reflecting on livestock and protein research gaps - How can academic research move forward contentious debates in civil society on the future of sustainable livestock and protein? To begin to answer this question, earlier this year the FCRN, Oxford’s Livestock, Environment and People (LEAP) programme, and the Eating Better alliance conducted a series of interviews and a workshop with civil society representatives and academic researchers. Our latest report sets out our findings.

In Fodder this week: Regeneration of native woodland on former sheep pasture could be a financially viable strategy for farmers; limited progress has been made on global biodiversity targets; FCRN member Simon Bager assesses sustainability strategies in the global coffee sector; FCRN member David Cleveland quantifies the animal welfare and environmental implications of replacing eggs with soy; and FCRN member Paul Behrens explores both pessimistic and optimistic visions of the future of food, energy and climate in a new book, “The Best of Times, The Worst of Times”.

Featured publication: How can we reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions? This Foodsource chapter, written in 2016, explores how and by how much food system emissions can be reduced, while also feeding a growing population.