Finding lights in a dark age, with Chris Smaje

ffinlo Costain talks to author Chris Smaje, whose new book, Findings Lights in a Dark Age, is the perfect Christmas gift for anyone with a vested interest in the future of humanity.Now is the time, says Smaje, for local communities - not multinational corporations or centralised government - to reorganise economy, land, energy and food production, so that the light at the end of the tunnel is lit, and when we fall into a global multiverse of crises, we can find our way more easily to a better world.Findings Lights in a Dark Age, by Chris Smaje, is published by Chelsea Green, and is available wherever good books are sold.

We focus on natural capital opportunities for farmers in Scotland. How can farmers and other land owners get support and earn an income by improving nature and selling natural capital outcomes.ffinlo Costain is joined by Bruce Wilson, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Scottish Wildlife Trust - by David Robertson, Director of Investment and Business Development at Scottish Woodlands Limited - and by Johnnie Balfour, Managing Partner at Balbirnie Home Farms.#soilcarbon #carbonfarming #regenerativefarming #resilience #biodiversity #rivers #watermanagement #forests #timber #forestcarbon #trees #nature #naturefriendly

Professor Sir Dieter Helm's recent paper - The future of British farming - has received applause and consternation on social media. For Helm, British farming stands on the brink of its most profound transformation "since the coming of tractors and fertilisers" - but the vision he sets out is disturbing. The paper describes the technical and financial forces shaping modern agriculture, while treating regenerative farming with a sceptic's eye. Is Helm right? Is data-enabled precision ag, AI and vertical farming the future? Should the polluter pay? Is regen poorly defined and glyphosate dependent? And - what does all this mean for the family farm?ffinlo Costain meets Professor Sir Dieter Helm alongside regenerative and organic farmer, Patrick Holden, the Chief Executive of the Sustainable Food Trust. * Farm Gate is the world's highest ranking food security podcast* More land use news at 8point9.com

ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) and Joe Stanley (GWCT Allerton Project) meet for Farm Gate's monthly discussion programme. This time:They discuss:Radical war-scale transformation needed in UK food systemHow food security depends on geopoliticsProf. Sir Dieter Helm's new paper: The Future of British FarmingLloyds report aims to help farmers reduce climate and nature risks"Extreme weather is making our bread less British"Class action style legal claim on the River WyeUsing nature to help tackle mental health issuesMore land use news at 8point9.com

What's happening on Papley Grove Farm this November? ffinlo Costain talks to Martin Lines from the Nature Friendly Farming Network - and meets Ifan Davies, who farms with his daughter at Carreg-y-Bîg in Wales, to talk about the pressures of social media and the Welsh Sustainable Farming Incentive.More land use news at 8point9.com

What's the business model for regenerative dairy? What sort of financial models are required to help deliver regeneration through the dairy value chain.This conversation is based on a panel at Land Alive at The Dairy Show at the Bath & West Showground.ffinlo Costain is joined by:Nick Hindle, First Milk's Communications DirectorTamara Giltsoff, Senior Associate at the Soil Association Exchange and co-founder of Land AliveNiels Corfield, an independent farming advisor & trainerHarry Farnsworth, who works on financial innovations within the food and agriculture supply chain at RabobankThomas Slattery, a comms specialist working with the ADOPT Support Hub.Land Alive at The Dairy Show was curated by Tom Pycraft from Ark Events.

Stuart Rogers is a high yielding milk producer delivering regenerative outcomes on his 471 acre farm. He's also the Farm Carbon Toolkit's Carbon Farmer of the Year 2025. Stuart's pasture management and agroforestry create healthy, biodiverse, carbon-rich soils - and his cattle produce high quality milk and excellent ecological outcomes.We will be recording a Farm Gate Leaders episode with Stuart in due course.This is our first Farm Gate Short - What do you think?Farm Gate is part of 8point9.com

Nature friendly farming can help producers achieve economic, social and ecological resilience in the face of increasingly extreme weather.Last week saw Scotland's first Nature Friendly Farming Summit, which took place in Edinburgh. The theme was: Farming for nature, profit and public good.ffinlo Costain meets:~ Denise Walton, an organic, Pasture for Life-certified livestock farmer from Peelham Farm in Berwickshire - she's also the Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network Scotland~ Matt Griffin, the Farm Manager at Neidpath Farm in the Scottish Borders and a member of the NFFN Steering Group~ David McKay, the Co-Director of the Soil Association Scotland. * Farm Gate is the world's number one food security podcast. It's part of 8point9.com

FFINLO COSTAIN (8point9.com) and JOE STANLEY (GWCT Allerton Project), are joined by MARY-ANN OCHOTA, the president of CPRE, The Countryside Charity.They discuss:🚜 🚸 Kids working on farms😊 Nature as a positive, unifying force🥬 Vertical farms🦋 The role of CPRE🏠 Brownfield first home building🧱 And new townsWatch the rough cut video edit on YouTube

English nature faces an unprecedented human-made environmental crisis as thousands of Countryside Stewardship agreements expire at the end of this year. Over 4,500 farms are affected, threatening to undo years of conservation work.We'll discuss why we're in this mess - what it could mean for England's nature - and what can be done about it. ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) is joined by Anna Biesty (Deepdale Farm) Martin Hole (Montague Farm) Chris Millward (Bibbey's Wild Farms) and Martin Lines (Nature Friendly Farming Network).* Watch instead? Search 'Farm Gate podcast' on YouTube* More land use news at 8point9.com