This paper presents a global analysis of the greenhouse gas balance of the world’s grasslands - both managed and natural - between 1750 and 2012, aiming to separate the direct effects of management by humans and the indirect effects of climate change. It finds that in most world regions, managed grasslands (those grazed by livestock or mown for grass forage) have a net warming effect on the climate, while sparsely grazed grasslands (natural grasslands not affected by livestock, but which may be grazed by wild animals) have a net cooling effect. 

This paper uses data from 19 countries to test the link between climate and dietary diversity in children. It finds that higher temperatures are generally associated with lower diet diversity, while higher precipitation is generally associated with greater diet diversity.

This paper argues that the threats to humanity and the biosphere from environmental damage is much greater than is usually acknowledged, and that current political and economic solutions do not match the scale of the danger. The authors call for scientists to speak “candidly and accurately” to policymakers, businesses and the public about the risks to our future.

The research programme ‘Resilience of the UK Food System in a Global Context’ has launched an online hub. The programme aims to identify the major vulnerabilities of the UK food system and assess how its resilience can be improved. The hub gives details of its 13 research projects, lists programme outputs, and has sections for news and blogs and events.

This blog post, co-authored by Table member Ken Giller, summarises the final session of the eDialogues series What Future for Small-Scale Farming? This session explored policy implications for the inclusive transformation of small-scale agriculture in challenging times.

This book discusses a set of legal cases that have been settled recently within the United States Department of Agriculture regardings its treatment of farmers from different ethnic and gender backgrounds. It explores how these cases link to current trends relating to food justice in the wider food culture.

This open access book explores the conditions that support or hinder the transition of the food system towards agroecology: rights and access to nature; knowledge and culture; systems of economic exchange; networks; equity; and discourse. 

In this report, charity Rewilding Britain argues that natural regeneration is the best method of reforesting large areas of land across the UK, and that more active methods (such as planting trees) should be reserved for cases where natural regeneration would be more difficult. The report suggests that doubling woodland cover from 13% to 26% by 2030 is both desirable and achievable. The report stresses that woodland regeneration should take place in a way that supports rural livelihoods and engages communities. 

This report from the UK’s International Institute for Environment and Development and Dutch development aid organisation Hivos discusses how citizens’ agency (i.e. ability to act freely and make independent choices) can be supported within food systems in the context of a development sector that is often strongly driven by stakeholders from the Global North.