This special issue of the journal Outlook on Agriculture, edited by James Sumberg and Ken Giller, focuses on biomimicry and ‘nature-based solutions’ in relation to food production. The introductory paper contrasts a technological approach to solving food system problems with the “(re)turn to nature” style of thinking seen in (for example) agroecology and regenerative farming. The rest of the special issue covers a range of topics including perennial grain crops and their downsides, the philosophical and conceptual underpinnings of nature-based agricultural practices, soil organic carbon, and the “epic narratives” that have been built around natural agriculture.

Current cropland use could be reduced by 37% to 48%, finds this modelling study of different land-sparing strategies. The paper looks at regional potentials for reducing cropland use and global impacts on crop prices and production levels, finding that more efficient use of land could decrease crop prices and increase global agricultural production by 2.8%. The authors argue that their results can feed into debates about the impacts of afforestation policies - see also the TABLE summary of the paper Land-based climate change mitigation measures can affect agricultural markets and food security.

This study models the impacts on food security and food prices of using land-based mitigation strategies to limit climate change to 2°C, focusing on three mitigation policies: non-CO2 emissions reductions, bioenergy production, and afforestation. It finds that tens of millions more people could be at risk of hunger in 2050 compared to the baseline scenario in which these mitigation measures are not applied. See also the TABLE summary of the paper Global cropland could be almost halved for views on how agricultural intensification could impact afforestation debates.

This podcast, produced by FAI Farms, interviews Josiah Meldrum, founder of Hodmedods, which specialises in legumes and grains grown in Britain. The podcast discusses why Meldrum classes Hodmedods as an agroecological retailer, how relationships with suppliers are developed, and approaches to scaling up regenerative agriculture.

A number of media articles have raised concerns about the potential food security impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, not only for Ukraine but for other countries that rely on food exports. We have put together a round-up of relevant news articles.

12-14 million people are currently at risk of acute food insecurity across some areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, because of an ongoing, multi-season drought, warns the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. If rains continue to fail, the number of highly food insecure people could rise to 15-20 million. According to the Addis Standard, increasing numbers of livestock are succumbing to the drought, and pastoralists are being forced to travel further to find water and pasture.

This open-access book reflects on how seeds are governed, seeking to move beyond simple descriptions of competing seed system types as traditional or modern, subsistence or commercial, or local or global. It focuses on case studies from Japan.

This book discusses how the governance of British agriculture will be affected by the UK’s exit from the European Union. It looks at profitability, farmers’ rights, environmental protection and animal welfare.

The Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification has published two policy briefs: the first seeks to understand the agricultural innovation investment landscape - how much is being invested, by whom, and in what; while the second looks at the approaches and instruments used in successful cases of scaling up agricultural innovations.