The European Environment Agency has published a report which aims to assess whether the current distribution of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds is likely to favour the maintenance of farmland with high nature value (HNV). It explores the extent to which CAP funds are likely to support the long-term economic and ecological sustainability of these HNV farming systems.

The Food Standards Agency has published new research looking at people’s attitudes to emerging food technologies, including genetically modified (GM) food, high pressure treatment, gas filled packaging and hypothetical foods that have health benefits. The research found that people’s knowledge of, and attitudes to, food technologies vary considerably. Certain characteristics were found to be in common with people who are more concerned about food technologies, including being older, female, having a low income or generally having a high level of concern about food safety.

The UK Collaborative on Development Sciences has published a new book by Gordon Conway (formerly the Chief Scientific Advisor for DFID) and Jeff Waage (Director of the London International Development Centre).