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23/05/2023 Wine regulations; Agricultural universities; Brazilian beef production

The difference between British wine and English wine could be about to change. Agricultural universities join forces to try to ensure their research has more relevance to farmers.

The government says it plans to get rid of EU regulations, a move which it claims will release £180 million into the the UK's wine industry. The plans mean growers would be able to import hybrid vines, adding new grape varieties into higher quality wines grown in England and Wales, which have PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) - a status which protects food products with a unique regional character. The changes would also include new labelling to show where the grapes are from, and not where the wine was bottled.

Brazil has come under global pressure to stop deforestation, as the demand for beef rises. Deforestation has long been linked to agricultural activities, including cattle ranching. With the global demand for beef rising, the pressure on Brazil's forests has intensified. We find out what's being done to change the way farmers produce beef in Brazil and how that might reduce deforestation.

There are sixteen agricultural universities in the UK which are members of the Agricultural Universities Council. They teach degrees in agriculture-related subjects but also carry out research into a wide range of rural and farming subjects. Now the council has decided to do more to join up the research the universities undertake, so that it has more relevance to farmers and answers the questions they are asking.

Presenter: Anna Hill
Producer: Rebecca Rooney

13 minutes

Broadcast

  • Tue 23 May 2023 05:45

Podcast