Step into the Transforming Tomorrow time machine, as we head back to look at the work between Lancaster University and Lake District Farmers on working towards net-zero meat production.

Dr Laura Giles – now studying for another doctorate at the University of Dundee – brings us up to date on the final outcomes of a partnership that looked at carbon stocks in farm soil and carbon accounting across several holdings in Cumbria.

We find out what work on to complete the project, what lab analysis of soil samples revealed about carbon contents of soil, and just what we mean when we talk about carbon in soil.

Laura tells us about the varied benefits of having more carbon in the soil, from food production to flood prevention; shares the results of the surveys, and how they varied across farms; and warns against the belief in a universal cure-all for problems.

We consider how past farming practice has made a difference to the land, and what this might mean for current landowners; discuss the importance of caring for the land, but balancing change with the impact on the farming system; raise a smile at the pride farmers have in the quality of their soils; and see how the project has raised awareness of just what soil carbon means to Lake District Farmers’ customers.

There is time to look at other effects of less intensive farming, including the benefits to biodiversity; consider the nutritional quality of meat produced on these same farms; and realise that judging on carbon footprinting alone is not always the best idea.

Plus, what’s scarier – a sheep or a cow? And why? Do sheep from different countries share a common personality and a universal language? Are cows cold-blooded killers? And other important questions from the world of farming.

Watch a film summarising the findings of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/research/research-enterprise-services/knowledge-transfer-partnerships/case-studies/lake-district-farmers-case-study/

The background on the project can be found here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/activities/cross-cutting/transition-and-transformation/lake-district-farmers-ktp/

And to listen to the previous podcasts on this topic, connect here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3AVTRXxixXpldapfTZvCCoyzvCzSDyB9

Episode Transcript

How much waste is produced then your clothes are manufactured? And it there anything that can be done to reduce that?

The Pentland Centre’s Dr Madiha Ahmad joins us to talk about her PhD research at Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, which involved looking at sew-free techniques that dramatically reduce fabric wastage.

Madiha tells us about textiles in her Pakistan homeland, where it is an $18bn industry, and we go in-depth on how fibres become yarn becomes fabric, spanning global supply chains and representing a more complicated process than you might imagine.

We learn about the lifecycle of fibres as they become fabrics and garments; about issues of over-consumption, fast fashion, and landfill, but also how waste is created when a garment is produced; and about the many technicalities of weaving.

Madiha reveals the many layers of sustainability that need to be considered, and how knowledge and practice in this area can be part of a company’s international competitiveness.

We talk about fabric waste, and how this is both a natural part of the standard manufacturing process but also something that could be tackled with a different weaving method – one that will have you checking how many seams you have on your clothing. We even take the concepts of sew-free and see how similar ideas can be applied in aerospace.

Plus, Jan tells us about being raised to be a farmer’s wife; Paul objects to Jan’s suggestion he doesn’t think about how and where his clothes are made as he reveals he is made in Egypt on this particular day; and the horrible idea of square scones rears its ugly head.

Here is a handy outline of how textiles are manufactured: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_manufacturing

If you want to understand more about weaving, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving

And if you want to listen to our previous episode on the Uzbek cotton industry, this is the place: https://pod.fo/e/3cf0a4

Episode Transcript

What do the public think about climate change? How do they think governments should act? These are the people who will often be most affected by policy and action, so how do we find out their views? This answer may lie in citizens’ assemblies.

Dr Andy Yuille, is an interdisciplinary qualitative social scientist (!) from the University of Manchester. He takes us through citizens’ assemblies and their role in creating understandings about people's thoughts about the environment and government policy, and how they show that members of the public can take informed, positions on difficult policy decisions.

We encounter the concept of deliberative mini-publics, and how they can reflect the broader population to ensure views of assemblies reflect those of the public at large; discuss where and at what level climate assemblies operate; and understand how they are formed and operate, and the disqualifying factors for taking part.

Andy tells us about his interest in how major decisions that affect the environment are made and his work on the Our Energy Futures panel; we look at the polarisation of society and how this affects matters; and how assemblies might be a way to build trust in government.

What actions do governments take on assembly recommendations? Do assembly members ever find out why their suggestions are (or are not) taken up? And can these assemblies be considered a successful initiative?

Plus, what do people think about changes to energy usage and demand? How do they think businesses should adapt? Did Jan behave in school assemblies? What are human assembly plants? And what is a sociologist?

The UK Parliament has an introduction to citizens’ assemblies: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/committees/climate-assembly-uk/about-citizens-assemblies/

Here are some examples of past citizens’ assemblies: https://tinyurl.com/pastcitizensassemblies

More details about the assembly Andy talked about can be found here: https://www.edrc.ac.uk/research/projects/public-support-and-engagement-for-low-energy-futures/

Episode Transcript