The Farmacy

Rachel and Charlie speak to John Hartley, CEO of Levidian, a decarbonisation tech company, founded and based in UK. https://www.levidian.com/ Their tech deals with the issue, so frequently discussed, of methane production by cattle and is already in place at Worthy Farm, Somerset. Is this the answer to decarbonising agriculture while maintaining a viable business model for farmers?

The Election Special: Charlie and Rachel review the main political manifestos in advance of the 2024 General Election.  They review what each party is promising and how they believe this stacks up against the reality on the ground for Health, Farming and Food. If your health, what you eat and British Farming is important to you, then this is a mandatory listen before 4th July! 1:15 Introduction to the Election Special 3:00 The last 14 years under the Conservatives and what they are promising. 11:50 The Labour Manifesto 22:20 Liberal Democrats manifesto 27:15 The Green Party manifesto and The Reform Party 30:00 Our take home thoughts

Episode 15: Rachel and Charlie speak to Hannah Brinsden, Head of policy and advocacy of The Food Foundation; Home (foodfoundation.org.uk), @food.foundation. Their vision is "A sustainable food system which delivers health and wellbeing for all." They discuss, Nourishing the Nation, their manifesto for the next government term, asking for policy change around food and health. Election 2024: Nourishing the Nation | Food Foundation. They ask for a cross party approach to food sustainability, affordability and health, recognising the importance of food is so many policy areas.  1:00 Introduction  3:00 Introducing The Food Foundation 4:05 Hannah's introduction to The Food Foundation 5:50 Nourishing the Nation - the policy asks regarding food for the next government term. 8:40 Childhood obesity and health inequalities 10:10 Food affordability 12:45 Healthy Start 14:40 Reliance on food imports and food security 17:00 Horticulture strategy 18:00 The National Food Strategy 19:40 Stop the Junk Food Cycle 27:50 Soft drink industry levy 30:00 Food price inflation 32:40 Free School Meals  39:45 Food insecurity data

Episode 14: Childhood Obesity with Dr Shamila Wanninayake, @DrShamilaW. Charlie and Rachel speak to Shamila, an NHS GP who has been interested in obesity her entire career. She currently represents Primary Care on the Oxfordshire County Council ‘Healthy weight in childhood' multidisciplinary group and she also sits on the National Child Measurement Programme Board (NCMP). She lobby's central government for change in policy through a number of means including her role on Council at the Royal College of General Practitioners and also through the Child Alliance group – an All Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Health Childhood. They discuss the complexity of obesity and why it is crucial that we start addressing it and preventing it in children. 1:30 Introduction and Lambing update 5:10 Introduction to Dr Shamila Wanninayake 6:30 The importance of childhood obesity in Shamila's own words 11:50 How big is the issue of childhood Obesity? 15:10 Why is childhood obesity a problem? 16:20 The relation to poverty and ethnic minority 18:30 The Child Alliance Group 20:30 Policy requestions including Free school meals for all and National school breakfast scheme 24:25 The School and Nursery Milk alliance, https://www.snma.org.uk/ 31:45 Ultra-processed food 34:20 The World Obesity tables 37:20 Talking about weight with children 39:55 Malnutrition obesity 28:00 The benefit of universal free school meals 

Episode 13: Claire Thomson @5oclockapron, chef, food writer and author chat to Rachel and Charlie about her passion for family cooking and food. She talks about her own new podcast "The 5 o'clock apron podcast" and upcoming Veggie family cookbook. The mainstay of her cooking is vegetables and believes that meat should, be an occasional treat. We discuss the importance of eating together and educating children about food, cooking and culture. 1:30 Introduction and catch up - Welsh farmers' protests and Junior doctor strikes 3:20 Introduction to Claire Thomson and her upcoming ne vegie family cookbook. 6:40 Claire talks about her new podcast "The 5 o'clock apron podcast" - cooking with every profession other than her own. 9:30 Family cooking, world cuisine and culture 13:00 The importance of cooking as a family 14:20 Managing fussy eaters 16:40 Maxing out your chicken 19:30 The family meal 20:30 Claire's approach to meat, eating nose to tail 26:00 Claire's Top 3 vegetables 28:30 Buying Veg locally and in season 31:30 The downside of cooking on social media

Episode 12: Love British Food.  Rachel and Charlie speak to Alexia Robinson, Director of Love British Food. https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/. Love British Food is a grassroots organisation which promotes British food and also forges links between suppliers and the public sector to improve access to nutritious local food for everyone. In the episode we focus on the work that Alexia has been doing with NHS hospitals, trying to improve food for patients. 1:15 Introduction 3:14 Introducing Alexia Robinson, Love British Food and British Food Fortnight 10:00 Working with the NHS, how it started. 12:30 Cost Vs benefit approach of the NHS. Is good food worth it? 16:35 Dairy in NHS hospitals, developing links with local producers 20:45 Meal budgets for hospital patients 24:30 The importance of good food when unwell 27:15 Feeding hospital staff, The Hospital Food review 31:15 Dairy exports to USA. 33:30 The benefits of supplying the public sector and changes post Brexit 36:30 Love British Food in schools 44.15 Summary and close

Episode 11:   Charlie and Rachel speak to GP, author and Bowel Cancer expert and campaigner, Dr Anisha Patel. They review Anisha's personal story of being diagnosed with bowel cancer and how this has led her to writing an invaluable bowel cancer "manual" and becoming a media GP and campaigner. They revisit the discussion about meat and bowel cancer risk and discuss everything that you need to know about fibre. Dr Anisha tells us, "we need to make fibre sexy". 1:30 Introduction 2:30 Introducing Dr Anisha Patel, NHS GP, Regular GP on "Lorraine", Author and campaigner for Bowel Cancer awareness, supporting Bowel Cancer Uk and the No Butts Campaign .5:15 Blogging and social media @doctorsgetcancerstoo and Writing "Everything you hoped you'd never need to know about Bowel Cancer", https://www.amazon.co.uk/everything-hoped-never-about-cancer/dp/1399807064 9:05 Bowel Cancer in UK and the increase in cases in young people. 12:10 FIT testing 13:00 Early onset of other cancers 14:00 The symptoms of bowel cancer 17:00 The Dame Deborah James effect @bowelbabe @bowelbabefund #nobuttscampaign 19:15 Diet and bowel cancer risk - red meat and processed meat, and the NHS recommendation on red meat intake. 28:45 Fibre and it's importance in our diet 33:30 Probiotics

Charlie and Rachel recap on what they learnt from their guests in 2023 and how they have changed their own food habits and as a result. They look forward to 2024 and the questions that they seek to answer with more expert guests from the world of food and health. 1:05 Introduction  2:00 New Year's resolutions, food waste and meat. 6:30 Veganuary. 9:10 Obesity in UK. 13:30 Revisiting Low carb. 14:50 Looking forward to 2024 conversations. 18:00 Professional goals for 2024

The Farmacy Podcast Christmas special has everything you need to know, just before Christmas, about food! We interview Paul Kelly, farmer of the ultimate Christmas turkey, @kellybronze turkeys,  https://www.kellybronze.co.uk/ and Brussel sprout farmer, Richard Peace from Poplars Farm Shop, Nuneaton: https://www.poplarsfarm.co.uk/We also crown the King of Christmas dinner after our Farmacy Podcast Christmas Quiz. What's not to love? 1:15 Intro - the tractor run as covered by @bbccountryfile and Delia's Cookery workshop, @delias_canary_catering 5:15 - Paul Kelly, from Kelly Bronze Turkeys. 6:15 - How Bronze turkeys came back into fashion, thanks to Delia. 10:30 - All about @kellybronze 12:55 - Paul's top tips to cooking your turkey 18:15 - What does Paul Kelly have for Christmas dinner? 19:30 - Richard Peace from Poplars Farm Shop 22:50 - Richard's sprouts https://fb.watch/o-d3CnEQe1/ 26:15 - What does Richard Peace have for Christmas dinner? 28:50 - Rachel's Christmas dinner. 30:15 - The Farmacy Podcast Christmas Quiz. 34:50 - The Turkey B***ocks 39:20 - The Brightsides Rowing Challenge - https://thebrightsidesrow.com/ 42:00 - Cooking your turkey overnight - the 300 year tradition 44:00 - Thanks for listening in 2024

Episode 8 - Honey with Matthew Ingram from Holt Hall Apiary in Staffordshire. Charlie and Rachel talk to Matthew, award winning bee farmer, about the health, environmental, farming and economical benefits of bees and honey.  They dispel some old wives' tales about honey and get Matt's opinion on the controversy surrounding neonicotinoidshttps://holthallapiary.co.uk/; @holthallapiary 1:15 Introduction 3:25 Introduction to Matthew Ingram 6:50 The resurgence of honey 8:00 Honey and hayfever  9:35 The role of bees in food production 12:50 The financial benefit of bees to the UK economy 14:55 How native bee populations have changed 18:00 Disease in UK bee populations 19:45 Neonicotinoids  24:50 The health benefits of honey 27:20 Manuka honey 29:20 Real honey Vs fakes 32:30 Matt's honey products 34:15 Queen Bees 37:50 The popularity of beekeeping

Episode 7: Charlie and Rachel speak to Rosa Holt @foodandfarmingdietician, an NHS critical care dietician who is also passionate about organic farming and sustainable food and farming. She sits on the Sustainable diets committee for the British Dietetics Association and is also an advisor for the Soil Association. Charlie and Rachel dig deep into the potential of organic produce while balancing this with affordability, availability and environmental impact. 1:30 Intro 3:00 Introducing Rosa Holt 5:00 The health benefits of organic produce 6:15 Nutrient density in organic plants and potential health benefits 12:00 Healthy behaviours of people eating organic produce 12:50 Environmental benefits of organic principles 13:50 Deficiencies in the diet 16:00 Affordability of organic food 19:00 The Food Strategy,  https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/ 21:00 More on affordability and education 25:00 Is an organic diet truly better? 27:00 Traditional mixed farming benefits 28:45 Can we feed ourselves organically? 32:50 Genetic modification/Gene editing 34:08 Rosa's wild turkeys 37:55 The cost of organic farming and crop yields 43:00 If you are going to start buying one organic product, what should it be? 44:45 Summary

Episode 6 - VenisonCharlie and Rachel interview Tom Cackett,  deer stalker and founder of Oxondeer. They review the heath and environmental benefits of eating venison and consider why this super healthy, environmentally friendly product is not as popular as other farmed red meats.www.oxondeer.co.uk, @oxondeerltd, @the_deercast 1:15 Introduction and catch up 1:45 Mental health strain in farming 3:00 Low Carb recap 4.45 Introducing Tom Cackett and Oxon Deer, @oxondeerltd, @the_deercast 7:00 Increasing numbers of wild deer in UK 8:20 Why do wild deer need to be culled? 11:50 Road traffic collisions with deer 12:45 Some vegans eat venison 13:55 How are deer killed? 16:30 Bovine TB in deer 17:10 Farmed deer Vs Wild deer 21:45 The health benefits of venison 27:00 Why are more people not eating venison 30:00 Controlling the population 33:00 Deer Stalking as a career 37:00 Lead shot in venison 39:25 Venison - a low carbon footprint meat 42:10 Charlie's joke of the week 

Charles and Rachel talk to Dr David Unwin, @lowcarbGP, also known as the Low Carb GP, who is a GP in Southport, diabetes expert and pioneer in the low carb approach to managing and reversing Type II Diabetes.  He won the NHS Innovator of the year award for the successful strategies he has developed for reversing type II Diabetes with diet. In this fascinating episode Charles and Rachel learn about how David developed his approach and how we can all consider the carbohydrates in our diet whether we are type II diabetes sufferers or not. David's other passion is for regenerative farming and he talks about this with equal passion and compares the lessons and challenges we face in medicine to those in farming .2:50 Introduction to Dr David Unwin 4:30 How the low carb approach started 8:00 The outcomes of using the low carb approach 9:30 Why are rates of Type II Diabetes increasing and insulin resistance 14:20 The low carb approach in General Practice 19:50 Food addiction 22:25 Should we all be going low-carb? 26:50 Why is the NHS Diabetes advice not following low carb? 28:50 The Freshwell low carb app and the Diabetes UK plan: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/meal-plans/low-carb 30:50 Analogies with regenerative farming 33:50 Long term effects of fertiliser 36:30 David's role at The three Owls bird sanctuaryhttp://www.threeowls.co.uk/ 39:30 Nutritional density of food 41:30 Sharing knowledge between health and farming 47:00 Summary of the analogies between medicine and farming

Charlie and Rachel talk to Lutfi Radwan, co-founder of Willowbrook Farm in Oxfordshire, the first Halal farm in UK. In this fascinating episode Lutfi dispels many myths about what Halal is and the implications for Halal meat production.  They also consider the positive impact Willowbrook Farm has had in its community from breaking down cultural barriers to introducing sustainable farming methods.  https://www.willowbrookfarm.co.uk/@willowbrookfarmers 2:05 - An Introduction to Lutfi and Willowbrook Farm 5:40 - What is Halal and Tayib? 8:10 - Contrasting factory farmed and halal farmed poultry 14:20 - Who buys Willowbrook produce? 15:20 - What does Halal slaughter entail and where does it happen? 19:10 - We return to the question of whether these high-quality products are accessible to all? 23:11 - Meat and lamb consumption in Muslim population, UK 26:20 - Breaking down cultural barriers 33:05 - Are there health benefits to the Halal produce? 38:00 - Community engagement with farming 39:50 - Other environmentally responsible processes on Willowbrook Farm

Charlie and Rachel speak to Richard Kennell, CEO of SOFEA in Oxfordshire about the FareShare movement, food poverty and insecurity in UK. They consider how the price of food and food waste fits into this complex issue. SOFEA Oxfordshire: https://www.sofea.uk.com/SOFEA Community Larder Membership: https://www.sofea.uk.com/purpose-projects/community-larder/ FareShare https://fareshare.org.uk/ 2:28 Food insecurity in UK 3:40 Introduction to Richard Kennell and SOFEA 5:00 The FareShare Charity and Network 7:20 Where does surplus food come from 12:50 Excess produce and rejected goods 15:00 DEFRA/FareShare Surplus for Purpose 19:00 Community Larders 22:30 Food Poverty Vs Poverty and Food Prices 25:00 Food Culture in UK 26:00 The barriers to eating well 30:00 Health impacts of food poverty 32:50 Should we subsidise food production more 35:50 Education regarding food

Charles and Rachel talk to Nikki Yoxall, a beef farmer from Grampian Graziers in Aberdeenshire and Research Manager for Pasture for Life. They discuss restorative and pasture fed meat production while comparing this to mass produced products and what benefits each method provides from an environment and health perspective. 2:20 Introducing Nikki Yoxall 7:00 What should people be looking for when buying meat? 10:50 Barriers to eating healthy food 14:35 Should pasture fed meat be sold as a premium product? 17:30 Abattoir shortages in UK 21:00 The environmental impact of different diets, discussing Nature Food study:Scarborough, P., Clark, M., Cobiac, L. et al. Vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters and meat-eaters in the UK show discrepant environmental impacts. Nat Food 4, 565–574 (2023).  31:50 Intensively-produced Vs Pasture-fed meat 37:20 The health recommendations on eating red meat. 42:30 Saturated fats in red meat. 47:30 Ultra-processed meat alternatives 49:50 Where to buy pasture-fed meat

In this episode Charlie and Rachel focus on Milk, considering the pros and cons of dairy versus plant-based alternatives and the environmental impact of producing each type.Their guest is Dr Kerry Lock (linkedin.com/in/kerry-lock-phd), a nutritional therapist who leads the Nourish and Flourish Programme and SOFEA . She is also a former departmental lecturer in environmental conservation and sustainability at University of Oxford, . She also happens to be vegan. They leave no stone unturned when considering which milk is bets for us and the planet, and why! 0.00 - Intro and catch up 4.20 - Introducing Kerry Lock 5.30 - An overview of the Nourish and Flourish Programme 8.00 - NHS guidance on Milk 11.15 - Comparing milks nutritionally 13.00 - Plant based milk comparison 16.30 - Coconut milk and saturated fat content 19.00 - Additives in plant based milks 20.30 - Organic Cow milk21.00 - Price comparison 23.40 - Maintaining a healthy vegan diet 25.40 - Calcium in milks 28.30 - Osteoporosis 33.00 - Lactose intolerance 36.00 - The environmental impact of different milks 40.20 - Methane production 41.45 - Comparing environmental impact of different foods 42.50 - Water consumption in milk production 44.15 - Food miles of milk 47.30 - Take home messages More information can be found about the Nourish and Flourish programme: Nourish and Flourish - SOFEA

Farmer Charles and Dr Rachel introduce themselves and the concept of the Farmacy Podcast. Each episode they will be chatting to guests from all backgrounds about food and farming, health and wellbeing, the countryside around us and how they all tie in together.