Íæż½ã½ã

In times of crisis and disruption, it turns out the British public does not turn towards falafel or hummus as comfort food, but rather red meat and pizza to get it through lockdown.

As lockdown enters its final stages, in England at least, it is remarkable to consider the changes wrought by this unprecedented time. None more so than the impact the pandemic has had on the travel and transport industries.

A glance at the calendar indicates this should be Royal Highland Show week, a time when tens of thousands of people usually flock to Edinburgh to enjoy one of the UK’s premier shows.

The campaign to boost local abattoirs strikes a symbolic chord at the heart of what we want our food supply chain to be and, therefore, the reality of what it is.

Lockdown and the glorious sunshine have sometimes made for uncomfortable bedfellows.

Technology has always been a huge driver of change, whether at a societal level or in purely agricultural terms.

Íæż½ã½ã has long campaigned for a change in the law around livestock worrying and, therefore, it is encouraging to see progress being made in Scotland with the introduction of the Livestock Worrying - Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Reinforcing the crucial role of farming to politicians has not always been an easy task, especially for those with predominantly urban constituencies. The coronavirus pandemic has, however, forced many with with only a fleeting interest in agriculture to re-engage with the industry and the vital work farmers do in feeding the nation.

It is not always advisable to look to the United States for answers. Once a bastion of liberal democracy, it has become increasingly divided and politically erratic under the tenure of current president Donald Trump.

Why sky lanterns have not yet been banned is anyone’s guess, but the no doubt commercially inspired plan by Night Sky Lanterns to celebrate the work of the NHS with a mass lantern release is a disgrace.