7838posts
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Building blocks for better food regulation
Cymraeg Today we are hosting leaders and experts from across the food system to listen to their views on how food regulation could evolve so that it works for consumers and businesses in the future. Views gathered today will build …
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World Bee Day 2025
By the Bees Needs Team, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) As the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Bees Needs Team with responsibility for pollinators, we lead on wild pollinator public engagement activities, including our …
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To plant, or not to plant, that is the tree question
Paul Brannen is the Director of Public Affairs at the Confederation of Timber Industries and author of Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown (Agenda Publishing 2024). Here he explains the need for home-grown softwood and hardwood timber for an expanding bioeconomy.
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Rolling out digital delivery at scale in Defra
Deputy Director for Digital Delivery Richard Baines reflects on designing environments for digital delivery. Moving away from hierarchical culture and change frameworks, he outlines Defra's emerging 'outcome delivery groups' model and how it's being rolled out across the group. If …
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Flying with Co-Pilot – How AI is helping neurodiverse staff thrive in DBT
Find out how Co-Pilot is fostering inclusivity in DBT and helping neurodiverse colleagues to harness their strengths.
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How to help young trees survive prolonged hot dry weather
Chris Watson, Forestry Commission Woodland Resilience Advisor, looks at the effects of prolonged hot and dry weather on trees and what you can do to help them survive.
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UK aims to lead an instrument on NASA mission to find habitable worlds
The UK Space Agency is taking its first step towards contributing to NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will search for life beyond our Solar System. The Agency is launching a call for proposals to explore the feasibility of a UK-led scientific instrument for the mission.
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Unlocking NUAR's full potential: opportunities ahead
Richard Duffield, NUAR Discovery Project Lead, shares insights on the next phase of his project, exploring expanded access to NUAR data for new user groups and use cases, aiming to unlock significant economic and social value while ensuring robust security …
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Competition to accelerate agri-tech investment: guidance out now
A new £5 million round of the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition will open on 2 June. Guidance is now available. The competition supports agri-tech businesses to fast-track the late-stage development and commercialisation of technologies that are close to market. It offers government funding alongside private investment.
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Action to restore or create at least 38,877 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat has been undertaken since January 2023
By Dr Ruth Hall, Principal specialist for habitats at Natural England Today, for the first time we can start to understand our progress towards the Environment Act habitat target, which is to restore or create at least 500,000 hectares of …
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GMP & GDP Certificates
The purpose of this blog is to describe our approach to the validity date of UK issued certificates confirming compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP). Following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declared …
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How schools are using innovative ways to support student wellbeing
School staff share their approaches to student wellbeing
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Planning reform: protecting nature while supporting growth
Nature is the bedrock of our entire way of life. We are deeply connected to nature through the beauty of our ever-changing seasons and our treasured wildlife, from puffins to hedgehogs. Healthy ecosystems make our food systems and water supplies …
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How we’re helping children and teachers with their mental health and wellbeing
Poor mental health and absence from school are impacting the education of children and in turn their futures. Government research suggests that persistently absent pupils in secondary school could earn £10,000 less at age 28 compared to pupils with near-perfect …
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Science and FMPs event summary and research projects coming up
Defra’s "Science and FMPs" event showcased the research addressing fisheries evidence gaps. Read the summary and a look to this years’ projects.
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Creating Nature Towns and Cities conference
Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust working to ensure everyone in the UK can access the benefits of nature and green spaces. We're delighted to invite you …
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Launching the AI Insights series
As AI continues to play a central role in the UK Government's agenda for economic growth and improved public services, it is crucial to address both the opportunities and the practical challenges of AI implementation in government.
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The importance of reporting marine non-native species - what can you do?
Throughout this year’s Invasive Species Week, an annual event organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GB NNSS), we have explored the many detrimental impacts invasive non-native species can have on our ecosystems and society. Whilst prevention remains the most …
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Helping to create an environment where businesses can thrive with NFCU’s new powers
Cymraeg New powers for the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) mark a significant milestone in the team’s tenth year and coincide with the 25th anniversary of the FSA. Consumer confidence in the safety and authenticity of food remains high, which …
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Protecting one of England's rarest marine habitats: Natural England's work on maerl
By Angela Gall, Marine Senior Officer Hidden beneath the waves along the south coast of Cornwall lies an ancient marine habitat, maerl beds. These pink, twiglet-shaped rhodoliths are free-living, calcified red seaweeds forming intricate, three-dimensional structures on the seabed. They're …
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Huff Post op-ed: Deputy PM marks Mental Health Awareness Week
The Deputy Prime Minister is featured in the HuffPost marking Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May 2025) by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s campaign focuses on the theme of ‘community’ and how it plays an important role …
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From placement to professional: my DVLA software engineering journey
For Learning at Work Week, Iestyn shares his DVLA journey from Year in Industry student to Junior Software Engineer.
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Spotting and reporting Invasive Non-Native marine species
It’s Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) week across the UK – a national effort to raise awareness of the threat invasive species pose to our environment, economy, and native wildlife. For those working on or near the water, especially fishers, you …
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Marbled Crayfish: a serious non-native threat, with potential risk of introduction through the pet trade.
Invasive non-native species, both plants and animals, threaten our native wildlife, natural ecosystems, economy, health, and interfere with activities we enjoy. Invasive Species Week is led by the GB Non Native Species Secretariat and is an annual event to raise …
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Finding requisitions on the portal has just got easier
Two new enhancements have been added to the portal, designed to save customers’ time and provide greater clarity on the progress of their applications.
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How the Environment Agency monitors and tests bathing water quality
As the weather is warming and more people are heading outside to enjoy beaches, rivers and lakes, we’re starting our regular monitoring of bathing waters. Between now and the end of September, millions of people will head to bathing waters …
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GOV.UK Wallet: Building momentum, working in partnership
An update about GOV.UK Wallet and our engagement with the technology sector.
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Coverage following the National Drought Group meeting
There has been widespread media coverage following the driest start to spring in 69 years across England. Publications include BBC, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Mirror and The Telegraph. Environment Agency Area Manager Matthew Gable was also interviewed on …
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Lifting the lid on the UK digital identity ecosystem: Digital Identity Sectoral Analysis 2025
Today, we publish our first full sectoral analysis of the UK’s digital identity ecosystem.
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Unlocking planning innovation: 150 brilliant minds collaborate in Leeds
Innovation was sparked at the Local Government Innovation Hackathon, where 150 planners, technologists and digital leaders collaborated to solve real planning challenges. MHCLG proudly co-organised the event with Government Digital Service, Incubator for AI and Open Digital Planning, reimagining planning services through this hands-on approach.
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Protecting the UK’s potatoes from the Colorado beetle
Calling on gardeners, allotment owners and the general public to look out for the Colorado beetle – a plant pest that poses a major threat to the UK’s food security.
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Learning at Work Week: Discover the GSE awareness courses
This week is Learning at Work Week, and it provides a great opportunity to take some time for learning and development. The Government Science and Engineering (GSE) awareness courses are here to support civil, crown, and public servants with the …
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From “tap on the shoulder” to transparency - 30 years of public appointments
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Principles, the Committee will be publishing a new series of blogs about the work of a range of standards bodies in England. Our fifth blog is from Sir William Shawcross CVO, the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
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Defra leads the way with eSIM adoption to drive sustainability in Government ICT
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has become an early adopter in Government of eSIM technology (embedded SIM) across its mobile estate, setting a benchmark for sustainable digital transformation in the public sector. This initiative is part of Defra’s broader commitment to embedding sustainability and social value into its procurement and operational …
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Integrated marine monitoring to protect the Irish Sea
By Michelle Devlin, Naomi Greenwood, Carolyn Graves, Robert Brookes (Cefas), Mike Best (EA), Eugene O’Kane, Adam Mellor (AFBI), Mark Charlesworth (NRW), David Johns (MBA) Monitoring water quality and plankton in the Irish sea involves the joint effort and expertise of …
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How to Prepare for an Inspection from the Environment Agency (EA): A Farmer’s Guide
We play a key role in ensuring that farming practices comply with environmental regulations. Agriculture is the biggest sector we regulate. We deliver at least 4000 farm inspections per year. These are targeted to farms and parts of the country …
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Protecting Britain’s fields and forests: how genomics is fighting invasive threats
Genomics enhances plant disease management by enabling early detection and real-time tracking. APHA-led scientists, in collaboration with key organisations, in the GAP-DC collaborate to monitor invasive pathogens, improving proactive disease control across animals, plants, and ecosystems.
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Farming Podcast: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective on IPM
In this episode, arable farmer and leader of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), Tom Allen-Stevens, speaks with farmer Martin Lines and agronomist Ed Schofield about their experiences of implementing integrated pest management (IPM).
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UK NSC stakeholder discussion groups: could you help?
Would you like to be involved in a UK NSC stakeholder focus group?
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Celebrating International Nurses Day 2025
This week’s announcement, on International Nurses Day, that the title “nurse” will be protected in law is, in my view, long overdue. Finally, we can reassure residents, patients and colleagues they are dealing with registered practitioners across all relevant care settings.