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Blog: Defra in the media
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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

War on plastic bags reaps positive results with 95% reduction since 2014

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 31 July 2020 - Categories: plastic, waste, Weekly stories
A plastic bag floating under water.

Broad positive coverage in the press today of our latest data on single-use plastic bags, which shows a 59% drop in sales in the last year alone in main supermarkets.

Read more of War on plastic bags reaps positive results with 95% reduction since 2014

New study shows one in four UK mammal species now faces threat of extinction

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 30 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
An image of a beaver in the wild

Today we look at coverage of a new study jointly commissioned by Natural England which finds that one quarter of Britain’s mammals are now at risk of extinction.

Read more of New study shows one in four UK mammal species now faces threat of extinction

Lord Goldsmith speech on green recovery

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 30 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
A Hawthorn tree in bud and a spring sunrise over Bodmin Moor looking towards Sharp Tor, Cornwall, England, UK

A look into Lord Goldsmith's speech on a green recovery and the work that the UK is doing on domestic and international conservation.

Read more of Lord Goldsmith speech on green recovery

Agriculture Bill moves another step forward

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 29 July 2020 - Categories: Weekly stories
a view of lots of green fields and trees in the countryside

The Agriculture Bill has completed its Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

Read more of Agriculture Bill moves another step forward

NO2 emissions

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 29 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
Image of telephone lines against clouds and a blue sky.

On today's blog we look into new analysis from Friends of the Earth on NO2 emissions

Read more of NO2 emissions

The independent National Food Strategy launches today

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 29 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
Image of vegetables in a casserole dish

Part one of the independent National Food Strategy, led by Henry Dimbleby, has been published today.

Read more of The independent National Food Strategy launches today

Environment Secretary George Eustice delivers a message to new Trade and Agriculture Commission

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 28 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
An image of a countrysides with rolling green hills at sunset.

On today's blog we take a look at the new Trade and Agriculture Commission which was formally launched today.

Read more of Environment Secretary George Eustice delivers a message to new Trade and Agriculture Commission

COVID-19 confirmed in pet cat in the UK and Cutting red tape for farmers

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 28 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized
A cat sat on a surface looking directly at the camera

We look at widespread coverage of news that the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a pet cat in the UK, and how we are reducing the bureaucratic burden for farmers.

Read more of COVID-19 confirmed in pet cat in the UK and Cutting red tape for farmers

DEFRA response to latest microplastic research

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 24 July 2020 - Categories: Weekly stories
Picture of plastic litter on the beach

Today we look at research by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Commons Seas on the amount of plastic waste expected to be in our oceans by 2040, as well as separate study on the volume of microplastics in the River Thames.

Read more of DEFRA response to latest microplastic research - 1 comment

Bovine TB vaccine field trials given the green light

Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on: 23 July 2020 - Categories: Uncategorized

Today we take a look at world-leading bovine tuberculosis (bTB) TB cattle vaccination trials which are set to get underway in England and Wales as a result of a major breakthrough by government scientists.

Read more of Bovine TB vaccine field trials given the green light - 2 comments
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Defra in the Media is run by the Defra group Press Office and is our review of Defra group stories in the news.

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