27/01/2026 Heating rural homes, vertical farm, cost of nature-friendly farming
The new government plan to help with eco-friendly heating: 拢15 billion in grants over five years. What's in it for rural communities?
The Government's new Warm Homes plan has been set up to help people switch to eco-friendly heating systems for their homes, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels. The scheme will provide 拢15 billion in grants. The five year plan has been welcomed by the energy industry, but some see it as a missed opportunity. We ask the Rural Services Network what's in it for rural communities.
Vertical farming has been hailed as one of the ways to feed the world's growing population, expected to increase to nearly ten billion by 2050. Crops are grown indoors, under artificial light. This method of farming can use less water and fewer chemicals than outdoor crops but does use a lot of energy. We find out why Scotland鈥檚 Rural College has just opened its own full-scale vertical farm in Edinburgh.
Making sure that a farm is sustainable and productive over the long-term - without ruining the environment or damaging wildlife - can be expensive. A young food activist and a farmer explore how this can be done with environmentalists and campaigners for better food networks.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
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- Tue 27 Jan 2026 05:45麻豆社 Radio 4
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Farming Today
The latest news about food, farming and the countryside