Lye Cross Farm – Somerset, UK
The Alvis family has produced handmade cheeses since 1952 at Lye Cross Farm, located in the heart of the West Country in Somerset, United Kingdom. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the business has been a pioneer in sustainable cheese production for over 65 years and now is the first to produce Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) and Certified Grassfed by AGW cheese in the UK. The company sources milk from AGW-certified dairy cows…
Stewards of the Earth: Survey shows AGW-certified farms protect endangered species and support biodiversity
After years of seeing and hearing anecdotal evidence of the diversity of life on A Greener World’s certified farms and ranches, we decided to do a survey to find out more. It seems intuitive that sustainable farming practices make ecosystems more vibrant, but we wanted to learn straight from the farm. In partnership with a local university student A Greener World surveyed certified farms across a 2-month period in the Fall of 2018, and the results were astounding. Not only…
Avoiding Heat Stress in Pigs
Despite the well-known saying, pigs don’t actually sweat (aside from their snouts) and can struggle to maintain their body temperature. As a result, overheating in outdoor pigs is a key health and welfare concern, and can affect growth rates, fertility and, in severe cases, can lead to death. First, we need to get our terms clear. Sunburn and heat stress are two different conditions. Sunburn is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun, while heat stress is…
Using Food Labels to Avoid GMOs: An Eater’s Guide
There are many reasons why you might want to avoid genetically modified organisms, more commonly known as “GMOs.” Most consumers have concerns about the long-term health impacts. Other questions one might ask in the face of this new technology: What do GMOs do to our ecosystems, the independence of our farmers, and the rights of consumers to decide what to put in their bodies? Extensive adoption of GMOs has undermined farmer independence, promising (and failing to deliver) significant yields and…
Another Silver Bullet Misses The Mark: The EAT-Lancet Report’s Missed Opportunity to Back Real Sustainability
The recently published EAT-Lancet Commission report, housed on the world-renowned Lancet site, proposes scientific targets for healthy diets and food production to ensure human health and environmental sustainability in the years to come. This ambitious report comes at a time when many are seeking answers as to how we’ll combat climate change, and the authors claim that meeting these targets will achieve the Paris Agreement objectives and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. But even with what seems to be the best…
