Global population has exploded over the last 50 years, and with it, our demand for food production. This time-period has also seen a tremendous increase in acknowledgement of how we as the human race are impacting the global environment and the countless species that inhabit it. In today’s episode I sit down with Professor Ian Bateman OBE to discuss how modern farming and agricultural practices are impacting biodiversity across the globe. Despite numerous measures and policies initiated by world governments, Professor Bateman outlines to me how such measures have not been as effective as we might have expected and how they must change if we want to preserve biodiversity on our planet.

Ian is an environmental economist whose research covers the issues of ensuring sustainable wellbeing, particularly with regard to decision making and policy. Ian is also a member of the First Minister's Environmental Council advising the Scottish Government and was awarded his OBE in 2013 for services to environmental science and policy. As ever referenced research material is included below.Professor Ian Bateman OBE:https://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?web_id=Ian_BatemanReferences 1) Population, total, worldbank.org, 2023https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL2) Soy, wwf.panda.org, 2023https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/food_practice/sustainable_production/soy/3) Trophic levels in an ecosystem – AQA: Transfer of biomass, BBC Bitesize, 2023https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zs7gw6f/revision/34) ‘We have to pay more for food’: Britain’s biggest tomato farmer on the runaway costs of growing, theguardian.com, 2023https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/23/we-have-to-pay-more-for-food-britains-biggest-tomato-farmer-on-the-runaway-costs-of-growing5) UK has 'led the world' in destroying the natural environment, Josh Davis, 2020https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2020/september/uk-has-led-the-world-in-destroying-the-natural-environment.html6) Organic farming, yara.co.uk, 2023https://www.yara.co.uk/grow-the-future/sustainable-farming/organic-farming/7) How Sri Lanka Went Bankrupt, Waez Asif Sattar, 2022https://oxfordpoliticalreview.com/2022/07/30/how-sri-lanka-went-bankrupt/8) Prisoner’s Dilemma, corporatefinanceinstitute.com, 2023https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/prisoners-dilemma/9) Climate change already worse than expected, says new UN report, Kieran Mulvaney, 2022https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-already-worse-than-expected-un-report10) A nationwide study of factors associated with household car ownership in China, Le Vine et al, 2018https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S038611121730061411) Per capita greenhouse gas emissions 2021, Jones et al, 2023https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/per-capita-ghg-emissions12) GDP (current US$) – China, worldbank.org, 2023https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=CN13) World Poverty Rate 1981-2023, macrotrends.net, 2023https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/WLD/world/poverty-rate14) 30 by 30 explained, NatureScot.com, 2023https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/30-30-and-nature-networks/30-30-explained15) Rich landowners paid millions in farming subsidies, BBC News, 2012https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-1722565216) EU plans CAP reforms for 'greener' farm subsidies, BBC News, 2011https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15272815Socials:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marginalbabbleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdorey96/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxDorey1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-dorey-7958a4128/