Rebecca Wells
@wellsrebecca.bsky.social
I lead adult education programmes to support food policy change. I research how to teach food policy & food systems literacy. Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s Uni of London. Programme Director MSc Food Policy www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/mscfoodpolicy
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Against the grain: as prices and temperatures rise, can Japan learn to love imported rice? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Against the grain: as prices and temperatures rise, can Japan learn to love imported rice?
The political and cultural insulation of Japan’s beloved grain is falling apart, and experts warn the country’s relationship with the staple will have to adapt
www.theguardian.com
June 11, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Against the grain: as prices and temperatures rise, can Japan learn to love imported rice? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
With current trends and policies, we'll transgress all planetary boundaries in 2050, except for ozone depletion. Targeted interventions — e.g., the Paris Agreement — can help, but not enough. More effective policy measures are needed to ensure we live well within the planetary boundaries.
Exploring pathways for world development within planetary boundaries
Nature - Current trends imply that we will transgress most of the planetary boundaries by 2050; however, ambitious, urgent and universal action to ameliorate climate change and increase resource...
rdcu.be
May 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM
With current trends and policies, we'll transgress all planetary boundaries in 2050, except for ozone depletion. Targeted interventions — e.g., the Paris Agreement — can help, but not enough. More effective policy measures are needed to ensure we live well within the planetary boundaries.
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Policies such as free school meals and breakfast clubs can be a real lifeline to families who are struggling, but if they are going to be done on the cheap then their impact will be greatly diminished.They simply must be fully funded
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-confirms...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-confirms...
DfE confirms paltry 3p UIFSM funding rise
1.2% increase is far below predicted rises in food and wage costs
schoolsweek.co.uk
April 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Policies such as free school meals and breakfast clubs can be a real lifeline to families who are struggling, but if they are going to be done on the cheap then their impact will be greatly diminished.They simply must be fully funded
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-confirms...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-confirms...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Yesterday, I spoke
@johnharris1969.bsky.social
for the Guardian political podcast, exploring the harsh realities of child poverty—and how it’s hitting our schools and shaping children’s futures.
www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...
Will rising child poverty be Labour’s legacy? – Politics Weekly UK
The government began to roll out its free breakfast club scheme this week as part of plans to help struggling families. But with predictions that child poverty could increase by the end of this parlia...
www.theguardian.com
April 24, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Yesterday, I spoke
@johnharris1969.bsky.social
for the Guardian political podcast, exploring the harsh realities of child poverty—and how it’s hitting our schools and shaping children’s futures.
www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
'What about if you were to scrap the two child benefit cap, surely that would do more than 30 minutes in a breakfast club?'
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to #BBCBreakfast about the two child benefit cap as she launches pilot project for 750 breakfast clubs
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to #BBCBreakfast about the two child benefit cap as she launches pilot project for 750 breakfast clubs
April 22, 2025 at 7:43 AM
'What about if you were to scrap the two child benefit cap, surely that would do more than 30 minutes in a breakfast club?'
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to #BBCBreakfast about the two child benefit cap as she launches pilot project for 750 breakfast clubs
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to #BBCBreakfast about the two child benefit cap as she launches pilot project for 750 breakfast clubs
Key questions for school governance and policy which are still a little unclear are what food is being served and who is providing and preparing it, and how are these meals being monitored? www.gov.uk/government/n...
Free breakfast clubs roll out as costs for families cut by £8,000
Thousands of children to attend free breakfast clubs across the country today, as government delivers its manifesto commitment and promise to working families
www.gov.uk
April 23, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Key questions for school governance and policy which are still a little unclear are what food is being served and who is providing and preparing it, and how are these meals being monitored? www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
We are delighted that Professor Kevin Morgan of @cugeogplan.bsky.social will be talking about his new book Serving the Public at our next #FoodThinkers webinar on Wednesday 30 April. Book your place!
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
April 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
We are delighted that Professor Kevin Morgan of @cugeogplan.bsky.social will be talking about his new book Serving the Public at our next #FoodThinkers webinar on Wednesday 30 April. Book your place!
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
We are hiring! We're looking for two post-doc researchers to help us deliver a randomised controlled trial of group model building to address inequalities in diet in English local authorities.
Two 3y posts, ideally starting in July. Closing date 4 May.
Full details: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50905/
Two 3y posts, ideally starting in July. Closing date 4 May.
Full details: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50905/
Research Associate x 2 (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge
Research Associate x 2 (Fixed Term) in the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
April 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
We are hiring! We're looking for two post-doc researchers to help us deliver a randomised controlled trial of group model building to address inequalities in diet in English local authorities.
Two 3y posts, ideally starting in July. Closing date 4 May.
Full details: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50905/
Two 3y posts, ideally starting in July. Closing date 4 May.
Full details: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50905/
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Need more details but this looks like an interesting #foodpolicy development
Big news for a public food supply chain: Bulgaria establishes network of state-owned shops offering lower prices. H/t Errol Schweizer www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
March 31, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Need more details but this looks like an interesting #foodpolicy development
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
We are delighted that Baroness Joan Walmsley, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Food, Diet and Obesity, will speak about policy at our City St George's Food Policy Symposium on Thurs 15th May.
Reserve your place now.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Reserve your place now.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
March 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We are delighted that Baroness Joan Walmsley, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Food, Diet and Obesity, will speak about policy at our City St George's Food Policy Symposium on Thurs 15th May.
Reserve your place now.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Reserve your place now.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Join us tomorrow to hear Dr Carrie Bradshaw @cjbradshaw.bsky.social talk about Food waste law and regulation in the UK at our #FoodThinkers webinar, 4.00 - 5.15 pm GMT. Book your place!
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
March 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Join us tomorrow to hear Dr Carrie Bradshaw @cjbradshaw.bsky.social talk about Food waste law and regulation in the UK at our #FoodThinkers webinar, 4.00 - 5.15 pm GMT. Book your place!
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Featuring @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social @proftimlang.bsky.social recent landmark report on civil food resilience www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
The Food Programme - Are We Prepared? Could the UK Feed Itself in a Crisis? - BBC Sounds
Five years after the first lockdown Dan Saladino asks if food systems are better prepared.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Featuring @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social @proftimlang.bsky.social recent landmark report on civil food resilience www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
The importance of food security writ large again and no little irony as US begs Denmark and others it has attacked with tariffs for eggs amid painful avian flu driven US egg shortage www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US turns to Denmark as it hunts for eggs despite Trump’s threat over Greenland
Danish Egg Association says US asked if it could export eggs as prices surge despite president’s promise to lower them
www.theguardian.com
March 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The importance of food security writ large again and no little irony as US begs Denmark and others it has attacked with tariffs for eggs amid painful avian flu driven US egg shortage www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
👀 the fabulous policy scholar Paul Cairney on policy coherence, integration and whole of government approaches… open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-7...
open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu
March 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM
👀 the fabulous policy scholar Paul Cairney on policy coherence, integration and whole of government approaches… open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-7...
New research adding to the climate change and beef debate by examining grass fed beef’s impacts. Disrupts the “less but better” arguments? www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
US grass-fed beef is as carbon intensive as industrial beef and ≈10-fold more intensive than common protein-dense alternatives | PNAS
The high resource intensity of industrial beef in high-income economies has prompted
growing interest in alternative, potentially lower environment...
www.pnas.org
March 20, 2025 at 6:32 AM
New research adding to the climate change and beef debate by examining grass fed beef’s impacts. Disrupts the “less but better” arguments? www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
"History indicates that students with disabilities, Black, brown, and Indigenous students, students experiencing homelessness, immigrant children, and low-income families would suffer the most."
Read our latest op-ed here ⤵️
Read our latest op-ed here ⤵️
How Ending the Department of Education Will Impact Kids With Disabilities
As well as kids who are unhoused.
www.teenvogue.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
"History indicates that students with disabilities, Black, brown, and Indigenous students, students experiencing homelessness, immigrant children, and low-income families would suffer the most."
Read our latest op-ed here ⤵️
Read our latest op-ed here ⤵️
Stark evidence on the impact of the pandemic on our poorest children which will impact their life chances www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Poorest children missing more school and further behind after Covid, study says
Those from the lowest income families are now up to 19 months behind peers by the age of 16.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Stark evidence on the impact of the pandemic on our poorest children which will impact their life chances www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Essential viewing for food policy - up close: power, destruction and corruption leading to environmental degradation and deforestation, in the service of our desire for cheap meat www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Two - Amazon with Bruce Parry, Episode 6
Bruce Parry reaches the end of his Amazon adventure in Brazil's Para state.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Essential viewing for food policy - up close: power, destruction and corruption leading to environmental degradation and deforestation, in the service of our desire for cheap meat www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Super great to have Rebecca Williams give a hybrid lecture "High Steaks: Climate Change, Cattle and the International Legal Order" to our students and other guests.
@wellsrebecca.bsky.social @citystgeorges.bsky.social @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social
@wellsrebecca.bsky.social @citystgeorges.bsky.social @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social
March 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Super great to have Rebecca Williams give a hybrid lecture "High Steaks: Climate Change, Cattle and the International Legal Order" to our students and other guests.
@wellsrebecca.bsky.social @citystgeorges.bsky.social @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social
@wellsrebecca.bsky.social @citystgeorges.bsky.social @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social
There was a lot of concern about this seemingly sudden announcement in audience at London City Food Lecture last night particularly from NFU. With Government already out of favour with farming communities on inheritance tax, building positive relationships on a Food Strategy is going to be hard.
Really bad news for farmers, nature and climate action. 😔 It was not properly designed or set up- no caps or prioritisation... and ran out of ££ but so so bad..
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Farmers in England furious as Defra pauses post-Brexit payment scheme
Applications to the sustainable farming initiative no longer accepted but no clarity on what will replace it and when
www.theguardian.com
March 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
There was a lot of concern about this seemingly sudden announcement in audience at London City Food Lecture last night particularly from NFU. With Government already out of favour with farming communities on inheritance tax, building positive relationships on a Food Strategy is going to be hard.
At the glorious Guildhall in the City of London for the City Food and Drink Lecture. Wonderful that our @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social students can come to the Future Generations Forum to learn from food sector leaders. @citystgeorges.bsky.social
March 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
At the glorious Guildhall in the City of London for the City Food and Drink Lecture. Wonderful that our @foodpolicycitysg.bsky.social students can come to the Future Generations Forum to learn from food sector leaders. @citystgeorges.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Our next virtual open evening is this Wednesday, 11 March from 4 - 5 pm GMT.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Hear MSc Food Policy Course Director Dr Rebecca Wells @wellsrebecca.bsky.social talk about our unique degree programme, ask about the course and meet other prospective students.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Hear MSc Food Policy Course Director Dr Rebecca Wells @wellsrebecca.bsky.social talk about our unique degree programme, ask about the course and meet other prospective students.
March 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Our next virtual open evening is this Wednesday, 11 March from 4 - 5 pm GMT.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Hear MSc Food Policy Course Director Dr Rebecca Wells @wellsrebecca.bsky.social talk about our unique degree programme, ask about the course and meet other prospective students.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Hear MSc Food Policy Course Director Dr Rebecca Wells @wellsrebecca.bsky.social talk about our unique degree programme, ask about the course and meet other prospective students.
The importance of seeing the bigger picture and impacts across all parts of the food system when making food policy.
Factory farms: could new net zero advice lead to their expansion?
Agriculture predicted to be leading source of carbon emissions in UK by 2050. But greater “efficiencies” to reach net zero could result in harm to humans, animals, environment.
Our blog 🔽
Agriculture predicted to be leading source of carbon emissions in UK by 2050. But greater “efficiencies” to reach net zero could result in harm to humans, animals, environment.
Our blog 🔽
Factory farms: could new net zero advice lead to their expansion? | Sustain
Agriculture is predicted to be the leading source of carbon emissions in the UK by 2050, according to the seventh Carbon Budget. The Climate Change Committee has argued that greater “efficiencies” in…
buff.ly
March 10, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The importance of seeing the bigger picture and impacts across all parts of the food system when making food policy.
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
Sustainable Diets pioneer...Gussow & Clancy (1986) #foodsystems #foodpolicy
A great writer and trailblazer.
"Ms. Gussow was not one to shy away from a food fight. She talked about energy use, pollution, obesity and diabetes as the true price consumers were paying for what they consumed at a time when this point of view did not win friends or influence people. But her gainsaying later became gospel."
March 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Sustainable Diets pioneer...Gussow & Clancy (1986) #foodsystems #foodpolicy
Reposted by Rebecca Wells
So there are now equal numbers of Reform and @greenparty.org.uk MPs. Will we now get equal media time?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform MP Rupert Lowe hits back at party leadership after losing whip
MP accused of threatening party chair says dealing with leadership is like smashing his head against a brick wall
www.theguardian.com
March 8, 2025 at 11:55 AM
So there are now equal numbers of Reform and @greenparty.org.uk MPs. Will we now get equal media time?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...