Ayms
@aymsmason.bsky.social
Freelance sustainable food & agriculture systems researcher. Working with A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM.
Into agroecology, nature, dismantling systems of oppression and rest.
Bristol-based. Neurodivergent. They/them 🏳️🌈
Into agroecology, nature, dismantling systems of oppression and rest.
Bristol-based. Neurodivergent. They/them 🏳️🌈
"With the adoption of new seed varieties, farmers are losing their genetic resources and the culture associated with it. This is becoming a great source of worry and grief for farmers in...Ghana"
Another reason we should prioritise exploring heritage varieties over developing new GMO ones.
Another reason we should prioritise exploring heritage varieties over developing new GMO ones.
NEW – Guest post: How climate change is causing ‘ecological grief’ for farmers in Ghana | James Boafo
Read here: https://buff.ly/3WL5IZQ
Read here: https://buff.ly/3WL5IZQ
February 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"With the adoption of new seed varieties, farmers are losing their genetic resources and the culture associated with it. This is becoming a great source of worry and grief for farmers in...Ghana"
Another reason we should prioritise exploring heritage varieties over developing new GMO ones.
Another reason we should prioritise exploring heritage varieties over developing new GMO ones.
Reposted by Ayms
By focusing almost exclusively on "moonshot" technological innovations to produce more food, this initiative does little to address the leading political and economic drivers of world hunger such as conflict, economic shocks, and inequality in food systems.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Nobel prize winners call for urgent ‘moonshot’ effort to avert global hunger catastrophe
More than 150 Nobel and World Food prize laureates sign open letter calling for immediate ramping up of food production
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
By focusing almost exclusively on "moonshot" technological innovations to produce more food, this initiative does little to address the leading political and economic drivers of world hunger such as conflict, economic shocks, and inequality in food systems.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Last week Defra said it will lay out the secondary legislation needed for the Precision Breeding Act to come into force by March. This will deregulate gene edited plants in England, with no labelling, traceability or requirement on the developer to ensure that their invention is in the public good.
January 14, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Last week Defra said it will lay out the secondary legislation needed for the Precision Breeding Act to come into force by March. This will deregulate gene edited plants in England, with no labelling, traceability or requirement on the developer to ensure that their invention is in the public good.
Nature will always adapt. "Solutions" like glyphosate are only ever short term fixes. We need to transition our farming system to one which works with nature, not tries to suppress it.
UK’s first glyphosate-resistant weed found on Kent farm
- Scientist says case is warning for farmers to reduce reliance on controversial and common herbicide
Story by @priyabharadia.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Scientist says case is warning for farmers to reduce reliance on controversial and common herbicide
Story by @priyabharadia.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK’s first glyphosate-resistant weed found on Kent farm
Scientist says case is warning for farmers to reduce reliance on controversial and common herbicide
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Nature will always adapt. "Solutions" like glyphosate are only ever short term fixes. We need to transition our farming system to one which works with nature, not tries to suppress it.
One of the things I've enjoyed most about being at #ORFC25 is that embodied sense of being part of something. Really enjoyed this workshop to dive deeper into my/our place in the movement, how we can connect, who is missing and how we can build more together.
January 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
One of the things I've enjoyed most about being at #ORFC25 is that embodied sense of being part of something. Really enjoyed this workshop to dive deeper into my/our place in the movement, how we can connect, who is missing and how we can build more together.
Interesting session the history of grassroots GMO campaigning, hearing some great stories about protests through the 90s-2000s and reflecting on what's changed now, despite the reality of unlabelled GM products on our shelves being perilously close #ORFC25
January 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Interesting session the history of grassroots GMO campaigning, hearing some great stories about protests through the 90s-2000s and reflecting on what's changed now, despite the reality of unlabelled GM products on our shelves being perilously close #ORFC25
So happy to hear Jim Aplin talking about neurodivergence as a "natural evolved part of human biodiversity" at the #ORFC25 opening ceremony.
Passionate words encouraging compassion and understanding of difference makes me feel so much less nervous about being my full self here.
Passionate words encouraging compassion and understanding of difference makes me feel so much less nervous about being my full self here.
January 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM
So happy to hear Jim Aplin talking about neurodivergence as a "natural evolved part of human biodiversity" at the #ORFC25 opening ceremony.
Passionate words encouraging compassion and understanding of difference makes me feel so much less nervous about being my full self here.
Passionate words encouraging compassion and understanding of difference makes me feel so much less nervous about being my full self here.
Excited to travel to Oxford for #ORFC25 tomorrow.
Join us at 9am on Friday 10th for our workshop "Beyond the Tech Divide: Rethinking Innovation for Agroecology" in collaboration with @ipes-food.org Let's reclaim the innovation narrative in support of diverse, sustainable production systems!
Join us at 9am on Friday 10th for our workshop "Beyond the Tech Divide: Rethinking Innovation for Agroecology" in collaboration with @ipes-food.org Let's reclaim the innovation narrative in support of diverse, sustainable production systems!
January 7, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Excited to travel to Oxford for #ORFC25 tomorrow.
Join us at 9am on Friday 10th for our workshop "Beyond the Tech Divide: Rethinking Innovation for Agroecology" in collaboration with @ipes-food.org Let's reclaim the innovation narrative in support of diverse, sustainable production systems!
Join us at 9am on Friday 10th for our workshop "Beyond the Tech Divide: Rethinking Innovation for Agroecology" in collaboration with @ipes-food.org Let's reclaim the innovation narrative in support of diverse, sustainable production systems!
Reading highlight of the winter break was definitely 'Place of Tides' by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social An astonishing story of connection to the land, sea and ducks. I am always seeking stories which invite slowness, and this one really captured the beauty of matching the pace of the natural world.
January 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reading highlight of the winter break was definitely 'Place of Tides' by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social An astonishing story of connection to the land, sea and ducks. I am always seeking stories which invite slowness, and this one really captured the beauty of matching the pace of the natural world.
"Unlike Victor’s secretive experiments, responsible innovation requires openness, inclusivity and a commitment to the long-term health of...living systems."
No plans to bring back 'frankenfoods', but here are some musings on what Frankenstein can still teach us about GMOs.
No plans to bring back 'frankenfoods', but here are some musings on what Frankenstein can still teach us about GMOs.
Frankenfoods – Chewing Over a Polarised Debate
In 2024 we briefly considered – but rejected – a cheeky suggestion to bring back the provocative term ‘Frankenfoods’. The days of that kind of polemic may have passed but, as we note in our year-end r...
abiggerconversation.org
December 19, 2024 at 9:57 AM
"Unlike Victor’s secretive experiments, responsible innovation requires openness, inclusivity and a commitment to the long-term health of...living systems."
No plans to bring back 'frankenfoods', but here are some musings on what Frankenstein can still teach us about GMOs.
No plans to bring back 'frankenfoods', but here are some musings on what Frankenstein can still teach us about GMOs.
"Mirror bacteria would likely evade many human, animal and plant immune system responses and in each case would cause lethal infections that would spread without check" Prof Vaughn Cooper
Glad to see the Guardian covering the risks of synthetic biology, one of the next GM frontiers.
Glad to see the Guardian covering the risks of synthetic biology, one of the next GM frontiers.
‘Unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth: Scientists call for halt on ‘mirror life’ microbe research
Experts warn that mirror bacteria, constructed from mirror images of molecules found in nature, could put humans, animals and plants at risk of lethal infections
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2024 at 11:58 AM
"Mirror bacteria would likely evade many human, animal and plant immune system responses and in each case would cause lethal infections that would spread without check" Prof Vaughn Cooper
Glad to see the Guardian covering the risks of synthetic biology, one of the next GM frontiers.
Glad to see the Guardian covering the risks of synthetic biology, one of the next GM frontiers.
"the long-term impact of this move will likely include a significant reduction in the use of agricultural property for large-scale tax avoidance, a closer relationship between the agricultural and market values of land, and greater diversity of land ownership"
Changes to farmers’ inheritance tax are fair and could even help them in the long run – expert view
Tax relief may acutally have made it more expensive for farmers to buy more land to expand their business.
theconversation.com
December 10, 2024 at 1:28 PM
"the long-term impact of this move will likely include a significant reduction in the use of agricultural property for large-scale tax avoidance, a closer relationship between the agricultural and market values of land, and greater diversity of land ownership"
Reposted by Ayms
“Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact it rains.”
Paul Harvey
#WorldSoilDay
Paul Harvey
#WorldSoilDay
December 5, 2024 at 11:01 AM
“Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact it rains.”
Paul Harvey
#WorldSoilDay
Paul Harvey
#WorldSoilDay
Reposted by Ayms
Let's make this a thing! Folks researching the political economy of food and agriculture. Let me know if you should be added to this list!
go.bsky.app/GykU1LD
go.bsky.app/GykU1LD
December 3, 2024 at 12:57 PM
Let's make this a thing! Folks researching the political economy of food and agriculture. Let me know if you should be added to this list!
go.bsky.app/GykU1LD
go.bsky.app/GykU1LD
Reposted by Ayms
📢🍱🥴"Stop ripping off families with ready meals"
Our #OutToLunchUK campaign sent out a team of secret diners to assess the quality of children's menus on the high street. soilassociation.org/causes-campa...
Here are some of the key findings and full league table. Any surprises?
Our #OutToLunchUK campaign sent out a team of secret diners to assess the quality of children's menus on the high street. soilassociation.org/causes-campa...
Here are some of the key findings and full league table. Any surprises?
November 28, 2024 at 8:50 AM
📢🍱🥴"Stop ripping off families with ready meals"
Our #OutToLunchUK campaign sent out a team of secret diners to assess the quality of children's menus on the high street. soilassociation.org/causes-campa...
Here are some of the key findings and full league table. Any surprises?
Our #OutToLunchUK campaign sent out a team of secret diners to assess the quality of children's menus on the high street. soilassociation.org/causes-campa...
Here are some of the key findings and full league table. Any surprises?
"A Colombian Government agency...prohibited [the researcher] and her colleagues from publicly discussing the health risks of sugar, under penalty of a $250,000 fine."
New research on the threats & intimidation UPF researchers face. One of the many ways corporations exert power in the food system.
New research on the threats & intimidation UPF researchers face. One of the many ways corporations exert power in the food system.
Researchers of tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods face threats and intimidation – new study
The critical debate of research is welcome and necessary. But the incidents documented in our study go far beyond this.
theconversation.com
November 27, 2024 at 3:05 PM
"A Colombian Government agency...prohibited [the researcher] and her colleagues from publicly discussing the health risks of sugar, under penalty of a $250,000 fine."
New research on the threats & intimidation UPF researchers face. One of the many ways corporations exert power in the food system.
New research on the threats & intimidation UPF researchers face. One of the many ways corporations exert power in the food system.
"The progressive greener dream for UK farming has died"
One of the better of writing I've read post-budget from @herdyshepherd.bsky.social outlining all that farmers are upset about (not just APR - that's just the one that got the public/right wing press' attention).
One of the better of writing I've read post-budget from @herdyshepherd.bsky.social outlining all that farmers are upset about (not just APR - that's just the one that got the public/right wing press' attention).
The farmers march on Westminster
unherd.com
November 27, 2024 at 9:58 AM
"The progressive greener dream for UK farming has died"
One of the better of writing I've read post-budget from @herdyshepherd.bsky.social outlining all that farmers are upset about (not just APR - that's just the one that got the public/right wing press' attention).
One of the better of writing I've read post-budget from @herdyshepherd.bsky.social outlining all that farmers are upset about (not just APR - that's just the one that got the public/right wing press' attention).
"If we have serious inheritance tax charges, the price of farmland will fall so much that people will actually be able to enter into farming because farmland will be affordable to people who want to become farmers."
Good analysis by @richardjmurphy.bsky.social on the thorny APR debate. 1/2
Good analysis by @richardjmurphy.bsky.social on the thorny APR debate. 1/2
November 26, 2024 at 4:33 PM
"If we have serious inheritance tax charges, the price of farmland will fall so much that people will actually be able to enter into farming because farmland will be affordable to people who want to become farmers."
Good analysis by @richardjmurphy.bsky.social on the thorny APR debate. 1/2
Good analysis by @richardjmurphy.bsky.social on the thorny APR debate. 1/2
A useful article from @scanthehorizon.bsky.social on the recent UNCBD Cali fund decision on Digital Sequence Information. Its unclear how this will affect BigAg/Tech giants as many countries - including the UK - won't make payment mandatory. But its a good direction at least.
Hi friends. I've written a kickass article on why #AI titans are now on the hook to pay billions of $$$ to indigenous and local communities for training data thru the #UNCBD Cali Fund and why this is an important precedent for #artificialintelligence policy www.scanthehorizon.org/p/un-puts-ai...
UN puts AI Titans on the hook for billions of dollars of biopiracy payments.
A new UN decision says AI giants should pay out billions of dollars compensation for use of AI training data . Here’s why the UN’s new “Cali Fund” sets an important precedent far beyond biodiversity.
www.scanthehorizon.org
November 26, 2024 at 4:21 PM
A useful article from @scanthehorizon.bsky.social on the recent UNCBD Cali fund decision on Digital Sequence Information. Its unclear how this will affect BigAg/Tech giants as many countries - including the UK - won't make payment mandatory. But its a good direction at least.
Hi everyone, I'm Ayms. Migrating over here in the hope of more kindness.
I'm a freelance food & agricultural systems researcher/policy person, working mainly with A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM. We critically consider agricultural technologies in the context of food system reform.
I'm a freelance food & agricultural systems researcher/policy person, working mainly with A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM. We critically consider agricultural technologies in the context of food system reform.
November 26, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Hi everyone, I'm Ayms. Migrating over here in the hope of more kindness.
I'm a freelance food & agricultural systems researcher/policy person, working mainly with A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM. We critically consider agricultural technologies in the context of food system reform.
I'm a freelance food & agricultural systems researcher/policy person, working mainly with A Bigger Conversation/Beyond GM. We critically consider agricultural technologies in the context of food system reform.