Tim Spector on microbiomes, human and soil health

07/19/22 • 37 min

This week Patrick is joined by Tim Spector, professor of Genetic Epidemiology, author, and co-founder of personalised microbiome and nutrition analysis company ZOE. They discuss the microbiome of the human gut and its similarities to the microbiome of soil, exploring how farmers might influence the diversity of several microbiomes through their practices, and how legislation might be altered to support microbial diversity.

See more of Tim Spector's work via Twitter, his website and his books

Listen to Tim speak on the BBC Food Programme More Sustainable Food Trust Podcasts Support the Sustainable Food Trust Follow Sustainable Food Trust on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn

See more of Tim Spector's work via Twitter, his website and his books

Listen to Tim speak on the BBC Food Programme More Sustainable Food Trust Podcasts Support the Sustainable Food Trust Follow Sustainable Food Trust on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn

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A special edition podcast covering our 2022 Fir Farm Conference: A Roadmap to Sustainable Farming.

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Dr Claire Whittle on dung beetles and preventative medicine

Dr Claire Whittle is a farm vet, Nuffield scholar, but above all, a dung beetle enthusiast. In the UK, there are 60 species of dung beetle, which fall into the categories of 'dwellers', 'stealers' and 'tunnellers'. Each beetle plays a vital part in breaking down dung, improving soil health, suppressing pests, and even reducing greenhouse gas emissions and flood risk. A recent study showed that many of our dung beetle species are in serious trouble, with almost 50% categorised as scarce or threatened nationally. A key cause of this? Agricultural practices that damage the fragile dung biome. In the podcast, Claire explains the important role dung beetles can play in preventative care, crucial in a world of ever-increasing drug resistance. She explains how dung beetles are vital to a return to homeostasis and ecological health on farms, and what farmers can do to help these critical critters.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Wilding, by Isabella Tree

The Secret Life of Cows, by Rosamund Young

Silent Earth, by Dave Goulson

Silent Spring, by Rachel Carlson

Keep up to date with Claire Whittle’s work via Instagram, and Dung Beetles for Farmers.

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