We’ve been reading a great deal about the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, Cop 26, being held in Glasgow from the 31st October to 12th November and we feel it’s good to share some of our thoughts as we all work towards net zero in our daily and business lives (read more on our home town becoming the first net zero town in the UK below).

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Important global figures will unite to represent governments and our own (very favourite) David Attenborough will be headlining as the voice of the people.

*Greta Thunberg’s Vision For A More Sustainable Food Industry

Greta has become a global name since she became a very young climate activist and she is now urging the food and drink industry to play its part in adapting to protect the planet. By changing how we farm, what we eat and how we treat our environment, she says we can boost diversity and reduce carbon emissions.

“Our relationship with nature is broken. But relationships can change,” she said in a video earlier this year. “The climate crisis, ecological crisis and health crisis, they are all interlinked.”
She cites that up to 75% of all new diseases come from animals. “Because of the way we farm and treat nature, cutting down forests and destroying habitats, we are creating the perfect conditions for diseases to spill over from one animal to another — and to us.”
What’s more, she continues, 83% of the world’s agricultural land is used to feed livestock, yet livestock only provides 18% of our calories. “The way we make food – raising animals to eat, clearing land to grow food to feed those animals – if we continue we will run out of land and food. We will also destroy the habitats of most wild plants and animals, driving countless species to extinction. They are our life support system. If we lose them, we will be lost too.”
*Source material from Speciality Food Magazine newsletter on 08.10.21 – thanks to them for the inspiration behind this feature

Eating A Flexitarian Diet

If you enjoy eating meat as part of a balanced diet it’s hard to contemplate giving it up completely. As such, many people are either reducing their meat consumption or becoming flexitarian – a cross between ‘flexible’ and ‘vegetarian’.
Simply taking the decision to reduce the number of days you eat meat through the week can genuinely have an impact on carbon emissions and help to bring some balance back into the planet’s eco systems.
Also, we’re here to help. Seeds have an amazing role to play in replacing meat as a great source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They also taste fabulous too, especially when we’ve lightly toasted them in batches to add flavour and crunch.

Check out our recipes and ideas (we’re always adding new ones) and you’ll find something which will inspire you in your quest to reduce your meat consumption. Seeds really are a fantastic powerhouse of nutrition and a more sustainable way of eating which makes them taste even better!
If you need to stock up, check out our brilliant bundles on our new Savoury Sprinkles and Breakfast Boosters.

Leiston – Our Exciting Net Zero Town

We have been roasting nutritious seeds at our family business in Leiston, Suffolk (close to the sea) for over 20 years, and we’re super delighted that residents of our town are being asked to take part in an ambitious plan in the quest to create the first net zero town in the UK.
The route map will be published later this year.
Caroline Rinder, Town Clerk, Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council said:
“I’m thrilled that our small community has the chance to develop a big plan to fight climate change. By building on the vision set out in “A Route to Net Zero”, Leiston residents could help create a properly engineered, low carbon route map for other towns up and down the country.”
As part of the project, experts have calculated the maximum amount of carbon Leiston should produce between now and 2100 in order to do its fair local share of global efforts to keep emissions within safe limits. Their analysis shows that, without action, this carbon ‘budget’ will be emitted in under 8 years.
Pilot schemes have already been launched in the town including a zero-carbon energy tariff, energy efficiency measures and a heat pump offer for residents.
At Munchy Seeds we’re proud to be part of this movement going forwards and are delighted to announce that our delicious pouches of seeds are now in recyclable packaging – as we do our best to try and help to protect the planet ourselves.