Bees' Knees Comms-Cast

What makes farmers tune in and what keeps them listening?  In this episode of the Pulse CommsCast, Pinstone managing director Catherine Linch speaks to Ben Eagle, founder and director of RuralPod Media, about the power of podcasting to engage farming audiences.  Ben shares lessons from a decade of producing rural podcasts, including Meet the Farmers and explains why the format works well in agricu...

Hosted by Pinstone MD Catherine Linch, former Farmers Guardian editor and publisher Ben Briggs shares his journey from agricultural journalism to PR and comms, exploring how social media and AI have fundamentally changed the way we communicate with farmers and rural communities. Ben and Catherine also discuss the results of a recent Pulse report, which sheds light on how farmers think and feel, an...

Guest: Clare Hill, Regenerative transition coach and farmer runs Roots to Regeneration program, where she helps farmers transition to regenerative methods. Topics covered : Clare’s career journey, regenerative farming, storytelling for change, coaching, overcoming barriers. Key message: Storytelling is key to driving the adoption of regenerative agriculture. It helps inspire change, overcome barri...

In this episode we speak to Professor Lorna Dawson CBE, head of the Centre for Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute and discuss forensic applications of soil, food provenance, rural crime, science communication, regenerative farming, soil health, and public engagement and why storytelling is key to making science relatable.  In this instance, this is to ensure the role and importanc...

The Bees’ Knees Comms Cast - Alexia Robinson, Founder of Love British Food In this episode of The Bee’s Knees Comms Cast , we sit down with Alexia Robinson, founder of Love British Food , an initiative that has been driving grassroots change in the food and farming sectors for over two decades.    Alexia shares the story behind British Food Fortnight and how her innovative, community-driven approa...

00:03:40 – methods and importance of effective communication 00:09:54 – measuring outputs vs outcomes of campaigns 00:15:24 – Open Farm Sunday 00:18:54 – young people programme 00:21:31 – barriers to engaging young people 00:24:22 – working with wider organisations and patrons 00:26:13 – the role of the farming community 00:27:34 – other initiatives in food, farming and environment education The B...

0:00:05 - Introduction and welcome to Sarah Bolt 0:00:54 – Discussion on sustainability in the UK dairy sector 0:02:04 - Barriers and obstacles to sustainability in dairy farming 0:03:50 - Opportunities for sustainability in the dairy sector 0:05:16 - Research on soils and carbon storage 0:10:25 - Holistic dairy management and its connection to soil health 0:14:11 - How Sarah Bolt's work supports...

0:04:25 - Discussion of changing mood of businesses thinking about sustainability 0:10:40 - Example given of complexity in supply chains using deforestation 0:17:12 - Discussion of greenwashing fears from companies investing in sustainability  0:23:16 - Discussion of what could prevent confidence in sustainability programs 0:27:31 - Importance of authenticity and transparency in sustainability cla...

0:09:10 - Suez's vision and goals for sustainability leadership 0:11:31 - Evolving business models towards circular economy principles 0:15:51 - Changing approaches to communication and engagement 0:20:05 - Addressing behaviour change in waste management  0:25:59 - The importance of data in decision making 0:32:03 - Examples of successful reuse and repair initiatives 0:34:17 - Impactful Doncaster...

Episode timestamps:  [00:01:30] Introduction to Harry Mayhew and the inspiration behind Ember Snacks [00:04:00] The significance of Ember's roots on the Suffolk family farm and its impact on the business’ mission [00:06:45] How Ember stands out with its no sugar, no sweeteners policy and its support for British agriculture [00:10:15] The challenges and milestones in Ember's journey to market prese...

You might know our podcast previously as the Agri Food Comms-Cast but under our new look, we’ll be talking to inspirational guests behind brands and organisations that have a sustainability story to tell. Our common thread has evolved and this time around, it’s authentic sustainability storytelling and where organisations are making a difference, with their purpose being their north star!  Get in...

The Agri Food Comms-Cast is back for episode 5 of season 4! This month our host, Catherine Linch , welcomes managing director of Glebe Farm Foods , Rebecca Rayner . They are most famous in farming circles for taking a hardline stance against multinational Oatly who attempted to sue them over the name and branding of Glebe’s PureOaty oat milk. In this true ‘David and Goliath’ story, Rebecca offers...

In this month’s episode of the Agri Food Comms-Cast , we’re delving into the audio channel of podcasting; two years on from launching the Agri-Food Comms Cast. Host Catherine Linch welcomes Johann Tasker , chief reporter at Farmers Weekly and co-host of the Farmers Weekly Podcast . Johann joins us to discuss how their podcast is structured and its range of focus, format, and frequency. Alongside t...

The Agri-Food Comms Cast was first broadcast on Earth Day 2022 , and delves into the opportunity for businesses to engage more proactively with the environment. In episode three, season four of the podcast, our host, Catherine Linch , is joined by founder of Sustainability Impact Agency, betternotstop , Hannah Cox , who is also a B-Corp Ambassador and B Leader . They are joined in conversation wit...

The Agri-Food Comms Cast delves into the value of ‘asking the audience’ and the approach behind the AHDB ’s Shape the Future ballot . In episode two of season four of the podcast, our host Catherine Linch is joined by Roseanne Thomas , Director of Communications at AHDB. The Shape the Future ballot provides the opportunity for 100,000 farmers and growers in the UK to have their say and influence w...

The Agri-Food Comms Cast is back with a bang! In the first episode of season four, Catherine Linch delves into the role of different communication platforms, from the ultimate ‘long form’ book to the fast-paced world of social media. In particular, we explore how food and farming topics can present a challenging dialogue between town and country. Our first guest, journalist, broadcaster, founder o...

A returning sense of normality has been highlighted with the kids heading back for a new school year. So, in keeping with the theme of new beginnings, this special episode of the Agri-Food Comms Cast explores the numerous routes to taking the leap into #AgCareers. A career in agriculture can entail much more than working on a farm, with the #FarmToFork initiative demonstrating just that. There is...

Episode seven considers the complex communication challenges that Henry Dimbleby was up against when piecing together his National Food Strategy . Catherine Linch is joined by two special guests for the final episode of season two of the Agri-Food Comms Cast to share their insight on this recently launched, comprehensive review. Communicating information that requires extensive cross-sector knowle...

In light of the nation’s growing obesity crisis and subsequent pressures on the health service, episode six of season two of the Agri-Food Comms Cast , explores the potential influence that the food industry could initiate by actively marketing healthier food choices. This month, Catherine Linch is joined by food campaigner and crossbench member of the House of Lords, Baroness Rosie Boycott , and...

Episode five of season two of the Agri Food Comms-Cast welcomes Farmers Guardian and Morrisons to delve into the new, consumer facing #FarmingCAN , a year-long marketing campaign. Creating conversations and strengthening the messages about what British farming can, and does, do for the public beyond producing food for the nation is the bold ambition. Farmers Guardian’s marketing manager, Hannah Ca...

The pressures currently facing the red meat sector globally are undeniable, making a strong case for the advocates of British beef production to take on the communications challenge with gusto. We look at the issue as Great British Beef Week kicks off. In the latest episode of the Agri-Food Comms Cast , Catherine Linch explores how this traditional sector is challenging some public’ perceptions an...

In episode three of season two of the Agri-Food Comms Cast , Catherine Linch unpicks how businesses and communications professionals can best go about navigating through the ever-growing social media landscape. Clubhouse , the new and exclusive social media app based on audio chat, is rapidly gaining traction. And with podcasts also increasing in popularity, where is time best spent and invested a...

The communications challenge of effectively reaching out and achieving meaningful engagement on the topic of mental health and wellbeing is the topic discussed in the latest episode of the Agri-Food Comms Cast. Catherine Linch explores how two projects targeting producers at the coalface of food production have gone about getting traction and a real buzz around this vitally important topic. Alicia...

The Agri Food Comms-Cast (AFCC) explores the PR and marketing themes across the breadth of the food and farming industry. In the first episode of our second season, Catherine Linch explores the role of social media influencers. No longer confined to A-list celebrities, influencer marketing has spread to the breadth of B2C and increasingly B2B sectors that recognise the power of an influential voic...

The  Agri Food Comms-Cast  (AFCC) unpicks the marketing and communications stories behind the issues facing the food and farming sector. Episode 17 explores the communications challenge behind the massive global issue of transitioning the livestock sector to net zero. Lynsday Chapman, CEO of the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL) , introduced their new, independent industry repor...