Food & nutrition, this week

1. Food & nutrition

   High-protein trend in red meat

   Abby Tong, on the QMS Podcast (a statutory levy body promoting Scotch beef and lamb), says high protein is this year's key consumer trend, citing protein labelling on yogurts and snacks. Nutrition Diva separately examined whether high-protein diets are unhealthy, addressing protein-fortified foods and labelling claims.

   “This year, obviously, we have high protein, and I believe you have when you visit the shops, you will notice that a lot of products like the yogurt and different like snacks, and they have like a clear mark how much protein it has on the pack”

   Abby Tong, Quality Meat Scotland Podcast

   Why it matters. Protein positioning could shape how red meat is marketed and whether health claims hold up to scrutiny.

   Listen: Quality Meat Scotland Podcast · Nutrition Diva

2. Food & nutrition

   By-products in dairy feed shift milk nutrients

   This study (Food Chemistry, 2026) fed apple and hempseed by-products to dairy cows and measured the effect on milk's fatty acids, B vitamins and mineral content. The research provides evidence that these sustainable by-product feeds can alter the micronutrient density and fatty acid profile of the milk produced.

   Why it matters. It's a direct, checkable link between a feed choice a dairy farmer can make and the nutritional makeup of the milk that reaches consumers, though the summary doesn't specify the direction or size of the changes.

   Read: Food Chemistry (2026)

3. Food & nutrition

   Soil water storage and irrigation tech

   Farming Today's Alison Smythe says organic-rich soil acts like a sponge, aiding chalk aquifer recharge amid record October sunshine. RealAg Radio reports robotic irrigation systems gaining ground in Western Canada, enabling precision water and nutrient delivery without drivers.

   “Where the soil's in good condition and has got plenty of organic matter and biology going on, it means that can act much more like a sponge and hold it.”

   Alison Smythe, Farming Today

   Why it matters. Soil condition and new irrigation tech both affect water efficiency, with implications for drought resilience and input costs.

   Listen: Farming Today · RealAg Radio – RealAgriculture

4. Ag commodities

   Soil health convergence

   No single event: shows covered soil health from varied angles, including India's natural farming movement (AFSA), regenerative sheep grazing (Grounded), a new Duchy tenancy (Farmers Guardian), and tillage compaction (Agriland). Working Cows featured John Kempf on weaning off chemical fertilisers; Wellness Scoop linked soil health to nutrient density.

   Why it matters. Soil health underpins yields, input costs and food quality, cutting across organic, regenerative and conventional systems alike.

   Listen: Battle For African Agriculture Podcast · Agriland · Grounded: The regenerative farming podcast · Real Organic Podcast

Also in this edition

• Agricultural education and training
• Natural vs industrial farming
• Food security and affordability
• Avian influenza spreads across UK
• Weather forecasting reliability
• Farm infrastructure and capital barriers
• Fivemiletown cattle cull review

Food & nutrition in earlier weeks

• Week 45 · 29 Oct–4 Nov 2026
• Week 43 · 15–21 Oct 2026

The full Week 46 edition · The podcasts we follow · The weekly data