Charlie Clutterbuck

BSc Agricultural Zoology Newcastle University MSc Applied Plant Science & PhD Soil Ecology, Wye College London University, PGCE Manchester University, FRSA

'He'

With a first Degree in Agricultural Zoology and Masters in Applied Plant Science at Wye College London University, he there completed his PhD in Soil Zoology.

While working for British Society for Social Responsibility in Science in late 1970s, he set up Hazards magazine, still published to this day, and the Agricapital group which produced an issue of Science for People (SfP 34). Since then he campaigned for better health & safety and helped

National

He was a ministerial appointment to the government's Advisory Commitee on Pesticides (2004-8)

Advisor to Select Committe - Food Security 2010.

In 2020 he wrote the Master's degree for Schumacher College approved by Plymouth University 2020 'Regenerative Food, Farming and Enterprise. A helpful learning website for this Masters led to www.soilhealth.org.uk

International

Co-wrote the first ILO's education materials on Workers & Environment and

Co-wrote WHO education materials on Food & Nutrition Plans and Policies for African and Asian governments.

With an unusual experience/expertise and using the magic of modern technology, he has made ground-breaking (geddit?) discoveries of what goes on in soil - and how it got here.

'I'

From a very young age, I wanted to 'feed the world'. So I steered myself through King Edwards Camp Hill School Birmingham into the science stream then the biological and chemical A levels, that got me to Newcastle University studying Agricultural Zoology.

Over 50 years ago, I first finished a Masters in Applied Plant Science, where my main tutor was J W Pursglove who had just finished his first two tomes on Tropical Crops. I then completed my PhD Thesis in Soil Zoology at Wye College, London University, then perhaps the most foremost University Agricultural College in the world. I was the President of the Middle Common Room. My external examiner Kenneth Mellanby, then Director of the Terrestrial Ecology Centre at Monks Wood, awarded me the doctorate for my research into 'The effects of herbicides on soil mesofauna' - provided I published as soon as possible. Life came in the way and I didn't - something I regret. However, its results are probably more relevant today than ever before - especially in regenerative circles, about the possible effects of Glyphosate usage.

Since then I have spent most of my life promoting better food and farming systems. During most of that period I have been a member of the farmworkers union - first NUAAW, then TGWU and now Unite, during which time I have contributed a lot, particularly about pesticides., to their magazine 'Landworker'. In 2017 I wrote Bittersweet Brexit for Unite the Union, but it was not well received by the General Secretary.

I helped set up the Agricapital group' of fellow scientists trying to make sense of why food and farming systems - why they are as as bad as they are in terms of feeding people and looking after the planet. I have written several books on food and farming including More than we can chew with my friend Tim Land (now Prof.) in the 1980s, spelling out how the world food problem is not what I believed fromn the age of 12 - how to produce enough food. Instead the problem for the owners of the food-farm system is that of food overproduction, leading to lower farm gate prices and a continual squeeze on farmers, to produce 'more more more', and food manufacturers to produce 'cheap cheap cheap'.

For several years, in the early 1990s, I was proud to be a governor of the Lancashire County' Agricultural College, Myerscough and for a short while was even more pleased to be it's Chair.

I am a trustee of the Incredible Farm Todmorden.

Perhaps the greatest claim to fame is being introduced by Monty Don on BBC Gardeners' World where I tried to explain how springtails help disperse fungal spores.

Sister Websites

Soilanimals.com brings small soil creatures to life.

Look at the land - a tour round the 'North West' on what you can tell form looking at the land.

Pendle witch Trial trail takes you where the key characters, in the infamous Pendle 'Witch' Trial of 1612 lived.

Where our food crops come from outlines the fascinating stories behind the movement pf food

Bittersweetbrexit.com a follow up to the book, keeping track of what has happened since.

Regenerative Food, Farming & Enterprise learning materials for this Masters led to www.soilhealth.org.uk

BSSRS.org is a collection of some of the archive materials that now housed at Wellcome Museum Euston Road London.

WhalleyMoor Woodland helps vistors make the most of our woodland.

If you want to make helpful suggestions, please contact charlie@sustainablefood.com