The Life Larder
Posts
What Are Herbicides Doing in Our Daily Bread?

What Are Herbicides Doing in Our Daily Bread?

Thoughts from Oxford Real Farming Conference brought to the table.

Sam Ratanji
January 25, 2026

Hi there,

Welcome to The Life Larder! This newsletter serves up a bite-sized menu of stories and ideas about making food that’s not only delicious but also healthy and sustainable.

Each issue is packed with inspiring articles, flavourful ideas, and voices from across the vibrant food world. Think of me as your friendly guide, helping you create meals that nourish your body, delight your taste buds, and care for our planet. Treat this newsletter like a personal larder - always stocked with something you’ll love.

At the beginning of January I went to the Oxford Real Farming Conference - which sets the tone for the challenges in food and farming by those fighting for a fairer food future. Honestly, the talks I picked to go to were pretty serious; pesticides, plastics, decline of plant based foods - but they have left me with so many ideas (and hope) that the decline we’re seeing in our soil is being fought for by people who want better. Therefore I’ve written about bread and glyphosate this week - because I want get you thinking about what’s in your daily bread, and how buying bread can be an act for good (soil! health!) each week.

I’ve been doing lots of cooking this month. Lots of feeding people. Lots of nourishing from the inside out. There will be some simple recipes coming your way soon.

Before you tuck in…

Here’s some ways you can work with me 👇

🔪 Private Cheffing & Retreats – Bespoke menus that nourish, fuel, and taste incredible. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a wellness retreat, or high-performance nutrition, I bring the flavour and the science.

📢 Speaking & Workshops – From corporate wellness to food sustainability, I deliver engaging, no-fluff talks that connect the dots between soil health, nutrition, and better living.

📦 Brand Consulting – Helping food brands create products that are as good for people as they are for the planet. Strategy, product development, and nutrition-led storytelling.

📝 Writing & Editorial – As a Guild of Food Writers member, I contribute to leading publications on all things food, health, and sustainability.

📩 Interested? Say hello at [email protected]

Bites

Three tasty bites from the corners of the internet this week.

Low Carbon Menu Ideas for Chefs - a practical report that launched this week
Smashed celeriac recipe - the absolute tastiest way to prepare this veggie IMO
Ways to reduce plastics in our food

Stories and insights from experts and yours truly