Agricology Blog

We were delighted to take part and attend (in-person and on-line) the Oxford Real Farming Conference a couple of weeks ago. Ever inspiring, we thought we’d give you some of our reflections along with some useful resource recommendations that were highlighted in the sessions that we attended…

A survey of over 220 livestock farms (80% commercial) in the UK and Ireland has reported up to 69% reduction in antibiotic use, up to 70% reduction in vet costs, significant reduction in disease frequency and severity, and 84% overall improvement in livestock health through the use of Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAMs).

It is great that the pandemic has highlighted for people the importance of their food, which some perhaps previously took for granted. It has meant a massive increase in sales for us at the Seed Co-operative - the UK's community owned organic seed company - both to gardeners and to commercial growers who are experiencing greater demand.

As part of #OrganicSeptember campaign, Daylesford Organic have been running a ‘Future of Food’ series, featuring interviews with thought leaders in the food, ecology and agriculture industries.

There are many farmers - conventional, organic and those in-between - successfully reducing or using low levels of antibiotics and they are using many different methods.

Tim speaks to Colin Tudge and Ruth West, co-founders of The Campaign for Real Farming and organisers of the annual Oxford Real Farming Conference.

Short Agricology video reflecting on the stoic efforts nationwide of all those who care for livestock and crops.

A group of farmers on the Isle of Arran, sometimes called ‘Scotland in miniature’ because of the range of farming it hosts, have begun to reduce their own carbon footprint to help create a blueprint for Scottish agriculture, and give themselves a commercial advantage in the process.

Do you want to support nature-friendly farming, address climate change and ensure a secure supply of nutritious food for all? We are urging you to take action by writing to your MP now to let him / her know that the new Agriculture Bill needs to support a more resilient, diverse food system.

Holly Beckett shines a positive light on lockdown in this audio blog, talking to us about the importance of recognising the signs of stress and describing some of the effects we can experience and ways in which we can help nip it in the bud and transition into a more positive state of mind.

In these short video clips, Jez Taylor, head of the Market Garden at Daylesford Organic Farm, talks to us from inside the polytunnels about propagating tomatoes, peppers, chillies, mixed leaf salads, carrots, radishes and climbing beans as they ramp up their efforts to provide fresh vegetables and salad to as many people as possible in the pandemic crisis...

The whole supply chain has worked together through the ‘Potato Covenant’ to shift the organic potato sector to 100% use of robust, blight-resistant varieties.