Reflecting on the Resilient Farm Roadshow

Over the past few months, the Resilient Farm Roadshow, delivered in partnership between Agricology and AHDB, has travelled the length and breadth of the country, bringing together farmers, researchers and advisors to explore one of the most pressing questions facing agriculture today: how do we build truly resilient farm businesses? 

Spanning five events from November through to March, we started in Dundee, then headed to Cambridgeshire, Sussex, Shropshire and Yorkshire. Each location brought its own context, challenges and opportunities, but a shared theme ran throughout; a desire to learn, connect and find practical ways to strengthen farming systems in the face of change. 

From the outset, the aim of the roadshow was clear: to provide practical, grounded insight that farmers can take home and apply. Across all five events, we heard from Stephen Briggs and a mixture of regional farmers and experts working at the coalface of resilient farming. These weren’t abstract conversations, they were rooted in real experience, honest reflection and a willingness to share both successes and challenges. 

These exchanges – farmer to farmer, region to region – were at the heart of the roadshow. Across all five events, there was a clear appetite for open discussion. Attendees asked questions, challenged ideas and contributed their own insights. These conversations were invaluable, not only in helping individuals refine their own approaches, but also in shaping the wider agenda going forward. 

The journey itself was an important part of the story. Travelling over 1,800 miles from Scotland to the east, down south, across to the west and back up to the north again, the roadshow highlighted both the diversity and the common ground within UK farming. While systems and conditions vary, many of the challenges – economic pressure, climate variability, soil health, input costs – are shared. So too is the determination to find and implement solutions. 

None of this would have been possible without the people who made it happen. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the farmers and growers who took the time to attend, engage and share their experiences so openly. Your contributions are what made each event meaningful and impactful. Thanks also go to the speakers, hosts and partners who helped shape and deliver the series, and to everyone working behind the scenes to bring the roadshow together. 

While the events themselves may have come to a close, the learning doesn’t stop here. If you weren’t able to join us, recordings of Stephen’s keynote talk is now available, as are Angus Gowthorpe’s and Richard Bramley’s.   

The Resilient Farm Roadshow has shown what’s possible when we bring people together with a shared purpose. It’s been a journey of ideas, insights and inspiration, and importantly a reminder that resilience is not a fixed endpoint, but an ongoing process of learning, adapting and evolving. 

Thank you for being part of it. 

Watch Stephen’s, Angus’ and Richard’s talks here:

Associated Agricology Partner Organisation(s):