Sustainable Farm Networks off to a strong start
On November 28th, over 100 guests from across UK food and farming enjoyed a positive and productive working lunch at the House of Lords to celebrate the Sustainable Farm Networks (SFN) initiative which is working as a ‘sector connector’ answering the call for stronger links between demo farm networks.
The SFN has been set up by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University over the course of 2024 in answer to a recommendation in the 2022 ‘Application of Science to Realise the Potential of the Agricultural Transition’ report for better co-ordination between the UK’s farm networks.
Lord Curry of Kirkharle, who chaired the Application of Science working group, was present both at the report’s launch and at this year’s event, where he explained how delighted he was to see the SFN come to life.
Presentations from farmers and educators outlined the value and potential of improving links between on-farm demonstration, research, skills and policy makers, to a backdrop of striking images showing on-farm demonstration in action.
Harper Adams University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Lee explained that while still early days for the network, it was up and running and already comprised nearly 4,000 farms and at least 250,000 hectares across 25 networks spanning UK sectors and regions.
He added: “When we set up the SFN, it was to help build a socially and environmentally resilient, regenerative food system in a Net Zero landscape. The SFN is connecting diverse demonstration farm networks across the UK to share experiences, findings, and best practices.
“One of the key recommendations of the report was the fact that we have some fantastic demonstration farm networks across the UK – but they are too disparate.
As well as linking farm networks to one another, the SFN also helps to link them into land-based skills training – provision which is key to both the UK economy and to strategic national priorities.
Following testimony from three farmers to the positive personal and economic impact of their diverse farm networks, SFN chair Professor John Gilliland told the event that – while farming faced a series of pressures, both domestically and internationally – the SFN and its work building connections would help equip the agriculture sector for a stronger future.
He noted the scale of change the farming community faced in the coming decade would be greater than anything seen in the past 30 years – and that farmers in every part of the UK were already keenly aware of the effects of climate change on the ground, stressing that farmers from the constituent parts of the UK learning from each other is key.
Read more about the day here, and for more info on how to get involved, get in touch with LBates@harper-adams.ac.uk