Oxford Real Farming Conference part 3 - agroecology and regenerative farming

Citizen’s Assembly: Emergency Plan for Agriculture and Wildlife

In our first blog in this series we reported on some of the discussions which RSPB was involved in at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. One of our aims for attending the conference was to crowdsource ideas to contribute to an Emergency Plan for Agriculture and Wildlife through a Citizens’ Assembly. In this blog we highlight some of the ideas which were championed at these sessions, specifically around the 'agroecology and regenerative farming’ theme.

Agroecology and regenerative farming - Gareth Morgan, Soil Association

Discussions in this group were focused around the right ways to integrate an agroecological approach into the mainstream, and how best to change the farming industry towards a regenerative approach to agriculture. Three key levels of change emerged: changing specific practices on farms; changing attitudes among producers and consumers; and changing policy to facilitate the shift.

Changing farming practices:

Examples that were discussed included:

• Minimising the use of synthetic chemicals like pesticides and artificial nitrates.
• Cutting down on or eliminate the majority of farm chemicals whilst optimising yield.
• Reducing tillage, targeting appropriately for the soil, season and crop.

One participant noted that the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have a range of in-field case studies, several looking at soil health, and such case studies could be expanded as a model to demonstrate good practice and provide guiding examples.

Changing culture and attitudes

A fundamental barrier to an agroecological, regenerative approach to farming is one of perception, including of perceived risk. Many farmers are reluctant to move away from the conventional and familiar intensive system, especially as payments have historically encouraged this type of farming. More broadly, there is a lack of knowledge among consumers about how their food is produced and why this is important.

• Eliminating food waste and ‘junk food’ should be addressed within the system change we are aiming for – both farmers and households should be guided to reduce waste.
• Fertility in soils should become a priority for farmers, and healthy soils should be a mainstream indicator of success.
• Social dynamics must be considered in agroecology, ensuring that cultural values around farming are integrated with a change in approach (for example in an upland farming transition, considering sheep, trees, and tourism in the round).

Changing policy

To enable all these changes to take place, farming policy should require a high baseline level of good agroecological practice, encourage the right interventions in the right places, and dissuade farmers and consumers from damaging ones. The group landed on several key changes to policy.

• Farm payments should not be based on the amount of land in production a farmer owns but related to the environmental benefits delivered and public policy objectives.
• Restoration of habitats should be an option in future agri-environment payments.
• Policy should identify key areas of intervention in different contexts and areas – for example, riparian, upper watershed, grassland etc. that would benefit the most from habitat restoration.

Throughout the whole discussion, it was clear to the group, though they did not agree on everything, that there is a vital need to work with farmers through the whole process. This demonstrates the importance of our next topic, a Just Transition.