The Midsummer Meetup kicks off with a BBQ, six eminent speaker slots on topical themes on sustainable food and farming, an opportunity for Q&A and, as the name suggests, an excuse to enjoy a get together before harvest starts.
Why a sustainable food and farming theme?
There has been a growing interest in regenerative and agro-ecological approaches, with farmers keen to improve their soil health, crop health and on-farm biodiversity, evidenced by the popularity of events such as Groundswell in Hertfordshire and Oxford Real Farming Conference to name a couple. UK farming is facing big changes including the current phase out of basic payments, the impacts of climate change and rising costs of inputs. DEFRA’s new Environmental Land Management scheme is being rolled out and a plethora of new terms are becoming part of our language; natural capital, BNG, stacking, private and blended finance. As a result, businesses have to think more environmentally.
Across the environmental, farming and landowner communities we agree that change in consumer choice related to diet is critically important to reversing wildlife declines and addressing greenhouse gas emissions. We know that nature recovery is interlinked with sustainable food production, with approaches such as regenerative farming, agroforestry, payments for ecosystem services essential to address the linked climate and ecological crises. Understanding the relationships between global food systems, supply chains, and consumer demand is critical to unpicking the links between food and nature, and we are delighted to be joined by several experts able to discuss these trends and how we can action change for the benefit of farm businesses and our wider landscapes.
Who is speaking?
As part of the event, we have invited Suffolk and Peterborough-based farmers who are leading on regenerative approaches.
John Pawsey farms near Bury St Edmunds, he farms a range of novel cereal crops, such as lentils, chia seed, bi-crops of wheat and beans, with the help of their flock of New Zealand Romney sheep to recycle nutrients. John will also speak about his experiences as an organic farmer and also working collaboratively with the Wool Towns Farm Cluster.
Farmer Tom is founder of Farmer Time (an education initiative between farmers and schools) and is chair of the East of England Farming Conference. Tom will give an honest and entertaining run through of his hardest-learnt lessons of regenerative farming.
Patrick Holden is co-founder of the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick is one of the most influential thinkers on the relationship between agricultural systems, biodiversity, climate and public health. He will speak about their 2022 report, Feeding Britain from the Ground Up, and the importance of farming for climate, nature and people.
Emily Aitchison has recently completed a Nuffield Scholarship focussed on farm diversification and will share her story of Kenton Hall Estate and recent endeavours at Acre Farm with new agroforesty projects, their new micro bakery and growing Wildfarmed wheat.
Josiah Meldrum is co-founder of Hodmedod's who are at the forefront of making British farming more sustainable. Working with about 25 farmers around the UK to retail and wholesale beans and pulses to the hospitality and grocery industry, Hodmedod’s benefits its network of farmers in two crucial ways – as an agronomist assisting farmers to introduce new crops to British soils and as a successful brand vouchsafing the traceability of its products. The latter allows Hodmedod’s products to command a premium price in the consumer marketplace.
Tatjana Greil Castro is kindly hosting this new event at Little Haugh Farm, there will be an opportunity to join a farm walk to hear more about the farm and decisions on managing land for nature in a wilded approach, agri environment options and new regenerative approaches.
Sarah Langford author of ‘Rooted’ will also be kindly helping to compere the speaker sessions and Q&A. Suffolk Wildlife Trust has been working with Sarah, helping to set up a new farm cluster for the Upper Deben catchment Sarah has converted the family farm to organic and is re-planting historic hedgerows.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday 23rd June, please see booking link and full agenda below, the exact talk timings will be confirmed closer to the date.
This event is FREE to attend and the BBQ and drinks have been kindly subsidised by Fram Farmers and Adnams. Hodmedods will also be kindly providing snacks for you to try.
BASIS and NRoSO points will be available.
Book your free place on our Midsummer Meetup - Friday 23rd June 2023