The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced the first Roots to Resilience module for farmers, industry stakeholders and the wider agricultural community.
AHDB said the module is possible due to the success of its beef and lamb team’s workshops.
The team unveiled its systems-based knowledge exchange programme in October – Roots to Resilience – which challenged farmers to stop thinking in “black and white”.
The systems-based approach aimed to recognise that agriculture is not about individual people, crops or livestock, but a multitude of factors, relationships and feedback loops that influence each other and the entire system.
The first of the upcoming Roots to Resilience modules will be ‘Change the goal, change the system – balancing food production and the ecosystem’.
AHDB will be holding launch events in Hampshire, North Yorkshire (In partnership with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society) and Cumbria on January 24, 25 and 26 respectively.
Head of engagement for beef and lamb, Samantha Charlton said: “We were thrilled to receive such a positive response to the programme.
“Our workshop events sold out in just a few days and the feedback we received from the farmers that attended was everything we’d hoped for and more.”
Roots to Resilience
Farmers James MacCartney said Roots to Resilience challenges the norm and, by stepping back and “seeing the wider picture”, he has come away with new ideas and approaches.
“We as farmers become so used to thinking in a certain type of way,” he said.
“I’ve already got things in my head that I can take home and use to apply change tomorrow. I’d encourage everyone to get involved with the programme in any way they can.”
Charlton said the workshops equipped AHDB with “greater insight” into the topics that its levy payers want and need more help with.
“I’m excited to open up Roots to Resilience to all levy payers and to continue shining a light on the people within farming businesses,” she said.
Business development
The aim of the module is to get farmers thinking about what they are aiming for within their business, what is driving them and what is holding them back.
AHDB said farmers will be asked what they can practically do on their farm to improve ecosystem function whilst maintaining the desired level of production.
AHDB will then tap into the expertise and experience of four speakers to find the answers needed to take these businesses forward, the board said.
Jason Rowntree from Michigan State University will showcase how ecological functioning and production can go hand in hand.
