Regenerative farming could provide the answer to healthier soils, farm business resilience and food security. And a major new conference which seeks to explore these links is offering a £5,000 prize fund to help farmers to make the transition to a regenerative farming system.
LandAlive, which takes place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, is bringing together expert farmers and speakers to explain how the whole food supply chain can become more resilient, profitable and environmentally sustainable.
And a new prize fund has just been announced, which will officially launch at LandAlive, offering two farmers or farm advisers in South West England £2,500 each towards a two-year regenerative farming programme called Roots to Regeneration (R2R).
“We must support our farming communities to evolve and respond to the increasing impacts of climate change,” says Carol Paris, chief executive at the Royal Bath & West Society. “The prize fund, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, aims to stimulate innovation in farm business models in response to climate change, biodiversity loss, soil health, animal welfare, and – importantly – supporting farmer wellbeing.”
Tamara Giltsoff, a co-founder of LandAlive, says those who want to apply for the prize can follow a simple application process, outlining their objective for joining the programme. First, they need to register their interest by booking a consultation here. The programme starts February 2025 and is run by regenerative agriculture leader Caroline Grindrod and farmer Clare Hill.
Caroline Grindrod and Clare Hill
“Agriculture and the food system is embedded within a wider economic system – you can’t really isolate the two,” says Tamara. The programme comprises a mix of practical and technical learning, thinking about the bigger picture on the farm, the farm business model, and the impact of the farm within the local economy and community. “It’s a hugely powerful course.”
Clare and Caroline will both be speaking at the LandAlive event and available to meet delegates on their stand. The other 50+ speakers include a wide range of farmers, consultants, scientists, environmentalists, food processors and human health experts.
“Regenerative farming is not just the answer for more sustainable agriculture – it needs to be seen in the broader context of local and global health,” says Stewart Crocker at Sustainable Food Somerset. “Common crops and vegetables have lost an average of 38% of their nutrients since the Second World War. Could regen farming help mend our broken NHS? Could it reverse the decline in soil health and biodiversity? Could it renew farmers’ passion for their job and bring about a more positive future for the sector?
“Our speakers think it can, and their enthusiasm, technical knowledge and practical advice is sure to leave visitors to LandAlive reinvigorated and inspired to bring regen farming into the mainstream.”
LandAlive will be held at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, on 22-23 November 2024. Tickets are available at www.landalive.co.uk.
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