Event Date : June 28, 2023 - June 29, 2023
Event Location : Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire, UK
The Groundswell event provides a forum for farmers and anyone interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of Conservation Agriculture or regenerative systems, including no-till, cover crops and re-introducing livestock into the arable rotation, with a view to improving soil health.
ORC will be there, and speakers include Charlotte Bickler, Lindsay Whistance, Julia Cooper and Janet Dwyer. Agricology will be sponsoring the discussion tent again this year and running two sessions during the show.
Answer time – Wednesday 28th June 12pm
This Organic Research Centre/FWAG session featuring Lindsay Whistance and Janet Dwyer offers the opportunity to get the answers society is seeking in a climate emergency around food, equity, economy, and the environment. As experienced practitioners, validated by academics, we will offer answers as to how to move quickly to a fairer, more equitable, resilient society. This panel invites delegates to pose the questions to which we believe we have the answers. Based on decades of knowledge, case studies and research, the panel will show how a systems approach is needed to accelerate transition to agro-ecological food and farming systems. It will explore the essential role that grazing livestock play in the land use change that is needed to deliver multiple ecosystem services for society in a climate emergency.
Making Regen Ag Pay – Wednesday 28th June 2pm
Agricology session. Regenerative agriculture is making headlines and building an ever-growing interest amongst a broad spectrum of farmers. This session will highlight the realities being faced by farmers looking to begin the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices or move their journey to the next step. Stories will be shared from experienced regenerative practitioners on how they have progressed on their journey towards more sustainable farming practices, what they consider fail safe ‘gateway’ practices, the type of impacts these practices are having related to on farm biodiversity and how they are connecting the dots with government subsidy schemes, alternative supply chains and outside financing.
Alice Midmer (GWCT) will be chairing the session and will be joined by Claire Hill (Planton Farm), Vincent Walsh (RegenFarmCo) and Tim Coates (Dunthrop Farm)
Doing the Time: Working Towards the Decriminalisation of our Seeds – Thursday 29th June 11am
It’s increasingly well understood that crop diversity holds the answer to many of the pressing problems we face, from resilient food production in the face of climate change to chronic diet-related ill health. But one of the most potent tools at our disposal is currently illegal: the trade in genetically diverse cereal seeds. By their very nature these seeds don’t meet the requirements of DUS and VCU, but it’s those variable qualities that confer disease resistance, vigour, and adaptive capacity in the face of a turbulent climate. Hear how a group of millers, bakers, farmers, traders and plant scientists have come together to change the law and put seeds back in our hands. With ORC’s Charlotte Bickler
Next Gen Regen – Thursday 29th June 1pm
Agricology session. Whilst agroecological farming practices are gaining traction they are not being adopted at the required rate to effectively reduce the environmental degradation we see connected to our farming landscape. This session will see farmers, growers researchers & educators discuss the issues and barriers being faced in educating existing and next generational farmers. They will highlight grassroots programs that are providing teaching outside the mainstream and what their hopes are for transitioning the agricultural education system into something that is more impactful for the future so we can close the knowledge gap for future farmers and growers.
ORC’s Julia Cooper will be chairing the session and will be joined by Tom MacMillan (RAU), Matthew Elliot (PfL & Sandy Hill Farm) and Tom Martin (Village Farm)
Getting comfortable with composting – Thursday 29th June 2pm
This house believes that arable farmers should get much more familiar with composting.
From Johnson-Su bioreactors to wider resource management and quantifying soil health benefits. With ORC’s Julia Cooper.
