Whole Farm Agroecology Scheme
What’s the issue?
An agroecological transition is vital to ensure that the UK can continue to produce healthy, local, and affordable food for generations to come. 18.5m ha of land under agroecological cultivation has the capacity to produce enough to exceed the UK’s demand, with a population of 70 million, for cereals, dairy, potatoes, fruit and vegetables- and about 85% of meat at current consumption levels.
To realise this, conversion from industrial to agroecological agriculture needs to be promoted through a dedicated a Whole Farm Agroecology Scheme (WFAS). Though the principles of agroecology are straightforward, application of these principles is in practice much harder, requiring careful design of agricultural systems and knowledge of agroecological techniques. Farmers will need substantial support to make the investment necessary to change.
Beth ydym ni’n ei wneud?
We are proposing a Whole Farm Agroecology Scheme to be incorporated into the Agriculture Bill.
Similar to the way the Countryside Stewardship Scheme works, the Whole Farm Agroecology Scheme would employ advisors to work with farmers to co-design a farm management plan integrating environmental, social and economic agroecological principles according to the farmer’s situation.
The WFAS would be flexible, allowing farmers, of all scales, to co- design suitable techniques. There would be 3 tiers of support, with farms incorporating a minimum number of practices in each tier; the highest incorporating organic certification. The support would consist of training, financial incentives and capital grants. At the top, the scheme would fully cover the costs of organic certification. Organic certification bodies could regulate environmental aspects of the scheme, while incorporating elements of support for social and economic benefits. There would be maintenance payments for those reaching the highest agroecological farming levels:
How can I help
Please write and/or arrange a meeting with your MP to explain the aims of the campaign to them and ask them to support our amendments in the agriculture bill
Arrange Farm walks for MPs to your farm, or other farms around you so they can see first hand the benefits of whole farm agroecological managment.
Additional Resources