Agricology Defra Consultation Response

Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit

Author(s): 
Bliss, K, Field, T, Padel, S & Leake, A
Date: 
May 2018
Copyright: 
All rights reserved.
Evidence: 
Academic research
Related theme: 
Regulations, standards & policy
Business management
People & skills

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Resource explained: 

In response to the Defra consultation paper 'Health and Harmony: The Future for Food and Farming in a Green Brexit' in May 2018 Agricology prepared this paper highlighting how we believe the Government could support all farmers and growers in a transition to more sustainable farming systems. Highlighting key areas of farmer-farmer knowledge exchange, farmer led research and overall increased support for agroecology in science and practice.

Agricology welcomes Defra’s ambition for a new agriculture policy that places the environmental and other public goods centre stage. It is very important to support farmers in helping them to become more sustainable and work within the ecological limits of our soils and other non-renewable resources. Agro-ecological approaches have the potential to improve farm business efficiency and deliver favourable environmental outcomes. Supporting this can be achieved through more and better knowledge exchange, more famer focused research and development, and standardised monitoring of sustainability outcomes. This document outlines the ways in which the Agricology team (represented by the three core partners) believe that the project can support Defra in achieving its aims, responding to questions raised in the consultation, and highlights the key actions that can support UK farmers in becoming more sustainable.

Findings & recommendations: 
Summary provided by: 
Janie Caldbeck

More about the organisation

Daylesford Foundation

partner The Daylesford Foundation supports projects in the UK that educate children and young people in the core areas of organic food, growing and the countryside. 

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

partner The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is a leading UK charity conducting conservation science to enhance the British countryside for public benefit. GWCT’s research is used to provide training and advice on how best to improve the biodiversity of the countryside.

Organic Research Centre

partner ORC is the UK’s leading research centre for the development of organic, agroecological food production and land management solutions to key global issues including climate change, soil and biodiversity conservation and food security.

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