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Browse our library of the best technical guides, research papers and videos on sustainable agriculture below. You can also filter by topic.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47

Seeding change: Seed sovereignty inspiration from overseas

resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Footage of a workshop session held at Organic Matters 2022 exploring vegetable landraces, diverse varieties and the celebration and culture of seed.

Organic farming, Roots & horticulture, Markets & food systems, People & skills
Silvo-horticulture agroforestry

resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Silvo-horticulture agroforestry has many benefits for market gardens, but needs careful planning for success. This workshop held at Organic Matters 2022 focuses on how to...

Agroforestry, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
DIY peat-free growing media

resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Time is running out on peat and growers need alternatives for growing media, but buying in can be expensive and not always as reliable as...

Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Roots & horticulture, Natural resources & waste, People & skills
Farming with trees: a potential ‘win-win’ for sustainable food production and biodiversity?

resource The University of Reading Summary highlighting outcomes of Tom Staton's PhD thesis ‘Evaluating the effects of agroforestry versus arable systems on functional biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.’

Agroforestry, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
Organic Ancient Cereal Supply-chain

resource Final report for a project based on the premise that ancient or heritage wheats may be more suitable for organic and low-input production and better...

Organic farming, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Markets & food systems
How can agroforestry contribute towards biodiversity conservation?

resource Recording of a workshop hosted by the Organic Research Centre online that set out to explore how agroforestry could contribute towards the conservation and restoration...

Agroforestry, Organic matter, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
Woodmeadows - Three Hagges case study

resource Agricology Document created as part of an agroforestry case study of Three Hagges Woodmeadow - exploring the practicalities and benefits of combining woodland and meadows.

Agroforestry, Grasslands & forage crops, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Communities & education
Getting Started with Agroecological Farming

resource There is increasing recognition of the benefits of integrated agroecological farming systems but it can be hard to know where to start. In this podcast,...

Agroforestry, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Biodiversity
Farmeco Today Episode 3 - Agroforestry

resource PodBean David Rose, farmer and co-founder of Home Farm Ecocentre in Nottinghamshire talks about his silvoarable agroforestry system and research being carried out in one of...

Agroforestry, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education
The four principles of weed control in organic growing

resource Oxford Real Farming Conference Footage recorded at the ORFC 2020 session on 'The future of agroecological weed management.' Mike Mallett of Maple Farm Kelsale shares insights into approaches to...

Organic farming, Compaction & cultivation, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, People & skills, Climate
Wakelyns Agroforestry: Resilience through diversity

resource Organic Research Centre / Woodland Trust A publication explaining the on-farm research carried out at Wakelyns and led by the late plant pathologist Prof. Martin Wolfe, putting into action his theories...

Agroforestry, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Markets & food systems, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate
Tree: crop interactions in UK alley cropping agroforestry systems: impacts on crop yield and total productivity

resource Report on studies carried out within an organic silvoarable alley cropping system in the UK (Wakelyns Agroforestry in Suffolk) where researchers have investigated the impact...

Agroforestry, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, People & skills, Climate
Agroecology in Action

resource Landworkers' Alliance This publication from the Landworkers' Alliance highlights what pioneers of agroecology in the UK are doing to create a productive and sustainable agriculture. The case...

Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Agroforestry, Permaculture, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Communities & education
Examining the impacts of integrating trees into arable fields on pest control and pollination

resource Design and manage agroforestry in arable systems so that the biodiversity benefits are maximised and problems are reduced.

Agroforestry, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
AFINET - Agroforestry in the UK

resource A video produced for the AFINET project exploring some of the practical considerations for agroforestry systems and potential benefits.

Agroforestry, Type, texture & structure, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Business management, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services
Silvopasture: Planting for Shelter & Forage

resource Agricology / Oxford Real Farming Conference This is video footage filmed at the ORFC 2019 of the session on silvopasture featuring farmer and PFLA member Chris Jones describing what he has...

Agroforestry, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Markets & food systems, People & skills
Know your Soils #10: Soil Test Calendar

resource Soilmentor app Which soil tests to do, when to do them, which fields and where on the fields to test to get a representative sample.

Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Know your Soils #9: The plate meter

resource Soilmentor app Alex Heffron uses a plate meter to monitor the volume of forage available in fields across his farm allowing him to improve grass growth and...

Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Know your soils #8: 3 key soil tests to understand your soil health

resource Soilmentor app Spring and autumn are the best times to do soil tests. Try the three most important and easy soil tests you can do yourself on...

Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Diverse / Herbal sward mixtures

resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Herbal leys with a diverse range of species can help resolve soil fertility problems, making forage legume mixtures hard to resist.

Integrated farming, Rotations, Soil biology, Weeds, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Climate
Integrating leys in arable rotations

resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Integrating leys in arable rotations can provide multiple benefits including weed management, soil health and pollinator habitat provision.

Integrated farming, Rotations, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
Mixed farming through collaboration

resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Arable and livestock farmers can collaborate to share knowledge, land and other resources for mutual benefit and enhancement of ecosystem services and landscape.

Integrated farming, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Communities & education
Family farming, compost tea, agroforestry & community-owned farms...

resource Farmerama Family farm conflicts, benefits of compost teas, preventing disease in apple orchards, how community-owned farms can work - it's all here in this podcast from...

Agroforestry, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Biodiversity
Browse, preserved tree fodder and nutrition

resource AFINET project Trees and hedgerows are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals for livestock.

Agroforestry, Animal health & welfare, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
Trees and crops: making the most of the space

resource AGFORWARD project consortium An AGFORWARD leaflet that focuses on managing the tree understorey in a horticultural agroforestry system, for increased food production and biodiversity.

Agroforestry, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Markets & food systems
Integrated slug control

resource Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Know your enemy - an integrated approach to slug control is more effective than using chemical slug pellets alone

Integrated farming, Compaction & cultivation, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Biodiversity, People & skills
The Benefits of Sheep in Arable Rotations

resource The National Sheep Association How incorporating sheep within arable farming systems can rejuvenate soils, reduce problem weeds, improve biodiversity, & improve yields from following crops.

Integrated farming, Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Biodiversity
Farming wheat without neonicotinoids

resource Friends of the Earth A useful report drawing on research and farmer case studies that reviews non-chemical methods of pest control on wheat.

Agroforestry, People & skills, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Pests & diseases, Pollinators & ecological services
The potential for companion cropping and intercropping on UK arable farms

resource An extensive report outlining the benefits and limitations of companion cropping and intercropping in UK arable farm systems.

Agroforestry, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, People & skills
Organic crop rotations

resource Soil Association This Soil Association PDF provides an overview of what you may need to take into consideration when planning rotations for field crops.

Organic farming, Rotations, Roots & horticulture, Regulations, standards & policy

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