Navigating the challenges and opportunities of farming today

With change continuing to characterise the agricultural sector, Lodders’ bi-annual Rural Conference brought together speakers from across the farming industry to discuss some of the ongoing developments and the increased focus on environmental outcomes, as well as key new opportunities for generating income.

Speaking at the event were industry specialists from Defra, Nature Capital and Zulu Forest Sciences, Daylesford Organic and JCB Farms, and the North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster.

Funding developments

Manjeet Kumari-Lal, head of engagement at Defra, explained that new reforms are being introduced designed to maintain food production and enhance the environment, climate, and animal health and welfare. Whilst recognising that this level of change may be a daunting prospect to many farmers and landowners, she emphasised that new funding and incentives are available:

“The farming sector is facing major changes – the biggest changes seen this generation – meaning maximising the efficiency of land is more crucial than ever before. At Defra, we are changing how we work with farmers, including increasing our investment in farms to help support food production and introducing new grants and ongoing payments.”

Harnessing natural capital

Experienced farmer, co-founder of Nature Capital, and director at Zulu Forest Sciences, Alex Robinson spoke about how natural assets can be viewed through a natural capital lens. This approach can be used to identify opportunities that unlock the assets’ value, in order to maximise the potential of a farm’s land and assets, and those of the regional landscape as a whole.

He explained: “The natural capital approach involves examining natural assets through different lenses, to identify how they can offer more versatile benefits. For example, soil types and water quality can be considered in terms of the impact they have on habitat needs. It is also necessary to think about the bigger picture by focusing on long-term benefits when it comes to such assets. For example, carbon storage can take decades to expand to the point of offering maximum removal potential, due to how long it takes for planted trees to grow.”

Collaborative working

Alex also highlighted the importance of collaborative working to maximise benefits from natural capital. This message was echoed by Tim Field, facilitator of the North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster and founder and CEO of Carbon Quester, who believes landowners can work collectively to deliver better environmental outputs and secure enhanced reward through farmer clusters.

The North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster, which already includes 43,000 hectares across 140 farms and estates, aims to lead landscape-scale regeneration of the farmland environment and local food networks in the region through collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Organic success

Richard Smith, farms director of Daylesford Organic and JCB Farms, shared the story of the growth and development of the farming business over the last 35 years. Tasked with building a brand around a farming business that can be trusted, Richard has spearheaded the traditional, organic, and environmentally friendly approach to farming that Daylesford is now renowned for.

He explained: “The idea behind Daylesford Organic’s Farm Shop was to sell the farm’s produce, including meat, cheese, and milk, in order to offer visitors another way of engaging with the business, as well as minimise waste. 100 percent of the milk produced on-site is used in Daylesford’s own creamery and sold as end produce, such as milk and cheese.”

Seeing the demand for sustainable, organic food grow at a rapid rate, Richard tightened his focus on the organic aspect of the business: “When farming organically, uniformity is key. This is achieved largely through selective breeding. It is important to remember that quality truly is paramount, and customers take organic produce very seriously, so farmers need to do the same. Adopting a pedigree approach when growing your farming business is key. For Daylesford, quality is everything.”

In 2011, Daylesford Organic joined forces with Ocado, giving them the opportunity to sell their products online and further bolster their brand. It was important to Richard and the Bamfords that the authenticity and heritage of the Daylesford brand weren’t lost, so a ‘shop within a shop’ was created on the Ocado website, which was a first for the grocery retailer. Fast-forward to the present, and the Ocado partnership is still going strong. There are also now six physical shops operating as part of Daylesford Organic: four in London and two in the Cotswolds. Richard’s advice for marketing a farming business is simple but effective: “Make sure to demonstrate your passion for your business when communicating with your audience. Passion and an honest, unique story hold the key to engaging customers and encouraging them to buy into your business.”