Shropshire Star

Sustainable Farm Network will boost UK farming knowledge

A national network of different public and private demonstration farms has begun its work – and is set to launch formally next month.

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Supporting image for story: Sustainable Farm Network will boost UK farming knowledge
Harper Adams

The Sustainable Farm Network – a School of Sustainable Food and Farming initiative – will bring together a diversity of UK farm networks to help them share experiences, findings and best practice.

The Landex Network of teaching farms is a founding partner within the Network, and groups representing suppliers of major retailers as well as sector specific pioneer farms and national research project clusters are being brought on board.

The network will offer training, support and resources, drawing on the expertise of both the School of Sustainable Food and Farming and Harper Adams University.

As its work develops, it will also share successes and research drawn from participating farm networks through research papers, public presentations, and policy advocacy – using the collective power of the participating farms to boost their reach and impact.

The first meeting of the Network’s steering group has just been held, with its Chairman announced as Professor John Gilliland.

Professor Gilliland, a willow and livestock farmer from Northern Ireland, is a special advisor to the UK’s Agriculture Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).