STATE OF NATURE- VIEW FROM THE FIELD. Richard Bramley NFU Environment Forum APPG on Science and Technology 22 nd November 2016

Transcription

1 STATE OF NATURE- VIEW FROM THE FIELD Richard Bramley NFU Environment Forum APPG on Science and Technology 22 nd November 2016

2 1970 s vs 2016 and beyond on World population 4 billion 7.2 billion predicted to rise to 9.6 by 2050 (that s 33 years time!) UK population 55.7 million 64.9 million Life expectancy Miles of motorways in UK Number of Houses in UK (ONS) c. 18 Million c. 26 Million Average spend on food as % household income Average temperature during the decade (Sheffield Weather) 20% 9% deg C deg C

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4 Less fertiliser applied -35% N and 60% P Efficient livestock production reducing manures Decrease in pesticide usage- 50% less actives since % farms use Nutrient Management Plans Peak of 71% farmers in stewardship km of grass margins to protect water courses and provide habitat Over 400,000 ha voluntary measures under the Campaign for the Farmed Environment 30,000 km of hedges planted Self-sufficiency dropping

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6 Manor Farm facts 500 acres (200 hectares) or more depending on licenses 2017 Winter Wheat (bread making), Malting Barley (winter and spring), Potatoes (Walkers contract), Sugar Beet, Oilseed Rape Previously Spring beans, peas, hemp, flax, linseed Mainly grade 1 alluvial warp and grade 2 loams 10 years in Entry Level Stewardship (ended Aug 2015) + extensive voluntary stewardship/ Campaign for the Farmed Environment Barn Roof electricity from Photo-Voltaic Diversified - multi-award winning sustainable luxury converted self-catering 17 th century barns The Dovecote Barns, York Active in many off farm initiatives and organisations

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11 Practitioner involvement is key for successful environmental management. UK Farmers are the ultimate actors in managing 71 % of the total UK land area, and produce 62% of food consumed in UK (DEFRA, 2015). Farmers are knowledgeable, powerful (in their capacity to influence relevant processes) and will be impacted by policy decisions (Fish et al. 2009). Farming businesses are most at risk from shocks to the UK food industry (Ambler-Edwards et al 2009) which has consequences for resilience of environmental management in UK. Farmers remain keen to be involved in future discussions over policy.

12 Benefits of collaboration between industry and academia. POLICY FARMER RESEARCH Engagement with farmers may the deciding factor in whether a policy can be judged to be successful. Co-production of policy is one successful approach; clearly communicated rationale for changes. Research and policy must consider combined influence of regulatory and market demands, and personal motivations. Conflicting policies undermine farming industry commitment. Cooperative farming approaches can help environmental and economic sustainability, via largescale agrienvironment schemes and collective bargaining.

13 How can science and technology help? Focus research with upfront involvement of farmers Sustainable productivity increase invest in genetics and optimal resource utilization Apply similar approach to wildlife? Understand their needs and interactions to see sustainable increase Be realistic don t just focus on the easy bit as it is clear there are complex interactions at work What is ideal for todays situation? Don t ignore knock-on effects. Much more understanding of soils needed

14 What must we do to support this? Food must be properly valued Ancillary benefits of food produced here must be recognised Value what the farmer cannot sell Make doing good easy and reward, thus leading change Folly to build bio-diversity improvements on loosing productive land? Our most productive land is low lying imagine if we lost this to flooding and sea level rises Once changed give the process time to work and keep farmers at the heart of any decisions

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