On Friday, 15th November 2024, The Allerton Project hosted the Future Farming Focus and Funding event, bringing together farmers, policymakers, and industry experts to explore the evolving landscape of agriculture. With ongoing changes in government policy, the expansion of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), and new environmental funding streams, the event provided valuable insights into the future of farming.
Year-Long Fallow: A Research-Driven Approach to Sustainable Farming
One of the most discussed topics of the session was the ‘Year-Long Fallow’ project, a groundbreaking initiative exploring how fallow land can contribute to both biodiversity and soil health while aligning with SFI objectives. The discussion emphasised the importance of integrating scientific research with practical farming approaches, ensuring that farmers can benefit financially while improving environmental outcomes.
The panel—featuring Jim Egan (Kings Crops), Jenny Bussell (The GWCT Allerton Project), James Green, and Toby Simpson—provided valuable reflections on the project’s practical implications, challenges, and potential benefits.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
Soil Health & Regenerative Practices: The project highlights how temporary fallowing can contribute to long-term soil fertility and carbon sequestration, making it a potentially valuable tool in regenerative farming.
Water Quality & Landscape Benefits: Collaborating with Anglian Water, researchers are exploring how fallow land can reduce nitrate runoff and improve overall water quality—an area of increasing focus for future SFI funding streams.
Supply Chain Interest: With Nestlé’s involvement, the discussion also touched on how major food companies are incentivising sustainable farming, encouraging more farmers to integrate nature-friendly practices into their business models.
Aligning with the Evolving SFI Offer: The panel examined how fallowing practices could fit into the next wave of SFI measures, providing new income streams for farmers who adopt environmentally beneficial land management strategies.
A Growing Conversation on Future Farming Support
As SFI continues to evolve, this session underscored the importance of collaborative research and farmer-led innovation. With backing from organisations like Nestlé, Anglian Water, and Kings, projects such as Year-Long Fallow provide practical solutions to environmental challenges while ensuring profitability for farmers.
For those who couldn’t attend in person, a video on the Year-Long Fallow project is below, offering deeper insights into the ongoing research and its relevance to the future of farming.
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to explore how research and policy align to shape the future of farming!
