Hutchinsons is hosting its inaugural Agroecology Conference in November, giving farmers the chance to discover how to make the most of regenerative farming practices to benefit the environment and the bottom line.
Agroecology: Making the Transition will address many of the core regenerative agriculture principles, that the firm’s head of Agroecology, Ed Brown, believes form the basis of good agronomy in a rapidly changing industry.
Rising costs, changes to farm support, and increasingly extreme weather events, have hastened the need to build more resilient production systems that harness natural processes and reduce the need for artificial inputs.
“The days of ‘high input, high output at all costs’ agriculture are numbered,” he said. “The focus is much more about taking an holistic approach to farming and agronomy.”
Hutchinsons is helping farmers do this with the launch of its new Agroecology service, and November’s conference will be packed with practical advice about sustainable farming practices.
“Whether you’re a farmer that has already moved to a more resilient farming model, or are just starting out, the conference should have something for everyone,” Mr Brown added.
Speakers include Knight Frank’s Tom Heathcote, who’s passionate about regenerative farming, and has helped a number of businesses transition to more sustainable farming systems, making him ideally placed to offer advice on business structuring and finance.
Soil health is widely recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming systems, so Hutchinsons’s Ian Robertson will explain the importance of understanding your soil before making any significant structural or operational changes.
Internationally-renowned independent researcher and regen consultant Joel Williams will also be present to offer a technical insight into his latest research.
Two farmer speakers, at different stages of their agroecology journeys, will be there too. Ben Taylor-Davies, aka “regen Ben”, will share his experiences from years of adopting regenerative practices on his farm at Ross-on-Wye, while Harry Heath, who hosts the Helix Agroecology farm, will explain how he has tackled soil health issues on the Shropshire pig and arable farm.
Conference details
The Hutchinsons Agroecology Conference will take place on November 8, 2022 at: The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
For more information or to book a place, visit: www.hlhltd.co.uk/event
