Increased uptake of agroecological systems is desirable for environmental, social and cultural reasons. Underpinning this transition requires movements to develop training and learning opportunities. This open session will explore the rapidly evolving skill set required for agroecology, and debate the challenges and opportunities for agroecological learning in the UK. How can we build learning capacity to struggle and transform, not conform? How can The Agroecology Learning Collective (TALC) help the movement adapt formal education systems…

Constellations are a way we can explore the web of relationships and perspectives that make up a system. They make it easier for us to understand contradictions or difficult issues and provide an overview, as well as insights, into how we might resolve them. In this session, we’ll explore wise farming through an unfolding constellations process with Jill Purce. This process reveals in a remarkable and entertaining way, through embodying the allegiances and conflicts involved…

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is supporting a cohort of projects engaging younger farmers and potential farmers, to encourage them to farm in nature-friendly ways. This includes Pasture for Life, with a regenerative internship programme in Scotland; FWAG SW, working with RAU students to help them practically engage with nature-friendly farming; and FFCC, with a programme to engage and inspire young farmers in Northern Ireland. All are also seeking to reach new and different people, and train…

Building a retail offer around customer choice needn’t be at the expense of farmer’s time, effort and leftover stock. George Bennett shares his experience at Sandy Lane Farm of switching from fixed-contents to customer-controlled customisations of veg boxes using lean principles to increase sales while reducing admin, customer support, packing and delivering time and leftover stock. Steven Sidhu, Founder and CEO of Growing Good Technology shares how they are helping unlock the full potential of…

This is the second part of this movement strategy series which will bring together those working and organising in the movement for land and food justice in the UK, to explore how we can work better together to achieve the changes we want to see. We will look at practical ways that we can work more effectively together as a movement; develop a shared understanding of power and representation within the movement; find strength in…

Come and be guided through the imaginative process of visioning and creating a graphic story or map from your farming and growing-related experiences. You will be supported to develop your ideas using a variety of media, including pen/pencil, pastels, inks and collage. No creative or technical skills are necessary, but a willingness to get stuck in, get messy and experiment without judgement will definitely help. Children are very welcome to participate with support from their…

In order to achieve our multiple health, environmental and animal welfare goals we need to think differently about the amount of meat and dairy that we consume and produce. But there are many real and perceived barriers to achieving this, and many questions about how we can overcome them. Join the Eating Better alliance for a stimulating discussion answering your questions on what 'less and better' means for farming. We’ll explore how to make dietary…

Ready to talk crap? Don't miss this lively panel session as we break the taboo around poo! Discover how we can transform human waste into a valuable resource to grow food, improve our soil and even improve public health! Is it safe? What are the rules? How much food could we grow? All this and more will be explored, so bring along your burning questions and get ready to get down and dirty with some…