2010 - 2025

Crofting holds great potential to increase access to land at a time of overheating land markets. Historically, crofting was introduced to keep families on the land from which they had previously been cleared. These days, more than ever, we need people taking stewardship over the land collaboratively, in ways mutually beneficial for human communities and nature. Creating new crofts can facilitate exactly this. In principle, nothing prevents us from establishing thousands of new crofts across…

How do we prove that agroecology works? Amidst the call for more evidence on the benefits of agroecological practices, assessment tools evaluate progress on the ground and help farmers, advisors, policymakers, and researchers collect impact data. How do we build simple yet contextual tools? How can we aggregate and share this knowledge to foster the transition? Experiences from two indicator systems, OASIS by Agroecology Europe and TAPE by FAO, will ignite interactive discussions on creating…

Meaningful reparations are not simply about redistributing wealth within the same system but about dismantling that system entirely. They involve repairing the profound social and ecological harm caused by European colonialism and its aftermath, and co-creating systems rooted in justice, liberation, and care. This open session will explore lived examples of reparative practices that challenge the status quo. It will be interactive, with contributions based on lived experiences of reparative practices welcomed from all participants.

How to look after our health, mental and physical, in the farming sector. Ideas to build resilience. How to cope with illness. A space for people to share the tough times and what helps get them through. How to transition out of the sector if your health won't allow you to farm and the challenges that come with that. A workshop to share and support others.

The session will look at local powers and levers driving the adoption of agroecological practices and the role of food partnerships in this context. The session will offer participants an overview of the role that local authorities can play to support the agricultural sector including examples from Devon County Council, farmers, policy experts and food partnerships. This is a workshop-style session where there will be opportunities to exchange ideas, ask questions and contribute to a…

The food system needs a just transition — how do we create the conditions for change and ensure no one is left behind? In our current extractive economy, corporate interests have the most power to dictate terms, stifling transformation. This panel will explore the cultural shifts and policy levers needed for an agroecological transition, focusing on justice, equity, and community ownership. We'll discuss strategies to reclaim decision-making power, prioritise a well-being economy, and elevate food…

This session will explore how to intelligently integrate trees into horticultural crops. Both speakers have designed, established and managed agroforestry systems and have extensive experience in commercial horticultural crop production. This session will cover the benefits of trees for horticultural crops, potential crops from trees, system design options, planting, early tree establishment, tree protection, tree understory, cropping tree crops and potential negative impacts of trees on horticultural crops. It will also look at the very…

The UK Government's Post-Brexit policy “Public Money for Public Goods” presents an opportunity for agriculture to redefine its role in delivering food production alongside ecosystem enhancement. A sustainable transition requires a long-term vision that includes social, cultural, and environmental dimensions of animal-based farming and how these systems provision public good outcomes. This session will gather experts across the beef and sheep farming sectors to define the opportunities and challenges in using public money for public…

Being a successful and happy agroecologist, whether you are a farmer, grower, adviser, facilitator or leader, is knowledge intensive. You also need a degree of confidence and connection. Join us and hear about a range of accelerator programmes that aim to deliver intensive and impactful learning, mindset shift and community building in the agroecological and regenerative farming space. How do these programmes compare? How can you engage? What lessons have been learnt? What do you…