Building A Sustainable Farm Business

A sustainable farm business needs people with passion, energy, skills and knowledge.

1. Tell our story and celebrate our industry While there are numerous problems and glaring disparities, farming is a career and way of life full of heritage, great people and promise. No other industry delivers so much; from food and fuel to fun, flora and fauna. While the industry has borne the brunt of much criticism over the years, and quite rightly so in many cases, we also have many of the answers to society’s ills at our fingertips - there are great opportunities ahead if we work together. Let’s tell our story and celebrate. It is easy to forget, when bogged down in mud, paperwork or routine, how wonderful and colourful farming is sometimes. Travelling has reminded me why I love farming.
2. Put soil health first The clearest conclusion is the importance of soil health. Without a fully functioning soil we do not have the foundation for a sustainable farm business. Without good soil management our yields will not meet the needs of the future. While this is recognised in all the countries there are still practices. We must do more for soil organic matter, and improve our understanding of bacterial and fungal activity. Minimal tillage, cover crops, composting and better rotations that include grasses and herbs, are all crucial. And improved soils must span all labels – whether organic, biological or conventional – with the use of natural and agro-ecological processes being the norm.
3. Celebrate the role of small farmers Small farmers across the globe deliver so much. The smaller farmer remains the bedrock of the industry and of fragile rural communities. Their production is not fully captured by traditional GDP measures, and associated economic and social multiplier effects are complex. To avoid a spiraling crisis of participation we need to celebrate and support the role of small farmers and seek more eyes per acre.
4. Nurture people It is often easy to overlook the role of human capital in a farm business. Without good people a business is nothing. A sustainable farm business needs people with passion, energy, skills and knowledge. We need people who are prepared to work hard for just reward and progression. A sustainable industry needs leaders with vision and inspirational communication and management skills. The most impressive businesses engage with others at all levels. The best programmes and policies understand stakeholders’ motivations and leverage points. “Building a Sustainable Farm Business”
5. Seek outcomes not output, effectiveness not efficiency If we measure the wrong things we get the wrong answers and develop the wrong strategies. I have seen too many businesses focus on output (tonnes per ha, litres per cow etc.) at the expense of outcomes (net profit, improved soil, happier workforce etc.). Drives for efficiency and economies of scale, such as larger farmed units with a simplified system, can result in a reduced set of outcomes. A sustainable farm business will seek balanced economic, environmental and social objectives and targets using a more holistic approach. A sustainable food and farming policy will consider the range of public goods and not just focus on food security. A change of mindset is needed here.
6. Build diversity and complexity For too long we have followed reductionist science and policies of specialisation. We need diversity of farm types, entrepreneurs and enterprises within farms. We need a diversity of plants in our farms providing different rooting depths and nutrient attributes. We need a cropping and habitat mosaic not based on oversimplified prescriptions. We need biodiversity – from pollinators and earth worms, to rare breed genetics. We need a diversity of people. Diversity and complexity brings increased resilience (to, for example, climate change) and economic, agronomic, environmental and social benefits.
7. Seek regenerative agricultural systems Our soils, ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources are being continually depleted. We are far from achieving a sustainable level of existence and development. Our priority should be economic growth and basic food security. To help turn we must move away from simplistic policies based on sustainability and the status quo. We must be bold and seek and support regenerative systems - practices that put more back than they take out. Regenerative agriculture can rebuild soil, enhance habitats, strengthen rural communities and create new business opportunities. Organic farming approaches are key here but conventional technologies and innovation play a role too.
8. Move to a true cost paradigm It can be said that it is more profitable to farm unsustainably than it is to farm sustainably. The drive for cheap food is forcing this race to the bottom. The external costs of our food system are passed on to others or ignored. We need to develop a new system, a true cost paradigm, that places fair monetary value on the benefits and impacts of different farming and food production systems. We should introduce policies that correct damaging practices and support the development of systems that deliver positive environmental and public-health outcomes. “Building a Sustainable Farm Business”

Industry

1. We need to work with all farming, food and environmental stakeholders to develop a new integrated food and environment strategy with regenerative agriculture and soil at its very heart. Food security goals should not drive this strategy – output should be balanced with the diverse range of economic, environmental and social outcomes. The strategy should seek a new partnership between local consumers and producers, nurture people within the industry and celebrate the smaller farmer.
2. The industry should work together to develop a new support mechanism for farmers that rewards the provision of valued environmental and social public goods. New models of delivery should be considered and a true cost paradigm introduced. The scheme should be based on results (those providing the most public goods receive more) and be simple, practical and value for money.
3. Industry should work and support rural entrepreneurs promoting diversity of enterprise, cooperation and good leadership. Particular emphasis should be placed on developing new enterprises that draw on and build (not deplete) natural and social capital, for example, local food initiatives, appropriate renewable energy schemes, agri-tourism/eco-tourism projects and educational activity.
4. Industry should press for improved food legislation and labelling, backed by an industry campaign, to help consumers choose, value and pay the true cost of produce of defined quality.

The Government

1.  Government and wider industry, should lead the development of strategies and support mechanisms that reward multi-functional and regenerative agriculture. Whereas the industry should not focus on food security at all costs, it should seek a range of outcomes too.
2. Government should be bold and innovative, and trial new models of support, communication and advice delivery e.g. testing the reverse auction or payments for results models, building exemplar sustainable farms and estates.
3. Government should ensure their holdings are attractive and open to young farmers and rural entrepreneurs, helping to nurture the next generation and human capital.
4. Government should recognise and celebrate the role of the smaller farm, “Building a Sustainable Farm Business”