OFC Inspire: Emma Smail

I'm from a non-farming background, and I trained as an ecologist, but an interest in how our food is produced and the environmental impacts of agricultural land management led me to pursue more agronomic roles. I previously worked as a research agronomist and became a FACTS qualified farm advisor, but I now work with landowners to deliver water quality and habitat improvement projects and offer advice on catchment-friendly land management.

I saw the Inspire Programme as a brilliant opportunity to expand my knowledge and connections within the agricultural sector. I work in one little patch and wanted to explore the innovative ideas and practices undertaken in different areas. I also wanted to understand better the response and attitude within the sector to the environmentally focused changes proposed within the industry from ELMS, net-zero payments, and biodiversity net gain while meeting farmers and other industry professionals that I could learn from to take ideas back to the catchment to benefit our farmers and rivers.

I already felt privileged to be selected as part of the Oxford Farming Conference Inspire Programme, but after the conference in early January, I fully appreciated what an honour it was.

Despite the conference taking place online, there was a vast amount of stimulating discussion, debate, and knowledge sharing thanks to the OFC app, and I'm grateful that the app stays open for three months after the conference as it's just too much to take in alongside all the conference content.

Diversity of skills will drive farming and growing businesses forwards

My main takeaway from the conference is the diversity of knowledge, skills, experience, backgrounds, and opinions within the industry, from farmers and those in ‘farming adjacent’ sectors such as myself. It's this diversity that's going to ensure future resilience within the industry with all the changes and challenges that are expected in the coming years.

During the conference sessions, there was a lot of talk about net-zero, natural capital, and how the payments for both will sit alongside ELMS grants to replace the BPS in an environmentally productive way, with an extensive debate of mixed opinions on this new position. There are concerns about food security risks, the future of small family farms, and competition from cheaper imports with lower welfare and environmental standards.

However, at the route of all the debate and differing opinions, some clear common ground ran through the conference. The OFC debate made it clear that everyone on both sides of the debate, and across all sectors, is passionate that family farms are vitally crucial to the diversity of the industry and food production. We must, therefore, do what we can to ensure their security.

Our sector is the steward of the land

It was also clear from all sides that farmers are guardians of the land and must be front and centre of action and policy to bring enhanced environmental protection measures into farm management. Farm businesses are resilient enough to embrace changes, new ideas, and innovation to future-proof the industry and must continue to do so.

Finally, from the very positive response all round to Dame Ellen MacArthur’s truly inspirational session, which seems to be a highlight for many, the agriculture and food sectors are well placed to adopt a circular system, and it's crucial they do so to become more sustainable for both the environment and farm business.

This common ground is vital for the industry's future and key to the collaboration needed to embrace change and ensure resilience. No one sector has all the answers or experience, and we need to work together and be open to just how much we have to learn from one another for the benefit of food, farming, and the environment.

As someone from third-sector conservation, seeing our sector truly embedded into the OFC conversation was reassuring and inspiring. We know from our industry that we can only achieve our goals with collaboration; we work with farmers, regulators, and public and private sector partners from the ground floor of all our projects and initiatives. The OFC conference 2022 brought home that this approach is shared across the industry, and everyone is keen and excited to work together to get the most for and from our industry. So, let’s go!

Find me on Twitter – @MeaseRiver

www.rivermease.co.uk

www.trentriverstrust.org