Big Ideas for The Future

Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Universities UK (UUK) have produced a report called Big Ideas for the Future   

It includes a section from my friend and colleague Larch Maxey:

The future of farming – small is successful

Smallholdings of 10 acres or less can provide viable and highly sustainable livelihoods. They can support the transition to a more sustainable society by increasing local food production and boosting rural economies both in the UK and other countries. ‘Small is Successful: Creating sustainable livelihoods on 10 acres or less’ reports on research led by Dr Larch Maxey at the University of Plymouth in collaboration with The Ecological Land Cooperative. The research opens the door to new entrants to farming at a time when there is urgent need for them and calls for policies that allow highly sustainable, low acreage livelihoods to flourish. In contrast to the commonly held view that only large farms can survive, the research shows that smallholdings can succeed on tiny pockets of marginal land. Adding value is key to their success, with growers now able to process and take food to market. Businesses are increasingly spreading their risk too, so if one crop or market fails, others are available.

 Download the full report