A NEW conference to help farmers manage climate extremes is set to take place later this year. 

LandAlive will explore how regenerative or nature-friendly methods can improve farm profits, boost local economies, open up new markets and stimulate innovation and investment across the south west. 

This new conference is set to be held at the Bath & West Showground on November 22 and 23 2024. The event will feature a programme of talks by experts in regenerative farming and sustainable food. 

They include: 

  • Martin Lines of the Nature Friendly Farming Network
  • Helen Coates, DEFRA
  • Phillip Lymbery, Compassion in World Farming
  • Caroline Grindrod, Roots to Regeneration
  • Tim Martin, FarmWilder, Devon
  • Tim Coates, founder of Oxbury Bank
  • Sue Pritchard, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Carol Paris, chief executive of the Royal Bath and West Society, said: “After the wettest eighteen months on record, with reports from some farmers that 2024 would be 'the first year without the harvest since the second world war', there’s an urgent need for a resilient and ‘climate adaptive’ food and farming system.

"Since our charitable objectives include educating in agriculture, we want to help advance regenerative practices as the best way forward for climate and food security. It’s also a huge opportunity for the food sector as a whole."

(Image: Newsquest)

Graham Harvey is conference programme director. He believes that long-term resilience means shifting how we farm and using nature-friendly methods. 

"Most farmers have had a pretty miserable time recently with all the rain and spiralling input costs," he added.

"The good news is there’s growing evidence that making the transition away from chemical dependent farming really can result in better, more nutritious crops and more profitable farming. But ‘Regen’ is a journey, and every farm is different. So it’s about working out what’s right for you and your farm."

The conference is a collaboration between Sustainable Food Somerset and The Royal Bath and West of England Society, supported by DEFRA’s ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ (FIPL) fund through Mendip & Quantocks National Landscapes, with support from Somerset Council.

A spokesperson from Somerset Council said: “Farming is hugely important to Somerset and its sustainable and resilient future, environmentally and economically. The impacts of climate change bring challenges but also opportunities.

"We would encourage anyone involved in the farming sector to come along to this event and make sure they are well-placed to future-proof themselves and seize the opportunities when they come.”