NSA Breakfast Club - Regenerative farming vs Rewilding: An early morning discussion on sheep in the environment
Date: 17th February 2021
Time: 8.30am
Location: Online - zoom webinar
Below is a report on the contents of this webinar. To watch the webinar on demand please visit www.nationalsheep.org.uk/webinars/.
NSA’s fifth breakfast club webinar was another highly topical event with an audience of 100+ joining us for a session on “Regenerative farming vs Rewilding: An early morning discussion on sheep in the environment”.
NSA Chief Executive, Phil Stocker hosted the event and kept panel members consisting of Tony Juniper (Chair of Natural England), Geoff Sansome (Head of Agricultural Policy at Natural England), Dan Phipps (Chair of NSA), and Thomas Carrick (Chair of NSA Northern region) all on track throughout the meeting.
The subject area of regenerative farming has been one that has climbed up the priority list, not only on a local and individual basis, but on on a global and Governmental level too. Rewilding has been introduced as part of an initiative to tackle the current climate and biodiversity crisis. NSA members in all regions have encountered effects of rewilding to some extend whether through White Tailed Sea Eagles, Beavers, and the rumours to reintroduce the dreaded Lynx.
Phil Stocker set the scene for all attendees and outlined the importance of sheep, and the traditional values they lend to our environment, in all of the devolved nations of the UK. At its best, in the uplands, sheep are a big part of the foundation of rural economies and communities. They create a countryside people enjoy while also having a symbiotic relationship with wildlife and grassland diversity – not to mention they naturally produce one of the most sustainable sources of meat and fibre available to us. On lower ground, sheep are the reason why much permanent pasture remains. Increasingly, on arable farms we are starting to see the reintroduction of grass and forage crops in conjunction with sheep to build soils and provide a break in cropping rotations ultimately seeing a return to mixed farming. There is growing evidence that when looked at holistically, sheep farming is not as bad for climate change as it has been painted (and it can be argued that it can be as close to carbon neutral as is possible).
Tony Juniper responded to this introduction and outlined the remit of Natural England and his views on the role sheep have to play in his vision of the future. Attendees were somewhat reassured to hear that sheep would indeed have a vital position and were integral to maintaining a balance in sustainable and affordable food production while delivering benefits in an ecological and environmental sense. The right kinds of sheep in the right place for the right reasons is the basis of this understanding. Historically famers have had to choose between food or nature, agriculture of wildlife but with the new approaches to policy, Mr Juniper sees all of these aspects working together for a much more positive and useful outcome for all involved. As part of this, it was identified that the vegan discussion is very spurious and adds complexity to environmental gains. Biodiversity and carbon benefits to different types of meat are integral to the future and the sustainable grassland production of sheep meat versus highly intensive cattle production from imported soya factors must be addressed. Mr Juniper advised all attendees that a carbon report would be published in the near future by Natural England detailing the carbon in ecosystems that weren’t woodland or peatland. He also identified the many advantages that trees have to play in terms of carbon storage, biofuel provision and flood land mitigation. In addition to this, trees would also improve timber and paper supply, public recreation, air supply and help the aesthetic value of the countryside – we all need to move into a much more joined up approach.
Dan Phipps and Thomas Carrick were capably placed to highlight the importance of good strong markets and a balance between environmental and productivity while engaging in healthy discussion. Farmers are trying to do what they can under immense pressure not only amongst their peers but also locally and on a UK wide basis, if not globally and should be supported to the fullest degree to ensure that all practicalities can be carried out efficiently and not to the detriment of the farming business.
Questions answered included the discussion around the topics of trade-offs and unintended consequences can be unwanted results of policy. The total re-wilding or significantly decreasing of sheep stocking densities further on the hills has created an inevitable build-up of vegetation and fuel load, panellists were asked if extensive wildfires were an acceptable future. It was identified that wildfires may well be a result of unintentional policy matters but more a likelihood to be a direct result of irresponsible public countryside access.
Commoners have been asked to deliver different schemes in varying ways in many parts of the country. This is seen to be a disparity issue whereby no blanket approach can be used and individual situations must be addressed by individual solutions. On the issue surrounding stocking rates, the calculation of wild deer on pasture is directing affecting grazing levels for sheep whereby the control of the tier is completely out of the grazier’s hands. Yet another way of sheep being replaced by deer or being overlooked.
Tony Juniper detailed the 25-year Governmental environmental plan and the elements of restoring lost species whereby the policy idea is to look at species by a case-by-case basis to identify economic, environmental and social benefits. In terms of White-Tailed Sea Eagles, attendees were made aware of an application in Norfolk for release. However, NSA were keen to highlight how mobile this apex predator, along with Lynx, can be and the fact that any consultation should not be restricted to the local area while outlining the importance of an independent, wide and a timely consultation. Tony and Geoff responded that an upcoming Code will be published later in 2021 in direct relation to the White-Tailed Sea Eagle and that a stakeholder forum will be put in place to ensure all consultation matters and voices were addressed. A clear exit strategy for any animal reintroduced is vital to have in place.
It was made very clear by Geoff Sansome that there was the worry of unintended consequences by everything discussed and the way in which farmers are expected to carry out practices. A continued focus on optimising productivity and being in the best possible position to deal with the future opportunities is critical for all farming businesses.
Mr Juniper also advised he would advocate an increase of horticultural methods with less of a focus on cereal to get more value out of the land with more use of extensive animal production systems and vegetables. Technology in terms of GPS and other digital advancements would be key in boosting production in a sustainable way. Attendees were also pleased to hear of the value that wool has to play to the environment in the current day due to the fantastic renewable contributions it has to offer in versatile products and solutions.
This webinar identified that the solution is not to rewild the country and import all of our food. We need to have all the practical elements engaged and policy in place to ensure the results are effective, positive and practical for all.
