Farm sustainability assessment

Event Date : February 26, 2015

With regret, we have had to cancel this event due to insufficient numbers, it will now be combined with the Organic food supply chains and the environment seminar on February 25

Farm sustainability assessment for improved performance and customer guarantee

Venue: Duchy Home Farm, Broadfield Farm, Tetbury GL8 8SE 10 am – 4pm

This workshop is for farmers and landowners, advisers and land agents, researchers, young people including students and apprentices and others involved in the food supply chain. It will be of particular interest to non-organic as well as organic farmers interested in understanding what “sustainable farming” really means, assessing how their farm is preforming and making changes for the better in future. It will have the following aims:

1. Enable farmers to understand the value of sustainability assessment as a means of setting priorities and developing their business
2. Inform food chain actors on the potential for providing a means of supporting their suppliers and ensuring standards of operation
3. Provide the tools and expertise in sustainability assessment

The workshop will provide the following:

1. Training in the concept of sustainable farming assessment
2. Training in the use of assessment tools including the ORC Farm Sustainability Tool (PG tool/FAST)
3. Show how sustainability assessment can be used to develop and improve the farming system and practices through a practical farm example.
4. Explore how sustainability assessment can be used in the food chain to ensure that all suppliers are meeting certain objectives and the opportunity for supporting consumer messages.

The event will include a case study of sustainability assessment on the host farm.

Course cost (local and organic lunch & refreshments included):

• Reduced price for eligible participants (see below) £50 + VAT
• Full price for participants not-eligible for funding £100 + VAT
• 100% bursaries available for eligible individuals (see below)

On-line booking is available here. Alternatively, you can register directly and pay by cheque, BACS or credit card by contacting Gillian Woodward.

RDPE support available:

50% fee reduction for English producers and others obtaining a living from agriculture or agricultural products. Eligibility includes producers and employees of producer groups, supply chain businesses, direct retailers, small consultancy businesses, but not multiple retailers, government departments, agencies or public bodies including universities. Participants must be living/working in England. To benefit please download, complete and sign the Trainee Registration form (109kb pdf file) and send to Gillian Woodward at ORC. You can still register and pay on-line.

Bursaries available:

We have funds from various sources, including the Ernest Cook Trust (nationwide), the Gordon Palmer Memorial Trust (Berkshire residents only), and the Greenham Common Trust (West Berkshire residents only) to enable young people (students/apprentices/new entrants) with limited means to attend the seminars. If you think you may qualify, for any of the above bursaries please contact Gillian Woodwardwith details of your address, age and circumstances to check eligibility.

For more environmental jobs and courses please see environmentjob.co.uk