We say a big ‘thank you’ and fond farewell to our Agroforestry Researcher Will Simonson who left ORC at the end of April after five and a half years.
Head of Organic Research Centre Lizzie Sagoo said: ” We say a huge ‘thank you’ to Will for all his work over the last few years. He has played a very significant role in how agroforestry has progressed in the UK since he joined ORC. He has been very professional and conscientious, and a calming and supportive presence in times of change. We wish him well for his travels and in the future.”
Will said: “I left ORC at the end of April after five and a half years working with some remarkable and talented people working to support organic and wider agroecological farming practice in Britain and beyond. I have always been attracted to small organisations that punch above their weight and ORC has been one of them. Despite its small size it works across a considerable breadth and that was brought home to me, shortly after joining, when I helped produce a compendium of fact sheets and research digests to celebrate ORC’s 40th anniversary. There was such a diversity of research topics represented, mirroring the diversity that we seek in farming systems to bring about resilient food production that respects ecological and climate boundaries.
“Since 2020 it has been a privilege to lead the agroforestry research theme, building on the legacy of Jo (Smith), Sally (Westaway) and others as well as a small band of agroforestry pioneers to help make this practice more accessible and mainstream. The team has approached this challenge through primary research but also, and perhaps more importantly, making research evidence available to farmers so that it can be put into practice. Highlights over the years have been working with the Soil Association, The Woodland Trust and lots of farmers in the context of two Defra-funded Test & Trials, tackling the challenge of how to estimate carbon capture in agroforestry, the richness of collaborating with European partners on Horizon funded projects, getting to know Wakelyns through fieldwork and open events, and the opportunity to work with Bristol University on two short initiatives focused on Colombia and West Africa.
“As ORC enters an exciting new era within ADAS, the decision to move on hasn’t been an easy one, but comes out of an opportunity I have to take a break from my career, reflect on all that I have learnt, and then seek a new role that I hope might look a bit different. Whatever this leads to, I’ll be taking with me so much that I have learned from ORC and its partners will continue to try to make a small difference at the nexus of farming, nature and society.”
