Diversifying cropping to grow vegetables, fruit and pulses is a proven way of boosting farming resilience and soil health, however less than two fifths of UK farmers have diversified their farms, a new study by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) has found.
According to recent analysis by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK is currently unable to be fully self-sufficient in food production, with the NFFN noting that production of non-cereal crops could help boost this resilience.
The NFFN’s study found that of the farmers that diversified into growing vegetables, pulses and fruit, 90% of those that did so reported clear benefits, including ‘improved resilience through diversification, healthier soils and more varied income streams’.
Yet at the same time, just 38% of respondents to the NFFNs survey said that they have actually diversified their operations, with a further 29% saying they are actively considering doing so. Around half of respondents cited unsuitable soils or a lack of technical expertise as key reasons for not diversifying.
‘Clear and measurable’
“We know that we need to urgently increase the amount of non-cereal crops we are growing in the UK,” commented Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network. “Where farms have diversified, the benefits are clear and measurable.
“However, there is still a lot of work to do before this kind of diversification is the norm. If we want to see more homegrown fruit, veg and pulses on British plates, the conditions need to be right to make diversification a realistic option for many more farmers.”
Financial incentives
While adapting to climate change is the top motivating factor for farmers choosing to diversify their crops, the move is not without its challenges – 83% of farmers that have diversified into non-cereal crops have encountered challenges including dealing with pests, weeds and harvesting, as well as low crop prices and limited local processing infrastructure.
Farmers identified financial incentives as the most important factor enabling their future expansion, along with access to local buyers and investment in processing, storage and machinery.
“When it’s so clear that this is a win-win situation for farmers, which can help them tackle some of the toughest issues our industry faces, we need to break down the barriers to make this approach to farming a straightforward choice for far more people,” Lines added.
One farmer surveyed by the NFFN, Kent-based Anthony Curwen, added that diversification has “real potential to improve profitability while improving our soils and biodiversity”, noting that it has helped open up “new opportunities” for his business. Read more here and here.
