Farming Futures secures £150,000 lifeline

Farming Futures will continue helping farmers and land managers understand how to respond to climate change thanks to a £150,000 grant from Defra.

We're delighted that our funding has been extended. Farming Futures is an invaluable resource for farmers, land managers and growers; it translates climate change science into messages that mean something and helps farmers recognise the business opportunities the changing climate holds.By providing information online and at events, farmers can get the information they need to deal with climate change.

Since it was launched two years ago the project has enjoyed a high degree of success and attracted high-profile support. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn congratulated us on our “impressive contribution” to awareness raising at the Oxford Farming Conference this year.

The profile of the project has risen through regular coverage in the farming press and a year ago 47% of farmers knew about Farming Futures.
It was voted the top website for farmers for information on climate change in the Farmers Weekly climate change special last year.
We’ve created 26 fact sheets, 19 case studies and 3 video case studies addressing the impacts, challenges, opportunities and suggested adaptations and mitigations for each farming sector.
Our on-farm workshops have reached approximately 364 delegates, and we make Farming Futures resources available at various industry events throughout the last year.

Farming Futures is a communications project coordinated by Forum for the Future, on behalf of the National Farmers Union (NFU), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), Defra and the Agricultural and Horticultural Research Forum (AHRF) which represents the agricultural and horticultural levy boards.
The project had been due to end in March 2009.The new funding will allow it to continue until March 2010, and within that time a long-term home and funding strategy should be decided.

Peter Kendall, NFU President welcomed the extension:

“Here at the NFU we recognise that climate change is a present and serious issue. Water shortages, changing weather, new pests and diseases and a growing population all put pressure on the agricultural sector. Farming Futures continues to be an important tool to raise awareness and stimulate practical action for farmers and land managers.”

Henry Aubrey Fletcher, CLA president, said:

“The CLA are proud to be associated with another phase of Farming Futures. The project is a great example of an industry collaborating to achieve a great aim and I know the workshops and resources are incredibly useful for our members.”

The new funding will enable Farming Futures to:

continue our programme of on-farm workshops showcasing practice case studies for mitigating and adapting to climate change;
translate climate change research into practical messages that farmers can use to take action;
develop closer relations with the Rural Climate Change Forum and other industry bodies;
continue creating, identifying and supporting climate champions within the industry who will help inspire and encourage other farmers to take up pro-environmental behaviour change;
further develop the project's fact sheets and case studies for farmers and land managers;
continue raising awareness of climate change, and encouraging behaviour change across the sector; and
expand the reach of the project and raise its profile among farm advisors, young farmers and agricultural students.

For more information, please visit www.farmingfutures.org.uk