Farmer, Dr Matt Swarbrick, a former television producer, has visited Sweden, France, England and Austria through Farming Connect Management Exchange programme to gain more information and develop his knowledge about regenerative farming, as he advocates and believes it can produce more and better food.
Dr Matt Swarbrick, farms using practices that increase biodiversity and enrich soils says even areas of farmland considered marginal are capable of producing food in a profitable way.
Former television producer Dr Matt Swarbrick started farming in 2012, on 30 hectare Henbant Bach near Caernarfon.
He and his wife, Jenny, have embraced regenerative agriculture, a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems, establishing flocks of sheep and laying hens, a micro-dairy and a market garden.
They are now ready to scale-up the enterprise.
To inform their future plans, Matt was awarded funding from the Farming Connect Management Exchange Programme to visit small-scale permaculture-based farms producing food as well as financial and environmental profits.
“The Farming Connect Management Exchange programme came at the perfect time for us to test our plans and visit farms doing similar things around Europe,’’ says Matt.
His study took him to Sweden, France and England, and to Kerameterhof, one of Europe’s oldest permaculture-based farms, based in Austria.
The application window for the 2019-2020 Management Exchange programme is open until 30th November 2019. Up to £2,500 of funding is available to cover travel expenses, accommodation and specialist advice.
Permaculture is a set of design principles and ethics for human systems that directly utilise the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems.
“I came away with a huge amount of affirmation from the Kerameterhof that using permaculture at a farm scale can really work and can do so in a way that creates a whole farm ecosystem that bursts with diversity and life,’’ says Matt.
“It made me understand that these things are worth doing; indeed I don’t think there is another way we can do things.’’
The study reinforced his belief that farming is the most powerful tool society has to make positive changes to the environment and that, by applying permaculture and agro-ecological methods, farmers can produce healthier food in greater quantities and with more profit.
It is possible to have farms that ever increase in resilience, he believes.
“I believe we (the farming industry) are too busy trying to make farming less harmful, less damaging and more sustainable.
“In this we are completely missing the point that producing food can be a positive thing, it can make for stronger, richer ecosystems, offer more job creation and produce healthier food and hence healthier people.’’
The only limitation to a farm’s productivity is the farmer’s imagination, he reckons.
“Even areas that we think of as being marginal are very capable of producing food in a profitable way.’’
Plans for Henbant have moved forward since Matt returned from the Exchange Programme.
“Going over the farm designs with all these individuals has affirmed some things we wanted to do, challenged others and offered fresh ideas as well,’’ he says.
“It has cemented our ideas that we do want to provide more opportunities for employment on the farm and it is clear that within food production we can provide at least two extra full time, if seasonal, roles.’’
The Swarbricks will create more agroforestry and silvopasture - a combination of trees and pasture - at Henbant and expand their no-dig market garden.
They will continue developing their micro dairy, to six cows by end of 2020, and develop a pastured, laying hen enterprise, aiming for 1000 layers by 2021.
They will also work with Joseph Holzer of Kerameterhof to develop their lakes into a more complex system for aquaculture.
“We have already implemented some of his plans and have introduced commercial fish species into the lakes,’’ says Matt.
Above all, Matt aims to raise awareness of the concept that the future of farming is not about limiting its impact on the environment. “It is about the positive impact that regenerative agriculture can have.’’
We want to hear from if you would like to learn about new and improved ways of working in the farming or forestry sectors, find out about different approaches to business management, broaden your knowledge, technical ability and management expertise to provide new developmental opportunities at both a personal and business level.
Would you be interested in undertaking a visit to other farm or forestry situations within the EU and/or hosting an experienced farm or forest manager to visit your holding? Disseminating findings from your learning experience with the wider industry through Farming Connect?
If so, make sure you apply for the Farming Connect Management Exchange – an unforgettable opportunity to visit other countries, gain knowledge, with funding available of up to £2,500. You can do so via the website: www.gov.wales/farmingconnect or for more information, contact the Farming Connect Service Centre: 08456 000 813.
Remember – the application window closes on 30th November 2019.
Matt was recently recruited as a Farming Connect Mentor. This allows other interested farmers to have mentoring sessions with Matt, either on his own farm or theirs. Having a mentor provides a second opinion; it challenges decisions and helps develop new ideas in a trusted and informal setting. To select a mentor, visit the Farming Connect website.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.