With the combined uncertainty of Brexit and impacts of COVID-19, the need to encourage and release the dynamism of rural areas is now greater than ever.
Farming Connect is now seeking to nurture innovative ideas at its virtual Innovation and Diversification Wales event from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October.
The five-day programme features key individuals and experts in their fields who will share their knowledge, stories and advice with farmers seeking to diversify or others who have ideas for developing a rural business.
Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which together with Lantra Wales delivers Farming Connect on behalf of Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, says adding new business activities to traditional farming could be important for future-proofing livelihoods and already established business going forward.
“Our speakers will inspire and advise on how business sustainability and profitability can be improved through innovation and technology.’’
Speakers will include Sean Taylor, who created the highly successful North Wales-based adventure firm, Zip World.
Kelly Chandler, a consultant specialising in weddings, will lead a workshop on how to diversify into creating wedding venues while the Squirrels Nest Treehouse Retreat will give advice on starting a glamping venture.
Innovation can also be found in horticulture and Grace Choto, of AHDB, will explore this in her workshop.
There will also be advice from Geraint Hughes on how the deployment of low-cost, long-lasting sensor technology can result in better management for Welsh farms and can help businesses to become more profitable.
The themes of other webinars range from precision soil mapping to creating a website and using social media to promote a business.
For further details and advice on how to register for the event visit: www.gov.wales/farmingconnect
Here’s a list of the webinars, to book your place you must register your interest by 8am on the day of the event by emailing:
delyth.evans@menterabusnes.co.uk
| 20/10/2020 | 11:00 | Treehouses: Our diversification journey |
| 20/10/2020 | 15:00 | Is diversifying into the wedding market an option for your business? |
| 20/10/2020 | 20:00 | How one diversification business became world famous! |
| 21/10/2020 | 10:30 | Horticulture Innovation (Potatoes / Carrots and stem vegetables) |
| 21/10/2020 | 14:00 | Internet of Things on Welsh farms: Making farm management easier, better and more profitable. |
| 21/10/2020 | 20:00 | What role does Internet of Things technology have in Agriculture? |
| 22/10/2020 | 12:30 | Soil mapping project work at Pantyderi Demonstration Farm |
| 22/10/2020 | 15:30 | Selling online |
| 22/10/2020 | 20:00 | Summary of the innovation farming report |
Farming Connect, which is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra, 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.