British Nature Friendly Farmers call for people to buy local during Covid-19

To highlight the importance of sustainable food during a pandemic, the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is launching a new report, showcasing the extraordinary things that farmers are doing to help their local communities.

From providing veg boxes direct to vulnerable people in the community, to donating their land for community growing and picking, NFFN farmers from all over the country have been sharing their stories of how they’re supporting local communities:

- Charlie Cole, a goat kid farmer in Northern Ireland, has completely shifted his business model, which used to depend on food markets and a café, to provide a click and collect service for the local community.

- David Walston, an arable farmer in Cambridgeshire, England, has set up CoVeg to provide space on his farm for the local community to grow and source vegetables which otherwise may not be available.

- Jock Gibson, a livestock farmer in Scotland, has partnered up with local businesses to launch a new national delivery service so that vulnerable people don’t need to wait weeks to receive their supermarket orders.

- Polly Davies, a mixed farmer in Glamorgan, Wales, has nearly doubled her delivery service for nearby villages, prioritising NHS staff and picking up medicines and other essentials for customers self-isolating.

Many farm businesses have been forced to adapt overnight to deal with sudden disruptions and increasing demand from local communities. On top of those challenges, farmers are concerned that future trade deals could soon undercut the high standards set up UK farmers.

The farmer-led Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) supports over 1,000 farmers across the UK that are working around the clock to produce nutritious food while delivering benefits for the environment and reversing wildlife decline.

Martin Lines, Chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network commented: “The sight of empty supermarket shelves and fears of labour shortages show how much farmers need consumer support. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates how intrinsically connected farmers are to local economies and the environment. When people buy produce straight from a local and sustainable farmer, they’re also protecting their community and wildlife.”

The network is committed to demonstrating to the wider public what farmers can do for wildlife whilst still delivering plentiful produce. To help protect the sustainable food supply chain for the rest of COVID-19 crisis, farmers from the NFFN have shared the five things the public can do to support them.

TOP 5 WAYS TO SUPPORT BRITISH FARMERS DURING COVID-19

- Shop local and sustainable. Buy fresh, seasonal and sustainable produce from your local online farm shop or market. Find farmers across the UK delivering locally here.

- Work or volunteer on a farm. The UK is facing a potential shortage of 80,000 workers due to COVID-19. If you have the time, find your local farms to help harvest the food for the nation. Here’s a list of organisations that can direct you to the right place.

- Join the nature-friendly farming movement for free. We are stronger together. Join the NFFN for free as a public member to stay up to date with how you can support nature-friendly farmers producing food for the nation.

- Try not to waste. Over 1/3 of food around the world is thrown away. It’s important not to stockpile food that will go to waste. Make sure you plan your shopping trips carefully, buy only what you need, and use up leftovers. Here’s some top tips from Love Food, Hate Waste.

- Celebrate the local farmers doing extraordinary things to produce the food on your plates while protecting nature. When you receive food from a local producer, share your food stories and celebrate it on social media with #NatureFriendlyFood.

Charlie Cole, from Broughgammon Farm, Northern Ireland commented: “Localised supply chains are far more robust and resilient than those of the supermarket that involve importing food from abroad. We should use this opportunity to seek out small, local independent businesses and give them the support they need to survive. A localised economy benefits all, not just the retailer.”

The NFFN welcomes the public money for public goods approach in the Agriculture Bill, with a more sustainable balance between nature and food production. The shift towards a nature friendly approach is not just good for wildlife but is key to the long-term survival of farming, delivering broader benefits to the public.

Martin Lines, Chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network, added: “Productivity and environmental goals are not mutually exclusive but go hand in hand. We need more support from the marketplace and from government to create resilient and local supply chains that guarantee long-term food availability.”

Name: Charlie Cole

Farm name: Broughgammon Farm

Farm type: Goat kid farmer

Location: Northern Ireland

Charlie Cole is a first-generation farmer who manages Broughgammon on the North coast of Antrim. His farm, famous for its award-winning rose veal and goat burgers, has been championing sustainability and the principle of ‘forward thinking farming’ since 2012.

Broughgammon is a mixed system aiming to demonstrate high welfare standards, environmental stewardship resilience and profitability. Charlie is a passionate advocate for locally produced sustainable food, highlighting that nature friendly farming can play a key role in addressing many of the current problems facing food and farming at present.

How has the Coronavirus pandemic impacted your business and distribution?

It’s been an absolute nightmare. Our business is completely dependent on us selling directly to the customer. So now that the Government restrictions are in place, the farmers markets and street food events have come to a close and we’ve had to shut the café in the farm shop which are all usually reliable sources of income.

To adapt to the situation, we’ve started a “click and collect” service through the online farm shop which enables customers to buy and collect our produce in Belfast, Dublin and the farm shop. People can also order produce online that can be delivered to their door

Are you involved in any initiatives that support the local community or people?

When we set up the click and collect service, we introduced a more stock than we usually supply to reduce the burden on local markets. Traditionally we only stocked fresh produce from our farm. 

What would you like to say to people at this time about the role of UK farms to protect nature?

The current crisis provides people with time to reflect on the importance of food and farming to all humanity. We must remind ourselves is that food and farming is the result of a complex relationship with nature. Our food can only be sustainable and bountiful if it’s produced in harmony with the environment and wildlife. As tenants of the land it’s vital that farmers maintain it in good condition.

What would you like to say to people at this time about the role of UK farms to provide food for people in the UK?

This crisis has made it very clear that we have lost the resilience in our food and farming system, with value being placed on “cheap”. This has led to degraded soils, diminishing wildlife and imports of lower food safety and farming standards. We need to shift back to a more sustainable, mixed farming system for resilience across the board. Farms that use sustainable methods provide not just for human needs, but also for nature. 

How should we use this opportunity to buy British and support British farmers?

Localised supply chains are far more robust and resilient than those of the supermarket that involve importing food from abroad. We should use this opportunity to seek out small, local independent businesses and give them the support they need to survive. A localised economy benefits all, not just the retailer.

How can the public benefit from what you’re doing on the farm?

Our business is intrinsically linked to the local economy and community. We’re completely committed to reinvesting back into the localised supply chain and improving nature so that others can enjoy it. The more the public source our high-quality meat and vegetables, the more we can reinvest and the bigger the impact we can have.

What do you need from consumers?

Covid is impacting the whole supply chain – from farm to fork. We need consumers to buy locally from farmers that are working hard provide for the country. Covid’s arrival has created unprecedented disruption to farmers, and they desperately need consumer’s help to keep their businesses alive.

What do you need from the government?

We are trying to adapt to the current situation, by offering a click and collect service, but our cash flows have been badly damaged. We’re only a small farming business so margins were already tight and we’re really struggling. ANY business support that the Government can provide would be extremely valuable.

What needs to change in farming policy to support the future of farming?

Food is greatly undervalued, in order for environmentally friendly food to be even vaguely obtainable it will need support from Westminster. We also need a huge shift in the structure of the supply chain and the way that people value their food.

As for nature, it’s the very essence of our survival/being and it needs to be supported by the Government and held with the utmost regard.  

How do nature friendly farming methods make you more resilient to climate change?

Farming in a nature-friendly way increases our resilience to varying farm costs, extreme weather events and more. We’re also increasing our diversity, which is good because not all of our eggs are in one basket.

Why is the NFFN important?

The NFFN not only acts as a discussion group, allowing fellow farmers to share best practice, but more importantly it allows us to lobby for environmentally friendly policies that can deliver a more diverse and resilient farm and food chain for the future.

https://www.nffn.org.uk/