British farmers can ‘lead the way’ in land management, says Vegan Society report
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The Vegan Society’s new report presenting alternatives to commercial grazing is part of their ongoing work to support transition to plant-based agriculture through their Grow Green campaign
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Achieving public goods like flood management, carbon sequestration and nature recovery will mean diversifying our use of marginal land away from commercial grazing
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Read the full report here
The Vegan Society has released a new report on land management beyond commercial grazing, aimed at offering a practical overview and starting point for farmers and landowners who wish to explore new alternatives in land management.
It is often suggested that maintaining open pasture and grazing animals for meat production is the only worthwhile, productive option for managing ‘marginal’ land. The report refutes this by identifying a range of alternative management options that could help us respond effectively to the climate and biodiversity crises.
Jenny Hall, the author of the report, said:
“Farmland has an amazing capacity to contribute towards carbon sinks, nature recovery and healthy diets. What prompted the guide was a need to have all the crucial information in one place, in a user-friendly form, so farmers and land managers can make decisions on the best available information. I am so grateful to all the case studies featured who really are at the cutting edge of innovation.”
The new Environmental Land Management Scheme, alongside other new funding streams, could enable the introduction of a greater variety of climate and nature friendly land management practices, and rural businesses must be supported to take advantage of this opportunity.
Farmers and land managers will be vital in achieving the UK’s climate and biodiversity as well as other priorities such as reducing flooding. This ambitious report lays out a roadmap for them to follow in pursuit of a greener, more sustainable Britain.
Tim Thorpe, The Vegan Society’s Campaigns & Policy Officer, said:
“It’s clear that British farmers take great pride in their produce and the vital service they provide to the public. What is also clear, is that the needs of society, public attitudes, and the UK’s priorities when it comes to land use are changing.
Land management is a hugely complex issue and to make progress it is crucial that we engage openly and honestly with the range of different views about the future of agriculture in the UK, especially with farmers and those who are directly responsible for managing our land.
This report shows that British farmers can lead the way and be the architects of a more sustainable land management policy over the next decade. We hope it will prompt more imaginative and productive conversations about the future of the UK landscape and our relationship with it.”
For more information and interview requests, please contact Matt Turner, Media & PR Officer: media[at]vegansociety[dot]com. Campaigns & Policy Officer Tim Thorpe will be available for broadcast interviews.
Read the full report: ‘Commercial grazing alternatives: a guide for farmers in an age of climate emergency and public goods’
About the author
In 2005, Jenny Hall co-wrote the vegetable farmer’s textbook “Growing Green: Organic Techniques for a Sustainable Future.” The book is sold internationally. In 2009 Jenny co-founded Climate Friendly Food CIC. In 2011 she wrote the think-piece “Market Garden Britain 2030” to lay out the possible social, health and environmental benefits including the belief that moving towards a nine-a-day model from home-grown produce could enable a massive reduction in greenhouse gases. These preliminary findings have been backed by later academic research. Jenny runs a small working farm (which includes a market garden and commercial forest garden) with her two daughters with the Liverpool-based Organic Direct Box Scheme. She is also a trustee of an international charity and works part-time for Lancashire Wildlife Trust on their wetlands project.
About us
The Vegan Society is the world’s oldest vegan organisation whose founder Donald Watson defined the word ‘vegan’ in 1944. We are a registered educational charity (No. 279228 - England & Wales and SC049495 - Scotland) that provides information and guidance on various aspects of veganism, including to existing and potential vegans, caterers, healthcare professionals, educators and the media.
Our vision and mission is a world in which no animal is exploited for the benefit of humans, and all our work focuses on inspiring people to become and stay vegan. The Grow Green campaign aims to influence policy to tackle environmental crises through a shift towards sustainable plant protein agriculture and other sustainable forms of land management.
