Groundswell 2024

Wednesday 26th - Thursday 27th June

Come and find us at Groundswell 2024. We'll be in our Soil Association stretch tent with representatives from the charity (policy and farming advisors), Innovative Farmers, Soil Association Exchange and Soil Association Certification. We'll also be in the Agroforestry Tent, with colleagues from the Woodland Trust and the Organic Research Centre.

Or just pop in for a breather and a cuppa!

One to ones

Want to talk to an expert about your SFI/CS options?
Book a FREE one-to-one session with one of our farming advisors in the Soil Association tent (PF F13). Get tailored advice on Countryside Stewardship, Sustainable Farming Incentive and organic conversion.

Free Agroforestry Advice session
Thinking of introducing agroforestry on your farm, or looking at how to extend or manage existing systems and need some technical support? Bring a map and pictures of your farm and register for a FREE 45 min slot with one of our agroforestry advisors, on hand in the Agroforestry tent (PF B12)

Main sessions

Herbal Leys for a Dairy System: Q&A with Andrew Brewer
Weds 26, 10-10.45am, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
We’ll be talking to Andrew about this Farm Net Zero/Innovative Farmers trial, his experiences of growing diverse swards, and why he believes that soil and animal health are central to maintaining the productivity of his farming system.

Whole farm trees planning for regenerative farming
Weds 26, 10-10.55am, Agroforestry tent (PF B12)
Come along and hear our Senior Adviser for Forestry, Clive Thomas, discuss whole farm tree planning from pilot farmers and project partners.

Home-grown: how can UK horticulture flourish in the future?
Weds 26, 12-12.55pm, Breakout tent
A fantastic line up with Guy Singh Watson, Rebecca Laughton (LWA), Will White (Sustain) and Harry Winslet (Cambs Farms Growers). They look at how systemic challenges in the horticulture industry can be overcome, and how we can scale up regenerative production in the UK.

Extending the grazing season: optimising winter forage for livestock and soil health
Weds 26, 2-2.55pm, Seminar tent
Our Head of Farming, Kate Still, is joined by Innovative Farmers trialists, farmers Tom Armitage and Claire Beaumont, and independent consultant Emily Grant. They discuss how outwintering livestock benefits the overall health of the farm system, including soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare, farmer welfare and economic sustainability.

Organic farming – is it for me? 
Weds 26, 3-3.45pm, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
Are you curious about organic farming? Join an informal Q&A session with Nick Padwick (organic regenerative farmer) and Jerry Alford (senior farming advisor) to find out more about the practicalities of organic farming.

It’s all in the mind
Weds 26, 4-4.45pm, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
Our will discuss their experiences of how adopting the right mindset was critical in unlocking regen success for their farms. With Clare Hill, David White & David Wolfe.

What are the potential risks & rewards of gene-editing in sustainable food and farming?
Thurs 27, 9-9.55am, Seminar tent
Our Head of Policy, Brendan Costelloe, discusses the implications of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act. He aims to find consensus around how the technology can fit into a sustainable food and farming system in years to come, with Dan Crossly (Food Ethics Council), George Young (aka farmingGeorge) and others.

Is Looking After our Soil the Key to Cleaning up Rivers?
Thurs 27, 10-10.45am, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
A panel discussion about what farmers can do to reduce their impact on the river catchment, the wider environment and human health, while benefiting from reduced input costs.

Navigating grant funding opportunities to build the business case for agroforestry
Thurs 27, 10-10.55am, Agroforestry tent (PF B12)
Defra support payments for agroforestry are finally reaching the market. Find out how can farmers and land managers take full advantage to create sustainable incomes from commercial tree planting while delivering public goods. With Soil Association Exchange’s Beth Metson, Ian Knight (Abacus Agri), Ben Makowiecki (Agriculture Sustainability Director at Lloyds Bank) and Archie Ruggles-Brise Estate Manager at Spains Hall Estate, Essex).

Farmer Perspectives: Sustainable Farming Incentive
Thurs 27, 11-11.45am, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
Hear from a panel of organic farmers and find out how the new Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes can benefit your farm.

Holistic farm metrics: Bridging industry gaps
Thurs 27, 1-1.45pm, Soil Association tent (PF F13)
A panel discussion on how a closer partnership between Soil Association Exchange and Global Farm Metric can help accelerate the adoption of baselining across the industry, delivering for farmers and the broader industry.

The dos and don’ts of marketing agroforestry products
Thurs 27 June, 1-1.55pm, Agroforestry tent (PF B12)
Join our Agroforestry Advisor Jon Haines to explore how agroforestry pioneers have developed markets for their agroforestry enterprise. His session looks to provide farmers considering agroforestry projects, with knowledge and experience of entering (and in many cases, creating) new markets.

Leguminose
Thurs 27, 2-2.45pm, Soil Association Stand (PF F13)
Want to know more about how legume-based intercropping improves soil hearth, increases biodiversity and maximises productivity while reducing input use and the carbon footprint of arable farming? Come along and meet farmers who’ve taken part in this ‘living lab’ on-farm trial.