Organic food supply chains and the environment
Venue: Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, RG20 0HR
25th February 2015
10 am – 4pm
This seminar is for farmers and landowners, advisers and land agents, researchers, young people including students and apprentices and others involved in the food supply chain. It will be of interest to farmers considering conversion, as well as established organic farmers and growers and those involved in developing agricultural and environmental policy.
The seminar will cover aspects of reconciling productivity with protection of the environment; climate change mitigation and resilience; biodiversity, soil and water conservation; and assessment of sustainability at farm level and in supply chains. Participants will gain a better understanding of the benefits of organic production within a food supply chain.
Participants will receive relevant literature on the environmental impacts of the organic farming.
Programme
Tutors: Nicolas Lampkin (NL), Jo Smith (JS), Laurence Smith (LS)
9.45 Coffee
10.00 Introduction: LS
10.15 Organic farming and Sustainable Intensification: NL
10.30 Reconciling productivity with increased biodiversity JS
11.00 Visit to ORC hedgerow and agroforestry trials: JS
11.50 Discussion
12.20 Lunch
13.20 Energy and greenhouse gases in organic supply chains: LS
13.50 Sustainability assessment: an overview of methods and the tools available: LS 14.10 Practical exercise: comparing online carbon calculators LS
15.30 Feedback and discussion
16.00 Close
Course cost (local and organic lunch & refreshments included):
- Reduced price for eligible participants (see below) £50 + VAT
- Full price for participants not-eligible for funding £100 + VAT
- 100% bursaries available for eligible individuals (see below)
RDPE support available:
50% fee reduction for English producers and others obtaining a living from agriculture or agricultural products. Eligibility includes producers and employees of producer groups, supply chain businesses, direct retailers, small consultancy businesses, but not multiple retailers, government departments, agencies or public bodies including universities. Participants must be living/working in England.
To benefit please download, complete and sign the Trainee Registration form (60kb pdf file) and send to Gillian Woodward at ORC. You can still register and pay on-line.
For more information visit the Organic Research Centre website here: http://www.organicresearchcentre.com/?i=events.php&event_id=311
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