Regen Ag Gathering
Boconnoc
Estate
Cornwall UK
PROGRAMME
2nd - 3rd November
2019
Photograph
Scott Grummett
Saturday
9.30 – 10.00
Coffee and Registration
10.00 – 11.00
We will start the day with hosted discussions in small groups getting to know each other and exploring different aspects of regenerative agriculture with Severine von Tscharner Fleming, Abby Rose, Vaughn Tan, Tim Williams and Sam Crosse.
11.15
Welcome by Cathy St Germans, Abby Rose and Matt Chatfield and an introduction to the Regen Ag Group
11.30
The Circular Economy with Nick Jeffries, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Our current economic model degrades nature and relies on the continual consumption of finite resources to grow. By definition this cannot last. A circular economy offers a viable alternative to this entrenched 'take-make-waste' model. In this interactive opening session Nick Jeffries from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation will lead an exploration of the circular economy concept. From its origins, to the theory, to the wide-ranging potential benefits, to the many examples of companies who are successfully applying circular economy principles in their part of the economy. Nick will also introduce the Foundation's latest initiative which aims to create a healthier and more regenerative food system.
12.15
Different strokes for different folks: four different approaches to regenerative agriculture, each tailored to the land being managed chaired by Vaughn Tan with Tim Williams, Oli Baker, Tom Tolputt and Abi Glencross.
13.15
Lunch around the fire and in the house by Gioconda Scott
14.30
Supply chains and business models with Franco Fubini, founder of Natoora, Bronwen Percival, technical manager Neals Yard Dairy, Dan Cox chef and farmer, Crocadon Farm, Milo Corcoran grower at Coombeshead, and Oli Baker of Ollo Fruit. Chaired by Abby Rose
15.15
Let’s talk about soil and Biodynamics with Jane Scotter of Fern Verrow, Stuart Cragg from the Biodynamic Association. Plus a short add on discussion with Nicola Hooper on Jane’s life in farming. Chaired by Abby Rose.
16.00
Tea Break
16.30
Farmhack. The Greenhorns. The Landworkers Alliance. The Agrarian Trust: a view into the young farmers movements and what has been built over the last ten years with Severine von Tscharner Fleming of The Greenhorns, and Ed Hamer of the Landworkers Alliance.
17.30
Summary and next steps with Vaughn Tan
18.00
Close
Sunday
9.00
Open discussion and working party planning over coffee
10.00
Char/Biochar and Kiln Building Workshop with Sam Crosse
11.00
Severine von Tscharner Fleming will draw together threads from the previous day’s conversations and set the stage for the discussions on day 2.
11.15
Carbon Positive Farming The NFU is calling for zero carbon by 2040 and Regenerative Agriculture is being seen as one of the solutions to reducing carbon in the atmosphere by sequestering it into the soil. Tim Williams will explore what this looks like in practice sharing about grassland management and the role of ruminants in building soil/sequestering carbon. Abby Rose will share what she has learnt about soil health and discuss some of the latest science, as well as probe the focus on soil as a carbon sink.
12.00
Everything we wear comes out of the ground and eventually goes back into it - just as food does. As people wake up to this, is there a point where the production of textiles and other clothing materials can mesh with the output of regenerative agriculture? As we don’t want to make pies in the sky, what are the ways we can usefully put that into practice in a modern way? Sarah Mower will lead the discussion on how farmers, designers and processors can work together to build regenerative fibre systems. Designers Phoebe English and Alice Robinson will share how they embed questions of sustainability and sourcing into their fashion. Abby Rose will give a short introduction to the Fibershed movement in the US, where they are developing regional fibre systems that build soil.
12.45
Lunch and open discussion
14.00
Agro Forestry with Thomas M.Baldwin
14.45
Repurposing your leftover food and how to make your kitchen zero waste
Wolfe Conyngham
15.00
Summary by Vaughn Tan, Abby Rose and Matt Chatfield
15.30
CLOSE
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