Discussion C3G with Nathan Dellicott
Friday 28 march 2025 at Chichester Quakers
Those present: Mike Cockerell, Colin Mckenna, Cate Matters, Maureen O’Grady, Diana Morgan, Susie Kershaw, Jo Shippam, Jan Davis and others,
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that aims to improve soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience, while also enhancing water cycles and carbon sequestration, ultimately leading to more sustainable and productive agricultural system. As such it is a core element of Climate Change and the Transition Movement.
The meeting was not to discuss the finer points of RA but to consider:
- the arguments through which the agricultural sector can more easily move in the direction of regenerative agriculture;
- how government can more easily lend the necessary support;
- whether the two Climate Change Groups have a role to play
The aim of the meeting was to accelerate the conversation and the implementation of Regenerative Agriculture as a necessary step in reducing emissions, building back biodiversity and ensuring food security locally and to see if there is a role for The Climate Group in achieving this.
Nathan Dellicott who earlier had key roles at Langmead and Barfoot now consultant/mentor to farmers and still passionate RA advocate had been invited to talk to bring the group up to speed in the complexity of RA in our local farming district.
To summarise his fascinating two hour talk that covered a huge range of relevant issues is difficult but I will try and summarise the takeaways relevant to our aim.
Farmers have to grow what people want. The consumer choices drive supermarkets to compete to keep prices low such that food in the UK has never been cheaper. An example is that for a loaf of bread at £2 only 17p goes to the farmer and free range chicken sales are only 2.5% of the market. Farmers can count on only about 2% profit margin.
Supermarkets import when it is cheaper and as they are not affected by the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) which applies for steel and such like. While the UK has a lower carbon footprint than abroad for some products like livestock, it has a higher footprint for some airfreighted products such as asparagus from Peru which despite transport emissions, remains cheaper due to highly efficient production. Whether the claim for the low Carbon footprint is justified is difficult to say.
West Sussex has the most virtuous, vibrant farming in Europe so the drive to maintain and increase soil health is primordial. West Sussex has the most sunlight in the UK and with the soil on clay on gravel is good for long rooted vegetables and not carrots. Polythene tunnels and food grown in compost in Bognor is the best in the country. This has stimulated the increase in growth of LEAF Marque (Linking Environment and Farming, in 19 countries) an assurance system for products that are in leading supermarkets to demonstrate their sustainability commitment.
The soil classification in the UK was done many years ago in the 80s and does not represent today’s picture so Grade 1 soil in West Sussex is not still all grade 1 and could for farmers only represent 80% of their land. It is likely 20% of a farmer’s land is not good and there is an incentive to earn money on this. Projects such as solar farms, housing and biodiversity initiatives are developed to claim government grants under The Sustainable Farming Incentive SFI, where the Government programme pays farmers for sustainable land management practices and not just food production as was the EU CAP before. A scheme was oversubscribed which and has been paused until the summer spending review.
What can we do?
Consult the know-how and engage and lobby the key players
The key players in the development of agriculture in our area are the following:
- Groundswell a RA festival 1,2,3 July 2025 : https://groundswellag.com/info/
- CDC, Mike Pierce
- National Farmers Union
- West Sussex Growers Association
- West Sussex County Council devolution, Open consultation: Sussex and Brighton devolution closes 16 April https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sussex-and-brighton-devolution
- Education: Brinsbury College in Pulborough which is part of our Chichester College.Other colleges are Plumpton in Lewes and Sparsholt College near Winchester
- Farm open day on8 June
- LEAF Marque: https://leaf.eco/leafmarque
Suggestions of actions
- Form a core group to pursue this subject
- Visit Brinsbury
- Engage with NFU
- Visit certified RA farmer
- Use farm open day Sunday 8 June 2925 to visit RA farm
- Engage within our network and with local politicians, councillors who could carry our interests forward in the devolution process and mayor election in 2027.
- Put together some sort of event in the autumn on this subject
Mike and I agreed the following actions:
- I would check out and establish a contact with Brinsbury
- I would renew my contact with the NFU
- Mike would consult with Nathan to get contacts in the NFU, WS Growers Association
- Mike would discuss with Mike Pearce and establish a contact with Goodwood
- Mike would contact the RA farmer near Midhurst to arrange a visit.
Jan Davis, 9 April 2025