Farming For Change

Feb 14 2024 12

Farming For Change Podcast artwork

A quarterly podcast where two Nuffield Scholars - James Smith, a fifth-generation farmer, and Ben Taylor-Davies, an agroecologist, chat about all things regenerative farming, rewilding, biodiversity, soil health and more, occasionally joined by special guests from the field (no pun intended).

Music: "He Tried To Be A Poet" by One Man Book, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk.

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The One Where We Get Political...

Feb 14 2024 60 mins

Ben and James are joined by Antony Yousefian, partner at The First Thirty, a company that's aim is to regenerate 30m hectares by 2030. We cover a lot of ground in this one - vertical farming, quantifying the ecological footprint, biodiversity net gain and the role of AI in agriculture. Links mentioned:https://www.tft.vc/ - The First Thirty websitehttps://assets.publishing.serv

Intern Goals...

Sep 05 2023 45 mins

In this episode, Ben and James chat with Townsend Farm's summer intern about biodiversity, French agroecology, composting and how to dig a circle. Make sure to check Loddington Farm's Instagram page to see the stunning silo in all its glory...

Strawberry Fields (or tables) Forever...

May 09 2023 60 mins

In this episode, Ben and James chat to Marion Regan, fourth generation 'guvnor' of Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent, about robots, Wimbledon, lacewings and how they continue to grow soft fruit sustainably in an increasingly unpredictable social, economic and environmental climate.

The Long Road to Greggs...

Feb 10 2023 54 mins

In this episode, James and Ben talk to Andy Cato from Wildfarmed about the company's mission to fix food to fix the planet, and how he believes we can farm in nature's image while comfortably feeding everyone. Inspiring stuff!

10th Episode Special!

Dec 05 2022 36 mins

In this episode, instead of chatting to another farmer James meets with Ben's long-suffering wife, Helen, and Ben wasn't there so they could say what they want! It's easy to forget that behind most stressed-out farmers there is a calm and collected husband or wife supporting them while they work long hours, hatch crazy plans and, in James and Ben's case, talk ab

Are You Excited About Celery?!

Nov 07 2022 51 mins

In this episode, Ben and James chat with Harry Winslet from G's about bugs in jugs, how boring celery is and the trials and tribulations of implementing organic and regenerative practices in fresh produce farming.

That's What Friends Are For

Aug 04 2022 49 mins

Ben visits James who's feeling down in the dumps about farming after the heatwave. They discuss why food production has become so high risk and the impact climate change is having on our ability to grow viable crops. But, ever the optimist - Ben believes that 'desperation leads to innovation' and profitability is not necessarily mutually exclusive from the environmen

Jamie's Farm

Jun 07 2022 55 mins

In this episode, James and Ben are in Monmouth to visit Dan Smith who runs one of Jamie's Farms - an incredible charity that provides residential experiences to vulnerable young people, combining farming, family and therapy.

We Don't Milk People

Apr 26 2022 57 mins

On this episode James and Ben are joined by Tim May, estate manager at Kingsclere Estates in Hampshire, to discuss cows, circular economies, enterprise stacking and guerilla gardening.Meanwhile, Ben reveals his plans for 'quackerponics'...

Down a Rabbit Hole...

Mar 21 2022 50 mins

James and Ben travel to Wexcombe Manor Farm to chat to fourth-generation farmer, George Hosier about his move to a no-till farming system and the role engineering can play on a mixed farm.