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Project aims
The original desire which prompted this work was to 'do something' about the unsustainability of agricultural practice. The project set out to help farmers and other people living and working in rural areas. The aim was to find ways of making agricultural practice more sustainable and to integrate these with other work for sustainable development in rural communities.
Who has been involved ?
Farmers, rural community groups including parish councils and Local Agenda 21 groups, statutory agencies including local authorities, the Environment Agency, the Rural Development Commission, the Countryside Commission, The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, universities and colleges, permaculture designers and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) have all been involved in the various projects.
How was it started ?
'Where to start?' was a question that exercised minds at the beginning of the project. It was decided to start small initially by working with farmers in a Devon locality to identify issues, problems and possibilities. This was encompassed in the Blackdown Hills Sustainable Development Initiative which formed part of a European Union LIFE funded project which ran from 1994 to 1996. The results were used to start a debate throughout the farming community. As part of this, a seminar entitled 'Sustainable Agriculture in Devon' was held in June 1996. An inspiring presentation given by Jules Pretty, the Director of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme of the IIED, presented a model setting out the conditions required before sustainable agriculture can be achieved. The seminar agreed to the establishment of the Devon Sustainable Agriculture Partnership, an alliance comprising of a range of agricultural organisations.
OUTCOMES
Achievements
Specific achievements include the following:
Blackenfields Farm - a concept design for sustainable agriculture
The consultancy Designed Visions were commissioned by Devon Farm Estate Practice in March 1995 to produce a proposal for the sustainable management of a typical county farm (a 55 acre dairy farm). The report outlines opportunities for reducing the dairy herd to the best suited parts of the holding and including interrelated chicken, sheep, aquaculture and market garden operations. A strategy for increasing labour available to the farm and reducing capital expenditure is included. Costing estimates indicate a potential £8,000 increase in net annual income. (Report available from Devon County Council, tel: 01392 383251)
Blackdown Hills Sustainable Development Initiative
This project was part of a wider European Union funded programme looking at ways of promoting sustainable development in rural areas. Designed Visions were commissioned in January 1994 to work with local people on two related lines of inquiry:
- to develop sustainable agriculture farm strategies;
- to develop a local process for sustainable development in a community.
Much of the work was focused on the Hemyock area.
The project worked closely with the production of the management plan for the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Rural Development Area. The final report was produced in February 1996 and contains three farm designs, an assessment of the local community activity and proposals for the next steps (available from Devon County Council tel: 01392 383251). It is now intended that the support of funding organisations should be gained to take these actions forward. The reference group of local people that guided the project has since formed the Upper Culm Sustainable Communities Group which is now actively engaged in Local Agenda 21 work.
Local Food Links
Devon County Council submitted an application for European Union Objective 5b funding for this project in August 1995, having worked closely with the Soil Association to develop a scheme to increase the number of local producers directly marketing to local consumers via farm box schemes. The project would aim to work both with existing farm box businesses to help to achieve economies of scale and co-operative working and would also aim to help establish a further fifteen businesses. It is estimated that this would create around seventy jobs and give over 5,000 households the opportunity to purchase local fresh produce on a regular basis.
The local farm box schemes have helped to illustrate the wide range of benefits that can come from the application of sustainability principles. The local food links project has helped to highlight and quantify these benefits, and aims to expand them. A feasibility study and detailed justification report have been produced to support the application (available from Devon County Council, tel: 01392 383251). At the time of writing (May 1997) decisions are awaited from funding bodies.
Devon Sustainable Agriculture Partnership
Over seventy organisations with an interest in agriculture in the County are represented on this group. Established in June 1996, priority issues have been established and lines of communication opened up among a wide range of public, private and voluntary organisations. A 'first step' project has been developed to audit relevant research and good practice and to assess the feasibility of a range of further initiatives. An application for European Union Objective 5b funding was made in February 1997 and a decision is awaited. A directory of existing sustainable agriculture projects has also been produced, and the project has developed greater awareness of the economic and environmental benefits which come with sustainable agriculture.
Unexpected outcomes
The partnerships which have been formed are much more wide-ranging than was initially expected - the project originators have failed to find anyone who doesn't want to participate. Given the spectrum of organisations involved, it has also been surprising to find a consensus on the need for change in the way everyone operates.
RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT
Human resources
Time on the part of County Council officers, statutory agency officers, university staff, volunteers (including farmers, community members) and NGO officers was the main human resource input.
Funding and expenditure
The project has been funded under a number of schemes. EU LIFE and Objective 5b funds have been combined with funding from the County and District Councils, the Rural Development Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The money has been spent on the employment of consultants, community development work, practical work on farms, the production of manuals and guides, presentations and seminars. Applications for larger scale projects are pending.
Project management
The Devon Sustainable Agriculture Partnership (DSAP) is becoming the leading body behind the various projects underway. This includes the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Farmers Union, small farmers' groups and other NGOs, universities, women's farming groups, Young Farmers, agri-businesses, tenants' associations and land owners. Previously, the Environment Co-ordinator of Devon County Council was the initiator of most actions, with guidance from networks and contacts. Some projects within the overall programme are developing their own management system; the Blackdowns Hills work had a reference group of local people to guide it. Such involvement has been crucial to the success of the programme, and projects are now being designed to involve more people directly.
Measuring success
Success is currently measured by the levels of participation in the programme. Ultimately it will be measured through positive change in local indicators of sustainability.
Problem areas
Time and money have been the main problems. Involvement by the co-ordinator has required juggling of time commitments. Generating adequate funding has required a close examination of external funding criteria, and endless lobbying and networking.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The County Council's intention is to continue to support the DSAP, and to find ways of funding projects as they emerge. There is also a plan to develop a 'Rural Partnerships' initiative as a UK pilot to help farmers develop 'bottom up' solutions.
Contact address
Ian Hutchcroft
Environment Department
Devon County Council
County Hall
Exeter
EX2 4QW
Tel: 01392 382245
Fax: 01392 382135
Email: ihutchr@environ.devon-cc.gov.uk
The Local Agenda 21 Case Study Project Steering Committee
has selected case study projects as examples of interesting (and not necessarily
'good') practice. Case study selection is based on the opinions of the
individuals comprising the Steering Committee and does not necessarily
reflect the views of the organisations participating in the Case Study
Project.
At the time of publication and to the best of our knowledge,
the information contained in this case study was correct.
The Steering Committee cannot vouch for any of the organisations
involved.
© EURONET/ICLEI Consortium, 1996. See Impressum.
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