5 lessons learned from a farming cluster

Farmers in the UK have not always been known for their love of collaboration.

Unlike the French, we’re not super into co-operatives, and we have a historical flair for undercutting each other on price.

However, this is changing. Cluster groups have typically been created by farmers wanting to deliver environmental benefits.l

See also: Molly Biddell – every farmer needs an ecologist

About the author

Molly Biddell

Molly Biddell works on her family’s farm in Surrey, in tandem with her role as head of natural capital at Knepp Estate. She previously spent time working in a research team for a rural consultancy firm, after graduating from Cambridge with a geography degree. 

Read more articles by Molly Biddell

The rise of the farmer cluster movement over the past decade is really exciting. I have the privilege of facilitating our local one.

Here are a few of the things I’ve learned so far:

1. All clusters are different. There will never be a one-size-fits-all – each has its own context, objectives, personalities, perspectives, politics and ambition. That is what makes them so powerful.
2. Clusters are multipurpose. A dynamic group fosters shared learning, achieving results at landscape scale, unlocking group funding, and, critically, coming together to catch up – energising and empathising with each other.
3. We need to support facilitators. Facilitating is no easy task – you have to be a logistical queen (or king), able to corral herds and complete mind-numbing claims forms. You also need to be a listener, diplomat and innovator. You need to inspire, empower, and ensure everyone’s voice is heard. I’d like to see a career path plotted for cluster facilitators, supported by our sector as a professional job. I see a future in which we will need more facilitators, so it makes sense to invest in these roles now.
4. They must be farmer-led. Clusters will lose their power if they become talking shops for well-meaning environmental organisations. Yes, we need as many perspectives as possible, but clusters have to be driven by those who manage the land.
5. Food is critical for collaboration. Cluster meetings are always a success if there is a good hot meal, ideally in a local pub with free-flowing tea, coffee and (if only Defra would fund it) beer.