Lower input road could be right one for future
Lower input road could be right one for future
By Hannah Velten
THE consumers favourite, organic farming, cannot feed the world and sweeping generalisations about conventional farming are causing bad Press, so what is the alternative?
Ian Howie, ex-chair of the Institute of Agricultural Management, told the BVA Congress that lower input farming is the future.
"We are in a dependency culture because of agricultural legislation which has given farming a licence to maximise production, with no incentive to produce for the real consumer market."
He talked of the "lemming approach", with some producers blindly following the path of substituting good management and husbandry techniques by increasing fertilisers, insurance spraying, extra feed and reliance on drugs.
Big agricultural supply companies also encourage more use of inputs for the benefit of their shareholders.
"We need to get away from this culture. Consumers are not happy and it only bolsters poor husbandry," said Mr Howie.
"Producers must start producing for more discerning customers who demand protection of the environment, traceability, assurances and food safety."
Mr Howie also said producers are on a slippery slope, striving to increase outputs to reduce unit costs of production. "Many are running to stand still. According to a Lloyds TSB survey, only 36% of their farming clients did cash flows and budgets, but they must be aware of the bottom line and the law of diminishing returns."
There will also be a shift towards environment payments, away from production subsidies.
One consumer-friendly alternative to organic farming is lower, rather than low, input systems, such as LEAF – Linking Farming and the Environment – which has a policy of optimising inputs and outputs, he added.
The concept is a whole farm policy, ensuring the farm is economically viable, environmentally aware and animal welfare friendly.
"Good stockmanship is part of good management, such as reducing the need for antibiotics, rather than lowering use."
The BEAM project – Balancing Environment and Agriculture in the Marches – has seen ADAS Rosemaund reduce inputs by 30%, yet profitability has not suffered and the bio-diversity on farm has risen.
Benefits of lower input farming need to be communicated to the consumer, said Mr Howie. "Organic livestock production success lies in the way the concept is organised and marketed under a logo. The weakest link in conventional food production is the inability of individual producers to market products collectively."
Until now there has been no recognition of LEAF products, but the organisation and supermarkets are working together to put the emblem on labels by the end of the year, he said.
LOWER INPUTS
* Alternative to organics.
* Meets consumer demands.
* Increases livestock management.
• Alternative to organic.
• Meets consumer demands.
• Increases livestock management.
LOWERINPUTS
Could lower input farming be a way to meet consumers demands?Ian Howie believes it could.