Archive
- April 2012 (1)
- March 2012 (3)
- January 2012 (2)
- December 2011 (1)
- November 2011 (1)
- October 2011 (3)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (3)
- June 2011 (1)
- March 2011 (9)
Popular Topics
Why a blog?
The Farming Futures blog is for farmers, land managers and their advisers to discuss and debate the issue of climate change and sustainability in agriculture.
We’re interested in how you think we can produce more food for a growing population in the context of Government targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hotter, drier summers, higher energy and input prices, and the increased consumer interest in 'low carbon' food.
This is your place to take part in the debate. Find out why we think a blog is important by clicking here.
Blogs marked with our weak signals logo explore ideas, trends, technologies or behaviour changes that are as yet unrecognised by the mainstream farming industry. They might have a big impact on future farm practices or they might disappear. They help us to challenge assumptions about the future, navigate risk and seize new opportunities. If you spot a weak signal, get in touch and we'll get it on the site.
Want to contribute? Contact Farming Futures at farmingfutures@niab.com or phone 01223 342313.
UK Farming Map
Find Events, Factsheets and Case Studies specific to your region - take a look on our Google Map
Our audioboos
Vertical farms and hydroponics for Qatar
Bold plans have been set out by Qatar to achieve national food security in the wake of the food crisis two years ago.
Qatar plans to increase the area of cultivated land by up to 85,000 hectares. In an area of the world where access to fresh water has always been an issue, solar powered desalination plants will irrigate the extra agricultural land and hydroponics and vertical farming solutions could also be incorporated to achieve better food security.
Many are now calling for greater investment in R&D and technology to support farmers that are being asked to do more with less. For Qatar progress is being made because it’s clear food security is not just a theoretical problem, so maybe it’s time, in the UK, to get behind scaling up the innovative ideas and technologies that are being applied elsewhere.
Weak signals posts explore ideas, trends, technologies or behaviour changes that are as yet unrecognised by the mainstream farming industry. They might have a big impact on future farm practices or they might disappear. They help us to challenge assumptions about the future, navigate risk and seize new opportunities. If you spot a weak signal, get in touch and we'll get it on the site.
Wind - Factsheets
This factsheet provides an introduction to some of the issues that are going to be a significant part of the future of UK farming. It outlines some of the headline challenges that we are going to have to deal with, but also the...
Ideas on mitigating climate change.
Onshore generation of electricity from wind power can represent a significant business opportunity for UK farmers and land managers.
Wind power can be harnessed by the installation of a wind turbine or turbines that will generate a clean and...Wind - Case Studies
Rob and Emma diversified part of their farm in early 2009 to allow school children and other groups to visit the farm and learn about the...
Long before much of the farming world had acknowledged the benefits of renewable energy, Stephen Ramsden and his family took the plunge of installing...
Richard Gedge, a beef and sheep farmer based in Exmoor uses both wind and biomass to power and heat his farm. With a payback period of 5 years and...
Local Food production
Hi ...
My name is Ray and I have a query for you ...
I'm designing an Eco-Town for a population of 5000 households. I very much would like to see indoor food production incorporated as part of the overall proposals. I would be aiming to install an indoor food production factory into a Masterplan that will satisfy local retail demand for certain vegetables and salads. I would be aiming to supply at least 20% of the local community with locally produced food.
My question is this - roughly speaking, what size factory would I need to supply a local retail demand for these types of crops to cater to a population of 2000 ? (using a commercial hydrophonics system).
I would greatly appreciate feedback on this if you would be so kind to oblige me - an approximate estimate on the size of the factory necessary to support such a venture would be great for now ... (Please help!)
Ray Deady, L.arch Ba.hons/Pg.dip
Vertical Farm
Hi We are Commercial growers who have brought commercial growing into the Vertical growing world. Vertical growing is not new there have been a number of growers who have been growing this way for a number of years.
We can install and build from the ground up a fully commercial growing unit.
Feel free to contact us.
Tony
Post new comment