Newsletter – June 2025
This is our newsletter for June 2025. Please note that this page is not updated, so deadlines may have passed and links may no longer work. To receive future newsletters, please join our network.
News
AFN Policy Champion appointed new Chair of agricultural levy board
AFN Policy Champion, Emily Norton, has been appointed Chair of the AHDB (Agricultural & Horticultural Development Board). Emily, who is our Policy Champion for Land, Agriculture, and Carbon, has taken up the role from 1st June for three years. She will be continuing her AFN Champion role as much as possible while beginning her new role with AHDB. Congratulations, Emily!
First ‘impact story’ published
We have been working on a series of ‘impact stories’ that we’d like to share with you over the coming months. We’re meeting some of our fantastic members and chatting about the different ways our Network has made a difference to them.
First up we have Kate Jones, a PhD student researching foresight and early warning for food systems resilience at Cranfield University. Kate talks about how the AFN offers unrivalled networking opportunities and a chance to test ideas.
New scoping study reports
We have published the latest set of reports from the first year’s scoping studies. You can now read more on the findings from:
- Regenerative Agriculture and Net-Zero: mapping the evidence
- GROW
- Kingston Community Food Growing: Towards Net Zero through Inclusion
- Scope of regenerative agriculture practices in the UK – who is doing what and where?
The Gathering Table: A summit on racial justice in food and farming
Wednesday 11th June 2025, Bristol
Join us in Bristol for a dynamic event led by the AFN Network+, Eating Better and Sustain, focused on racial justice in food and farming. This summit will bring together experts, activists, and community members to discuss important issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in the food industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and learn from leaders in the field.
Webinars
Animal welfare and net zero – trade-offs and opportunities
A video is now available of our recent webinar with Dr Gareth Arnott of Queen’s University, Belfast, and Francesca Johansen of Teagasc, Ireland. We had a very lively discussion and a written briefing of key points will follow soon.
CCC answer your questions
We have now published a briefing of our key take-aways from our recent webinar with the Climate Change Committee, on the 7th Carbon Budget (CB7). The CCC answered your questions on net zero, farming, diets & land.
News from the wider agri-food sector
News
Can you help with evidence of economic benefits from sustainable farming?
The farming community needs a compelling business case to take action on decarbonising agriculture, protecting soil and improving water quality. Powys County Council are looking for peer-reviewed studies that demonstrate short-term economic benefits from sustainable farming practices in terms of profitability, land value, or yield. Please send any relevant studies to imogen.reid@powys.gov.uk.
Funding
Defra farming innovation investor partnership
UK-registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to develop innovative farming solutions. This must align with private investment from selected investor partners. Your project’s total eligible costs must be between £750,000 and £3 million.
Deadline: 2 July 2025
OECD Cooperative Research Programme (CRP) on Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems
The OECD’s Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems (CRP) exists to strengthen scientific knowledge and provide relevant scientific information and advice that will inform future policy decisions related to the sustainability of agriculture, food, fisheries and forests. Its International Event Sponsorship and Individual Travel Fellowship Awards are now open. Applications are welcomed from anyone interested in organising an event (conference, workshop or symposium) on state-of-the-art research issues in agriculture, food, fisheries or forests or who would like to spend time working with researchers in another country.
Deadline to apply: 10 September 2025
Events
Better Food Traders Annual Gathering 2025
Friday 13th June 2025, Sheffield
Members, partners and allies of the Better Food Traders network will be meeting in Sheffield for a day of connection, learning, strategising and inspiration.
Initiate – Where Innovation Shines
Tuesday 17 June 2025, Birmingham
Initiate is an event by the UK Agri-Tech Centre at The Compound, Birmingham, aimed at transforming agriculture through innovation. It features morning panel sessions with industry leaders, a lunchtime networking marketplace, and an afternoon workshop on open innovation. The event supports businesses at all stages, uniting key players in the food supply chain and offering opportunities for other sectors to translate their tech into agri-tech.
Bridging Fields: Engaging farmers in research and co-designing & funding projects
The latest events in the Royal Agricultural University ‘Bridging Fields’ programme:
Co-designing & funding projects
Thursday 19th June 2025, 1:00 – 3:00pm
An interactive workshop covering what types of funding opportunities are available to support farmer-led innovation, how researchers fit in and how to start the co-design process.
Engaging farmers in research
Thursday 17th July 2025, 1:00 – 3:00pm
An interactive workshop sharing approaches and top tips for maximising farmer engagement and participation in collaborative research projects.
Understanding Science Co-Creation in Climate and Environment
19–20 June 2025, University of Newcastle
This event brings together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to explore how environmental and climate research can be co-created in ways that are inclusive, interdisciplinary, and impactful. Keynote talks, early-career presentations, and hands-on workshops, will see an exchange of ideas, experiences, and methods for building research that genuinely connects across sectors and communities.
BES Symposium 2025: Nature, Farming and Food: How we value our land
19–20 June 2025, University of Oxford
Ark Summit 2025
Friday 20th June 2025, Hazleton, Cotswolds
A unique gathering of farmers, landowners, policymakers, and sustainability leaders at Ark Summit 2025 – a day of inspiring keynotes, dynamic discussions, and hands-on outdoor workshops dedicated to organic regenerative farming, ecosystem restoration, and nature-based solutions.
Carbon Calling
24–26 June 2025, Cumbria
Fossil Free Farming Day
Monday 30th June, Helston, Cornwall
Can farming ever go fossil fuel free? Speakers from around the world talk about alternative fuels, removing plastics, methane capture, soil restoration, nitrogen fertiliser reduction, policy change and much more. There will be demonstrations of new technologies and machinery along with hosting farm tours, and discussions on how farmers can be sustainable both environmentally and economically in this challenging time. Tickets are £25 or FREE for farmers and students. Or if you donate at least £15 to their crowdfunder, you will get a free ticket.
More information and crowdfunding offer.
HealthySoil4Life Summer Camp
30 June–11 July 2025 (on-line)
28 July–1 August 2025 (in-person week in Portugal, by invitation only)
Deadline for applications: 15 June 2025
Groundswell
2–3 July 2025, Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire
The Groundswell Festival provides a forum for farmers, growers, or anyone interested in food production and the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of regenerative farming systems. The AFN Network+ will again be having a stand, with a variety of sessions throughout the two days. Tickets for this year’s event are now on sale.
Multidisciplinary Food Systems Catalyst
2–3 July 2025, Central London
ORFC in the Field at Hill Top Farm: Livestock and Biodiversity in the Yorkshire Dales
23–24 July 2025, Yorkshire Dales
Join the Oxford Real Farming Conference for two days of practical learning and knowledge-sharing at Hill Top Farm in the stunning Yorkshire Dales. Leading experts in nature-friendly livestock farming will present in-depth sessions on mob grazing, cow-calf contact dairying, permaculture design, hay meadow restoration, and much more.
Sustainable Livestock Residential
8–10 August 2025, Kendal, Cumbria
Supported as part of an AFN Network+ FlexFund Project, The Farm Steps Sustainable Livestock Residential is a free, two-day training course held in the Lake District. It covers practical topics including livestock husbandry, business benchmarking, carbon literacy, effective medicine use, and antimicrobial resistance. The course includes accommodation and meals, offering participants an informal setting and time to learn, reflect, and connect with others in the sector. It’s aimed especially at those who don’t often get the chance to attend training or step away from the farm.
Agroforestry Show 2025
10–11 September 2025, Maple Cross, Hertfordshire
Vacancies
Associate Professor in Food System Transformation, University of Reading
The University of Reading has a vacancy for an Associate Professor in Food System Transformation in the Department of Agri-Food Economics & Marketing. The appointee will contribute to research and teaching in the area of agricultural and food business management, agricultural and food economics and related fields, with associated responsibilities relating to administration and outreach. Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with a strong interest and knowledge of resilience in food systems and/or food supply chains.
Deadline for applications: 26 June 2025
Associate Professor in Agricultural Business Management, University of Reading
The University of Reading also has a vacancy for an Associate Professor in Agricultural Business Management in the Department of Agri-Food Economics & Marketing. The appointee will contribute to research and teaching in the area of agribusiness management and related fields, with associated responsibilities relating to administration and outreach. Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with a strong interest and knowledge of financial business management, agribusiness enterprise and innovation adoption, or experience in practical decision-making and management of farm businesses.
Deadline for applications: 16 June 2025
