A French cohort of 15 dairy farmers and delegates of the Council of Finistère and Trévarez Research Station were welcomed last Tuesday at Duchy College’s Future Farm, marking a new step in exchanging sustainable dairy farming practices across the Channel.

The group explored the pioneering research facility and visited three farms representing the range of successful dairy production systems found in Cornwall. 

 The visitors were accompanied by a team from the Rural Business School, part of the Cornwall College group (TCCG), along with a group from Cornwall Council led by Alice Walpole, Assistant Economic Growth Officer.

 Gaïd Carval, Finistère/Cornwall cooperation officer and part of the delegation from France commented: “We are happy to be working with Duchy College on this exciting project. By sharing our expertise and working together, we hope to make a real difference in giving new solutions to dairy farmers to reduce their carbon footprint.” 

 The visit stems from a partnership established last year through the ABCD project (Agriculture Bas Carbone Dairy) project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Working with Cornwall Council, local farmers, the council of Finistère and Trévarez Research Station in Brittany, France, and the research team at Duchy College’s Future Farm are looking at ways of reducing the carbon footprint of dairy farming in Cornwall and across the Channel.

The tour around the Future Farm left some positive impressions with guests complementing the facility and practices:

“The visits are very interesting, it’s great to have the opportunity to discover completely different dairy systems from what we have back home, it opens our minds!” said Stéphane Hourmant, dairy farmer in Lannédern in Finistère.

Pierre Bernard, another French guest and dairy farmer also added: “We felt a real will to produce milk sustainably as well as the importance of transmuting practices “.  

 Apart from the research work focusing around reducing methane produced by dairy cattle, the other aspects of the project include working with the four main milk processors in Cornwall and their suppliers as a way to inform the development of a knowledge transfer programme to further assist Cornish dairy farmers.

A key feature in this partnership is the sharing of best practice farmer to farmer through visits by milk producers from both countries, making this exchange benefit both the dairy ecosystem as well as the training of new professionals. 

“It’s always important to involve the farmers as they are the sharp end of agriculture.  

What makes this project even more important is that our students at Duchy College will not only have access to the research – they will be placed at the heart of it. This means we are creating a legacy that will see cutting-edge research put into practice for generations to come, helping to make farming more sustainable for the future”  said Paul Ward, Farm Research Manager at Duchy College’s Rural Business School. 

 To capitalise on the wealth of knowledge across the two countries, a reciprocal visit for the British group is planned for this autumn.

After 15 years with Duchy College, we bid a fond farewell to Richard Soffe.

During his time as Director of the Rural Business School (RBS) Richard has helped generations of farmers and land managers

Richard Soffe, a “titan” of land-based education, research and rural development, is retiring from his college career to lead a team at AHDB developing a strategy for the dairy industry.

Mr Soffe, director of the Rural Business School (RBS) at Duchy College, has been instrumental in developing land-based businesses, shaping industry leaders and informing government over the past 15 years.

“Richard has helped generations of farmers and land managers,” says John Evans, principal and chief executive at the Cornwall College Group. “This is an incredibly fond, albeit sad farewell to an absolute titan of the sector.

“It is testament to how well he is thought of that he was handpicked to lead a team at AHDB.”

Mr Soffe has a wealth of achievements to his name, including creating multi-million pound professional development and knowledge transfer programmes for Defra. Recently he helped drive the pioneering research and education facility, Future Farm at Duchy College, which launches later this year.

When Mr Soffe joined the college in 2005 he realised the significance of connecting educators and the wider industry. “We knew that we could do something incredibly important in terms of helping with knowledge exchange and upskilling across SW England,” he explains. “This led to the formation of the RBS, with the intent of providing a step change in knowledge transfer among farmers.”

The RBS now works with five other universities across the country to produce the annual Farm Business Survey, providing independent evidence and insight into the financial state of farming, informing farming unions, Government and the Bank of England.

“It is these relationships with other organisations that I am perhaps most proud of, whether that be Exeter University, Rothamsted Research or Cornwall Council,” says Mr Soffe. “This has helped us achieve more than £30m of commercial contracts.”

While the rural sector faces short-term challenges like Covid-19 and Brexit, Mr Soffe believes those businesses that succeed will be the ones who focus on good management across the board, particularly financial performance.

“Duchy College has a very bright future: RBS is pivotal in helping land-based businesses, and I am sure that many more farmers will join the more than 18,000 who have been involved with one of our courses in the past 10 years.”

Several of them – including Melanie Squires, South West director of the NFU – attended the Challenge of Rural Leadership course – one of the most prestigious high-level land-based courses in the UK, which Mr Soffe oversaw.

“Richard has taken RBS from strength-to-strength and has cemented its status as a key body in the UK’s land-based sector,” she says. “I have benefited from his expertise within our role at the NFU, on behalf of our farmers, as well as during leadership programmes for myself, members of my team, and many of our local members and officeholders.”

Stepping into the director’s role to continue this work will be Robin Jackson, director of Agri-tech Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Project – a position he will continue. Previously, he was chief executive officer of Peninsula Innovations, a subsidiary of the University of Exeter which ran the University Innovation Centre and the Exeter Science Park Centre with support for high-growth-potential businesses.

Sarah Houghton – formerly assistant land-based principal at Reaseheath College – has joined the team as assistant principal of land-based education. Having been a lead moderator for City and Guilds L3 Animal Care, she will be running the development and delivery of land-based education at Duchy and Bicton Colleges.

“We are so pleased to have a dynamic new team headed by Sarah, who will be building on Richard’s legacy of work,” says Mr Jackson. “We are confident that the RBS will continue to grow from strength to strength and further support the land-based sector across the South West.”

Mr Soffe remains an emeritus fellow of the RBS and will be director for the Challenge of Rural Leadership course’s 25th anniversary in 2022.

One of the world’s leading rural leadership courses is celebrating the conclusion of another successful year.The Challenge of Rural Leadership course, now in its 24th year, was lauded by delegates and organisers.

Managed by the Rural Business School (RBS) at Duchy College, part of The Cornwall College Group, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, delegates from across the globe came to Dartington Hall in Devon to undertake the intensive and rewarding programme.

They have returned to their businesses with new found confidence and skills to enable them to thrive in an ever-changing agricultural industry, according to Director of RBS, Richard Soffe.

“It was great to work with another outstanding group of international, high potential managers on the Challenge of Rural Leadership this year, as well as using WH Bond as a local case study,” he explained.

The Worshipful Company of Farmers chair of education Richard Davies, along with the Master David Bolton and other members of the company, joined the course for several sessions. Everyone was impressed with the beautiful Dartington Hall, and the enthusiasm of the delegates.

Two Nuffield scholars from Australia were in attendance, along with the Head of Arable for AHDB, and the Agriculture Consultant for McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd.

“Our very own degree students got the opportunity to listen to guest speaker Professor Allan Buckwell do a session on Climate Change and another on Sustainable Food Systems,” Richard added.

The first week of the course formed a case study that focused on a local business. The delegates had an overview of every process that currently makes the business work.

During the second week, the focus turned to the individual. There were sessions on psychometrics, the media, time-management and how to present yourself under scrutiny. There were also a large range of guest speakers, all of whom brought a unique perspective on their own paths to leadership.

Farmer, parish councillor and Natural England sector lead, Martin Hoddinott, said: “The confidence and inspiration the Duchy College team have shown us is a complete life changer for me and I’m fairly sure I can speak for every member of our group.”

Assurance Manager with LEAF, Jennifer Clark, said the course “has impacts that cannot be adequately put into words”.

Richard said he was greatly looking forward to the 25th Worshipful Company of Farmers’ Challenge of Rural Leadership.

“The application process has just reopened on the Rural Business School website,” he added.

In a huge boon for the South West’s agriculture sector, Cornwall is set to boast a major research and innovation dairy farm.Future Farm, located at Duchy College Stoke Climsland, will be a first of its type for England with the aim of improving efficiency, welfare and technological advancement in dairy farming.

The facility will encourage SMEs across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to engage in research at a local, national and international level.

Future Farm will also benefit the next generation of workers and leaders in the sector, with Duchy College Stoke Climsland students in Cornwall and Bicton College students in Devon heavily involved, according to Principal of the Colleges, Dr Phil Le Grice.

“This is an incredible resource for the South West, one that will benefit the dairy and environment sector in many ways,” he said.

“The importance of this project can’t be understated and is why we are delighted Minister of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice MP, has agreed to cut the turf to mark the start of the build.

“Politically, economically, environmentally, socially and culturally, Cornwall and Devon must seek to lead and shape its technological and business future.

“Future Farm is a demonstrable commitment to the sector, its current and future businesses and all of the students who will use the facility in the future.”

George Eustice, MP for Camborne & Redruth said the launch of the Future Farm project” is a fantastic step forward in research and innovation for the agricultural sector”.

“As a former student, it’s encouraging to see the college embrace new technologies that have the potential to lead and shape the sector for years to come,” he added.

Future Farm will be home to 200 cows that can be grouped into three mini-herds to research the latest innovations in dairy, according to Paul Ward, Research Manager of Duchy College’s Rural Business School.

“This is fantastic news for the agricultural sector, not only in the South West, but the UK and beyond,” he explained.

“Future Farm will support the introduction of computerised precision control feeding systems to the UK and will help tackle the urgent requirement of increasing the competitiveness of businesses within the dairy/livestock industry and supply chain.”

Major investment

Paul, who spent 25 years specialising in dairy production in Peru, Sudan, Oman, Egypt and Nicaragua, including working with the Department for international Development, said this was the first major investment in dairy research in the region in decades.

“Since the 1980s research has significantly reduced, and with so much change in the industry and the potential reduced or changed nature of support with regards to Brexit, this is a welcome positive for farmers, the agricultural sector and the wider region,” he explained.

“Dairy is the main economic driver within South West agriculture, with 40% of the national production based in the region, including the largest Cheddar cheese factory in Europe at Davidstow.

“This facility will allow us to research lowering dairy’s carbon footprint, improve and reduce the impact on the environment and reduce levels of disease. It is also the only facility in the country that will allow the mini-herds slurry to be kept separate, which is invaluable for research purposes.”

Head of Duchy College Stoke Climsland, Jamie Crisp said having an innovative research and development dairy farm in the heart of Cornwall is “fantastic news”.

“We’ve been successful to date with an older dairy unit,” he said.

“However, with new technical and scientifically demanding qualifications, to be able to boast a cutting-edge facility and associated resources that will allow for the top level of teaching, is wonderful.

“There is solid investment into Duchy College Stoke Climsland and Bicton College, and staff and learners are extremely excited about their Colleges’ futures.”

Farms Director at TCCG, James Coumbe, agreed, and said students would be at the heart of the operation of the new facility.

“This will be a world-class educational experience for our learners, from apprentices doing their initial training right through to those on a degree-level programme,” he said.

“Farming is changing in this digital age and it is important that when learners attend Duchy College they experience the most up-to-date and future-focussed agricultural facilities and learning.”

Partnerships

Future Farm will build upon the work that is taking place at the world-renowned Rothamsted Research’ North Wyke Farm Platform.

The facility will bring systems dairy research to align with the National Capability in Beef and Sheep systems research at the North Wyke Farm Platform.

The project is part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is part of the wider Agri-tech Cornwall project in partnership with University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Rothamsted Research and Cornwall Development Company.

The project is part funded by Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly

There is also support from the Centre for International Excellence in Livestock (CIEL). Duchy College has ‘Category A’ membership of CIEL which provides a focused gateway to 12 world-class national research centres to develop industry-needed solutions as well as commercial trial farms for real world results.

Robin Jackson, Director, Agri-tech Cornwall Project said Future Farm will see some of “Britain’s most progressive scientists, students and entrepreneurs work with Duchy College’s herds to drive further improvements in the efficiency and sustainability of dairy farmers”.

“This innovative research facility will play a key part in helping the dairy sector take advantage of the opportunities presented by – and tackle the challenges of – the 21st century,” he continued.

“Agri-tech has the potential to feed the world’s growing population and mitigate climate change, in tandem with boosting profit and efficiency at an individual farm level – and Future Farm will be at the heart of such ambitions.”

Future Farm is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2020, when it will welcome its first researchers and students.

For more information on Future Farm and the Agri-tech Cornwall Project, please visit www.duchy.ac.uk and www.agritechcornwall.co.uk