The Plight of Cornish Farmers
Perspectives from Holly Whitelaw
Cultivating a Sustainable Future Through Regenerative agriculture
Cornwall’s farming community is facing a pivotal transition as traditional agricultural practices are being challenged by the urgent need for sustainable and regenerative methods.
Holly Whitelaw, director of Bosavern Community Farm and Cornwall Climate Action Network offers insights into the challenges faced by Cornish farmers as well as a compelling perspective rooted in science into the potential solutions offered by regenerative agriculture practices.
Holly’s passion lies in promoting soil health and its intrinsic connection to human well-being.
“People need to understand that if you eat food from healthy soils, you’re eating natural medicine” she explains, underscoring the importance of nurturing the soil’s microbiome.
holly Whitelaw, director of the Bosavern Community Farm in St Just, Cornwall, March 15, 2024. Théa Bouan
The Soil Carbon Capture Solution
t the heart of Holly's approach is the concept of soil carbon capture,
a process also known as “carbon farming” central in regenerative farming.
Soil carbon sequestration involves capturing and storing atmospheric carbon
dioxide (CO2) in the soil. This is done by fostering biodiversity, embracing regenerative agricultural practices such as minimal tillage, eliminating chemical inputs, and cultivating
a diverse array of crops and cover crops. By increasing the organic matter and carbon
content of soils, the soil absorbs more carbon and works as a form of carbon removal
from our atmosphere working as a way to mitigate the climate crisis.
"To get some carbon capture you need seven or more species of plants from
three or four family groups growing together as long as possible on the land."
A
Poly Tunnel at Bosavern Community Farm in St Just, Cornwall, March 15, 2024. Théa Bouan
Diversity encourages the natural growth of beneficial fungi and microbes, which form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. When the root of the plant connects to the fungi, it feeds it with carbohydrates, sugar, amino acid and vitamins. The release of these chemical substances are called
root exudates and they are the main energy food of microbes necessary for the growth of the plant. This connection also creates a network between all surrounding plants helping them communicate. When faced by an attack, plants are then able to fight back together. This connection also facilitates nutrient exchange and enhances soil structure.
In making this connection, the fungi and the root create clumps of soil called aggregates.
Holly explains how these aggregates are vital for resilience in the face of climate change
for two reasons:
“If you've got clumps of soil you can filter water in more quickly and hold the water longer
which helps in times of heavy rain like we’ve had recently.
Clumps also facilitate the growth of microbes since air is able to filter around it.”
To summarize, aggregates provide unique microhabitats that protect microbial communities
from environmental stresses. In turn, these microbial communities activate soil nutrients
necessary for the healthy functioning of our body but they also purify the environment
from pollutants, regulate carbon storage and perform fundamental functions in the growing
of a plant. Without microbes, crops would not grow.
Overcoming challenges and embracing change
While Holly adopts sustainable growing practices herself on Bosavern community farm,
she acknowledges the challenge this poses to large-scale farmers and the complication of
transitioning to these methods.
In 2021, the government voted to institute an agricultural transition plan that is now
pushing towards more regenerative and sustainable farming practices. They are taking steps
to support this transition by offering training, advisory services, etc, and creating incentives
to push for this transition through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.
By compensating farmers to adopt regenerative practices like mix herbal leys and cover crops,
the SFI aims to promote soil health and carbon sequestration.
"Britain is world leading in doing this and our ability to do so came from stopping the normal payments that we were signed up to through Europe and setting up of our own."
However, Holly acknowledges the challenges this transition poses for Cornish farmers, many of whom have invested in machinery and practices that may no longer align with sustainable farming practices.
“A lot of farmers are elderly and they’re just giving up because change is difficult.
Their children don’t want to take over because they’ve see how hard it’s become for
such little money. It’s sad, it’s really sad because these guys have been feeding us
for years and they aren’t to blame for.”
The Agrochemical Influence: Empowering Farmers through Soil Health Education
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Holly believes agrochemical companies are to blame for modifying seeds that are only able
to survive with certain chemicals and last for one season. She blames them for pushing to sell
their products and badly influencing farmers through advertisement.
“Those agrochemical companies are quite powerful when it comes to the whole education
system for farmers. They have known about the negative effects and they've hidden it and
they've brainwashed them in a sense and you know just lied basically.”
Holly's vision extends beyond soil health. She emphasizes the importance of educating farmers about the intricate relationships between soil biology, plant health, and animal well-being.
“I don't think a lot of farmers get the reasons why these changes are happening. People are
telling them what the incentives are and how they can manage it but not why they're there.
Some might not know about exudates and the benefits of having a living root system in the
soil. It's not part of the conversation and so there is a lot frustration.”
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That is why Holly has also embarked on a journey of sharing this knowledge so farmers can
make informed decisions that promote a thriving ecosystem within their fields.
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A Brighter Future for Cornish Agriculture
While the transition to regenerative agriculture presents challenges, Holly sees a promising
path forward for Cornish farmers. By embracing sustainable practices, nurturing soil health,
and fostering biodiversity, farmers can not only contribute to mitigating climate change but
also produce nutrient-dense food while reducing their reliance on costly external inputs.
As Cornwall's agricultural community navigates this transformative period, voices like
Holly's provide invaluable insights and guidance, paving the way for a more resilient, environmentally conscious, and economically viable future for farming in the region.
