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A leading advocate of organic farming is urging proponents of sustainable agriculture to come together with research scientists to establish a joint strategy group that could present a united front to benefit food production and the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time is right for a new chapter of collaboration between the research and scientific community and the sustainable agriculture advocacy practitioners,\u201d said Patrick Holden<\/a>, chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT)<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThese individuals and organisations, including myself, have been in part responsible for creating an impression that our advocacy is based on ideology and that we are resistant to making evidence-based decisions, which is certainly not the case today,\u201d added Holden, former head of the Soil Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n His proposal,\u00a0published today <\/a>by Rothamsted Research<\/a>, which suggested the idea, follows a conference organised by the SFT earlier this month in Wales, \u201cHarmony in Food and Farming<\/a>\u201d. Prince Charles provided the event\u2019s keynote address, promoting greater awareness of nature\u2019s universal \u201cconnectedness\u201d and reflecting on his own book,\u00a0Harmony, A New Way of Looking at the World<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n The proposal also comes in the wake of the\u00a0environment secretary\u2019s announcement<\/a>\u00a0that future farm subsidies in the UK would be linked to environmental stewardship. \u201cSupport can only be argued for…if the environmental benefits of that spending are clear,\u201d said Michael Gove<\/a>.<\/p>\n Holden noted: \u201cI could think of nothing more appropriate than the establishment of a small strategy group comprising representatives from research and sustainable agriculture leaders who could co-evolve a new programme of events and initiatives that bring together our two communities.\u201d<\/p>\n The response is welcomed by\u00a0Angela Karp<\/a>, Rothamsted\u2019s Director for Science Innovation, Engagement & Partnerships, who came up with the idea after attending the harmony conference: \u201cOur new\u00a0five-year strategy<\/a>\u00a0promotes engagement and a commitment to productive and sustainable agriculture that protects the environment and benefits farmers and communities worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cScientific enquiry is pursued to lead to a better understanding of how things work, and how best we can manage, improve, control and even manipulate them,\u201d said Karp. \u201cFor non-scientists, the danger is that they will selectively represent those findings that suit. This, in turn, can result in a breakdown of trust with those who generated the results and a lack of willingness to work together. We need joint ground rules and codes of behaviour that are strictly met if trust it is to be maintained.\u201d<\/p>\n For a report on the conference, go to \u201cOpen minds open doors<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n