Agriculture

PictureFarming is the major land use in north Devon
Farmland is the major land use in North Devon and continues to shape the landscape, support communities and support the economy just as it has for over two thousand years. Farming's future and how it responds to the linked economic, cultural and environmental challenges of the 21st century is fundamental to the sustainable future (or otherwise) of northern Devon and indeed, the entire world.

The vision for farming in the Biosphere is farming that produces the agricultural products we need but in a way that supports the 3 core aims of Conservation, Sustainability and Learning.
Farming Northern Devon's Nature Improvement Area - New Video
Farmers talk about the support they are receiving to farm in a more wildlife friendly way as part of a profitable farm business

Projects

Estuary Project

DEFRA Facilitation Funds

Catchment Sensitive Farming

Taw River Improvement Project

Diffuse Pollution Project

Biosphere Sustainable Farming Award

Issues

  • Changing demography in the rural areas away from traditional family farms and associated social networks
  • Fragmentation of habitats is reducing the resilience of some of the ecosystems
  • Problems of diffuse pollution impacting on the aquatic wildlife in the rivers and estuary
  • The need to balance food security and production with the measures to enhance the natural environment
In practice, this means farmers need to be strong businesses producing good quality produce, but (and this is what makes the difference) be farming in a manner that recognises the environmental impacts (positive and negative) of farm practices on a specific of the holding but also beyond farm boundaries, in the wider environment. Specifically, the Biosphere Reserve needs farming that:

  • Supports the continued health of wildlife
  • Supports the environment's capacity to deliver ecosystem services such as reduced carbon emissions or flood prevention
  •  Preserves and enhances our special landscapes
  • Has good relations with the community

The Biosphere Reserve partnership will support farms that farm in this way. We will do this by:

  • Providing advice and signposting to advice
  • Obtaining and distributing resources to address particular issues
  • Recognising and promoting best practice in order to build other's understanding, support and capacity to take similar steps themselves.