ORFC: Agroecology can feed the UK

The biggest reductions for meat would be in pig and poultry, to reduce the amount of cereals grown for feed in the UK as well as a move to more mixed farming systems.

Sue Pritchard, FFCC chief executive said the modelling was a ‘fascinating tool’ to understand the implications of a transition to agroecology.

“Perhaps most importantly, agroecology brings people back into the centre of the story - farmers and growers, as well as citizens and communities – for a thriving rural economy and farming system,” she added.

Ben Andrew, a mixed organic farmer in Herefordshire, spoke of the benefits of agroecology to his system, such as how using nature to encourage ladybirds had reduced aphids on the farm.

He added big conventional farmers were now starting to adapt agroecological principles, reducing synthetic inputs.

But he added organic farmers could also learn from conventional farmers, highlighting the precision which was used to keep tight margins in place.