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Connecting arable farmers with on-farm research opportunities (Farmer Marketplace)
The AHDB Farmer Marketplace is an online platform where researchers pitch on-farm research opportunities to arable farmers. Discover how the process works and learn about recently pitched projects.
AHDB’s position in the agricultural landscape provides unique opportunities. For example, we are often approached to get farmers involved in many research initiatives. With about 25 commercial farms in our Farm Excellence network (Monitor Farms and Strategic Cereal Farms) at any given time, it is easy to see the appeal. The network is a potential hotbed for innovative research.
A key success of the network is the farmer-led, farmer-driven agenda. It is a ‘ground-up’, not a ‘top-down’, initiative. So, we developed a Farmer Marketplace initiative that honours this key principle.
How it works
Researchers contact AHDB with their on-farm research opportunities.
The AHDB knowledge transfer team considers each one, ensuring that each project addresses the long-term profitability of the cereals and oilseeds sector.
It is also expected that the projects will release the main findings freely to all farmers.
If you have a research project to pitch to farmers, please get in touch.
Much like TV’s Dragons’ Den, researchers are invited to rapidly pitch opportunities to farmers in an online Farmer Marketplace meeting.
The short (5-minute) pitches clearly outline the project, the requirements (including costs) and the benefits.
Following each pitch, attendees ask probing questions.
At the end of the pitches, the researchers leave the meeting to permit open, frank and farmer-led discussions.
The participating farmers retain the power to opt ‘in’ or ‘out’ of any opportunity, deciding which ones they want to implement on their farms.
There is no fixed schedule, with the meetings driven by the availability of farmer participants and suitable projects.
Russell Lewis Photography
Initial activity
To date, the Farmer Marketplace meetings have involved farmers and steering group members from across the Farm Excellence network.
Connecting research with our on-farm network provides ready-made opportunities to showcase the work with many farmers, through our regular on-farm events. It also unites fragmented research in a well-established network.
The initial meetings were well received, with several participants interested in learning more and potentially getting involved.
The potential to widen out the Farmer Marketplace to more people is being considered.
Research pitches
Project: Environment Baselining Pilot (ahdb.org.uk/baselining)
Pitchers: Mary Vickers – AHDB
Patter: The intense pressure faced by farmers to deliver on environmental targets will be addressed through a new pilot, launched by AHDB, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). AHDB needed farmers to express an interest in participating in the pilot by 3 July 2024. The project aims to create environmental baselines for up to 170 farms across Great Britain. Participants will get independent data to reveal each farm’s environmental performance and the knowledge and confidence to make improvements. Critically, the pilot will also help redefine how farming is seen on the environmental stage.
Project: Agroforestry Tests and Trials (woodlandtrust.org.uk)
Pitcher: Emma Bird – The Woodland Trust
Patter:
This project wants to make sure that government support for agroforestry is fit for purpose. Earlier this year, Defra announced grants for in-field agroforestry for the first time. The Woodland Trust is leading a Defra Test-and-Trials project, in collaboration with the National Trust and the Organic Research Centre. It works with farmers in England as they design agroforestry schemes and apply for funding. The project will help to test and adapt advice and guidance structures, via the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. Participants (who are paid for their time) are randomly selected to complete one of four types of training (one-to-one on-farm advice, four short online webinars, one-day group training or a self-led course) before creating an agroforestry design for their farms. Phase two of the project starts in September 2024.
Project: Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (carboncapturecropping.com)
Pitchers: Lydia Smith – NIAB
Patter:
The Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) is a four-year, NIAB-led project. The research helps UK farmers and growers target net zero and build farming resilience by diversifying cropping. The project needs farmers to get involved in trials and demonstrations that focus on four cropping options: cover crops; annual fibre crops (industrial hemp, flax); perennial food, feed, and forage cropping (including cereals and herbal leys); and perennial biomass crops (miscanthus, willow/poplar). The work examines the effect of cultivation systems and agronomy on economic returns and environmental outcomes. The centre also develops guidance and market opportunities.
Project: Climate Farm Demo (climatefarmdemo.eu)
Pitchers: Stephen Briggs and Ian Knight – Abacus Agriculture
Patter: This pan-European network (28 countries) tackles climate change. It helps the agricultural sector adapt to the impacts and contributes to carbon-neutral strategies. Participating farms get a free climate mitigation plan, tailored by a Climate Smart Advisor. Each farm is required to host two events across the project, but these can tie in with another meeting. Across the UK, the researchers need to recruit 130 farms (1,500 across Europe).
Project: Leguminose (leguminose.eu)
Pitcher: Jerry Alford – The Soil Association
Patter: This pan-European project takes an evidence-based, farmer-led approach to develop viable production systems where legumes are intercropped with cereals. The project needs farms to host simple strip field trials. In return, the farmer gets free grain, soil and other analyses, peer-to-peer support and some compensation.
Project: Framework for improving nitrogen efficiency (FINE)
Pitcher: Clive Blacker – AgAnalyst
Patter: Very high levels of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are theoretically possible. However, knowing how to improve NUE without an unacceptable hit to grain yield or protein is a challenge. This project provides the expertise and exploits the tools needed to optimise NUE in wheat. It is about the right amount of nitrogen, in the right place, at the right time. Commercial field sites are required to test treatments (which include prescribed rates), with access given for soil and crop analyses.