Ecological Land Co-op seeking crowd funding for research

[Darren Hill]

http://bit.ly/dE44AR

"Governments and international agencies urgently need to boost 
ecological farming techniques to increase food production and save the 
climate," said UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De 
Schutter.

This project will produce an essential publication which aids the 
Co-operative in promoting ecological agriculture within the UK. We will:

. Provide an overview of the state of ecological agriculture in the UK, 
looking at which production methods, crops, ownership, marketing 
systems, etc. are employed and where this is being carried out.
. Establish the current state of assessment for this agricultural 
sector, analysing what is being assessed, by whom and what the 
limitations and opportunities are of the assessment.
. Evaluate the social, environmental and economic impacts and potential 
contribution of ecological agriculture in the UK.
. Using the research, analyse:
- The barriers are to the growth in ecological farming in the UK and to 
experimentation and research in ecological agriculture.
- How promoters of ecological agriculture determine best, or good enough 
practice and how they can best support the growth of ecological agriculture.

The research will shape our future campaigns and we will share our work 
with other organisations supporting and promoting sustainable agriculture.


      About Us

Vision and Mission

Our mission is to provide affordable opportunities for ecological 
land-based businesses in the UK. We support rural regeneration by 
developing farming, forestry and other rural enterprises which are 
viable, small-scale and ecologically beneficial. In the first 5 years we 
are focusing on the creation of affordable ecological small-holdings.

Our Track Record

Since 2007 we have built up a database of and given advice to dozens of 
smallholders and supporters of ecological land stewardship, purchased 
our first site in Mid Devon and begun negotiations for our second site. 
We have successfully lobbied for policy changes supportive of ecological 
land stewardship and completed our first report into financially 
successful ecological enterprises on 10 acres or less.

Who Do We Help?

The beneficiaries of the project are primarily those that successfully 
apply for an affordable small-holding. Other beneficiaries include the 
local community who benefit from an increase in local sustainable food, 
economic and other activity in their area, and the improved management 
of their natural environment. The wider community also benefit from 
increased ecological food production, access to rural business as 
educational and recreational opportunities and again from improved 
management of the rural environment.

At the broadest level we aim to open up access to land for people of 
average or low income, and to strengthen cultural and economic links 
between people and nature.

How Do We Deliver This?

The Co-operative's primary product is affordable residential 
small-holdings for ecological agriculture. We also support smallholders 
and carry out research which supports our policy development work, 
creating the planning and policy framework capable of delivering 
ecological smallholdings.
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