Glenrath Chicks, Climate Positive Farming and Vertical Growing

My Scotland tour continued with a visit to Arbroath, where I got a chance to catch up with Amy Geddes of Wester Braikie Farms, and talk all things education and the need to get more kids on to farm to see how farmers are integrating nature into food production.

A similar conversation was shared during a visit with Johnnie Balfour of Balbirnie Home Farms where he explained his plans to develop agroforestry on the farm by planting fruit trees in his arable operation in the hope of making space for nature and one day making his own cider.

I joined the Monitor Farm meeting at Castleton Farm, hosted by Stuart McNicol which gave a perfect opportunity to explore my Nuffield topic and see how farmers are building a more collaborative dialogue and sharing best practice. It was also wonderful to finally see Drift coffeehouse in person, catch-up with Joanna McNicol and sample some of their delicious food.

One of the highlights of the week was sitting down with Colin Campbell of the The James Hutton Institute to hear an update on some of their research particularly some of the work at their climate-positive farm, Glensaugh, on peatland restoration, agroforestry, grazing management and a green hydrogen initiative. Wonderful to hear how their work is not only exploring solutions for climate and nature but a key focus on social impacts and how they can deliver for livelihoods.

During the same visit, I was able to take a tour of the impressive vertical farming technology towers of Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) and hear about how demand for environment-controlled agriculture has developed in the past few years. Fascinating to hear the potential of growing tree seedlings indoors which could play a big part in helping with Scotland’s ambitious tree planting targets. I heard that the technology allows for faster growth rates, less losses and the seedlings can be stressed using wind, LED lights and irrigation management, to prepare them for a Scottish climate and better establishment.

Finishing the tour on a real high, I visited fellow Nuffield scholar Karen Campbell of Glenrath Farms and took a tour of their laying and egg packing facilities. It was fascinating to get an insight into the egg supply chain, particularly hearing about the challenges they have faced around labour losses, high inputs and retailer pressures – totally eye-opening hearing how they balance the relationship between their suppliers and retailers. By complete coincidence, I also managed to arrive as 32,000 one day old chicks were being delivered and was given a tour of their rearing barns.

A huge thank you to my main sponsor Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for supporting me with this incredible opportunity and to all the individuals who opened their businesses and gave so much time to host me this week!

Now on to England for week two and amazing visits planned in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridge – I can't wait!