Building Our Food and Farming Future. A Duchy College initiative

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1 Building Our Food and Farming Future A Duchy College initiative

2 Building Our Food and Farming Future The challenge The world s population is predicted to rise from 6 billion to 8 billion by As a result, demand for food is likely to increase by 50%, water by 30% and energy by 50%. To put that into an agricultural context, 50% more production will be needed on less land, with less water and using less energy. Sir William Atkinson, Executive Head Teacher of The Phoenix Canberra Schools Federation, London said: I believe that learning beyond the classroom has the capacity to enhance and engage learners in new and innovative ways and that is why our association with Duchy College is so important. I believe fundamentally that every individual has the potential to achieve and to exceed their own expectation of themselves. As teachers, our job is to maximise the opportunities for success and introducing new areas of possible work and broadening horizons is essential to that process.

3 Who are we? Duchy College was founded in 1986 and has since grown to become one of the UK s largest specialist land-based colleges. We have two main campuses one at Stoke Climsland on the Devon and Cornwall border and the other at Rosewarne, West Cornwall. We also have many outreach centres throughout the South West region and enjoy significant partnerships with a variety of national organisations. Whilst agriculture is at the heart of what we do, the College has diversified to provide courses in other land-based disciplines. We are a leading provider of agricultural apprenticeships in the country with very large numbers and success rates that put us in the top 10% of colleges nationally. Thousands of students train with us each year and we enjoy wide-ranging links with all sectors of the agriculture industry. Lord Plumb, former NFU and European Parliament president said: I feel passionate that we as an industry seek to encourage young people to become good farmers. Duchy College enjoys an impressive track record for growth and delivery and their plans to become a national centre of excellence will, I believe, bring much-needed vibrancy to our food and farming future. Our educational reach extends from special needs and entry level through to postgraduate degrees. Last year we delivered 1200 courses to 8000 farmers wanting to improve their businesses. OFSTED judged us as Grade 1 outstanding in Current educational achievement rates for our further education provision are 91% against a national benchmark of 82% and we ve won three Beacon Awards for innovation in delivery and are awaiting the outcome of an application for a Queen s Anniversary Award. Enjoying an influence that extends to regional, national and international level, we are at the forefront of new educational developments. These include developing specialist environmental and land-based diplomas, working with Natural England and EDEXCEL on accredited continuing professional development activities and creating a rural business school model in Africa, Japan and China. Our students and staff are also heavily involved in applied research many in conjunction with industry organisations, research companies and government bodies.

4 Working with the farming industry Our Rural Business School has delivered more than 1500 training programmes for farmers and foresters in the last three years - including The Worshipful Company of Farmers acclaimed leadership course which attracts participants from across the UK and from as far afield as Australia, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. We also work with every large animal vet practice in South West England and more than 300 vets and advisers are now approved to deliver training to farmers through our Healthy Livestock project. Independently reviewed on behalf of DEFRA as providing the highest level of customer service and business relevance to farmers, we hold the prestigious DEFRA Farm Business Survey Contract in conjunction with five other universities and colleges. Lord Curry, former food and farming Government adviser and current chairman of the Royal Veterinary Society said: The gravity of the challenges facing the food and farming industry cannot be underestimated. I am very happy to support Duchy College s ambitious, yet viable developments which demonstrate a real determination and commitment to identify farmers needs and provide the facilities, expertise and training required to meet them.

5 Our vision Given the immense challenges the world faces in terms of increased demand for food, water and energy, we are proposing practical, totally inclusive and exciting ways for young people and businesses to work together. Our work with Phoenix High School, White City, London, for example, is all about introducing pupils to agriculture and rural opportunities. We want to raise awareness of how important food and farming is enthusing new generations to look to the land for satisfying, rewarding careers that really make a difference. Our Future Farm development for the Stoke Climsland campus has three components: 1. Demonstration Dairy Farm 2. Land-Based Technology and Skills Centre 3. The Higher Education Hub Demonstration Dairy Farm This will be the best dairy industry facility for skills, knowledge exchange and applied research in the UK. Why should it be built in the South West? Because the region has: Nearly 40% of England s dairy cows 29% of England s grassland England s highest financial output from dairy and livestock 5439 farms accounting for nearly 30% of the country s agricultural output Subject areas covered will include: Animal health and welfare Technology and precision farming Sustainable profitability Resource management Feeding and breeding Farm energy Management and health and safety Product safety and quality Supply chain Food security Environmental sustainability Planning has been approved and funding approaching 3m has so far been secured. Land-Based Technology and Skills Centre This will provide state-of-the-art practical facilities for our further and higher education students and apprentices, young people who are not in education, employment or training and schools partnership work in order to grow and improve our existing curriculum. Specialist provision will include: Land-based plant, machinery and engineering Land-based environmental technology: - Energy farm solar, solar thermal, anaerobic digestion - Waste composting, manure management, recycling - Water - drainage, water framework directive, rainwater catchment - Soil engineering, soil conservation and management Traditional rural skills eg hedging, fencing, forge skills, estate skills The centre s design feasibility is complete and funding from the College and the Skills Funding Agency totalling 2.14m has been secured.

6 The Higher Education Hub The Hub will house our postgraduate centre and Rural Business School getting research into practice, generating contract income and forging links with universities and international business. Inspiring and ambitious, it will act as a beacon for innovation, collaboration and practical forward-thinking. What we have achieved What we could do with your help Increased impact on students, environments and industry Farm renewable nucleus Innovations in feeding, resource use, robotics Novel on-farm ICT in animal health and welfare Aerial public access Enhanced equipment levels Joint design with urban school partners Applied industry professorships Co-Location for partners business State-of-the-art postgraduate facilities Specialist ICT to link with national and EU farm platforms 1) New Demonstration Dairy Farm 2) Land-Based Technology Centre 3) The Higher Education Hub Secured Capital Funding to date: 5.3m

7 How you can help Duchy College has achieved a great deal but the journey is far from over. We already have much of the funding we need to progress our plans for Future Farm and the Land-Based Technology and Skills Centre but additional funds will allow us to do so much more as the graph on the previous page indicates. With your help to access funds, we can turn vision into reality. Working together, we can make a difference. A Duchy College initiative David Yiend, Chief Executive of AB Agri said: My business operates at a global level with activities that stretch from plough to plate. I ve met the Duchy College team and am excited by their plans. Their vision and approach is just what this industry needs.

8 Professor Sir John Beddington, former Chief Scientific Adviser said: The case for urgent action in the global food system is now compelling. We are at a unique moment in history as diverse factors converge to affect the demand, production and distribution of food over the next 20 to 40 years. The needs of a growing world population will need to be satisfied as critical resources such as water, energy and land become increasingly scarce. Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, PL17 8PB Tel: the Principal: andrew.counsell@duchy.ac.uk A Duchy College initiative