What is the potential of learning networks for future proof agriculture?

Main question: What is the potential of learning networks for future proof agriculture?

Sub-questions:

• What constitutes future-proof agriculture and what is the role of regenerative agriculture in future-proofing agriculture?

• How does the dairy sector facilitate learning and how can they improve?

Of course the last question would be answering how this fits into our plans for ‘Our Landscape’, this is the name of our farm me and my wife are taking forward.

Conclusions Based on the journey I made, the experiences from the stakeholders I met, and the observations I made, I see a gap for ‘Our Landscape’to tap into the potential of learning networks for future proof agriculture based on two key features:

• Current system failure Next to alot of e$ort to bridge society and farming and food production on awareness I see a gap in our knowledge sharing between farmers and farmers landscape. Farmers can play a bigger role for change in a positive way with other players in the value chain, than ‘isolated’ with civilians alone. Because we are in a period of time where systemic changes are needed, the demand for new knowledge on food production is so high because of: (1)societal and political pressure, partially caused by research and practice globally on the decreased state of nature, the threat of losing availability of primary resources feeding current food systems, and man-made climate change, (2) a movement of the substream of current farmers, willing to move to a di$erent production method in line with personal motivations and professional opportunities , and (3) the economic viability of the agrifood sector is under pressure, next to huge challenges making future economic opportunities in terms of going about it “business-as-usual” simply unpredicatable and therefore undesirable.

Cross-sectoral pollination feeding the human capital of agriculture of tomorrow. There is alot of potential to learn from other sectors to find knowledge and instruments to strengthen the agricultural sector of tomorrow. How to get to this knowledge, networks, and examples requires an open mind. Cross-sectoral networks require a language that others can resonate with and digest and increasingly demands bridge builders and common spaces that can help connect other fields of expertise. Altogether, this could contribute to the sector’s ability to adapt and transform and help accelerate the transformational change that the food system desperately needs. Bringing it down to, or starting this from the farm landscape oneself, will also strengthen this position and continue to demonstrate the value of new and important value chain partners that are being connected through learning networks. To help the people who practically need to facilitate this and do this, a big investment in human capital is needed. This can be done through several ways.First, showcasing and rewarding more the talent and skills that are already there, in opposition to other ‘highly’ valued expertise and human capital that farmers are perceived for now. Currently, farmers are insu$iciently seen as highly valuable and highly graded professions by the public opinion and relevant stakeholders. Second, we need to aggregate our knowledge and develop learning networks. In general the skills to be developed and the knowledge that is needed is not gathered or developed, but can be found if you look carefully. Building learning networks would directly improve the agricultural sector to take steps tomorrow with food system partners to explore changes together, adding value financially, socially, ecologically, and inspirationally.

My conclusion at this part is also a shout-out: That a culture needs to be created in the agricultural sector that values soft skills just as much as hard skills. So for example leadership-, learning- and social skills need to be re-valued, focussed and invested as an enabler to create a future for the sector. Such skills are desperately needed to help investigate and implement changes for our sector. We see a role for Our Landscape in contribut to this with other organisations:

1. Shaping our farm business and landscape to facilitate activities that contribute to this practically and strategically will contribute to these challenges.

2. Because of the people and networks active on Our Landscape, the region will be a$ected and a community will arise, pushed forward by events strategically aligned with regional and (inter)national key stakeholders.

3. Our Landscape is able to attract and connect the coalition of the willing making way for these new activities and bringing these other sectors into it with their own diverse networks and knowledge bases.

4. As farmer, Nu$ield Scholar, and other roles, my wife and I are able to bring this to the table, we are able to be adaptable and vulnerable while organising these activities, and we can showcase activities of our journey within the transition to future proof agriculture. As such, we aim to take people along this journey. Connecting to other value chain partners, connecting and exchanging theoretical and practical knowledge.

5. Important element is that we see potential to create value and business from this, because we have the food production and nature conservation activities on our farm. From this, we will expand to knowledge, leadership and health related activities

In conclusion, the journey I embarked on through the Nuffield Scholarship and our farm's transformation has illuminated the critical role of learning networks in advancing future-proof agriculture. The challenges faced by the agricultural sector— ranging from systemic knowledge gaps to the need for cross-sectoral collaboration—underscore the urgency of rethinking how we learn and innovate together. Leadership bringing this further in how food system needs new learning but also learning as a topic in learning is essential and underestimated