‘IT’S been a long time coming’ but finally the turf has been cut on the new Future Farm project at Duchy College in Stoke Climsland.

Future Farm will be the first of its type for the country with the aim of improving efficiency, welfare and technological advancement in dairy farming. The facility will encourage small and medium enterprises across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to engage in research at a local, national and even international level.

Due to difficulties surrounding funding the project has taken longer to get off the ground than anticipated but those involved expressed their delight at being able to take this first step towards building an innovative new facility with the official turf cutting.

On Friday, October 11, leading members of the agricultural sector and those involved with the project visited the facility to witness the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and MP for Camborne and Redruth George Eustice cut the first turf to mark the beginning of the building process. Mr Eustice said the launch of the Future Farm project ‘is a fantastic step forward in research and innovation for the agricultural sector’.

He added: “As a former student, it’s encouraging to see the college embrace new technologies that have the potential to lead and shape the sector for years to come.”

During the launch the Post spoke to Mr Eustice to get his opinion on the Future Farm at Duchy College. He said: “I think it is incredibly important. I have been thinking recently about future agricultural policy and have come to the realisation that we need to be moving towards net zero emissions.

“Agri-tech has an important role to play in this and will look at feeding regimes, advances in technology to improve welfare and productivity and most importantly approaches to reducing green house gas emissions.

“It is important we improve productivity to increase profitably for our farmers. I think this will be a critical tool. It is great to have an asset like this and to be putting Cornwall right at the forefront of agricultural advances.”

Future Farm will be home to 200 cows that can be grouped into three mini-herds to research the latest innovations in dairy farming. It is hoped Future Farm will benefit the local area as well as the next generation of workers and leaders in the sector.

Duchy College and Bicton College Principal Dr Phil Le Grice said: “This is an incredible resource for the South West, one that will benefit the dairy and environment sector in many ways. The importance of this project can’t be understated. Politically, economically, environmentally, socially and culturally, Cornwall and Devon must seek to lead and shape its technological and business future.

“Future Farm is a demonstrable commitment to the sector, its current and future businesses and all of the students who will use the facility in the future.” 

Members of the local parish council attended the event to find out more about Future Farm and were impressed.

Stoke Climsland Parish Council chairman Sarah Ross said: “It’s been a long time coming. I think it is of benefit for the whole of Cornwall and Devon not just Stoke Climsland.

“It won’t affect the village much but it will help ensure the continuation of the college, which is important for the village as many of the students work in the village — the students at the Post Office are a real asset.”

Fellow parish councillor and local farmer Martin Howlett felt the new sight was testament to the local farming economy. He added: “This site will ensure the future of the college and will compliment the current curriculum. It was originally just agricultural studies but this has been strengthened over the years.

“I think it is true recognition of Cornwall’s farming and how important agriculture and students are to the industry and the wider economy that George Eustice is attending today.

“We are so reliant in this area on rural business, it is good to see some investment in this sector.”

Future Farm will build upon the work that is taking place at Rothamsted Research’s North Wyke Farm Platform. The new facility at Duchy College will bring systems dairy research in line with the national capability in beef and sheep systems research at the North Wyke Farm Platform.

Paul Ward, research manager of Duchy College’s Rural Business School, said: “This is fantastic news for the agricultural sector, not only in the South West, but the UK and beyond.

“Future Farm will support the introduction of computerised precision control feeding systems to the UK and will help tackle the urgent requirement of increasing the competitiveness of businesses within the dairy/livestock industry and supply chain.”

Paul has spent 25 years specialising in dairy production in Peru, Sudan, Oman, Egypt and Nicaragua, including working with the Department for International Development.

Forty per cent of the nation’s dairy is produced in the South West, but despite this Paul said this was the first major investment in dairy research in the region in decades. He said: “Since the 1980s research has significantly reduced, and with so much change in the industry and the potential reduced or changed nature of support with regards to Brexit, this is a welcome positive for farmers, the agricultural sector and the wider region.

“Dairy is the main economic driver within South West agriculture, with 40% of the national production based in the region, including the largest cheddar cheese factory in Europe at Davidstow.

“This facility will allow us to research lowering dairy’s carbon footprint, improve and reduce the impact on the environment and reduce levels of disease. It is also the only facility in the country that will allow the mini-herds slurry to be kept separate, which is invaluable for research purposes.”

The project is part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is part of the wider Agri-tech Cornwall project in partnership with University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Rothamsted Research and Cornwall Development Company.

The project is part funded by Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly. There is also support from the Centre for International Excellence in Livestock (CIEL). Duchy College has ‘Category A’ membership of CIEL which provides a focused gateway to 12 world-class national research centres to develop industry-needed solutions as well as commercial trial farms for real world results.

Robin Jackson, director of the Agri-tech Cornwall project said Future Farm will see some of ‘Britain’s most progressive scientists, students and entrepreneurs work with Duchy College’s herds to drive further improvements in the efficiency and sustainability of dairy farmers’.

He added: “This innovative research facility will play a key part in helping the dairy sector take advantage of the opportunities presented by — and tackle the challenges of — the 21st century.

“Agri-tech has the potential to feed the world’s growing population and mitigate climate change, in tandem with boosting profit and efficiency at an individual farm level — and Future Farm will be at the heart of such ambitions.”

Future Farm is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2020, when it will welcome its first researchers and students.