The Cereals Event, taking place on the 11th and 12th of June, will include talks and seminars around alternative land use, with options ranging from paludiculture (wetland crops) and peat restoration to habitat creation and agroforestry to diversify income streams.
The Soil Association Exchange will focus on agroforestry; integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems to boost environmental and economic benefits.
William Leabeater, head of communication at the Soil Association Exchange, says: “With increasing financial support for woodland creation and management, many farmers are considering tree planting as a viable land use change. This trend is particularly noticeable in upland regions, where woodland creation enhances biodiversity, mitigates flooding, and offers long-term revenue opportunities.”
He adds that the sudden closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive has encouraged growers to look at alternative land uses for income possibilities.
“When considering land use changes, it’s essential to prioritise what adds the most value and resilience to your business. Focus on decisions that strengthen and diversify your operation and then explore how available subsidies or financial support can complement these choices — rather than letting subsidies dictate your direction.”
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) and carbon credit markets have developed rapidly in recent years, enabling farmers to earn money from specific habitat management.
“We have people identifying land for BNG, and it is an emerging market,” says Edward Hutley, partner at Ceres Rural. “But these are long-term arrangements of 30 years, so do carry risk.”
Angus Collet, director at the BNG partnership, adds: “We’ve been really pleased with the uplift in activity around biodiversity net gain, and the amount of registered habitat banks that are already on the Defra register. It shows that landowners see BNG as an opportunity to diversify and are willing to enter into a longer-term scheme than they are used to.”
For more information or to purchase tickets for Cereals, go to www.cerealsevent.co.uk