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RTCT has long advocated for sustainable farming practices which support a healthy natural environment and underpins farming and food security. The SusThame project, funded by the Rothschild Foundation, aims to transition farmers to more sustainable practices through an agroecology approach.
“Agroecology is concerned with the maintenance of a productive agriculture that sustains yields and optimizes the use of local resources while minimizing the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts.” - Miguel Altieri
SusThame helps farmers:
1. Quantify and understand their land assets (food production, carbon storage, water resources, and biodiversity).
2. Explore alternative land management options and their trade-offs.
3. Identify practical approaches to enhance both natural capital and farm business resilience.
4. Connect with local food markets and sustainable supply chains.
We offer a range of tools and expertise to help farmers navigate the transition to more sustainable farming practices.
Soil & Water Management Plans
- Conducting farm walkovers and soil assessments to identify opportunities for improvements in soil carbon, organic matter, and water retention.
- Providing tailored guidance on stewardship and forestry schemes that enhance water quality and biodiversity.
- Restoring floodplain meadows to improve soil health and support diverse plant and animal life.
Local Food Markets & Business Opportunities
- Facilitating links between farmers and sustainable food initiatives such as Good Food Oxfordshire and Good Food Bucks.
- Encouraging shorter and more transparent supply chains to support local food production and sales.
Knowledge Exchange & Farmer-Led Learning
- Delivering training sessions, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
- Exploring emerging funding mechanisms such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), natural flood management (NFM), and other nature-based solutions.
- Producing case studies to build confidence in sustainable farming practices.
If you're a farmer in the Thame catchment, we invite you to be part of the SusThame project. Whether you're looking to improve your land management for wildlife, explore new market opportunities, or simply learn more about sustainable farming, we welcome you to get involved.
For more information, contact us at enquiries@riverthame.org
The SusThame project will:
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Read past issues of our newsletter here.
We are a small registered charity and rely on grants and donations to keep our important work for wildlife and water quality going.
If you’d like to support us by making a one off or regular donation you can below.
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