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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
Supporting the shift to sustainable practices on farms across the Thame catchment will enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, protect water resources, and reduce the use of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides while continuing the production of high-quality food.
This will help create farm businesses that are profitable, diverse, and resilient.
The SusThame project supports the Thame Catchment Farm Cluster (TCFC) and integrates closely with the Landscape Recovery project to maximise strategic cross-farm collaboration and optimise ecological benefits at a landscape scale.
A range of activities, including training sessions, workshops, and peer to peer learning will be used to improve expertise in environmental management and innovative farming methods to enhance farm sustainability.
The farmed landscape holds immense ecological value. SusThame will seek to quantify natural capital assets such as ecosystems, species, freshwater, and soils.
Data collected will contribute to farm environmental baselines, allow for the tracking of improvements, and help inform better land management practices.
We will explore and test emerging private markets, producing case studies to build knowledge and confidence among the local farming community.
We’ll integrate knowledge and expertise from other projects and partners, ensuring optimum use of resources.
Photo caption: One of England’s first Biodiversity Net Gain sites constructed by RTCT on Lopemede Farm, a TCFC member.
The SusThame Project will seek to assist farmers in securing investment from public and private markets for nature-based solutions, such as wetland creation and natural flood management systems, to enhance water conservation on farms and improve resilience to climate change.
Additionally, the project will offer bespoke habitat management advice to farmers, tailored to boost wildlife, ensuring that farming practices are both environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial.
The SusThame project will result in an:
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