Across the UK, thousands of farm businesses are working with others in trying out new things to be more sustainable, seeing what happens and sharing the results. We know that this has a unique role in improving agricultural sustainability in every sense. The Sustainable Farm Networks (SFN) initiative has been brought about to enable these diverse networks in becoming more than the sum of their parts. 

Working with Network Stewards - the individuals with the most direct and consistent contact with demonstration farms- the SFN supports and enables cooperation and collaboration. This not only enhances the experience and impact of farmer members but influences farm practice at scale through convincing peers, steers research priorities as demonstrates solutions to policy makers.

The SFN is a free to join, pre-competitive, system agnostic forum working with existing knowledge exchange platforms Agricology, FarmPEP and TIAH to amplify successes and highlight challenges. The SFN is shaped by members with the support of a steering group representative of supply chain pioneers, farmer innovators, national bodies, land-based training providers, research experts and environmental certification organisations.

There are already 30 amazing network members, with over 2,400 members between them representing nearly 400,000 ha across all UK sectors, systems and nations. We are open to application from any demonstration farm networks, being three or more holdings coordinating activities to implement in common sustainable farming practices, principles or technologies with the intention of disseminating the resulting collated findings, experiences or information.

The Network Stewards Group meets quarterly and opportunities arising for internal or external collaboration are circulated as a bimonthly noticeboard. Broadcasting of activity and success stories to policy makers and a wider farming audience is through the quarterly ‘Snapshot’ newsletter, the first edition of which came out in March 2025. We will also be a presence at summer shows including the Royal Highland Show, Groundswell, the Royal Welsh Show and Fields Good NI.

Benefits of the Sustainable Farm Networks

For networks: Participating networks can expect improved knowledge exchange opportunities; connected and upskilled facilitators; PR and funding opportunities; a quicker transition towards integrated sustainability based on up-to-date information; and stronger industry and policy influence.

For farmers: Networks’ farmer members will build useful connections with other networks and farms; will have easier access to better advice; can take part in benchmarking and marketing opportunities; should see improved business resilience; and will get opportunities to have their say on policy input.

For the industry: Industry partners will be assisted in meeting operational and sustainability KPIs; will see communication channels streamlined; benefit from upskilling and expanded knowledge exchange within and across supply chains; and see sustainability metrics integrated and harmonised.

For policy makers: Policy makers will be informed through demonstration of leading, up to date research and innovation in development of future policy aligning to the delivery of strategic government priorities.