Lynn Collison today attended the London launch for the Leader Funding programme 2015-2020 as Chair of the new West Norfolk Local Action Group (LAG). Leader funds community scale projects which deliver economic growth or community projects and West Norfolk has been allocated £1.9m for the current programme period. Martin is also involved in Leader as Vice Chair of the Cambridgeshire Fens LAG. The programmes are now looking for projects so if you have a project idea we would urge you to get in touch with the programme support teams using the website contacts below:
Further details of the Norfolk Leader programme is at: http://www.norfolklags.co.uk/
The Cambridgeshire Fens Leader programme is at: https://cambsfensleader.wordpress.com/
Defra’s press release on the launch event which explains the background to the programme is at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/138-million-available-for-local-communities-to-grow-uks-rural-economy
read moreMartin Collison today spoke at the launch of DEFRA’s 25 Year Environment Plan on the need for partnerships to come together to deliver environmental action. Focusing on both the power and challenges of partnerships, Martin highlighted the work being conducted by Greater Lincolnshire LEP to create a multi-sector, public/private Water Plan which also seeks to unite action on flooding and water supply. By bringing together partners across the public and private sector the plan will allow more to be achieved through combining resources and expertise.
read moreMartin Collison spoke at the VIP reception of Flavours at the Royal Norfolk Showground on Wednesday 23rd September on the importance of the food economy to the region and how to grow its economic impact. Speaking after the Rt Hon Liz Truss, Norfolk MP and DEFRA Secretary of State, Martin stressed the importance of supporting the growth of the whole food chain from field to fork. 90% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) in the UK food chain is beyond the farmgate and trends globally suggests that developing parts of the World are now adopting similar food chain structures. Given the UK’s World class food chain this presents real opportunity to grow the UK economy.
read moreMartin Collison was a guest speaker at the APPG Science and Technology in Agriculture on 14th September alongside: Dr Jerry Knox, Reader in Agricultural Water Management, Cranfield University; Prof Chris Atkinson, Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich; Paul Smith, Business Development Director, Incinerator Replacement Technology Ltd; and, Dr David Firman, Head, NIAB CUF Potato Agronomy Unit
The meeting chaired by Mark Spencer MP focused on water security in agriculture so that we can manage the world’s water resources in the face of increased demand due to population growth, rising urbanisation and the effects of a changing climate. Farming and food production are the largest industrial consumers of water, together accounting for up to 70% of total fresh water use on a global basis.
read moreMartin Collison was one of over 80 representatives of industry and stakeholder groups who attended the DEFRA launch of the development process for a 25 Year Great British Food and Farming Plan on 16th July. We welcome the government commitment to develop a long term plan for the industry and urge everyone in the industry to get involved.
read moreAt the Royal Norfolk Show on 1st and 2nd July Collison and Associates‘ 14-month-old shearling Shetland ram, Tilney James, was male champion, Norfolk champion and then went on to take the best in breed title. Tilney James is now going to the Shetland Sheep Society Champion of Champions competition at Lanark in Southern Scotland on 28th August 2015.
read moreAt its first meeting on 5th June Martin Collison was appointed as Vice Chair of the Cambridgeshire Fens Leader group to support Chairman Guy Mills of Cambridgeshire County Council.
read moreMartin Collison gave the keynote address at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Water for Growth Workshop on 9th June to set out the long term challenge faced in relation to water if we wish to grow the economy in Greater Lincolnshire. The workshop is the first stage of developing a 25 year water plan which will address both the need to provide flood protection as well as securing water provision to facilitate growth of housing and industry. With climate change predicted to lead to more erratic weather (more floods and droughts), coupled to Lincolnshire already being amongst the direst areas in the UK and ambitious plans for growth, Martin stressed the need to plan now to improve our future management of water.
read moreMartin Collison spoke to an audience of 200 guests at Barclays Breakfast event at the Suffolk Show on 27th May alongside Barclays Area Agricultural Manager John Steggall and Barclays National Agricultural Specialist Oliver McEntyre. Martin outlined the range of new grant schemes which are shortly being launched for farmers and rural businesses through the LEADER programme, Countryside Productivity Scheme and LEP EU programmes. He also covered grants and assistance for technology development and adoption and urged farmers to plan now for the grant aid which is available over the next few years.
read moreMartin Collison is one of 20 ‘experts’ (farmers, advisors, researchers and policy makers) from across Europe who have been appointed to work with the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability in a new Focus Group to produce a report on the challenges in managing water in agriculture: Water & Agriculture: Adaptive Strategies at Farm Level
The Focus Group is due to start its work in June 2015 and will produce a report in early 2016 which will help to inform future EU investment in agricultural water related applied research and knowledge exchange programmes. The group will specifically focus on how farmers can adapt to water scarcity in the future.
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