FOODPRINTS_AALU_2022-24_PAGES

FOOD -PRINTS

TRANSLATING LANDSCAPE PRODUCTIVITY TOWARDS LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION

By Parth Mehta & Reshma Susan Mathew

Landscape Urbanism 2022-2024

i

ii

FOOD- PRINTS Translating landscape productivity towards local food production BY Parth Mehta Reshma Susan Mathew for M.Arch. in Landscape Urbanism at Architectural Association

iii

PREFACE

Acknowledgments We extend out heartfelt gratitude to all those who took time to speak with us and teach us all that we learnt.

Clo Carbon Cymru Richard Edwards ‘the Stickfarmer’ Cai Matthews One Planet Council Marc Scale One Planet Developement Sites Dr. Chris Vernon & Dr. Erica Thompson, Dan Y Berllan Tao Wimbush, Llammas Eco-village Sylvie Michielon & Wycliffe Tippins, Ty Gwennol One Planet Centre David Thorpe James Shorten Who Owns Cymru Sioned Haf Alex Heffron Sam Hollick Gleebelands Adam Hari Byles

Credits Thesis Guide : Clara Oloriz Program Tutors : Jose Alfredo Ramìrez Eduardo Rico Technical Tutors : Daniel Kiss Carlotta Olivari Elena Luciano Suastegui William Huang-Shen Yuan Project Partners : Runqi Ye Wenxue Hu Copyright note: Images: The external graphics have been sourced and duly credited. All other drawings are works of the authors unless specified otherwise.

iv

PREFACE

ABSTRACT The climate crisis that has gripped the planet has led to a variety of responses from global governments. This thesis began by looking at one such policy for climate action in Wales, UK. The One Planet Development (OPD) Policy introduced in 2011 was aimed at leading climate action by reducing the individual Ecological Footprints (EF) of residents. A close examination of the policy led the project to explore what role landscapes play in mitigating the climate crisis for a small country like Wales.

Wales is a small, proud country with a population of 4 million people living in a magnificently scenic landscape. One would then assume that they would not have such a heavy impact on the planet’s resources, but this was not true. Seeing this country rack up an ecological footprint that rivals many of the top contenders, forced us to question the nature of global climate action. We found that at best, global climate action is a misguided attempt to place responsibility of change on the individual rather than envision much needed new forms of governance.

It challenges the prevailing norms of food production, land management and climate action that all fail to prioritise ecological sustenance over economic greed.

We began to explore the nature of landscapes in Wales and came to understand that a vast majority (roughly 80%) of the landscape was used for agriculture (Welsh Parliament, 2022). But with supply chains that span across the globe, Wales is far from reaching food sovereignty. Through engagements with local climate activists and farmers, the project sought to build a more resilient and efficient food system for the locals. By changing the way food is produced, the project goes further to suggest how this food can reach the people. Knowing where your food comes from is a luxury in the modern age and this project imagines what that might mean for the Welsh landscape.

The project revises the current relationship people share with their lands and also makes proposals to encourage methods of land conservation that not only preserve the ecosystems but also help capture the carbon emissions more effectively.

It challenges the prevailing norms of food production, land management and climate action that all fail to prioritise ecological sustenance over economic greed. As the onslaught of climate change gets more severe, it becomes almost impossible for countries like Wales to rely on increasingly volatile external sources for support. It is critical that they regenerate depleted resources and build up resilience through collective action as envisioned by this thesis.

v

PREFACE

CONTENTS

1

Climate Emergency

01

1.1. Climate Crisis

1.1.1. Global Climate action 1.1.2. Pitfalls of Global Climate Action 1.1.3. UK Climate action Plans

1.2. Climate & Carbon

1.2.1. Ecological Footprints 1.2.2. Contributors to Ecologcal Footprints 1.2.3. Agricultural Emissions A1. A New Land Deal: Essay

1.3. Lessons from a Small Country

1.3.1. Historical Background 1.3.2. Welsh Climate Action 1.3.3. One Planet Development Policy A2. Need of Sustainable Agriculture Business Models in Wales: Essay

2

Analysing the OPD Policy 2.1. Details of the Policy

2.1.1. Application Procedure 2.1.2. Calculating the EF in the Policy A3. Interview with Marc Scale A4. Interview with David Thorpe A5. Interview James Shorten 2.1.3. Multi-unit OPD

2.2. First Hand Discoveries

2.2.1. Mapping the OPD Policy 2.2.2. Four Primary Case Studies A6. Interview with Rhiw Las OPD Applicants A6. Interview with Lammas Ecovillage OPD Applicants A7. Interview with Clo Carbon Cymru 2.2.3. The OPD Storyline

2.3. Under the microscope

2.3.1. Samples from Wales 2.3.2. Samples from OPD Sites 2.3.3. Case 01: Samples from Hooke Park 2.3.4. Case 02: Samples from Wakelyns Farm

2.4. What is the OPD now?

2.4.1. Overlaying the many layers 2.4.2. Loopholes in data sets 2.4.3. Challenges and Potentials

vi

33

PREFACE

3

Understanding Food Landscapes

71

3.1. Building on the OPD 3.1.1. Revising the goals 3.1.2. Conceptal Strategy

3.2. Agriculture in Wales

3.2.1. Food Trade 3.2.2. Livestock Farming 3.2.3. Dietary patterns 3.2.4. Farmers and Language A8. Conversation with Owen A9. Conversation with Richard 3.2.5. Housing 3.2.6. Wildlife Tourism A10. Conversation with Alex Heffron A11. Conversation with Sam Hollick 3.2.7. Proposed Agriculture Model

3.3. Un Cymru Policy

3.3.1. Phasing the policy 3.3.2. Phase 01: Land Aquisition and Local Collaboration 3.3.3. Phase 02: Logistics and Services 3.3.4. Phase 03: Infrastructure

4

A New Food Policy

97

4.1. Zooming In

4.1.1. Case of Pembrokeshire

4.2. Feeding Wales

4.2.1. Agroforestry and Wales 4.2.2. How much food do we need?

4.2.3. Market Garden Renaissance 4.2.4. Spatialising the Food Zones

4.3. Designing the Food Zones 4.3.1. The algorithm development 4.3.2. Visualising the Food Zones 4.3.3. Uplands and Lowlands 4.3.4. Food Zones 4.3.5. Lowlands 4.3.6. Uplands 4.3.7. The Expansion Strategy

5

A Food Renaissance

145

vii

PREFACE

METHODOLOGY The project was developed over a year’s time as a joint effort. The study was conducted through a variety of methods and skillsets brought forward by every member. A summary of our methodology is listed below.

A. Site Visits

There were several site visits conducted to dig into the subject (literally). The visits made it possible to get a first-hand experience of the site conditions and gauge the impacts of different land management strategies.

Samples of soil and field work along with the concerned stakeholders were also arranged over these visits.

B. Interviews

The most crucial insights and revisions made in the project were based on data collated from numerous conversations with people. Interviews were arranged with people from all roles ranging from policy makers to local farmers. Grassroots inputs were critical in rooting the project as proposal that addressed their concerns primarily.

Season

C. Drawing Methods

As a collaborative effort, many different methods of drawing were used to illustrate the ideas. Digital means were used to process large data sets and further design and model the large scale proposals. More analogue methods were used when the drawings were used to study and represent the human and microscopic scales. This distinction in the language of representation keeps the visualisation distinct and comprehensible to all those who may need it.

D. Project Development

The project has constantly dealt with multiple scales, from questioning the planetary networks to studying impacts on soil structure under the microscope. The analysis has been condensed with expert assistance and multiple reviews. The initial study of looking at one policy in detail was used to cross over to several other areas of enquiry.

Once the policy was dissected thoroughly, future areas of enquiry were identified. Six months in, the project had crystallised into an effort to feed the Welsh people with locally grown food. The project ends by spatially demonstrating the feasibility and visualising various aspects of this proposal.

viii

Interviews

SiteVisits

Project Development

PREFACE

ix

PREFACE

DOWN TO EARTH : SWATCHES FROM WALES

x

PREFACE

UP IN THE SKY : SWATCHES FROM WALES

xi

INTRODUCTION

01

CLIMATE EMERGENCY

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed

1992 1995

COP 3

1997

Kyoto Protocol 2000

01.1

Climate Crisis

01.1.1

Global Climate Action Over the last many decades, we have seen a change in our climate and evolve into a full-blown global crisis. What has now become a global concern has been a topic of continuous deliberation and policy reform for the last several decades. There have been countless movements and initiatives by local governments and community groups to mitigate the environmental damage within their own borders however, international efforts are naturally far more complex and far less efficient.The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established in 1992, called for action against human interference in the climate and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. It also called for more scientific research and regular negotiations to enforce climate action policies. Since then, we have seen numerous treaties signed, the most recent being the 2015 Paris Agreement, which sought to keep the planet from warming over 1.5 °C. However, seven years and seven conferences later, we are yet to make tangible progress with regards to our consumption habits and carbon emissions.

In the last COP28, there was still no tangible commitment made by the world leaders for radical reform or transitioning out of fossil fuels. A disaster fund was set up to provide financial aid to the countries that are facing the brunt of the climate crisis and at the UN General Assembly in September 2023, an adjacent Climate Ambition Summit was held to highlight the efforts of the most ambitious countries when it came to combating the crisis. The world’s largest emitters namely USA and China were not among them.

Montreal Climate Change Conference

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

1

2015

COP 21 Paris Agreement

2016 Sustainable Development Goals adopted 2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

COP 26 Glasgow Climate Change Conference UN Race to Zero Emissions Breakthroughs

2022

COP 28

Fig. 1.1

1.

UNFCC. (n.d.). Process and Meetings. Retrieved from United Nations Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/ kyoto_protocol

2005

COP 11

2023

|

CLIMATE ACTION TIMELINE

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.2 | KEY FACTORS OF AVERAGE TEMPERATURE RISE Drawing by Wenxue Hu

Less than -2 °C -2 °C 0.5 °C 0.7 °C 1 °C 1.2 °C 1.5 °C 2.5 °C More than 2.5 °C

2.

Fig 1.1 Data Source - UNFCC. (n.d.). Process and Meetings. Retrieved from United Nations Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol 3.

Fig 1.2 Data Source- Our World in Data, Surface temperature anomaly, 2017. Our World n Data, Contribution to global mean surface temperature 1851 to 2021.

2

INTRODUCTION

01.1.2

Pitfalls of Global Climate Action As the discussions surrounding climate action and global cooperation progressed, it became imperative to quantify environmental destruction to uniformly chart the course of action across the globe. Several standards have been developed and utilised to build cases for climate action. Ecological Footprint has been the most recent and evolved standard of measurement so far, however there are limits to this method and while nations continued to evade responsibility, the climate crisis evolved into a catastrophe.

01.1.3

In order to facilitate international cooperation and effectively mitigate the crisis, we need to end half-hearted greenwashing efforts and set firm goals for regional action against the climate crisis

UK Climate Action Plans The UK currently has several such policies in place for when it comes to tackling climate change, the British government does not lack awareness. As home to many climate scientists, activists, and grassroots movements against fossil fuels, they have all the means to lead global community on climate action. However, the current government led by PM Rishi Sunak has backtracked on all major climate promises made thus far, plunging the faith of the international community. In addition to backing out of the government’s commitment to achieving net zero goals from the Paris Agreement, by 2050, the government has also sanctioned several environmentally hazardous projects causing more harm than revival.

WORLD

05

04

03

02 Ecological Reserve Ecological Deficit Bio - Capacity Ecological Footprint

01 GHA / PP

1970 Fig. 1.3

1983 |

1995

60 YEARS OF BIO-CAPACITY DEPLETION

Ecological Footprint (EF) =

3

2007

ΣTi Yw

X EQFi

4.

Fig. 1.3 Data Source - Footprint Data Foundation, York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, and Global Footprint Network: National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, 2023 edition. Downloaded [22/01/2024] from https://data.footprintnetwork.org

2020

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.4 | GLOBAL DIPARITY BETWEEN EF IN NORTH AND SOUTH source/credits

3.9B MT

2.6M MT Fig. 1.5 | GLOBAL CARBON EMISSION Drawing by Wenxue Hu

>1B GH

<10M GH Fig. 1.6 | GLOBAL BIO CAPACITY Drawing by Wenxue Hu

5.

Fig. 1.5 & Fig. 1.6 Data Source - Footprint Data Foundation, York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, and Global Footprint Network: National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, 2023 edition. Downloaded [22/01/2024] from https://data.footprintnetwork.org

4

INTRODUCTION

01.2

Climate & Carbon

01.2.1

Ecological Footprints

The environmental systems continue to breakdown in record speed and anyone with knowledge of ecology can identify that these slews of never-ending disasters are not normal

While the ecological footprint (EF) as a metric accounted for the disparity in consumption and production between nations, it remains a fictional entity that needs reconsideration.

Attempts to reduce EF without tackling issues of capitalism i.e. over consumption and relentless extraction, fails to address the root cause of climate breakdown. EF as a metric created a uniform system of evaluation globally. This derived number essentially allocates an imaginary ecological budget to every nation based on its own resources. However, to treat this number without comprehending its nuance is a grave mistake. When countries overshoot their ecological budgets, without reducing emissions they break the natural cycle of regeneration and rob future generations of its resources. It also leads to fragmented proposals that fail to restore the natural carbon cycles.

Fig. 1.7

5

|

GLOBAL CALENDAR OF EARTH OVERSHOOT DAYS

6.

Fig. 1.7 Data Source - Footprint Data Foundation, York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, and Global Footprint Network: National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, 2023 edition. Downloaded [22/01/2024] from https://data.footprintnetwork.org

INTRODUCTION

Natural regeneration of resources Human Consumption

Fig. 1.8

|

CYCLE OF REGENERATION AND CONSUMPTION

The nature we have (Supply)

The nature we use (Demand)

Total carbon deficit (+ve / -ve)

Productive assets of the world

Consumption needs extracted as ecosystem services

Rate of carbon extraction

Fig. 1.9

|

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT CALCULATION

7.

Fig. 1.9 Data Source - Footprint Data Foundation, York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, and Global Footprint Network: National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, 2023 edition. Downloaded [22/01/2024] from https://data.footprintnetwork.org

6

INTRODUCTION

01.2.2

Contributors to Ecological Footprints According to the latest data available [8], the ecological footprint of the United Kingdom was estimated to be 3.57 global hectares (gHa) per person in 2022. This projection also implies that, if everyone on the planet consumed as a resident in the UK did, then we would need 2.36 earths to support everyone. Although a relatively small island, the inequalities of consumption patterns and global supply chains make the UK raise alarming figures of carbon emissions. The UK relies heavily on the import of several goods and the material footprint generated by these heavy imports combined with the loss of ecological systems within the country inflate the UK’s ecological footprint.

It is worth noting that these numbers are an attempt to quantify productivity of all landscapes. This is done by engineering all forms of landscapes into comparable quantities with sweeping generalisations.

Croplands, forests, mines, fossil fuel beds, polar caps are all forced to the same baseline of productivity to measure the rate at which they are being consumed and regenerated.

As a result, It becomes more apparent that these numbers cannot be used blindly as landscapes are more complex systems than that represented by these statistics. While EF can measure the nation’s consumption alongside its natural resources, it is not a reliable figure when it comes to accessing the health of the ecosystems. What appears as a lush green countryside is a landscape that is fast losing biodiversity from its soil to its forests and is in desperate need of sitespecific regeneration methods; developed not with the aim to reduce EF but to restore the landscape’s resilience and natural capacity. Many of these benefits may not be quantifiable by the metrics developed today, but they will mitigate climate change far better than the misguided efforts slapped on currently.

7

8.

WWF-UK. (2006). UK: Counting consumption: CO2emissions, material flows and Ecological Footprint of the UK by region and devolved country. Surrey: Arrowhead Printing.

9.

Footprint Data Foundation, York University Ecological Footprint Initiative, and Global Footprint Network: National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, 2023 edition. Downloaded 12 December 2024 from https://data.footprintnetwork.org.

5.3 gHa Scotland

4.85 gHa Northern Ireland

5.20 gHa Wales

5.98 gHa England

5.0-5.2 gha 5.2-5.3 gha 5.3-5.6 gha 5.6-5.9 gha ≥ 5.9 gha

Fig. 1.10 | UK ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Drawing by Wenxue Hu

INTRODUCTION

0%

Domestic

Fig. 1.11

|

54%

Import

100%

UK IMPORT ACROSS GLOBE EU: 8,600 M NON EU: 3,300 M

England: 29,100 M Rest of the UK: 34,300 M

Wales: 13,200 M

Scotland: 3,700 M Northern Ireland: 600 M Fig. 1.12

|

Rest of the UK: 34,300 M

Unallocated: 7800 M

Fuel Machinery Medicals and Chemicals Metals and Minerals Food and Produce Transportation Textiles

9.6% 8.0% 7.7% 6.7% 6.6% 5.7% 2.0%

UK TRADE SHARES IN MILLION GBP

10.

Fig. 1.10 Data Source-Welsh Government,Survey of agriculture and horticulture,June 2020 11.

Fig 1.11 Data Source-Office For National Statistics, UK Trade Census, December 2018 12.

Fig 1.12 Data Source-Office For National Statistics, UK Trade Census, December 2018

8

INTRODUCTION

01.2.3

Livestock feed supply chains have wreaked havoc across the globe with swathes of rainforests cleared for growing soyabean to plump up livestock on the far side of the earth

Agricultural Emissions Global estimates place the agriculture industry as one of the largest carbon emitters, particularly the livestock rearing which releases record amounts of methane.

Even as agricultural yield per acre rises in historic proportions, the areas cultivated have also exponentially increased. This superproduction of food cannot be accounted for by the human population alone. These areas are also feeding the excessive numbers of livestock reared indiscriminately. Livestock feed supply chains have wreaked havoc across the globe with swathes of rain forests cleared for growing soya bean to plump up livestock on the far side of the earth. The UK is not exempt from this network. Wales supports a livestock population of over 10 million while home to only about 4 million people. Producing food for people and animals to eat should never have become such a bane to the planet’s survival.

Beef (beef herd) Lamb & Mutton Beef (dairy herd) Prawns (farmed) Cheese Pig Meat Poultry Meat Eggs Rice Milk Tomatoes Wheat & Rye Maize Peas Bananas Potatoes Nuts

99.48 39.72 33.3 26.87 23.88 12.31 9.87 4.67 4.45 3.15 2.09 1.7 1.57 0.98 0.86 0.46 0.43

Products 0

20 Fig. 1.13

Land-Use Change Supply Chain

|

60

80

100

Kg

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION PER KILO-GRAM OF FOOD PRODUCT

Beef (beef herd) Lamb & Mutton Beef (dairy herd) Prawns (farmed) Cheese Pig Meat Poultry Meat Eggs Rice Milk Tomatoes Wheat & Rye Maize Peas Bananas Potatoes Nuts

82 31 27 11 9 7 5 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 <1 <1 <1

Products 0

20 Fig. 1.14

9

40

35 |

50

65

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION FROM FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

13.

Fig 1.13 Data Source:- Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. – Processed by Our World in Data 14.

Fig 1.14 Data Source- Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. – Processed by Our World in Data

80

85 34 29 12 11 8 5 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 <1

Kg

INTRODUCTION

1

0.8

0.6 United Kingdom

0.4

World 0.2

0 Index 1960 Fig. 1.15

1970 |

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

ARABLE LAND NEEDED TO PRODUCE FOOD

4 billion ha

World

3 billion ha

Europe (excl. Russia) India China

2 billion ha

Africa Latin America (excl. Brazil) Middle East

1 billion ha

Oceania Rest of Asia Russia United States Canada

0 billion ha 1700

Fig. 1.16

1750

|

1800

1850

1900

1950

2016

AGRICULTURAL LAND AREA

15.

Fig 1.15 Data Source- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (via World Bank) – processed by Our World in Data 16.

Fig 1.16 Data Source- Land Use Data - HYDE (2017) – processed by Our World in Data

10

INTERLUDE

A1 A NEW LAND DEAL

Translating land from estate to ecology

By Reshma Susan Mathew Green New Deal based seminars_ April 2023

Abstract

Who possesses this landscape?

The man who bought it or I who am possessed by it?

– Norman MacCaig (Shrubsole, 2019) This essay explores the role of land ownership in the global carbon economy and its implicationsfor climate action. Land has been deemed as worthless or profitable “real estate or property,” but in the era of the carbon economy, the value of land acquires an additional quality as an absorber of carbon. Therefore, addressing the disparity in land ownership and reversing it through community action is becoming critical in the Green New Deal mission. In order to effectively sequester sufficient carbon from the atmosphere, we must hold those with the resources to do accountable. In the pursuit of environmentally sustainable and economically feasible solutions to the climate crisis, the essay argues that access to the knowledge of who owns the land and how it is being used is paramount. A primary demand that can be incorporated into the Green New Deal should be that for transparency in land records, their ownerships and use.

Drawing on the idea of a “gift economy” of land management and stewardship, from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s work, one can argue that it is necessary to reimagine land

11

17.

Adams, T. (2019, April 28). Who Owns England?

by Guy Shrubsole review – why this land isn’t your land.

Retrieved from The Gaurdian: https://www.theguardian. com/books/2019/apr/28/who-owns-england-guyshrubsole- review-land-ownership

ownership as a bundle of responsibilities, serving the common good of all life forms.

Landowners must either be held accountable for their ecological responsibility towards ownership of a piece of the environment or alternatively, the land must be managed towards restoring and rejuvenating the crumbling natural systems. The essay argues that this applies to all types of landowners within the 10% bracket, be it aristocracy, corporations, industries, or public sector departments.

The reading ends by looking at the work of the many other organisation that have commenced on the mission of land reforms and justice. There is a need to decolonize and restore the land to all the disenfranchised people, where land-to-the-tiller agrarian reforms schemes could initiate the decline of large-scale industrial agriculture, which has caused significant harm to the environment.

By holding landowners accountable for fulfilling their ecological responsibility of ‘ownership’, we can build a new world that prioritizes the restoration of ecosystems, the revitalization of communities, and the creation of a sustainable future.

What is the role of land in the years to come? What is the future of land under the GND? As our climate breaks down due to the

18.

Ajl, M. (2021). Planet of Fields. In M. Ajl, A People’s Green New Deal (pp. 117-145). Pluto Press.

19. .Baker McKenzie. (2023). China- Real Estate Law. Retrieved from Global Corporate Real Estate Guide: https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/ global-corporate- real-estate-guide/asia-pacific/china/ topics/real-estate-law

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.17

|

PUBLIC COASTLINE WALK ON THE WEST COAST OF WALES

carbon we have pumped out and released into the world, we have all come to realize one fundamental truth. If we do not urgently re-capture and trap all this carbon that swells to burst, we do not stand a chance.

Governments are scurrying to build their carbon economies to monetise this new order of transactions hoping to capitalize on the last vestiges of natural resources that have been spared erasure. (Pandey, 2023) After centuries of environmental degradation and alienation, we are now aiming to reverse the havoc wrecked by the destabilising activities of humans in the carbon cycles of the environment. In this new order, the value of land acquires an additional quality as an absorber of carbon and not just real property.

Land has always been a valuable resource, even before we enclosed it for ourselves and began measuring it in our local unit of currency. It has been the provider of all our basic necessities.

Following the spread of the capitalist world

20.

Christophers, B. (2018). The New Enclosure- The Appropriation of Public Land in Neoliberal Britain. London: Verso.

21. .Cwmpas. (n.d.). Cwmpas- For economic and Social Change. Retrieved from Cwmpas: https://cwmpas. coop/

order, through enclosure policies and the like; land came to be deemed as worthless or profitable ‘real estate or property’. It would provide returns on your investment and prove its worth. And other aspects of the land were rendered as mere anecdotes. The real property once purchased gave its owner the “usage rights” over the physical parcel of land and appendages.

With the active burgeoning of a carbon economy worldwide, we will soon be forced to re-evaluate what is our money’s worth.

As land becomes the most critical cog in that mission to sequester carbon from the atmosphere effectively, we must have a conversation on how that can be facilitated in line with the tenets of the global Green New Deal movement.

What are the necessary steps to be undertaken?

In the absence of constraints on urban

22.

Evans, R. (2019, April 19). Half of England is owned by less than 1% of the population. Retrieved from The Gaurdian: https://www.theguardian.com/ money/2019/apr/17/who- owns-england-thousandsecret-landowners-author

12

INTERLUDE

economic practices, land ownership in the UK has remained skewed grossly in favour of a handful of rich and powerful2. The figures almost portray the sense that feudalism never died. Several studies have poked to the point of numbness at the alarming inequality that is prevalent. In England, half of the land is owned by a meagre 25,000 people and unsurprisingly, several of these 25,000 people sit in parliamentary offices determining the future of all their landless constituents. (Adams, 2019) In Wales, there is a stark disparity between land use and land value. Residential area land contributes to 70% of the land prices even though they occupy only 5% of the actual land area.

Inversely, while agricultural land occupies almost half (50%) the land area, its value is only 5.4% of the net value of land in Wales (Haf, Gwerth Tir Cymru | The Value of Land in Wales, 2021).

The landowners have retained their property rights for decades and impacted the country more than the combined citizens that have lived in it. This impact has driven environmentally destructive developments, promoted longer supply chains, degraded local landscapes, destabilised small farm holdings, decreased internal food security and a host of other social and economic pitfalls.

To begin developing environmentally sustainable (and economically feasible) solutions to the climate crisis, we first need to gauge who has the most responsibility and power towards climate action. Access to the knowledge of who owns the land we stand on and how is it being used is paramount. This information should be public and accessible, not shrouded in secrecy as it is now. As a very basic step towards land reform, it is important to demand the publishing of the data sets of ownership. This information remains opaque and guarded by the very instruments elected to protect the people’s best interests. It is estimated that accessing

13

23.

Giacomo D’Alisa, Giorgos Kallis , & Federico Demaria . (2015). Degrowth: a vocabulary for a new era.

Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

records of land ownership in England would cost an individual up to £72 million in fees paid to the land registry (Adams, 2019). As cries for just transition and land redistribution ring louder every day, agencies that work towards imagining that future need access to that knowledge.

What after gaining access to land records?

In her book Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer talks of how indigenous communities live in a ‘gift economy’. She says that “goods and services” were not purchased but received as gifts from the earth and the land was a gift for all. In her poignant book, she describes how her Native American tribal community saw land not as a bundle of usage rights but instead as a bundle of responsibilities. These were the responsibilities of serving the common good of all life forms – creatures small and large, flora or fauna.

In modern rhetoric, it has become impossible to imagine an alternative reality to the consumer economy. A gift economy seems almost like a fairy tale, but the reality could not be any further from true. These models of land management and stewardship existed for centuries before present systems came to be and it is not impossible or impractical, in fact, it is necessary. Controversial as it may be, landowners must either be held accountable for their ecological responsibility towards ownership of a piece of the environment or alternatively, the land must be managed towards restoring and rejuvenating the crumbling natural systems.

This applies to all types of landowners within the 10% bracket, be it aristocracy, corporations, industries, or public sector departments. Having seen the disproportionate damage wrecked by the tiny elite, it would be remiss not to place the

24.

Haf, S. (2021, April 30). Gwerth Tir Cymru | The Value of Land in Wales. Retrieved from Who Owns Wales || Pwy Bia Cymru: https://whoownscymru.wordpress. com/2021/04/30/gwerth- tir-cymru-the-value-of-land-inwales/

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.18

|

SUBTLE ENCLOSURES IN PUBLIC AREAS AT NEWLY REOPENED BATTER-SEA POWER STATION

sizeable responsibility of climate restoration on the same creatures.

In his book ‘A People’s Green New Deal’ Max Ajl talks of how the land must be decolonized and restored to all the disenfranchised people. In his imagination titled ‘a planet of fields’, he elaborates on the impact of introducing land-to-the-tiller agrarian reforms that could initiate the decline of capitalist markets and restore the means of production to the labour forces.

been the most sought-after public asset in the past, those who own land also own the capacity for alternative futures. It is critical to ensure that this capacity is channelled towards the larger common good.

What is the work that is currently underway in Wales?

We need to translate the value of land from real estate to real ecology, its original form and function. And this transition must be chalked out for the different types of institutions that occupy the land such as the variety of industries, corporations, authorities and public agencies. Strategies for degrowth should embark on a mission for reducing national consumption and promoting more sustainable land practices. If the land has

The task that lies ahead is daunting and by no measure a small feat. Most academics and farmers have been in consensus while advocating for a more diverse portfolio of enterprises within the farming industry.

Large-scale supermarket chains and their intensive farming practices have homogenised agricultural activities with blatant disregard for socio-economic consequences. So naturally, transitioning away from these models towards ecologically restorative farming and labour practices will entail reviving more traditional relationships with the land.

25.

Haf, S. (2022, February 28). The Welsh Agenda.

Retrieved from Who Owns Wales?: https://www.iwa. wales/agenda/2022/02/who-owns-wales/

26.

Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding SweetgrassIndigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions.

14

INTERLUDE

Agroecological farming models are being explored where farms and farmers work more closely with local communities to provide them with their requirements, often building bespoke relationships with members of the community to create more dense networks of production. Agriculture can be closer to the cities and connect the urban centres to their hinterlands. There must be more government initiatives to lock carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the ground and policies must protect and value the labour expended on ecological restoration.

(Ajl, 2021) As a Welsh farmer Rhidian Glyn said in an interview with The Guardian, ‘Agriculture is just the recycling of carbon, isn’t it? Whereas the companies that are buying carbon credits are just burning fossil fuels, aren’t they, which is just a one-way system.” (Levitt, 2021) In transitioning ahead of current models caught up in superficial greenwashing measures, adequate financial subsidies and support must be provided to boost healthy practices in the industry.

Banks must be propositioned to lend more generously towards these initiatives. With the clock ticking, it is imperative that we build collectives and learn from each other. There are a remarkable number of radical and progressive agencies working towards land justice and reform in the UK.

Fig. 1.19

15

|

NATIVE LAND DIGITAL INDIGENOUS MAPPING

27.

Levitt, T. (2021, December 28). ‘It’ll take away our livelihoods’: Welsh farmers on rewilding and carbon markets. Retrieved from The Gaurdian- Rewilding: https:// www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/28/ agriculture-recycling-carbon- farmers-reframe-rewildingdebate

The LION (Land In Our Name) is an organization that works with marginalised BPOC communities to reimagine the dynamics of land stewardship – one where they cultivate a relationship with the land that “extends beyond extraction”.

Through multiple projects, the organisation has curated the narrative of reparations owed to black communities centring the stories of their community’s land workers.

They also conduct a variety of knowledge dissemination activities such as podcasts, talks, discussion circles and skill-sharing presentations and facilitate network building.

In one project, Jumping Fences they worked to map BPOC-led land-based businesses and to discover what challenges they face and how they seek to overcome them.

Another organisation that is working towards making land more accessible is Shared Assets. They reimagine local economies, natural resources, governance and policy through land reform proposals. Towards this effort, the organisation is also working to build collective knowledge on working with land for the common good and the complex challenges it entails. Cwmpas is an organisation previously known as the Wales Co-operative Centre that works towards providing expert financial and legal assistance to support people seeking funds to develop their own businesses or to move into their own homes. By providing advice (often free of charge) they have

Fig. 1.20

|

WELSH LAND OWNERSHIP VS LAND VALUE

28.

Pandey, K. (2023, April 12). India prepares for a domestic carbon market with release of a draft carbon trading scheme. Retrieved from Mongabay: 29. https://india.mongabay.com/2023/04/ india-prepares-for-a-domestic-carbon-market-withrelease-of-a-draft-carbon-trading-scheme/?mc_ cid=346aaf1a15&mc_eid=5670febf58

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.21

|

PRIVATISED POCKETS IN ENCLOSED PARK AT BEDFORD SQUARE IN LONDON

been working to empower the community through novel means of cooperation within the private sector in the form of cooperative consortia that protects the interests of their community. Their projects cover a wide range of portfolios including proposals in the housing sector, digital inclusion policies, community financing models, social enterprises and the launching of new businesses. A popular strategy adopted by them has been using Community Shares to save local businesses or starting new ones to provide services to the community. (Cwmpas, n.d.)

organisations that work towards exploring new farming techniques that are built on a sustainable model of farming that responds to the climate crisis and the pressing needs of a community that has been alienated from the landscape.

Resilient green spaces is a Welsh government-funded project involving multiple organisations to tackle better food systems with better quality food, better access to land, improved community farms and biodiversity.

The New Economic Foundation, the Real Farming Trust, the Landworkers Alliance, the Future Narratives Lab are all many other

As we can see there are numerous teams and organisations working towards a more equitable and just future. These numerous examples are evidence that it is possible to imagine an alternative shared reality that works for the benefit of all. The government needs to catch up with these communitydriven initiatives and facilitate more such enterprises. With more political will, the larger systemic issues can be addressed to tackle the climate crisis. The saying goes ‘an organized people, need no state’ however the government remains responsible for serving the best interests of its people, especially when the movement has already taken shape on the ground.

30.

Perkins, R. (2019, February 12). Making small farms work: lessons from 59°N. Oxford Real Farming Conference 2019. Oxford Real Farming.

Retrieved 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nb3jBPF7NLs&ab_channel=OxfordRealFarming

31.

Shrubsole, G. (2019). Who Owns England. Great Britain: William Collins.

32.

Wood, E. M. (1998, July 1). The Agrarian Origins of Capitalism. The Monthly Review, pp. 1- 15.

16

INTRODUCTION

01.3

Lessons from a Small Country

01.3.1

Historical Background Wales is a small proud country with a rich history. It is home to many historical cultures and has a long agrarian history. There are even entire sections of medieval Welsh poetry written on cattle and its trade (Lewis, 2013). During the Industrial Revolution, the Welsh landscapes were plundered heavily to supply coal to the factories all over the UK. Depictions of Welsh landscape from this period tends to show the picturesque landscape forming the backdrop of smoking chimneys from the coal mines. By the end of the 20th century, with transition to other fuels, the coal mines slowly shut down. The landscape now serves primarily as vast areas of livestock farming or as avenues for wildlife or adventure tourism. It has become a holiday haven for many from neighboring areas and its landscapes remain as enchanting as before. There is considerable sense of pride (and nationalism) surrounding these regions and with climate conditions getting harsher, there is movement to preserve these spaces too.

Edinburgh

Newcastle

Cardiff

London

Coal Mining regions Fig. 1.22

17

|

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS CLIPPINGS FROM WALES

33.

Lewis, B. (2013). ‘Gwalch Cywyddau Gwyr’: Fifteenth Century Wales . In B. L. DF Evans, ‘A poet in the landscape: Wales and its regions through the eyes of Guto’r Glyn’ (pp. 149-76).

34.

Fig 23 Data Source - Beaver, T. H., Patricia. (2013, March 4). Life After Coal: Does Wales Point the Way? The Daily Yonder. https://dailyyonder.com/lifafter-coal-doeswales-point-way/2013/03/04/

Fig. 1.23

|

COAL MINING AREAS IN UK

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.24

|

MERTHYR RIOTS, PENRY WILLIAMS, 1816.

Fig. 1.25

|

DOWLAIS IRONWORKS, GEORGE CHILDS, 1840.

35.

Fig 1.24 & Fig 1.25 - Artistic Impressions of Nineteenth Century Industrial South Wales. (n.d.).

Thomasgenweb.com. http://thomasgenweb.com/ industrial_art.html‌

18

INTRODUCTION

01.3.2

The One Planet Development emerged under the umbrella of such Acts and is a ‘forwardthinking’ planning policy that is aimed at providing people with the means to live sustainably off their own land if they were able to reduce their ecological footprints

19

Welsh Climate Action The Welsh government has been working towards addressing the climate crisis and building a suitable action plan towards it.

Numerous attempts have been made to draft policies that tackle global warminggenerated issues in this small nation. These efforts are directed towards curbing carbon emissions, building energy-efficient buildings, and managing the waste generated to reduce the long-term shifts in temperature (Welsh Government n.d.). The earliest of such legislation was the One Wales, One Planet scheme which was introduced in 2009. This piece of legislation advocated for cutting down the country’s consumption to its fair share of the earth’s resources as per the EF. Wales also rolled out multiple legislations to prepare their climate action strategies like the Wales Climate Change Strategy (2010 revised in 2014) which aspires to create 50,000 Ha of new woodlands by 2040; the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 which further enlisted numerous supplementary policy briefs to ensure natural resources are managed sustainably. Some of them are the National Natural Resources Policy for Wales to ensure the sustained preservation of all documented natural resources through effective naturebased solutions for the prosperity of the country. Another policy is the Biodiversity and Resilient Ecosystems Duty which made the responsibility of public bodies to protect and preserve the ecological systems within their jurisdiction. A more recent one of these policies was the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015) under which, public bodies are advised to pursue the economic, social, and environmental well-being of Welsh citizens in ways that build resilience and adaptations to the onslaught of the climate crisis (Wales 2015). It put in place necessary guidelines for sustainable development and outlined the statutory roles of public bodies.

The One Planet Development emerged under the umbrella of such Acts and is a ‘forwardthinking’ planning policy that is aimed at providing people with the means to live sustainably off their own land if they were able to reduce their ecological footprints.

36.

Lewis, B. (2013). ‘Gwalch Cywyddau Gwyr’: Essays on Guto ‘r Glyn and Fifteenth Century Wales . In B. L. DF Evans, ‘A poet in the landscape: Wales and its regions through the eyes of Guto’r Glyn’ (pp. 149-76).

INTRODUCTION

2009

2010

2012

2009 - One Wales One Planet

2010 - Technical Advice Note 6

2012 - Practice Guidance Document

The sustainable development scheme of the Welsh assembly government

Planning for sustainable rural communities

One Planet Development TAN 6 Planning for sustainable rural communities

2021- Review of OPD Policy

2020- Net Zero Strategic Plan

A review was conducted by the One Planet Council to identify the performance of the policy over the last 11 years

Net Zero goals in keeping with the UK targets for the Paris Agreement devised and introduced

2021

2020

2015- Well-being for Future Generations Act Act introduced in Senedd promising to safeguard planetary health and create a just and equitable world for posterity

2016

2015

Post Brexit loss in farm subsidies Fig. 1.26

|

WELSH CLIMATE ACTION TIMELINE

37.

Fig 1.26 Cover Page Data Source-Review of One Planet Development in Wales, 2010-2021

20

INTRODUCTION

01.3.3

One Planet Development Policy The One Planet Development is a planning policy implemented under the guidelines set forth by the Welsh parliamentary legislation called the Future Generations Act. In a quest to reduce environmental impact on the planet, this policy set out to reduce individual EF by promoting avenues to a new lifestyle.

The Welsh government announced this policy to encourage individuals to reduce their footprints, hoping the trend would reflect on the national figures as well.

21

The Welsh government announced this policy to encourage individuals to reduce their footprints, hoping the trend would reflect on the national figures as well.

Applicants who signed up to be a part of this policy were allowed to build eco-homes on their own farmlands if they were able to sustain themselves from the land on a reduced ecological footprint. The ecological footprint allowance was estimated to be 1.88 gHa per person, based on the national EF in the year the policy was drafted. Since the calculation of Welsh EF cannot be directly transferred to the individual scale, under the OPD scheme the individual EF was to be calculated based on a system designed to measure their performances over seven parameters (marked in drawing beside). The interested applicants are to submit a detailed business model to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), highlighting their strategies and five-year plan to achieve the stipulated targets under the 7 parameters. There are several clauses and conditions that must be met. These are annually monitored by the LPA for the plot be considered a successful OPD site.

Through this policy the legislators hoped to address both issues of climate change and a burgeoning rural housing crisis.

Through this policy the legislators hoped to address both issues of climate change and a burgeoning rural housing crisis. Due to the intense tourist interest in Wales, a unique condition has arisen where the purchase of second homes have driven up housing prices making housing a scarce commodity in the countryside. The OPD application provided an answer to both and encourage rural repopulation. The guidelines also created frameworks for several types of OPDs to facilitate sharing of tools and systems; such as the multi-unit, land based enterprises, small group, small planned community and the ecovillage.

01. Land Based Activity

02. Zero Carbon Building

03. Land Management

Eco house built on agricultural land

04. Energy

05. Waste & Water

38.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

06. Transport

Reducing Ecological Footprint to 1.88 GHa

07. Community Impact

Community Impact

INTRODUCTION

07

02

05

05 01 06

03

04

Fig. 1.27

|

MODEL OF A TYPICAL SINGLE UNIT ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT SITE

39.

Fig 1.27 Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/ planning-policy/

04

01

Land Based Activity

02

Zero Carbon Building

03

Land Management

04

Energy

05

Waste & Water

06

Transport

07

Community Impact

22

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.28

|

VIEW OF TY GWENNOL OPD FARM

Fig. 1.29

|

VEGETABLE BEDS AT DAN Y BERLLAN

23

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.30

|

POULTRY FARM AT DAN Y BERSHAN

Fig. 1.31

|

ECO HOUSE AT THE LAMMAS ECO VILLAGE SITE

24

INTERLUDE

A2 NEED OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BUSINESS MODELS IN WALES

A Path Towards One Planet Development and the Green New Deal

By Parth Mehta Green New Deal based seminars_ April 2023

Introduction “Industrial farming significantly contributes to climate change, releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere” (EPA, 2022).

These emissions have far-reaching impacts, including droughts and floods, that require immediate action. At the cost of climate change, industrial farming is also linked to the Global economy generating significant revenue and creating millions of jobs. To address this, it is crucial to change current agricultural practices (Climate Change and Land, IPCC, 2019).

Wales has implemented the one planet development policy to promote sustainable agriculture and land-use practices with low-impact living. In addition, ‘the Green New Deal provides a comprehensive vision for generating a low-carbon economy that prioritises social and environmental justice’ (H.Res, 2019-2020). By embracing sustainable agriculture practices such as agroforestry, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture, “Wales has the potential to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, enhance biodiversity, and support local communities” (One Planet Development Wales, 2012). However, these farming methods face inevitable short-term setbacks due to the significant investment in time, resources, and knowledge. Furthermore, the current economic system has created financial barriers, including a lack of financial

25

40.

Agricultural Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,’Greenhouse gases released from agricultural practices, EPA 2022, accessed April 20 2023, https:// www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gasemissions#agriculture 41.

Climate Change and Land,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, August 8, 2019, https://www. ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/

incentives and support from the market and government, which limits adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

Business models can play a crucial role in overcoming these limitations, and help farmers have a stable source of income and reduce any financial risk. This model can also build relationships between farmers and consumers by creating a sense of community and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices (Community supported agriculture, 2020).

This essay will explore different business models for sustainable agriculture and land use in Wales that support One Planet Development’s goals. I will begin by discussing the current business models used in Wales and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. I will explore alternative business models like cooperatives, social enterprises, community-supported agriculture, and land use that can create new green jobs. The essay will conclude with ways to include these business models in the One Planet Development policy and how they can contribute to Green New Deal.

The Present In Wales, agriculture is heavily focused on livestock farming, with sheep and cattle being the most commonly raised animals. The goal is to maximise production by keeping many animals in confined spaces. (BBC, 2020).

42.

“H.R.109 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal,” 116th Congress (2019-2020), Congress.gov, accessed April 20, 2023, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/houseresolution/109.

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.32

|

INDUSTRIAL FARMING PRACTICE

This condition generates profuse animal waste in small areas, polluting soil, and water.

These impacts have raised concerns about the environment and animal welfare.

Most fields in Wales are monoculture crops of wheat and barley. The reliance on synthetic fertilisers and chemical pesticides, often used with heavy machinery, has profoundly affected the environment and human health.

(BBC, 2020). In Wales, synthetic fertilisers are common on crops such as potatoes and maise. The impact of agribusiness is not limited to the environment. Large business corporations have marginalized small-scale farmers, leading to a concentration of land ownership and loss of traditional farming practices and local knowledge. It has created a power imbalance, leaving small-scale farmers at the mercy of large corporations and commodity markets. (Welsh government, 2018)

based on conventional business models of maximising productivity and profits, often at the expense of quality. Intensive farming may help to increase agricultural production, but it comes at the cost of the environment and human and animal welfare. (EPA, 2022)

These agricultural practices in Wales are

For example, river Wye in Wales has been affected by nitrogen runoff due to the extensive use of synthetic fertilisers in the surrounding fields. It resulted in algal blooms and low oxygen levels in the water, affecting aquatic life and local communities that rely on the river for fishing and recreation. (Farhoud, Nada, and Tomas Malloy. 2022These conventional agricultural practices in Wales urgently need reform.

The business models need to change from maximising productivity and profits gained at the expense of the environment, human health, and traditional farming practices to more sustainable alternatives that can benefit both the environment and local communities.

43.

One Planet Development in Wales,” Welsh Government, accessed April 15, 2023, https://www.gov. wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-01/practiceguidance-using-the-one-planet-development-ecologicalfootprint-calculator_0.pdf

44.

Community Supported Agriculture: A New Business Model for Sustainable Agriculture in Wales,” Welsh Government, accessed April 20, 2023, https:// communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2020/07/CSA-Evaluation-Full-report-JULY-2020. pdf

26

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.33

|

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

The Alternatives The new business model needs to operate on community involvement, shared ownership, social impact, and environmental justice principles. Various strategies can be adapted from alternative business models such as cooperatives, social enterprises, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture and land use while creating new green jobs.

1. Cooperatives These are the businesses that their members democratically control. In agriculture, it helps small farmers pool resources and share costs. This model can result in more bargaining power and tip into markets, which is otherwise impossible as an individual.

(UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 2012). One such example is US-based Co-op Coffees which sources from farmer cooperatives across the globe, ensuring

27

45.

BBC. “Nitrogen pollution: Welsh farmers urged to cut emissions.” BBC News, 10 Jan. 2020, https://www. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55217228

fair prices for the farmers and promoting sustainable practices in coffee production (Co-Op Coffees).

2. Social enterprises In this business model, profits are secondary; it needs to have a social or environmental mission as its core objective to develop sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices. It also creates jobs for disadvantaged communities or reduces food waste (Social Enterprise UK). This innovative model is adopted by UK-based Farm Urban, which uses hydroponic technology to grow vegetables in urban environments to reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and promote access to fresh vegetables in cities. (Farm Urban)14 3. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) In this alternative business model, consumers are connected with local farmers, providing them with fresh and seasonal

46.

Sustainable Agriculture in Wales: A Review of Current Practice and Future Research Needs,” Welsh Government, accessed April 20, 2023, https://www. gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-10/ independent-review-into-the-resilience-of-farming-inwales.pdf

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.34

|

THE JOY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

produce from small-scale agricultural practices. As a common practice in this model, monthly subscription fees are charged to the consumer in exchange for a share of the harvest throughout the year. It enables farmers with stable income while allowing sustainable agricultural practices, also reducing carbon emissions associated with food transportation (Soil association).

In the UK, the CSA network in Stroud, Gloucestershire, houses many CSA farms and has a thriving local food system. These farms provide weekly harvest shares to consumers who pay upfront for the season’s worth of produce. This model helps local farmers and provides fresh food to the local community while saving the environment (Stroud community agriculture)

animals, and land uses within the same farming system allows ecological and economic benefits. In Suffolk, UK, Wakelyns is a Co-op social enterprise combining agroforestry and traditional farming practices. The farm is a mixture of growing different crops, fruits and vegetables around the year while having trees, shrubs, and hedgerows. This practice has helped improve soil conditions, increasing biodiversity and sequestering carbon. The stacking model at Wakelyns creates a resilient, sustainable farming system that benefits the environment and local communities

Stacking Alternatives The integration of these alternative models requires a multi-functional agroforestry approach. Integrating different crops,

In the context of Wales, these models, if adopted, can provide new green jobs.

For example, cooperative provides the platform for farmers to share knowledge, resources, equipment, and experience of sustainable agricultural practices. It creates job opportunities like resource management that facilitates and monitors supplies or data.

47.

Farhoud, Nada, and Tomas Malloy. 2022.

“River Wye Turns into ‘Open Sewer’ as Waters Are Polluted.” GloucestershireLive. April 6, 2022. https://www. gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/riverwye-turns-open-sewer-6911722.

48.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

“Cooperatives and Rural Development.” Accessed April 20 2023, https://www.fao.org/3/ap088e/ap088e00.pdf

28

INTERLUDE

Additionally, it requires an administration that monitors the coordination of farming activities.

29

Integration with One Planet Development

We can create more value-added products from the social enterprise models of the farms. It enables opportunities for training and education sectors in sustainable agriculture practices. In the CSA model, direct links can be created between farmers and consumers, allowing more sustainable agriculture, and shortening the food supply chain. This model creates scope for marketing and consumer services, also for farm themselves, including farm managers, farm labourers and delivery staff.

The overall integration of these models can create a range of new green jobs related to sustainable agriculture and land use practices.

One Planet Development, Wales, allows lowimpact living by integrating multiple land-use activities such as forestry, horticulture, and animal husbandry. Today, this happens at an ‘individual scale’ with less than 50 single unit OPDs across Wales serving negligible/no impact on the vision of the policy (To reduce Wales’ ecological footprint while increasing the well-being of citizens). Briefly, the result of the failure of the policy is a need for more government funding, slow administration processes and an extensive application process (One Planet Development Wales, 2012). In addition, if integrated, the discussed business models can promote a more community-based approach, where groups work together to manage land and create a sustainable, resilient community.

Fig. 1.35

|

SPRAYING MORE FERTILISERS

Fig. 1.36

|

IS THERE ANY CLEANUP POSSIBLE

Fig. 1.37

|

FROM FARM TO CUP

Fig. 1.38

|

THE FAR IN THE CITY

49.

Social Enterprise UK. “The Environment and Social Enterprise.” Accessed April 20 2023, https://www. socialenterprise.org.uk

50.

Soil Association. “What is CSA and How Does it Work?” ,Accessed April 20 2023, http://www. communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk 51.

Wakelyns Agroforestry. “About Us.”,Accessed April 20 2023, https://wakelyns.co.uk

INTERLUDE

Fig. 1.39

|

AGROFORESTRY CONTRASTED WITH INDUSTRIAL

It is crucial to ensure that integrating alternative business models with OPDs remains a community approach, and a few measures must be considered.

1. OPDs should create community land trust (CLT), allowing common ownership over land and resources. It will share benefits from sustainable agriculture and land use practice within the community.

provide support and incentives for their implementation :for example, financial assistance, training, and equipment to integrate alternate business models can bring innovative solutions. Local authorities can also play a role by providing communityled initiatives prioritizing environmental and social justice.

Conclusion

2. Community engagement and involvement must be increased in developing OPD projects. It is achievable through community consultation, workshops, and training programs. This process will ensure the active participation of community members in decision-making processes.

3. The OPD policy should priorities social enterprises and community-supported agriculture initiatives to create more sustainable agriculture and land-use practices that could benefit the community.

In addition, OPD policymakers should

While integrating alternative business models into One Planet development policy, we can also contribute to the Green New Deal vision; by promoting renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, prioritising environmental protection and social justice we can create a resilient and sustainable economy (Climate Change and Land, IPCC, 2019). In short, these business models can pave the way for a more innovative and community-based approach to economic development in Wales that ensures long-term health and prosperity of planet and people

52.

“Coop Coffees.” n.d., Accessed April 20, 2023. https://coopcoffees.coop.

53.

Greens for Good.” n.d. Farm Urban., Accessed April 20, 2023. https://www.farmurban.co.uk/greens-forgood.

54.

Agriculture, Community Supported. n.d. “Stroud Community Agriculture.” Accessed April 20, 2023.https:// communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/farms/stroudcommunity-agriculture/.

30

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.40

31

|

2009 SATELLITE IMAGERY OF GLYNCORRWG, AFAN VALLEY

55.

Fig 1.40. Google Earth 7.3.6.9345, (2006) Glyncorrwg 51°58’0.92”N, 4°12’24.17”W, elevation 280M. Satellite Imagery. [Online] Available at: http://www.google. com/earth/index.html [Accessed 15 December 2023]

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 1.41

|

2020 SATELLITE IMAGERY OF GLYNCORRWG, AFAN VALLEY WITH THE PEN Y CYMOEDD WIND FARM

56.

Fig 1.41 Google Earth 7.3.6.9345, (2021) Glyncorrwg 51°58’0.92”N, 4°12’24.17”W, elevation 280M. Satellite Imagery. [Online] Available at: http://www.google. com/earth/index.html [Accessed 15 December 2023]

32

ENQUIRY

02

ANALYSING THE OPD POLICY

02.1

Details of the Policy

02.1.1

Application Process The application process for the OPD policy is known to be long and quite taxing.

Interested candidates are required to prepare a document known as the Land Management Plan in accordance to the stipulated guidelines. The LPA is the authority that reviews, recommends modifications, and approves the project. The sanctioned projects have a five year period to set up and achieve their goals and are further monitored annually by the LPA. The process is financially quite extractive from procuring the land to hiring experts to help in preparing the document. It can also be quite circuitous with no promise of achieving a positive outcome making it an arduous process draining both time and monetary resources.

02.1.2

Choose a Site

Step 02

Draft Management Plan

Pre Application Advice

Consultation Consul-tee Third Parties

Calculating EF in the policy The EF Analysis (EFA) for the purposes of the OPD Policy is new tool developed by the policy makers specifically to measure performance across the seven parameters enlisted by the policy. EFA for the individual was designed to measure the difference “between the products and services consumed by the OPD applicants and (...) those consumed by typical UK citizens”.

Practical challenges posed by the scale of the assessment made this a calculation based on economic expenses rather than ‘land productivity’ as done with EF calculations for countries. This number was instead designed to build an assessment where the low energy, low consumption lifestyle promoted by the policy would rate highly. And ‘where assumptions cannot be verified, they have not been included. The tool is therefore likely to be relatively conservative in its results.’

33

Step 01

1.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

Step 03

Planning Applications

Appeal Approval

Refusal End Refusal

Step 04

Decision - Delegated or Committee

Step 05

Implementation & Monitoring

Fig. 2.1

|

ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PROCESS

Approval

ENQUIRY

01. Land Based Activity

02. Zero Carbon Building

03. Land Management

04. Energy

05. Waste & Water

06. Transport

07. Community Impact Fig. 2.2

|

OPD ECOLOGICAL TARGETS

Fig. 2.3

2.

Fig 2.1 & fig 2.2 data source-: Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development.

Cardiff: Welsh Government. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil. org.uk/planning-policy/

|

PHOTOGRAPHS OF TARGET ON SITE

34

INTERLUDE

A3 INTERVIEW WITH MARC SCALE Marc Scale was the head of the One Planet Council in March 2023. The One Planet Council is a collective of all approved OPD projects in Wales. The council assists new and interested parties with their applications to the LPA. They act as a knowledge sharing platform for all those interested in the policy and also act as a point of contact between OPDs to facilitate collaborations between each other.

Below are a few key snippets from the conversation with Marc Scale on 22nd February 2023.

Why is land a scarce commodity in Wales?

The mountainous terrain has built a traditional history of rearing cattle. At present most farmers prefer to use their land for monoculture which has also degraded the fertility of the land. And in general people prefer not to sell their land since it is a asset inherited and passed down. The land in the North is also more expensive so everyone can mostly buy land only in the south. As a business model how much do the OPDs make? I would say perhaps on an average across the board 4000 a year.

What are the main challenges to the OPD policy right now?

made thus far by the British government plunging the faith of the international community. In addition to backing out of the the government’s commitment to achieving

35

A major challenge is in interpreting the planning guidelines. A lot of them are also rejected at the local council which is later overruled by the LPA. And the OPD Policy was initially going to come out with more types of OPDs but the process stopped with the Open Countryside Type. The council has tried to ease the process and share knowledge but it is taxing and it costs a lot of money to prepare and succeed. Also the OPDs need a lot more support once successful but the

3.

Scale, M. (2023, January). The One Planet Council. (Team, Interviewer)

INTERLUDE

Fig. 2.4

|

CARICATURE OF MARC SCALE

LPA is no funded enough to do it. Like the winters in the eco-homes can get difficult and producing energy is difficult without sunlight then.

Why do you think the locals would rather not have OPDs? There isa lot of misconception around the policy. When we first set up our OPD, nobody was ready to buy produce from us and there was hostility but on our Open Days, when they visited the site, many of them remarked that this was the way their grandparents used to live long ago, it wasn’t something as radical as they had perceived.

What does the OPD Council do?

We help new applicants find their feet on the ground, providing them assistance with the guidelines. The document even for measuring the Ecological Footprint Analysis is also very tedious to comprehend and nay mistake with the application can set them back unnecessarily.

How is the Ecological Footprint Analysis calculated individually?

There is an excel file with inbuilt calculations

designed to measure consumption against production. Not sure how the metrics within that works.

How does the OPD Council address challenges with the Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA) calculation?

The OPD Council offers guidance to applicants navigating the complexities of the Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA).

We assist in interpreting the guidelines and provide support in completing the EFA accurately. Additionally, we collaborate with experts to ensure applicants understand the calculations and metrics involved. While the process can be daunting, our aim is to streamline the EFA calculation process and help applicants accurately assess their ecological impact.

What role does community engagement play in OPD initiatives?

Community engagement is fundamental to the success of OPD initiatives. We actively involve local communities through outreach programs, workshops, and open days to foster understanding and support for OPDs. long-term sustainability and positive impact on the environment and society.

4.

Scale, M. (2023, January). The One Planet Council. (Team, Interviewer)

36

INTERLUDE

A4 INTERVIEW WITH DAVID THORPE David Thorpe is an active member of the One Planet Centre and was consulted in better understanding the inception of the One Planet concept. A conversation with him was arranged over Zoom on 19th April 2023.

David commended the OPD policy for its bold approach in tackling the climate crisis through lifestyle adjustments. He stressed the necessity of increased funding for Local Planning Authorities to effectively implement and support the policy. David proposed extending the use of Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA) to all planning applications, beyond just those under the OPD Policy, to enhance environmental considerations across the board.

Fig. 2.5

37

|

However, he expressed concerns regarding the outdated nature and complexity of the EF metric. He suggested simplifying the EF by presenting it as a pie chart or bar graph to improve comprehension and accessibility for all stakeholders involved. Additionally, David raised an important issue regarding the laborintensive nature of the lifestyle promoted by the policy, which currently excludes disabled individuals from participating as applicants.

He recommended that future iterations of the policy consider the lifespan and future health of applicants to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all demographics.

These insights underscore the potential for refining the OPD policy to not only address environmental challenges more effectively but also to promote inclusivity and sustainability in its implementation.

CARICATURE OF DAVID THORPE

5.

Thorpe, D. (2023, June 2). One Planet Life. (Team, Interviewer)

INTERLUDE

A5 INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SHORTEN James Shorten was a member of the team at Land Use Consultants, the agency used by the Welsh government to draft the OPD Practice Guidelines. A conversation with him was arranged on 9th June 2023 and below is a summary from the conversation between James and the team.

The conversation primarily revolved around trying to understand the process by which the policy was conceptualised, commissioned and drafted. We came to understand that the research started in 2002 and it took a long time to finalise as it was an unconventional piece of legislature and also political shifts in the Welsh Parliament Senedd challenged the process. One year after the contract was awarded to the Land

Fig. 2.6

|

Use Consultants by a steering committee the policy was introduced in public domain.

James believed the Ecological Footprint was not an adequate measure as the work on it has stalled and the conversion factors are increasingly complicated with technological advancements. Innovations like electrical vehicles complicate the metric and he recommended the use of carbon footprints instead to measure climate action plans at that scale.

He asserted that the policy was not an alternative to housing as it was dedicated towards reducing adapting to climate emergency while ensuring access to housing, food and wellbeing. He remarked on the lack of land access and said that options of renting land out to OPDs should be considered more closely.

CARICATURE OF JAMES HORTEN

6.

Shorten, J. (2023, June 9). Drafting the OPD Policy . (Team, Interviewer)

38

ENQUIRY

02.1.3

OPDs beyond rural areas, exploring types like multi dwellings, land-based enterprises, and eco-villages

Multi Unit OPD Under the OPD practice guidelines published by the TAN-6: Planning for Sustainable Rural Communities in October 2012, the terms listed are assuming that all OPDs will first take shape primarily in the rural countryside. The long-term vision for this policy had sought to expand this scheme to other typologies as well. Speculations were made for OPDs to appear in other regions such as the edge of settlements and within existing settlements. Apart from variations in location, the OPD policy also envisioned a quantitative expansion by increasing the number of stakeholders involved. While these options were never explored in total capacity, the TAN-6 document has elaborated on multiple types within the open countryside.

These are (1) Single Dwelling (2) Land based enterprise (3) Small group of dwellings (4) Small planned community and (5) Ecovillage.

By 2023, there were very few projects that explored these varieties with the vast majority of projects applying as single units or as land-based enterprises that had small market interests. A small number of projects have explored the third type or multi-unit OPDs and an even fewer number of projects have explored the prospects of an ecovillage.

Through Examples

Exploring the Dynamics of Multi-Unit OPDs: Unveiling Opportunities and Challenges

39

The farm known as Rhiw Las serves as an example of a multi-unit OPD. Four households collaborated, submitted an OPD application for a 21-acre farmland, now fully operational. Similarly, the Lammas eco-village, a well-known case, involves collaboration among twenty households across 120 acres. Direct conversations with these applicants unveiled the challenges and advantages of this development type.

All parties agreed that alliances enhance resource management efficiency and establish vital support systems crucial in an isolated location. However, many emphasized the increased complexity associated with heightened collaboration.

Despite this, the consensus remains on the positive impact, as alliances contribute to more efficient resource management and foster essential support systems in isolated areas.

7.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

07

ENQUIRY

02

05

02

02

01

03

06

Fig. 2.7

|

01

Land Based Activity

02

Zero Carbon Building

03

Land Management

04

Energy

05

Waste & Water

06

Transport

07

Community Impact

MODEL OF A TYPICAL MULTI UNIT ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT SITE

8.

Fig 2.4 Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/ planning-policy/

40

ENQUIRY

02.2 02.2.1

First Hand Discoveries Mapping the OPD Policy Upon mapping all the sanctioned OPD projects as of 2023, clear patterns begin to emerge. Between 2010 and 2021, the policy garnered 63 applications, with 39 receiving approval. Notably, a significant concentration of projects is observed in the southern regions, particularly in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire counties.

All operational OPDs are established on freehold lands purchased by applicants. A closer examination of 12 of these projects reveals an average farm size of 15 acres, supporting small families consisting of approximately 2 to 4 individuals each. Aside from the main eco-house approved by the Local Planning Authority (LPA), ancillary structures such as greenhouses, polytunnels, wood sheds, and animal shelters are commonly erected. The majority opt for a grassland type with moderate Agricultural Land Classifications (ALC). These lands yield around 30% of the occupants’ food requirements, as stipulated by policy guidelines, while income generated sustains the purchase of an additional 35% of their food needs. Most OPDs are situated at least a kilometer away from the nearest town, primarily due to more affordable land prices.

However, the income generated is often insufficient to cover all household expenses, prompting many residents to seek secondary employment outside the OPD. These jobs are typically pursued remotely or entail commuting to off-site locations.

The prevalence of OPDs underscores a growing trend toward sustainable living and alternative land use practices. Despite challenges such as limited self-sufficiency and the need for supplemental income, these projects contribute to local food production and rural economic diversification. As the popularity of OPDs continues to rise, policymakers may consider further support mechanisms to enhance their viability and effectiveness in fostering resilient, community-based livelihoods.

2 Built Structures in OPD

2 Built Structures in OPD

41

Baradyws​

2 Built Structures in OPD

Allt Cefn Ffynnon​

2 Built Structures in OPD

Perllan Herberdeg​

4 Built Structures in OPD

Pencoed​

2 Built Structures in OPD Fig. 2.8

9.

Banks, J., & Clare, T. (2014). Parc y Dwr. One Planet Council.

10.

Bartlam, C. M. (2019). Carolyn Moody, and Paul Bartlam. One Planet Council.

11.

Brannoc, S., & Hawthorn, T. (2013). Bryn yr Blodau Management Plan. One Planet Council 12.

Eames, T. (2018). Coed Allt Goch. One Planet Council.

Fferm Pwll Lili​

|

Hebron Farm​

CASE STUDY OF TWELVE OPD SITES

ENQUIRY

1 Built Structures in OPD

Coed Atlt goch​

3 Built Structures in OPD

Cryn Fryn​

4 Built Structures in OPD

Parc y Dwr​

3 Built Structures in OPD

Golwg y Gwenyn​

3 Built Structures in OPD

Pwll Broga​

1 Built Structures in OPD

Clynfiw​ Grassland Marsh Built-up Areas Tall Fern Woodland & Scrub 13.

Horton, R. (2019). Lily Pond Farm Land Management Plan. One Planet Council.

14.

Murton, a. B. (2018). Land at Cryn-Fryn. One Planet Council.

15.

(2017). Pencoed Planning Application. One Planet Council.

42

ENQUIRY

02.2.2

Four Primary Case Studies Cryn Fryn

Cryn Fryn​

This site, abutting a twenty year woodland was two fields sloping gently to the southeast. Separated by a drain ditch and hedges of hazel, hawthorn, holly and elder in the middle. The land was used for cultivating organic beef and lamb and seasonally open to camping tourists.

Golweg Gwenyn Three fields on the boundary between cultivated land and moorland on the slopes of Carningli Mountain. A business based around eggs and honey production while being nesting grounds to valuable species of bats. A stream along the west boundary was considered for hydro electric power generation.

Golwg y Gwenyn​

Alt Cyn Fynnon High canopy ancient deciduous woodland with mixed broadleaf species. Low earth banks and hedgerows with trees form the borders with a stream to the east. Site to support business plans of timber cultivation, woodworking and charcoal production.

Private holiday park to the north-west.

Perllan Herberdeg

Allt Cefn Ffynnon​

This site on the slopes of the Gwendraeth valley, was ‘patchy’ and had areas of poor drainage however it was possible to plant ninety apple trees, grow peas, squashes, sunflowers, and chard on test beds in the first year. Priority habitat areas were conserved as wildlife habitats.

Perllan Herberdeg​

Fig. 2.9

43

|

KEY MAP OF OPD SITES

16.

Murton, a. B. (2018). Land at Cryn-Fryn. One Planet Council.

17.

Smith, L. M. (2017). Allt Cefn Ffynnon. One Planet Council.

Fig. 2.10

|

SATELLITE IMAGERY OF OPD SITES

ENQUIRY

(Quite a Hill)​

(Sight of a Bee)​

(Well behind a Hill)​

(Herberdeg Orchard)​

18.

Watkinson, C. a. (2016). Golwg y Gwenyn: Land Management. One Planet Council.

19.

Moody, C., & Bartlam, P. (2019). Management Plan. Carmarthenshire: One Planet Council.

44

ENQUIRY

Income

£7286

Income

Expense

£4398

Expense

Profit

£4398

Blueberry Christmas Trees

Herbs

Brewing

£5897 £4647

Profit

£1250

Micro-greens Poultry

Mushroom

8.5 Acres

Grassland and Marshland

1.38 gHa | 2.35 gHa

Honey

3 Acres

Area

Grassland and Marshland

1.8 gHa | 2.27 gHa

Area

OPD Site

Another OPD Site OPD Site

0.75km 1km

1km

Newport Bryn Henllan Ynys Dinas

6km

Fig. 2.11

45

|

STUDY OF CRYN FRYN

Fig. 2.12

|

STUDY OF GOLWEG GWENYN

20.

Fig 2.8 Murton, a. B. (2018). Land at Cryn-Fryn.

One Planet Council.

21.

Fig 2.9 Watkinson, C. a. (2016). Golwg y Gwenyn: Land Management. One Planet Council.

ENQUIRY

Income

£6395

Expense

£3785

Profit

£2610

Brewing

Wood crafts

Charcoal

Firewood

Income

£5830

Expense

£4398

Profit

£1432

Wine

Hay

16 Acres

Woodland

1.15 gHa | 3.8 gHa

Seed Production

Apple Juice

15 Acres

Area

Mosaic

1.38 gHa | 2.27 gHa

Area

Llanarth

Pontyates

OPD Site

OPD Site

0.75km 0.75km

3km

1km

Cross Inn New Quay

Fig. 2.13

|

STUDY OF ALLT CEFN FFYNNON​

22.

Fig 2.10 Smith, L. M. (2017). Allt Cefn Ffynnon.

One Planet Council.

23.

Fig 2.11 Moody, C., & Bartlam, P. (2019).

Management Plan. Carmarthenshire: One Planet Council.

Fig. 2.14

|

Llanelli Burry Port Carway

STUDY OF PERLLAN HERBERDEG​

46

INTERLUDE

A6 CONVERSATION WITH OPD APPLICANTS SYLVIE AND WYCLIFF Q: Although the OPD policy has envisioned as a very good approach, it has not managed to attract the number of required people to create an impact. So, from your perspective, as people who are already on the scheme, how you think it can be better or how it can be.

Sylvie: I think one of the biggest problems with the policy is that it’s really difficult for the planning people to enforce it. For example, you have five years within the OPD policy to kind of set up and achieve your goals; start to build your house and have a base business. But every year you submit the monitoring report, but that no one has ever gone through. We submit it every year and no one ever comes back to us. And I don’t think anyone even looks at it. I don’t know if they do, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is interested in what we’re doing to the planet, because they’re really busy and underfunded and understaffed. Since it is very new and it does attract people. I think also from our perspective, I mean, we did it. We bought land 10 years ago. But people that are now trying to get into the one planet, lots of people don’t find land. You could get farms of 100 acres.

So you have to find a farmer that’s willing to split the land into a smaller parcel.

Wycliffe: Or it might be a small farmer who goes out of business, and they split into a small farm. But actually, the small farms are the ones that we kind of want to continue to exist.

And there isn’t really an overall, well, there is an overall improvement. But also, there’s a big problem with local knowledge of the policy. I think, because most people that have an OPD, frequently come from England, frequently of a certain class and education,

47

and they’re the people who were first interested in climate change related stuff.

Whereas one of the big criticisms we get when we make an application is that such and such local farmer who wanted to build a house for their son and wasn’t allowed so, why should these newcomers be allowed?

And that’s because they didn’t know the policy existed and to know that this as an available option for their children.

Sylvie: Oh, but also to put together an application. If you see our application, it’s really big. It’s a book and it’s like, we all have PhD degrees here. We know how to tackle something quite academic. But all the farmers that look at it, have to take like a big undertaking. And I think if it could be made simpler that way, then it would be more accessible to people, you know, I mean, because we did it in a group of four plots, so we kind of split the tasks as well. And Chris and Erica are really clever, so they did a lot of the numbers for us all and but it’s all quite tricky, really.

Q: From Tao we know that authority don’t follow up and they don’t check five years and things like that but have you made changes to the way you had set out from your application? And do you think there’s a way in which the planning office could make it more flexible?

Wycliffe: I don’t think it matters that what’s the plan you’ve got. One plan is what you intend to build and that obviously must stay very close to proposal. Then the other part is the business you propose to have. And really, I think this is the case of a lot of things. If you were applying for a loan or something like that, the business plan really is proving that you can plan a business.

Sylvie: Like it’s likely to change from what it

24.

Vernon, C., & Thompson, E. (2023, March 26).

Rural Area Developments in Wales. (Team, Interviewer)

INTERLUDE

Fig. 2.15

|

CARICATURE OF WYCLIFFE ERICA & CHRIS

says from when we wrote the application to when we started doing it, there was like 6,7 years. So in that time we had children and then we learnt stuff and things change.

So actually, one part of our business still the same, yes, but we we’re going to have a micro dairy and have two cows and make cheese because we lack bacon and

Project from 2011-2021, Dr Erica was an important resource person to consult.

cheese, and we also then start to sell cow’s milk. And it’s completely changed because we are constantly learning. There’s loads of things you can do with herbs, with loads with craft woods working, you know. But until you’re doing it, you don’t really know. And a lot of us come from cities, so we didn’t have this lifestyle. You can just imagine what it’s going to be like. But then it can change. And they don’t mind if your plan changes. What they want to see is that you’d be able to achieve the same kind of target that you set out.

On their farm they produced apples and apple juice from them. They also housed a few varieties of poultry animals like turkeys and geese for eggs, as well as bees for honey. They believed this model could not be scaled up directly without due consideration.

For instance, to bridge the housing gap, this bespoke model would never be able to meet the demand and instead the housing crisis needs infrastructure to be put in place ready to move into.

ERICA AND CHRIS Dr Erica Thompson and Dr Chris Vernon were a couple who were neighbours with Sylvie and Wycliffe on the Rhiw Las cluster. They ran the Dan Y Berllan farm in the cluster and were interviewed to collate their views of the OPD Policy. As one of the authors of the Review of the OPD

The conversation spread across multiple issues plaguing climate action today and also delved into the current situation of the OPD policy.

The aspects of the policy that needed attention when scaling up were land access, site services and community. When talking about community, we asked about how the OPD policy was received by the local population. We were told that while there was no direct animosity, they were scorned at as the “eco-warriors” as what they are doing on the land is still very alien to everyone. The isolation faced due to the lack of affordable land near towns was a major challenge.

25.

Sylvie, & Wycliffe. (2023, March 26). Multi-unit OPD Possibilities. (Team, Interviewer)

48

INTERLUDE

A6 CONVERSATION WITH OPD APPLICANTS Tao Paul Wimbush Founder of the Lammas Ecovillage, Wales and one of the earliest applicants of the OPD Policy.

Q: Could you provide an overview of the history of the Lammas Ecovillage, a highly regarded and innovative eco-community known for its rational and exciting approach to sustainable living?

Tao: About the history of Lammas Ecovillage Cooperative. So basically some others and I in 2005 got together, because we were all from the alternative community culture in West Wales. We were like what we need to do is getting get an equivalent through the plannings. We need to make this lifestyle more accessible; you need to make it more accessible to people and so we worked how does the 3 best at the beginning and we put together a plan and we were very lucky.

There was a planning initiative in Pembrokeshire called low impact development which suggested that some kind of large scale off grid development was possible. We found this land, negotiated to buy this land, put together up are planning application and around that time that’s when we formalized the project and created a society limited that was going to carry the legal take the legal role project we then we spent three years in the planning system you finally got planning permission and then, and, as I said earlier the cooperative is now from date?

But it did what it was meant to do, in that it enabled us to, to create this project and the local policy the permission policy called low impact development what became evolved into the Welsh policy. We got scaled up that evolved into the Welsh policy. So we did what we set out to do.

49

26.

Wimbush, T. (2023, March 27). Lammas Ecovillage. (Team, Interviewer)

INTERLUDE

Fig. 2.16

|

CARICATURE OF TAO PAUL WIMBUSH

Q: What word are your thoughts on with your OPD policy in terms of how to expand the policy?

Tao: The OPD policy itself provides quite a good framework to assess. I bro sustainable land based. The problem I think isn’t with the policy itself is with the application. of. First, they’re making sure that the application is. Absolutely meticulously met on every single point. They also throw obstacles in the way, require, bring things that aren’t necessary, really, things like logical surveys something like that. They also take a super long time. Now, it’s not uncommon for no OPD application to wait 12 to 24 months before a first decision. Okay. And then they’ll refuse it. And it, so it just makes the whole process very bureaucratic, very over. Now, it doesn’t have to be that way. When the opt policy first came out, this guidance first came out, so between, say, 2012,2015. The applications that we’re going through were really quite straightforward.

Yes, there was a management plan, maybe 60,80 pages, and ecology report, and but that was kind of it. The planning authorities were processing applications in about 12 weeks but it was basically, it was I was working, but what happened was there was some political

resistance to it. Plus, there have been a few, high profile cases of applications that should have been passed that were turned out both locally and appeal and Cardiff, good people who are living one planet lifestyles who they should have been given planning permission and got turned down unreasonably. And so that has so far for potential applicants coming forward has created serious reservations.

First of all, so to give you a general idea to do an OPD application at the moment it’s gonna cost between 6000 pounds and 8000 pounds, something like that and it’s gonna take two years. And there’s something like 75% chance of getting it assuming it’s a good application. And this is a man less quiet so very encouraging box. And so that’s that has put people off reduce the number of applications.

Q: Is there a need for any modifications to the policy itself? if you’re situated on the edge of a village or within a village or within a town or something like that which is more based on the lifestyle, footliving one panic footprint and less.

On being productive with the land itself so I think there’s massive potential to scale.

50

INTERLUDE

A7 CONVERSATION WITH CLO CARBON CYMRU Richard Edwards-‘the Stickfarmer’ Founder of Clo Carbon Cymru also a Welsh farmer and climate activist.

Cai Matthews Founder of Clo Carbon Cymru.

Richard Edwards ‘the stickfarmer’ and Cai Matthews are founding members of a climate action group based in Wales known as Clo Carbon Cymru. They were instrumental in helping bring critical insights from the Welsh people to this project.

An early conversation with Richard brought insight into the carbon credit market that runs climate action in Wales at present. Purchasing land for rewilding to offset corporate emissions has become all the trend but has led to disruptions in local landscape and not brought any benefits to the local people.

Fig. 2.17

51

|

CARICATURE OF CAI AND RICHARD

27.

Edwards, R., Matthews, Cai (2023, March 27).

Climate Breakdown and Wales. (Authors, Interviewer)

INTERLUDE

Over a field visit in March 2023, a meeting was held with both Cai and Richard where the discussions were looking at the larger implications of the OPD Policy.

The ineffectiveness of the EFA and the isolated nature of the scheme that had been established through the project’s secondary research was confirmed by them. The Clo Carbon Cymru was interested in developing an OPD framework within conventional farming guidelines to build a faster momentum towards climate action. “People who plant trees as climate solutoins, don’t know anything about carbon chemistry or trees. If we had 200 years of climate stability then it’s a great fucking idea but we only have 7 years now.” A major concern that they both shared was the lack of strong local economies in Wales and the growth of corporate supermarket chains that have come to dominate the farming sector over the last 30-40 years. They recognised the strong potentials and strengths that were embedded in the local communities but also highlighted the lack of co-operative action that was holding them back. “we don’t want to change the way you use the land, but only enhance it.” The challenges of feeding larger metropolises like Cardiff was a concern but if prevailed, the income and profit generated for local businesses would be infinitely more desirable than lining the pockets of multinational corporations abroad.

Q: Basically, it shows locations such as North Wales which is very hot land. But most of the OPD is located south of it. So, we think that might be what’s causing the price problem. Is there an issue of ownership or something like that happening?

Cai: Possibly. There’s a disparity in general in.

Richard: North Wales and South Wales. Even so it’s only 100 odd miles there is. It’s black and white. It really stark difference. I just think about that. I have never, traditionally, none even how, traditionally it is, but the habit has always been that west Wales, purely because of the space, the open spaces and the beauty has attracted a large number of people from all over the world, even from,

the early 1960s when they can hippies flower power. The culture of, moving away from the cities and where you could give up all the parcel, the pain of him to work in an office and you could work land and grow your own food. Extremely, you too, Ian. However, and in all honesty of the hundreds and hundreds of tried it, very few succeed. If I have friends who move into areas of West Wales on the dream of living off the land, I’ve been telling them, you do it and they’ll go. We will. And they don’t.

Richard: For sure. Interestingly if you look at our history you go back to. The 11th century when the the Normans invaded Britain quite a lot of. Oh, this area of Wales and here where these one planets are we handed over to barons and to dukes and then you brought with them. That’s how, culture of surf them where the Lord of the manner run the man, I don’t know, everyone worked for him or her.

Politically, that whole area is a conservative.

It’s got nothing. There’s no socialism there at all.

Q : In the international context, when examining factors such as ecological footprint and carbon emissions, terms like agricultural productivity and soil quality frequently enter the conversation. How exactly do these terms contribute to our comprehension of carbon impact, a critical factor in addressing the climate crisis?

Cai: So local quality is a big one, shouting at me from there as well because we do a lot of it or we’re doing a lot of work around that.

And lots of people claim lots of things about soil carbon. It’s an area worth or maybe not on the broader sense but if you were to investigate just soil quality and what that actually means to different people, then you could probably apply the vagueness to all of these.For example, the broadness of that statement, like what is good soil quality?

There isn’t necessarily a sensors, especially around soil carbon. Yum so it’s not just how these relate to each other that might bear scrutiny, but it’s actually these measurements themselves.

52

ENQUIRY

02.2.3

If farmers could not make a living from full-sized farms, he (Cllr Llewellyn) asked, how could the applicants be self-sufficient on five acres or so each?

The OPD Storyline A. Finding Land for OPD

The primary challenge that all applicants encounter in the OPD policy is the limited access to land. Land in Wales is a difficult resource for individuals to procure, given the mountainous terrain, many areas are not conducive to farming activities. Additionally, land owners are reluctant to sell property as it remains a profitable family asset over generations. Despite a long history of farming, the Welsh landscape has degraded severely with years of industrial farming practices. Prospective applicants to the OPD policy require categorically fertile land to support their land-based business model and this is a limited resource.

OPD applicants also require land that is not too isolated from other villages or towns.

Proximity to towns reduces expenses and carbon emissions on goods, services as well as improved access to amenities like education and healthcare facilities. Lastly, the land must also be affordable, leaving only the land in the open countryside as an option for the OPD applicants. The practice of building second homes in the rural countryside of Wales has driven up house prices exorbitantly in many parts of the countryside, especially the more scenic parts of the lansdcape. Many Planning Area Authorities have implemented increased premiums in areas where this is a major concern to curb, however it has done little to curb the rural housing crisis. (Evans and Necke 2021)

B. Application process

The new lifestyle and policy has not been able to bridge the cultural differences and have left the locals feeling like their traditional way of life is under threats of encroachment and erasure.

53

Upon securing a parcel of land suitable enough for their OPD proposal, the applicants must begin a long process of preparing a ‘Management Plan’ that will provide a detailed report of the existing conditions on the land and how they plan to utilize it in future. The cumbersome document enlists proposals for tackling the seven points listed in the Practice Guidelines from land management strategies to community impact. The business model and their financial plans to survive on landbased activities are also included. Most applicants must rely on external consultants

28.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

and field experts to assist them with baseline reports and assessments of the land. The One Planet Council (a coalition of OPD members) and its members provide some assistance in this endeavour.

This bureaucratic process is an expensive affair that can take up to three years. While the difficulty of the process is to ensure agricultural land is protected from misuse, it also discourages many locals and next generation farmers. Once a proposed OPD is sanctioned by the LPA, it is passed onto the local council for review. In most cases, the council rejects the OPD application, due to common hostilities and reservations towards foreign ‘eco-warriors’ settling in their locality.

Most locals see this policy as wishful thinking that is a blight on their tranquil landscape.

The Planning Authority is known to side with the OPD applicant and quash the council’s views. The animosity of the local people against the scheme is a major cause for upheaval, leading to social ostracisation and tensions.

C. Once a successful OPD

Assuming the applicant is successful in their process once they set up their OPD farm, they have a five year incubation period to switch to the OPD lifestyle. In most cases, the farms regenerate into more healthy ecosystems with richer biodiversity in place of the degraded land they began with. All farms produce very different products from one another, and they can operate small businesses that sell to the nearest community. However, the income generated is just enough to operate the farm and not build long-term savings for contingency needs. Several participants resort to second jobs (remotely or travelling long distances) outside the OPD farm, dividing their time over the week. Despite the successful farming activity on the farm, the locals still regard the OPD participants with animosity. They do not see eye to eye and at times tensions have also seen the situation erupt. This is largely due to the local trepidation surrounding the newcomers on the landscape they claim.

ENQUIRY

Second homes has caused a rural housing shortage

Good quality farmland is not accessible

Fig. 2.18

|

SCENES OF STARTING AN OPD

We have spent two years and £8000 already!!

The town is so far from our business

Fig. 2.19

|

SCENES OF SETTING UP AN OPD

I still need to go to the market to get food items and work a second job.

These ecowarriors are taking over Wales and making slums

Fig. 2.20

|

SCENES FROM A SUCCESSFUL OPD

54

ENQUIRY

02.3

Under the Microscope

02.3.1

Samples from Wales

To better gauge the feasibility and impacts of farming methods in Wales a closer look was taken at the soil.

Site A

sample taken from a relatively new woodland showed traces of fungal growth and equal concentrations of bacterial presence in the samples. The particles were porous dark shades of brown with rounded edges indicating good presence of carbon and organic matter.

Fig. 2.22

|

SITE A: NEW WOODLANDS

The sample from the open grasslands, used mainly for pasture was extremely clayey and porous. No clumps were found or any fungi, even microbial presence as limited. The water logging on site and the presence of a nearby stream filled the samples with water globules. It was a lighter shade of brown and showed very few organic content.

Fig. 2.23

|

SITE B: OLD WOODLANDS

Fig. 2.21

Fig. 2.24

|

SITE C: PASTURE LANDS

Site B

The more ancient woodland site showed much more dense traces of fungi. The soil was held together in many clumps with fungal networks visible even under the microscope. The clumps that disintegrated were porous and showed high organic content. There was not much bacterial activity spotted in these samples, which reduced as one went deeper into the ground..

Site C

55

|

SAMPLE SITE LOCATION

29.

Kubiëna, W. L. (1954). Atlas of Soil Properties. T. Murby, Madrid, London: Institute of Soils Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

ENQUIRY

10x

40x

100x

40x

100x

40x

100x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Open Forest

10x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Open Forest

10x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3B Land Type: Herbaceous Vegetation Fig. 2.25

|

MICROSCOPIC VIEWS OF SAMPLES

30.

Solbakk, K., & Mikroliv. (2020). Do-it yourself Guide for Microscopy of Agricultural Soil. Økologisk Landsforening.

56

ENQUIRY

02.3.2

Samples from OPD Sites The sample from Ty Gwennol farm in the Rhiw Las cluster was collected from their oat fields before the sowing season, likely in March. The soil layer observed was approximately 20cm deep and interspersed with chips of slate. Classified as 3b, or moderately fertile, according to governmental Agricultural Land Classifications, this designation primarily caters to large-scale industrial farming. Consequently, sloped sites where sizable machinery cannot operate are often dismissed as “unproductive.” However, this overlooks a crucial aspect: microscopic examination of the samples revealed vibrant microbial activity, indicating a potentially rich ecosystem within the soil.

This oversight underscores the limitations of conventional productivity assessments, which prioritize mechanized efficiency over ecological vitality. The abundance of microbial life suggests that despite being deemed “unproductive” by traditional standards, these sloped sites may possess untapped potential for diverse agricultural practices, such as regenerative farming or agroecology. Recognizing and harnessing the inherent fertility and biodiversity of such landscapes could not only enhance soil health and resilience but also contribute to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. Thus, reevaluating how we measure and value soil productivity becomes imperative for fostering agricultural practices that prioritize ecological integrity and longterm sustainability.

10x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Grassland Marsh

40x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Grassland Marsh

100x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Grassland Marsh Fig. 2.26

57

|

SAMPLE SITE LOCATION

31.

Kubiëna, W. L. (1954). Atlas of Soil Properties. T. Murby, Madrid, London: Institute of Soils Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

Fig. 2.27

|

MICROSCOPIC VIEWS OF SAMPLES

ENQUIRY

Fig. 2.28

|

VIEW OF RHIW LAS

Fig. 2.29

|

15 CM SLICE OF SOIL SAMPLE ON SITE

32.

Solbakk, K., & Mikroliv. (2020). Do-it yourself Guide for Microscopy of Agricultural Soil. Økologisk Landsforening.

58

ENQUIRY

02.3.3

Case 01: Samples from Hooke Park Hooke Park, Dorset, is an educational campus that belongs to the Architectural Association. The site is a 350 acres, managed woodland that is used to provide building materials for students who study on campus about material processing and construction techniques. The woodland management uses sustainable techniques to ensure both quality of timber harvested and allowing for regeneration of the woods.

The samples collected from the different parts of the Park showed many differences in organic matter, microbial activity and fungal content.

The samples taken from the older parts of the forests showed signs to erosion and loss of organic matter. Where as the samples collected from the woodlands that were being managed by the resident forester showed a much more healthy balance of bacteria and fungi. Some samples collected also showed diatom fossils indicating the presence of an ancient stream in the area.

The stark differences between samples collected from the same ALC but treated with different land management measures, showed that there were loopholes when the datasets were cross checked on ground. The purpose of most datasets remain unilaterally towards measuring productivity of the landscape along .

Broad

Closeup

Within

Fig. 2.30

59

|

SATELLITE IMAGE OF HOOKE PARK

35.

33.

Kubiëna, W. L. (1954). Atlas of Soil Properties. T. Murby, Madrid, London: Institute of Soils Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

Fig. 2.31

|

VIEW FROM HOOKE PARK

ENQUIRY

0 horizon

A horizon 10x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Wetland Pasture & Woodland

B horizon

40x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Wetland Pasture & Woodland

C horizon

50x

Agriculture Land Classification: 3A Land Type: Wetland Pasture & Woodland Fig. 2.33

|

SKETCH OF HOOKE PARK SOIL HORIZONS

36.

34.

Solbakk, K., & Mikroliv. (2020). Do-it yourself Guide for Microscopy of Agricultural Soil. Økologisk Landsforening.

Fig. 2.32

|

MICROSCOPIC VIEWS OF THE HOOKE PARK SAMPLES

60

ENQUIRY

02.3.4

Case 02: Samples from Wakelyns Soil samples from Wakelyns, an agroforestry farm in Suffolk, was instrumental in the project’s initial analyses. In a 30cm soil section, clear color variations marked the horizons, with richer hues indicating higher organic matter content in the upper layers, supporting a thriving earthworm population.

However, samples from the third horizon appeared denser and more granular, suggesting diminished organic matter and microbial activity, rendering these deeper layers more erosion-prone and posing challenges for agricultural productivity and soil health.

These disparities highlight the importance of soil management practices. Nutrientrich upper layers with vigorous microbial activity provide resilience against erosion and support plant growth. Techniques like mulching, cover cropping, and agroforestry can enhance soil health by enriching organic matter and microbial diversity. Understanding and addressing these soil characteristics are crucial for effective land management, prioritizing soil conservation and fertility through sustainable practices to foster resilient agricultural systems. Continuous research and application of soil management strategies are essential for preserving soil health and ensuring sustainable food production.

Broad

Closeup

Within

Fig. 2.34

61

|

SATELLITE IMAGE OF WAKELYNS

39.

37.

Kubiëna, W. L. (1954). Atlas of Soil Properties. T. Murby, Madrid, London: Institute of Soils Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

Fig. 2.35

|

VIEW FROM WAKELYNS FARM

ENQUIRY

0 horizon

A horizon

B horizon

C horizon

Fig. 2.36

|

SKETCH OF WAKELYNS SOIL HORIZONS

40.

38.

Solbakk, K., & Mikroliv. (2020). Do-it yourself Guide for Microscopy of Agricultural Soil. Økologisk Landsforening.

Fig. 2.37

|

ON SITE - SOIL SAMPLE COLLECTION

62

ENQUIRY

02.4

What is OPD now?

02.4.1

Overlaying Varied Data

Ownership Data

From studying the planning applications submitted to the One Planet Council and engaging with the multiple stakeholders, we can see a clear set of patterns emerging across the board of all OPD sites thus far. All applicants begin by looking for affordable land on the market, that is not too far from a settlement and one that falls under government endorsed land classifications and agricultural measurements. These land classifications are not absolute conditions as demonstrated by the soil samples collected and successful OPD projects operating on allegedly ‘unproductive’ landscapes.

RSPB Crown Estate National Trust Ministry of Defence

Proximity to the Settlement

0Km to 1Km 1Km to 6 Km 6K to 11Km 11Km to 16Km 16Km to 28Km

To collate these contradictions, we built a suitability index overlapping all the primary sough after parameters to see the areas available for prospective OPDs. With over 80% of land in Wales used for agriculture, it is hard to believe that this policy has limited reach. However, on overlaying these layers as a multi-criteria analysis function, it is evident that majority of OPDs remain limited by these real-life constraints and fall under the same brackets of land type (i.e. the grassland type) and ALC (i.e. the moderately fertile).

Agriculture Land Classification

Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3a/3b Grade 4 Grade 5

This is indicative of a limited reach the policy has had in attracting diverse applicants and also demonstrates the rigidity of the model when implemented. In relying on conservative standards without due scrutiny, the OPD policy has unintentionally narrowed its pool of applicants and become inaccessible to most people.

Land Type

Builtup Marine Coast-land Rock exposure and waste Open Water Mosaic, Mire/Swamp Woodland Scrub Cultivated/Marginal Land Grassland and Marsh

Even if the conservative parameters dictate that the land is unsuitable, through effective management strategies, it can be restored to healthy landscapes that help capture carbon effectively.

Fig. 2.38

63

41.

Fid 2.32 Data Source: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Landmap Landscape Habitats, 2017 Edition.

Downloaded [March 2023]

|

VARIED CRITERIA FOR ANALYSIS

ENQUIRY

OPDs Priority 5 Priority 4 Priority 3 Priority 2 Priority 1

Fig. 2.39

|

ANALYSIS OVERLAYING MULTIPLE CRITERIA

42.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

64

ENQUIRY

02.4.2

Loopholes in Data Set Land classifications such as ALC (Agricultural Land Productivity) and land cover are blatantly used to map vast national territories. But there are several aspects that are not questioned since they have come to be accepted as a norm. Agricultural productivity, for instance, is actually defined as land that can easily be used for cultivating food crops using industrial means. The subtext this omits is that land too steep for machines to operate is deemed poor regardless of soil fertility.

While land cover looks at the type of vegetation and species supported by the terrain, it often resorts to clumping together the in-between categories as mosaic landscapes or other sweeping generalisations. Even simply overlapping these two categories as in the figures adjacent, brings to attention the various complexities that are embedded within each category.

Fig. 2.41

|

LAND COVER VARIATIONS IN HIGH ALC

Fig. 2.40

|

LAND COVER VARIATIONS IN MEDIUM ALC

Land management at an individual level (like that of an OPD) should address these contradictions and respond to creating development typologies for restoring and reviving landscapes that are not measured solely by industrial metrics. In order to reduce the national ecological footprint, we must focus on strategies that restore the health of landscapes outside these imposed classifications.

This necessitates a paradigm shift towards more holistic approaches that value biodiversity and ecological resilience over narrow industrial metrics. By embracing such strategies, we can work towards restoring degraded landscapes and fostering a more sustainable relationship between human activity and the environment. It’s imperative to recognize the intrinsic value of all landscapes, regardless of their classification, and to prioritize their restoration and conservation for the well-being of present and future landscapes

65

43.

Fig 2.34 Data Source: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Landmap Landscape Habitats, 2017 Edition.

Downloaded [March 2023]

ENQUIRY

Tall Herb - Fern Open Water + Marine Heather land Rock Exposure - Waste Cultivated land Built-up Area Coast-land Woodland Scrub Mosaic + Mine/Swamp Grassland - Marsh Fig. 2.42

|

1.8% 0.6% 2.5% 0.1% 1.4% 2.7% 2% 7.9% 22% 59%

LAND COVER VARIATIONS IN POOR ALC

44.

Fig 2.35 & Fig 2.36 Dataource:DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

66

ENQUIRY

02.4.3

Potentials and Challenges With all the gaping contradictions, it is evident that the ecological footprint on which the OPD Policy is centred, while effective in the global context, is ineffective locally.

Although the policy was geared towards promoting an alternative sustainable lifestyle, owing to the lack of accessibility to land and other resources it has created more hurdles than attractions. The many limitations have created a rigid monopoly allowing only a handful of applicants to even consider the policy. Failing to attract the local population and its farmers has been a major pitfall in the policy’s implementation.

action requires collective action that treats the ecology as a unified network and manages landscape accordingly instead of piecemeal attempts to achieving reduced EF goals. The arbitrary nature of the EFA within the OPD policy further dilutes the effects of the policy. Ultimately after almost 10 years in action, the policy has had little to no effect on mitigating climate crisis in Wales and has not been successful in reducing the Welsh Ecological Footprint either.

The policy has however been a cornerstone of promoting alternative lifestyles in the countryside and raising awareness on consumption habits and personal footprints left on the planet. It has exposed the loopholes in the metrics and impositions of industrial agriculture and shown that the land is fertile and capable of much more if the right expertise is applied.

Additionally, the approach of placing the onus of climate action on the individual has led to other contestations. It has created a very disintegrated and isolated effort when climate action demands a more powerful organised and consolidated action. Climate

Ecology

Economy

Community

1. A successful agroforestry model with a suitable lifestyle is established

1. A successful agroforestry model with a suitable lifestyle is established

1. A successful agroforestry model with a suitable lifestyle is established

2. The soil condition has been restored to fertile landscapes Fig. 2.43

67

|

POTENTIALS OF OPD AS ICONOGRAPHY

45.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

C. Proximity to the settlement

ENQUIRY

Ecology

Economy

Community

01. Fragmentation of ecological systems is a significant issue

01. Land planning authorities suffer from a lack of funding

01. An individualistic approach is evident

02. There has been no reduction in ecological footprint

02. The majority faces financial risks and land inaccessibility

02. It appears alien to the local community

03. There is a lack of design variation

03. There is a neglect of surrounding communities

04. The calculation of ecological footprint is complicated Fig. 2.44

|

CHALLENGES OF OPD AS ICONOGRAPHY

68

ENQUIRY

Fig. 2.45

69

|

SITTING INSIDE LOOKING OUT: AN OPD ECO-HOUSE

ENQUIRY

Fig. 2.46

|

SITTING OUTSIDE LOOKING UP: HOME GARDENS OF AN OPD

70

SYNTHESIS

03

03.1

UNDERSTANDING FOOD LANDSCAPES Building on the OPD

Individual

1. Land-based activity 2. Land management 3. Transport 4. Zero-carbon building 5. Energy & Waste 6. Water 7. Community interest

The study of the OPD Policy and its implementation thus far made several potentials and challenges apparent. As an innovative and contextually driven piece of legislature, it must not be discarded for its faults but developed further by addressing the loopholes identified. Extending the policy in scale and shifting to more radical measures to mitigate climate change certainly becomes paramount.

03.1.1

Revising the Goals The primary causes for climate change will always be the unchecked carbon emissions and reckless consumption habits. Any climate action plan must address this at every scale of intervention. Considering the global metric of Ecological Footprints and its lack of permeating through other scales, the first step taken was to revise the metrics of the OPD Policy. The seven goals of the original policy were redistributed to make optimise on the scale of intervention.

Conditions like transport, energy, waste and water were reallocated to the community scale whereas the goals of land management and activities remain at the local scale to allow flexibility to the very many different site conditions. Collective management of resources makes for a more optimum action.

Neglected System

1. Agricultural productivity 2 Waste management 3. Transport network 4. Land type 5. Soil quality 6. Housing

Regional

1. Import & Export 2. Land management 3. Consumption 4. Production 5. Carbon emissions 6. Ecological Footprint

Country

1. Land-based activity 2. Land management 3. Transport 4. Zero-carbon building 5. Energy & Waste 6. Water 7. Community interest

World

Fig. 3.1 | CONCERNS OF SCALES IN POLICY EXPANSION source/credits

71

1.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

SYNTHESIS

Fig. 3.2

|

1. Objectives from OPD

4. Towards Local Community

2. Land Accessibility

3. Suitable infrastructure

READAPTING THE OPD POLICY

2.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www.oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

72

SYNTHESIS

EXISTING NETWORK

PROPOSED NETWORK

1. Nodes of the Food Supply Chain 2. Uniform Strong Linkages Within the food Supply chain 3. Varied Linkages within the Food Supply Chain 4. Shocks absorbed into food supply chain 5. Shocks spreading through the food supply chain

Fig. 3.3

73

|

CONCEPTUAL REPRESENTATION OF CLIMATE CRISIS

3.

Monbiot, G. (2023). Regenesis : feeding the world without devouring the planet. New York: Penguin Books Ltd.

SYNTHESIS

03.1.2

In the sweeping effects of globalisation, we have created seemingly robust systems that extend internationally, losing the modularity and diversity between the ‘nodes’ in these systems.

Conceptual Strategy Tackling the vast landscapes of Wales and its associated ecological, economic and social sectors requires a unified approach with clear agendas outlined. In the sweeping effects of globalisation, we have created seemingly robust systems that extend internationally, losing the modularity and diversity between the ‘nodes’ in these systems. These nodes are also connected to each other with very strong linkages which implies that any shock suffered by one node, will be transmitted across the system in quick succession.

The land with its myriad of relationships and living species forms one of the most complex network systems known. Human society has tampered with several of its networks and as the climate breaks down, it delivers one shock after another to this system. The resilience of any network system is due to diversity in its nodes and linkages which is sustained for as long as the threshold is not breached. To rebuild landscape systems as strong resilient models in Wales, the goal was to identify and create varies nodes that would operate in tandem within the ecosystem.

These nodes would need linkages that varied in strength and purpose, creating room for the circuit to break if thresholds were breached. This project sought to apply these principles on the Welsh landscape and agriculture was chosen as the system to engage with, given its extensive reach and need for attention.

Fig. 3.4

|

BOOK COVER: REGENESIS

4.

Fig 3.4 Book Cover: Monbiot, G. (2023). Regenesis : feeding the world without devouring the planet. New York: Penguin Books Ltd.

74

SYNTHESIS

03.2

Agriculture in Wales The current condition of agriculture in Wales is rather bleak and it is plagued by certain central issues that run across the board. With 80% of the land being used for farming, as a sector it has far reaching consequences when it comes to climate action. And since farming is a cultural enterprise, it influences several other quotidian aspects of local life including, dietary habits, language, housing market, tourism and trade to begin with.

At present the historically agricultural landscape is used majorly as pasture lands for livestock rearing and monoculture fields that feed into agriculture supply chains on international markets. As Richard Perkins a farmer from Sweden said at the ORFC 2019, “When you are farming, you are essentially competing in a globalised market”. and when competing with growers from all around the world, Wales ends up using (and abusing) its landscapes to meet food demands made by the market. Importing voluminous quantities of animal feed and fertiliser from outside Wales has dumped vast amounts of nitrates and ammonia on the local nitrogen cycle, creating food that is not nutrition dense and polluting the landscapes. The indiscriminate livestock farming, and its trade has also led to unchecked carbon emissions into the atmosphere from the farming sector as a whole. The consistent degradation of landscapes in this manner has made farming a not so lucrative industry in Wales and farmers a fast-disappearing section of the society.

Dairy 35% Poultry 15% Others 5% Poultry 15% Fruits & Veg 15%

Existing Average Dietary Patterns

Livestock in Wales 10.53 Million

Welsh Language

Farm Laborer and Welsh Speakers 50,400 Farm laborers and 43% Speaks Welsh

Tourism in Wales 30% Share in £ 6 Billion Industry

2.07 Million HA

Fig. 3.5

75

|

SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL AREA IN WALES

5.

Welsh Government. (2019). Agriculture in Wales.

Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Available Area vs Population 4 Million People

SYNTHESIS

Dairy and Eggs

Cereals

Meat and Meat

Beverage

Live Animals

Animal feed

Live Animals

Fish

Beverages

Coffee Tea

Sugar and Honey

Preparation

Exports: £ 603,722,000

£ 75,600,000 Spent on achieving net zero goals

Imports: £ 608,424,000

Meat and Meat

Fruit and Veg

Dairy

Preparation Fig. 3.6

|

Miscellaneous

Crustaceans

CURRENT WELSH AGRICULTURAL MODEL

6.

Amaeth Cymru. (2017). The future of agriculture in Wales: The way forward. Welsh Government.

76

SYNTHESIS

03.2.1

In the era of climate crisis, as harvests get more susceptible to freak disasters, it will get more expensive to foot the bills, especially if they are to travel from overseas.

03.2.2

made thus far by the British government plunging the faith of the international community. In addition to backing out of the the government’s commitment to achieving

77

Food trade According to Welsh Regional Trade Statistics published in 2023, the country sees exports agricultural products to the tune of 797.2 million GBP and imports about 801.9 million GBP worth of goods. The products produced locally are majorly beef and lamb, with very little production of fruit and vegetables.

Even though less than 5% of UK population residing in Wales it produces almost 30% of its livestock exports, which comes at a heavy price to the landscape and local ecology.

Ironically enough, these imbalanced scales of production motivated by economic profits, means Wales imports and exports same the same products. As local consumers prefer certain cuts of lamb, the domestic production is supplemented by sheep imports from as far as New Zealand and Australia to support local demands. This kind of irresponsible movement of food across the globe has created far more long-term havoc to the environments and made Welsh food markets more dependent and vulnerable to external shocks. In the project we propose slow transitions away from the dependence on the meat industry and intensifying arable crop cultivation. The Welsh agricultural sector needs to prioritise feeding its own population first without depending on more ecologically and economically costly methods of food supply.

06% 09% 08% 13%

7.

Fig 3.6 Data Source: Welsh Government. (2019).

Agriculture in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

8.

Fig 3.7 Data Source Amaeth Cymru. (2017). The future of agriculture in Wales: The way forward. Welsh Government.

New Grassland Rough Grazing Permanent Grassland

64%

Fig. 3.8 | LAND USE BREAKUP IN WALES source/credits

90% Land Farming

9.40 Million

Livestock Farming In a country of just 4 million people, there are a staggering 9.4 million sheep and lambs, along with another million cattle, reflecting a common trend in the modern world.

Post-Brexit, limited market access leads to increasingly unpredictable dynamics each year. Despite its small size, Wales boasts a robust dairy industry, meeting nearly 12% of the UK’s milk needs. However, milk production exceeds processing capacity by nearly 48%, resulting in a significant surplus reliant on England for processing. This reliance exacerbates challenges posed by market access limitations, highlighting the complex interplay of agricultural practices, economic policies, and geopolitical factors shaping Wales’ food production and trade landscape. Finding sustainable solutions to balance production and processing capacities is crucial for the resilience and viability of Wales’ agricultural sector in the post-Brexit era.

Rough Grazing Other Crop

1.2%

Sheep & Lamb

1.13 Million

0.3%

Cattle

55,100 HA Cereals

Fig. 3.7

|

LIVESTOCK NUMBERS AND LAND UTILISATION

9.1%

SYNTHESIS

IMPORT

EXPORT

£ 792.2 M

Exports Current Period

Vs

24.5%

£ 801.9 M

Previous Period

Imports Current Period

Wales exports highest value of selected product to France

23.5%

Previous Period

Wales Imported highest value of selected product to Ireland

Beverages

Miscellaneous

Animal feed

Coffee Tea

Sugar, Honey

Fruit and Veg

Cereals

Fish Crustaceans

Dairy and Eggs

Meat and Preparations

EXPORT

£ 150,000,000

Fig. 3.9

|

IMPORT

£ 100,000,000

£ 50,000,000

Live Animals

£ 50,000,000

£ 100,000,000

£ 150,000,000

EXPORT VS IMPORT TRADE REPORT FOR WALES

9.

Fig 3.9 Data Source: HM Revenue & Customs.

(2023, November 15). International goods trade: interactive dashboard. Wales: Welsh Government.

Retrieved December 15, 2023, from https://www.gov. wales/international-goods-trade-interactive-dashboard

78

ACTION

03.2.3

Dietary Changes

Dairy

The National Food Survey, prepared by the UK government in 2021, scrutinized the strengths and shortcomings of the food system ‘from the farm to the fork’.

After addressing health concerns due to poor eating habits, the report provided recommendations on food production, trade, and environmental standards to resolve these issues. Additionally, it acknowledged the health-related problems that will worsen with the climate crisis, placing a significant strain on healthcare and the planet.

The report outlines four primary goals for dietary standards in the UK: to reduce the junk food cycle, address diet-related inequalities, optimize land use, and foster long-term shifts in food culture.

Supported by an array of evidence, the report’s recommendations propose consuming less meat than the current diet to create opportunities for increased carbon sequestration and promote nutrient-dense balanced diets. State support is crucial to make this healthy option more accessible to the most vulnerable in society. Moreover, the state would play a pivotal role in incentivizing the agriculture sector towards a shift from intensive to regenerative farming practices, aligning with broader sustainability goals.

35%

Poultry 15% Others

05%

Poultry

15% Fruits & Veg 15% A. Existing Average Diet

Whole Grain Vegetables Healthy Fruits

Proteins

0

100 Fruits & Veg

+30% +50%

Fibers -25%

HFFS Food

-30%

Meat

-100

0

B. Harvard’s need for change in diet for healthy life Dairy 13% 14% 12.5% 12.5%

Poultry Others Poultry Fruits & Veg

50%

C. Proposed Dietary Changes Fig. 3.11

79

|

TYPICAL WELSH FOOD

10.

Fig 3.10 Data Source:: Harvard Health Publishing.

(2017, June 5). Healthy Eating Plate. Retrieved from Harvard Medical School: https://www.health.harvard.edu/ staying-healthy/healthy-eating-plate 11.

Fig 3.10 Poux, X., & Aubert, P.-M. (2018, September). An agroecological Europe in 2050: multifunctional agriculture for healthy eating. IDDRI.

Fig. 3.10

|

WELSH DIETARY DATA VISUALISATION

ACTION

03.2.4

Farmers and Language There are about 20,000 full-time farmers that work in Wales with an additional 30,000 workers that come in seasonally during harvest season as labour. 80-90% of the landscape is managed by the labour of these 50,000 people. Securing their support is paramount for any climate action proposal to have any discernible impact. As per the Farming Statistics released in 2022, the average income that varies based on farm type, ranges between 22,000 to 60,000 annually. The Welsh government is currently drafting the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) speculated to be released in 2024 or 2025. This piece of legislation has great implications on the nature and sum of subsidies that farming activities will receive.

In the meantime, a Common Agriculture Policy (2020) determines the governmental aid that farmers receive at present through a Basic Payment Scheme. Conversations with Welsh farmers made apparent that the terms of these do not always provide holistic solutions and the top-down approach seldom responds to the variations in environmental conditions. Caught between the bureaucracies of the government and the unforgiving market, the number of farmers in Wales has seen a steady decline in recent years.Welsh is the ‘laith y Pridd’ or the language of the land. Currently there are fewer speakers of the language than ever in the past. The farming sector has the highest speakers of this dwindling language (43% of farmers speak Welsh) and there have been proposals to bolster the language through the agricultural industry. The Welsh government is seeking to target one million Welsh speakers by 2050 by promoting and supporting local farming businesses and encouraging them to expand operations.

Welsh Language A. Farm Laborer and Welsh Speakers

20%

35%

45%

Full Time 17800 Part Time 20200 Seasonal 12400

B. Welsh Farmers Classification

30 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Age 1921 1931

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021

C. Historical evidence of decline in Welsh language

10% or Less 10% < 25% 25% < 40% 40% < 55% 55% < 70% D. Percentage able to speak Welsh (2021) Fig. 3.13

|

AUTHORS WITH OWEN, WELSH FARMER

12.

Fig 3.10 Data source: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. (2020, July). The Plan.

Retrieved from The National Food Strategy: https://www. nationalfoodstrategy.org/ 13.

Fig 3.12 Data source: Welsh Government. (2022).

Statistical First Release. Cardiff: Statistics for Wales .

Farming Connect. (2020). Iaith y Pridd. Business Wales, Welsh Government.

Fig. 3.12

|

WELSH FARER AND LANGUAGE DATA VISUALISATION

80

INTERLUDE

A8 CONVERSATION WITH OWEN An interview with Owen from the Lawrenny Farms in Wales was set up in November 2023. Owen was a dairy farmer who had been in the agriculture industry for the last many generations and owned about 1000 acres of land. Conversation with him highlighted the many concerns of the farmers in Wales regarding poor income and loss of harvests. The frequent changes in weather conditions have reduced their sowing cycles and also limited the window for harvesting. Land used for organic farming has also not generated much more income than the monoculture practice. Dealing with government agencies and procurement chains have remained an elusive option as the contracts are always riddled with unreasonable expectations and given to the lowest bidder. Owen was not of the belief that an agroforestry model could provide for the projected estimates as it far outstripped the current produce from the lands many times over.

Fig. 3.14

81

|

CARICATURE OF OWEN

INTERLUDE

A9 CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD Revisiting Richard Edwards from Clo Carbon Cymru once the proposal was conceptualised helped to root the strategies more in the local context. He was more confident of the MiFAS approach bearing more results than other Welsh farmers. His biggest concern was trapping as much carbon as fast as possible in order to mitigate the effects of a complete and total climate breakdown. Richard also sought to develop a good, equitable business model to bring together various stakeholders and service providers towards the agricultural sector which remains heavily impoverished in Wales today. He also spoke of new techniques under development to combat climate crisis such as deep hydrogen fuel chains and biochar. Both these need to be popularised more in local community and the National Farmer’s Union with its 24,000 members was the best way to spread the awareness. He was very concerned about how to build an appeal for other farmers in Wales towards these new methods of cultivation.

Fig. 3.15

|

CARICATURE OF RICHARD

82

SYNTHESIS

03.2.5

Housing Housing is a pressing concern in Wales, particularly in rural areas where affordable land is scarce. The proliferation of second homes has worsened the housing crisis, leaving many young people with limited options for renting or buying property.

Although efforts to deter this trend through premiums on second homes were made, tourists often prefer paying the premiums to retain their properties in the scenic countryside. Consequently, the housing shortage persists, exacerbating the struggle for accessible housing in rural Wales. This perpetuates the cycle of housing insecurity, hindering the younger generation’s ability to establish themselves in their own homes and contributing to ongoing socioeconomic challenges in the region. As a result, many young individuals are forced to either live with their parents or relocate to urban areas in search of affordable housing options. Addressing this crisis requires innovative solutions and collaboration between government, local communities, and stakeholders to ensure sustainable and equitable access to housing for all residents of Wales.

03.2.6

Fig. 3.16 | SECOND HOMES IN WALES & TAX REPORT Map from BBC

Wildlife Tourism While agriculture provides measurable income benefits, its broader impacts extend to various sectors like the environment, tourism, and public health. In Wales, wildlife tourism distinguishes itself within the UK, contributing significantly to the outdoor activity tourism sector valued at approximately £6.2 billion GBP, supporting an estimated 206,000 jobs nationwide.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role, accounting for nearly a third of its total value. This highlights agriculture’s interconnectedness with Wales’ economy and society, emphasizing its role in promoting environmental sustainability, driving tourism, and fostering public wellbeing. Recognizing these contributions underscores the importance of supporting and enhancing the agricultural sector for Wales’ overall benefit.

01

Close to 0% 0.2 to 2% 2 to 4% 4 to 6% More than 6%

14.

Amaeth Cymru. (2017). The future of agriculture in Wales: The way forward. Welsh Government.

15.

Fig 3.16, Second homes in Wales: Call to boost “paltry solution.” (2022, January 11). BBC News. https:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-59938949

Fig. 3.17 | WELSH WILDLIFE TOURISM MAP ILLUSTRATION Map from Behance

SYNTHESIS

Fig. 3.18 | WELSH TOURISM INTIATIVE Photograph by Mehul Shethiya

16.

Fig 3.18, Behance. (2015, June 1). Wild Wales: Illustrated Map. Behance. https://www.behance.net/ gallery/26935497/Wild-Wales-Illustrated-Map

01

INTERLUDE

A10 CONVERSATION WITH ALEX A conversation with a local farmer and climate activist Alex Heffron from Wales was arranged on 13th November 2023.

Over the conversation we touched upon the challenges of agroforestry in Wales and the knowledge gaps surrounding the same. The concerns regarding the additional labour that would be required for increasing horticulture was discussed. Housing is the primary concern for all those who till the land. Alex was also very helpful in explaining the difference between farming conditions on the uplands and the lowlands. He believed in building stronger linkages between the local communities and farmers and also improving connections and collaborations between farmers themselves. Common facilities and shared processing units could be used to increase income for the farmers with basic support from the state. The conversation was instrumental in reviewing the feasibility of alternative farming practices in Wales and looked at verifying the numbers from the state with the realities on ground.

Fig. 3.19

85

|

CARICATURE OF ALEX

INTERLUDE

A11 CONVERSATION WITH SAM Sam Hollick is a farmer in Anglesey, Wales and a PhD scholar in agroforestry. The conversation with him in November 2023, was to verify the proposed strategies with ground conditions and identify any challenges it might face. Sam was able to assure us with figures and evidences from his research that the land in Wales is more than capable of catering to feeding the local population. The data figures that were available for the proposal had been based influenced initially by monoculture farming practices due to lack of sources for agroforestry farming data. Sam was able to bridge that resource gap for us and give us measures that we could then use to project for larger farmlands. Concerns on subsidy limitations and rigidity was discussed. As was the reckless international food trade that keeps local growers out of the markets. Sam currently cultivates a small farm of 2 acres and supplies 40 vegetable boxes a week to local customers in Anglesey. This figure was a useful base to start approaching expansion strategies going forward.

Fig. 3.20

|

CARICATURE OF SAM

86

SYNTHESIS

03.2.7

Proposed Agricultural Model There are many calling for more ecologically sustainable methods of farming in Wales to regenerate the landscape that has degraded after decades of intensive agricultural practices. The damage done will need to be repaired to survive the climate crisis as it gets more brutal. The increasingly unpredictable weather in Wales is already cause of much strife to farmers and their harvests, and it needs urgent intervention.

A new model of agriculture built on restoring natural carbon cycles must be supported by the state to urgently trap the carbon from the atmosphere back into the ground. The pattern of loading and dumping the soil with nitrates and fertilisers must also be broken. Growing nutrient dense produce over seasonal periods should be promoted over perennial varieties that only ensures yearround production of profits. The small farms would prove instrumental in this transition as they would be able to effectuate silvo-pasture and agroforestry models with less labour than the large farms.

Constructing common amenities and processing facilities that can be shared between these farms would prove critical in improving the local infrastructure and open opportunities to many more farmers while also welcoming many other service jobs to the area as the operations on the farm diversify. Housing for the labour is a major hurdle. Community Land Trust models for acquiring land and providing affordable housing to those who work the landscape should be a priority to ease entry of new farmers.

Connecting these growers to the local markets with better prices and seller protections can provide local markets with local produce over cheap international imports. Growing fruits and vegetables locally among other things can save the Welsh government upto 72.5 million pounds annually. This money could be further streamlined towards bolstering the farming sector

87

17.

Welsh Government. (2019). Agriculture in Wales.

Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Dairy 13% Poultry 14% Others 12.5% Poultry 12.5% Fruits & Veg 50%

Proposed Average Dietary Patterns

Reduce Livestock Production

Welsh Language

Provide Affordable Housing Preserve and Expand Welsh Language

Boost Agriculture based Tourism 30% Share in £ 6 Billion Industry

2.07 Million HA

Reduce import of fruits & veg. for Locals 4 Million People

SYNTHESIS

Environmental Land Management : £ 300,000,000

Dairy and Eggs

Cereals

Meat and Meat

Beverage

Live Animals

Animal feed

Live Animals

Fish

Beverages

Coffee Tea

Sugar and Honey

Preparation

Reduce Imports of : £ 72,500,000

Meat and Meat

Fruit and Veg

Dairy

Preparation

Miscellaneous

Crustaceans

Fig. 3.21 | PROPOSED WELSH AGRICULTURAL MODEL source/credits

18.

Amaeth Cymru. (2017). The future of agriculture in Wales: The way forward. Welsh Government.

88

SYNTHESIS

03.3

Un Cymru Policy

This comprehensive framework not only empowers farmers but also fosters environmental sustainability and community resilience

The Un Cmyru policy is an ambitious plan that aims to increase food sovereignty in Wales by redirecting government subsidies and investing in agricultural expansion and infrastructure. The policy’s recommendations, divided into two parts, are directed at improving land access and lowering farmers’ operating costs. This includes initiatives such as farming clusters, Community Land Trusts (CLTs), council farms, and the Right to Buy program. Financial assistance is available through programs such as the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery.

Through meticulous analysis and real-world case studies, the thesis will delve into the potential impacts and effective implementation strategies of the Un Cmyru policy

The policy also includes spatial design elements to achieve the seven objectives outlined in the original One Planet Development (OPD) policy. Consultation and toolkits for land-based activities and management promote community engagement and knowledge sharing. Spatial interventions aim to achieve objectives such as sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, and carbon reduction. By combining recommendations and spatial design, the Un Cmyru policy provides a comprehensive framework for promoting sustainable agriculture and empowering communities.

In our academic thesis, the Un Cmyru policy would be presented as a strategic response to the challenges that Welsh agriculture have faced. It aims to transform the subsidy system and create a more resilient and self-sufficient food system. The policy’s dual approach of recommendations and spatial design ensures comprehensive support for farmers while also addressing environmental and social concerns. The proposal would investigate the possible impacts and implementation strategies of the Un Cmyru policy using detailed analysis and instances.

89

19.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).. Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

SYNTHESIS

UN CYMRU POLICY

Policy Recommendation

Land Access

Farmer’s Clusters

Community Land Trusts

Council Farms

Right to Buy over Retiring Farmers

Fig. 3.22

|

Elements of Spatial Design

Operating Costs

Consultation Based

Infrastructure Based

SFI

Sustainable Farming Initiative

CS

Countryside Stewardship

LR

Landscape Recovery

ELM

Environmental Land Management

Community Impact

Transport

SFS

Sustainable Farming Scheme

Knowledge exchange and planning advice

Dwelling Unit

Land Based Activity

Land Management

Water

Energy

Waste

CHARTING THE ROLES OF FOOD HUB ORGANISATION UNDER UN CYMRU POLICY

20.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). (Year). Countryside Stewardship scheme

90

SYNTHESIS

03.3.1

Phasing the Policy To ensure the success of Un Cymru policy in Wales, a phased approach is required.

This strategic approach enables focused attention, risk reduction, and adaptability.

Breaking down the policy into 3 stages allows for better resource allocation, problem solving, and collaboration, resulting in resilient and sustainable landscapes across Wales.

03.3.2

Phase 01: Land Acquisition and Local Collaboration Phase 1 of the policy framework is designed to address the critical issue of land access for New Entrants and Existing Farmers within the agricultural sector of Wales.

Through initiatives such as the Right to Buy, individuals are empowered to acquire land from retiring farmers, thereby promoting inclusivity within the farming community.

Collaborative partnerships with Council Farms, Farmer Clusters, and Community Land Trusts (CLTs) further enhance opportunities for land acquisition and knowledge exchange among farmers.

Additionally, the expansion of Phase 1 initiatives, particularly the Right to Buy, serves to provide aspiring farmers and existing agriculturalists with affordable options for land ownership or rental. Council Farms, managed by local government authorities, offer accessible entry points into farming, while Farmer Clusters facilitate cooperative land management and resource-sharing among small-scale farmers. Moreover, CLTs play a crucial role in addressing housing challenges by ensuring that land is utilized for affordable housing purposes in alignment with local needs.

This phase builds resilient rural communities by ensuring equitable land access and collective farmer support. Phase 1 establishes a solid foundation for a sustainable future in which farmers and residents coexist in harmony with the natural environment. In essence, it creates inclusive agricultural landscape in Wales.

91

SYNTHESIS

LAND ACQUISITION AND LOCAL COLLABORATION

Fig. 3.23

|

PHASE 01: MAKING LAND MORE ACCESSIBLE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

92

SYNTHESIS

LOGISTIC + SERVICES

Fig. 3.24

93

|

PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WELSH FOOD

SYNTHESIS

PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE

03.3.3

Phase 02: Logistic and Services Phase 2 of the policy represents a significant advancement over Phase 1, with the establishment of the foodhub taking center stage. The emphasis now shifts to integrating the Multi-Enterprise Farming System (MiFAS) model, which aims to promote diverse farm enterprises. Concurrently, the foodhub refines its land management strategy to comply with regional policy guidelines.

Furthermore, logistical support is improved, including transportation, quality control, and product marketing from affiliated farms. This phase marks significant progress toward sustainable food production and lays the groundwork for Phase 3 initiatives. These subsequent efforts aim to strengthen local food systems, promote food sovereignty, and improve agricultural resilience and sustainability in Wales

03.3.4

Phase 03: Infrastructure Phase 3 of the policy and food-hub initiative represents a significant step toward achieving food sovereignty in Wales.

By introducing important infrastructure such as community processing units and manufacturing facilities, we hope to improve local food production and processing capabilities. These shared processing units will enable farms to process their produce more efficiently, lowering costs and increasing productivity while encouraging collaboration among local farmers.

Furthermore, the formation of local energy cooperatives and initiatives for clean water and waste recycling demonstrates our firm commitment to long-term sustainability.

These initiatives not only create jobs, but also empower communities to manage their own food systems, reducing reliance on outside sources and promoting self-sufficiency.

Furthermore, the establishment of a transportation hub will significantly reduce food miles by promoting the distribution of regional food while reducing the impact on the environment. Our goal is to create a more resilient and sustainable food system that puts the needs of the community and local production first.

94

SYNTHESIS

Fig. 3.25

95

|

UPWARD VIEW THROUGH TREE FOLIAGE

SYNTHESIS

Fig. 3.26

|

DOWNWARD VIEW TOWARDS TREE DEBRIS

96

RENAISSANCE

04

A NEW FOOD POLICY

04.1

Zooming In As evidenced thus far, Wales’ agricultural sector relies heavily on imports to meet both human and livestock dietary requirements.

Despite the fact that agriculture accounts for roughly 80% of the land, there is significant diversity in land types and habitats, which are frequently classified broadly. Among these, Pembrokeshire County stands out for having a diverse range of census points.

With the highest concentration of farmers, livestock cattle, and cultivated farmlands, Pembrokeshire was chosen as the ideal location to test the project’s initiatives. It is surrounded by sea on three sides and has a rugged coastline typical of Wales, which draws many hikers to its popular coastal trails. Furthermore, the county’s diverse elevations, which reach up to 550 meters, result in abundant rainfall.

Moving forward with the project, theories have been meticulously developed, simulated, and tested with the goal of improving food security in Pembrokeshire and, as a result, spreading these benefits throughout Wales. The project’s goal is to build resilient landscapes at the local level, with proposals ranging from soil management on individual farms to regional and national policies. By addressing these various factors comprehensively, the project hopes to establish a strong framework for sustainable agriculture. The initiative aims to improve food security while also promoting environmental sustainability and socioeconomic resilience across the region and beyond, through strategic interventions and collaborative efforts at various scales.

1. Agriculture census for number of Farmers

2. Agriculture census for number of Farmerlands

High Density Moderate Low Density 3. Agriculture census for number of cattles Fig. 4.1

97

1.

Fig 4.1 Data Source- Office For National Statistics, UK Trade Census, December 2018

|

OVER THE WELSH TERRAIN

RENAISSANCE

0M Fig. 4.2

|

UNDERSTANDING PEMBROKESHIRE GEOGRAPHY

2.

Fig 4.2 Data Source- Welsh Government,Survey of agriculture and horticulture,June 2020

550M River Streams

Towns

98

RENAISSANCE

04.1.1

Case of Pembrokeshire A. Terrain

The terrain in Wales is distinctly hilly and mountainous. The north of Wales is known to be much hillier than the south with the picturesque Cambrian mountain ranges. The slope in some parts are so steep, they are mostly used for only livestock cultivation.

The steep terrain also makes for wide variations in rainfall received in the windward and leeward sides of the hills and mountains.

Each local catchment has its own scale of uplands and lowlands based on the ranging terrain elevations. In the catchments of Pembrokeshire for instance, one can see the land altitude vary between 80M and 550M.

The slope in some parts are so steep, they are mostly used for only livestock cultivation. The steep terrain also makes for wide variations in rainfall received in the windward and leeward sides of the hills and mountains.

The high rainfall can make it much harder to use the land for growing horticulture produce. The intense water can damage the crops and ruin harvest season.

B. Rainfall

The implications that the slope of the land has are many but the most noteworthy of them might be the rainfall received.

The uplands tend to receive almost twice as much rainfall as the lowlands.

In Pembrokeshire, the lowlands receive 550m whereas the highest point in the county receives 1265mm per annum. This can affect the kind of land management strategies required and all what kind of foods and vegetations can thrive under these conditions.

Fig. 4.4 | HIGHLAND 04% Highland [Above 250]

C. Arable Cultivation// Implication on Agriculture The abundant rainfall in Wales creates challenges for horticultural initiatives, exposing crops to damage and disrupting harvest. Adding to the challenge, the region’s clayey, acidic soil composition complicates fruit and vegetable production. Nonetheless, Pembrokeshire stands out for its pockets of arable land nestled along the coastal lowlands. These areas have the highest concentration of cultivable landscapes in Wales, which are prized for their agricultural viability and frequently sought after for cultivation and sale, indicating that there are opportunities for sustainable farming ventures in the region

Fig. 4.3 | RAINFALL DATA & FLOOD PLAINS Highlands receives 950mm - 1265mm rainfall Lowland receives 550mm - 950mm rainfall

99

3.

Fid 4.3 & 4.4 Data Source: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Landmap Landscape Habitats, 2017 Edition.

Downloaded [March 2023]

RENAISSANCE

250M

550M

Fig. 4.6 | LOWLAND 96% Lowlands [Below 250M]

Fig. 4.5 | CURRENT LANDUSE 61% of total is occupied by Herbaceous Vegetation 550MM

1265MM

4.

Fig 4.5 & 4.6 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

0M

250M

Herbaceous Vegetation - 61% Open Closed Forest - 21% Water Bodies - 0.69% Cropland - 17% Shrubs - 0.17%

100

RENAISSANCE

04.2 04.2.1

Feeding Wales Case of Pembrokeshire Engagement with Clo Carbon Cymru introduced the project to the wide scope of agroforestry systems in Wales. In its fundamental sense, the OPD farms were also single units of agroforestry experiments that worked with minimal support from the government and fewer collaborations than more established farms in other parts of the UK. Leveraging on this method of farming would improve collaborations across individual farms and ensure more sustainable practices and better management of waste and energy.

The idea of a Community Food Hub was also something that the Clo Carbon Cymru were promoting to government agencies as a method to bring consumers closer to those who produce their food. Stories of frustrated farmers who struggled to compete with supermarket chains as well as farmers who were dejected by the redundancy of their sector in Wales motivated the need for shifts in the present systems.

Stories of frustrated farmers who struggled to compete with supermarket chains as well as farmers who were dejected by the redundancy of their sector in Wales motivated the need for shifts in the present systems

101

Community led initiatives would ensure that the profits get circulated back to benefit those who live in Wales and ensure better protections from shifts of external economic conditions. Agroforestry farms successfully thrive by stacking several enterprises over the same parcel of land. Promoting collaborations within the community that is free and contract specific, would ensure optimisation of resources for energy, processing, marketing, transport and delivery.

An example illustrated was the farm run by Richard Edwards in Clo Carbon Cymru where waste apples from an orchard were taken to feed pigs in his farm. The pig meat acquired unique flavours and were marketed as seasonal varieties of meat. The pruned twigs from nearby woodlands were used to create biofuel and over 50 varieties of mushrooms were cultivated in the wooded areas of the farm.

5.

Clo Carbon Cymru. (n.d.). Agricultural Transition in Wales: From Conventional to MiFAS . Clo Carbon

Fig. 4.7 | REPRESENTATION OF MIFAS Clo Carbon Cymru. (n.d.). Agricultural Transition

Fig. 4.8 | FOOD AND ENERGY FLOWS U Clo Carbon Cymru. (n.d.). Agricultural Transition

RENAISSANCE

Local Community

New Economic Opportunities

Social Enterprise

Community Building

Emission Reduction Strategies

Community Food Hub

Farm Co-Operative

Carbon Dioxide Removal Strategies Community Manufacturing

SYSTEMS n in Wales: From Conventional to MiFAS . Clo Carbon Cymru

Fig. 4.9 | OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION Clo Carbon Cymru. (n.d.). Agricultural Transition in Wales: From Conventional to MiFAS . Clo Carbon Cymru

UNDER MIFAS n in Wales: From Conventional to MiFAS . Clo Carbon Cymru

Fig. 4.10

|

THROUGH CASES OF MUSHROOM

6.

Cymru. Clo Carbon Cymru. (2022). The New Carbon Economy. Clo Carbon Cymru.

102

RENAISSANCE

04.2.2

How much food do we need?

A healthy individual diet consists of a balanced intake of food primarily across categories of cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and other poultry items. Other food categories such as beverages, oils and sugars are also necessary.

Local Farms

Storage

Marketing

Large scale agricultural data sets from FAO and EU were used to build a broad picture of the statistical requirements of the country. It is worth noting that these figures were largely looking at yield from intensive monoculture farming experiments. However, since agroforestry estimates a higher yield, it was safe to assume that the produce figures would match the requirements. One must also be cautious that the large-scale intensive farming systems will not hold out as the effect of climate crisis exacerbates, which is already evident in the seasonal spikes of certain produce (like courgettes and tomatoes in 2023) depending on import supply conditions.

Foodhub

Distribution Center

Retail

103

Institutions

Restaurants

Local Consumers Fig. 4.11

7.

Poux, X., & Aubert, P.-M. (2018, September). An agroecological Europe in 2050: multifunctional agriculture for healthy eating. IDDRI. 8. . Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations

Local Farms

Aggregation Center

As per the National Food Survey the current individual intake of fruits and vegetables is lower than the recommended requirements.

Since Welsh production of fruits and vegetables is also abysmally poor, in the project started by aiming to meet 60% of local fruit and vegetable needs through agroforestry models of cultivation. Apart from fruit and vegetable needs, the project also sought to produce cereals that would go towards human diets.

The numbers crunched indicated that a total of roughly 1 acre was required to feed 17 people through the year. However, conventionally, only 15% of total agricultural output goes towards human consumption while 70% feeds livestock and another 15% goes towards industrial uses. These things were considered to estimate more realistically how an acre of land would be used.

Local Farms

|

REDUCING FOOD MILES THROUGH FOOD-HUB

RENAISSANCE

Individual Per Day Consumption

Area Cultivated Currently Cereals

Fruits & Veg

Cereals

Fruits & Veg

Dairy

Poultry & Meat

411 g/person

302 g/person

726 g/person

270 g/person

Food Produced Currently Dairy

Fruits & Veg

Other

Area Cultivated Required

Food Produced Required

Cereals

Fruits & Veg

71,075 Ha

23,500 Ha

Fruits & Veg

16 8m illio 3.6 Million Ha

0.6 Million Ha

16.8 Million Tonnes

55,100 Ha

931 Ha

--

onnes 23 Million Tonnes

20,000 Tonnes

Evaluated Land Consumption for 1 Acre of Land for feeding Humans

Existing Land Consumption for 1 Acre of Land in Wales

2.5 People Per Year

0.3 Cattle Per Year

1 Acre

17 People Per Year

1 Acre Industrial Needs

Fig. 4.12

|

ESTIMATING FOOD CONSUMPTION FIGURES

9.

Welsh Government. (2022). Statistical First Release. Cardiff: Statistics for Wales .

104

RENAISSANCE

04.2.3

The market garden renaissance movement advocated for by the Land Worker’s Alliance seeks to bring a new form of fruit and vegetable production to the UK. As a necessary measure to improve production of horticulture in the UK, mainly to meet the local demands and improve local consumption; the LWA worked on a bold new policy that would revitalise the growing sector and also create working conditions that would encourage a new generation of growers. The proposal looks at building three zones of farm networks to support urban centres improving connection between consumers and food producers.

The model also accepts that there will be certain produce that comes from outside and wholesalers who buy from other growers in the UK or abroad. The argument made is that developing routes in the market that prioritise the needs of the farmer and protect the consumers improves social, environmental, and economic conditions of the community.

© OrganicLea

The argument made is that developing routes in the market that prioritise the needs of the farmer and protect the consumers improves social, environmental, and economic conditions of the community.

Market Garden Renaissance from LWA

Horticulture Across Four Nations A report by the Landworkers’ Alliance (2024) Written by Rebecca Laughton

The Attraction of Agroecology and the barriers faced by new entrants pursuing agroecological farming and land work

Fig. 4.13

105

|

BOOK COVER

10.

Laughton, R. (2023). A Market Garden Renaissance. Retrieved from Landworkers’ Alliance: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/ https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2018/10/Market-Garden-Renaissance-PamphletOct23.pdf

1

RENAISSANCE

Fig. 4.14 | GROWING COMMUNITY FOOD ZONES Drawing by LWA

11.

Laughton, R. (2023). A Market Garden Renaissance. Retrieved from Landworkers’ Alliance: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/ https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2018/10/Market-Garden-Renaissance-PamphletOct23.pdf

106

RENAISSANCE

04.3

Designing The Food Zones The strategic planning outlined in this study, framed within the context of the Market Garden Renaissance, addresses the food requirements of Pembrokeshire by delineating zones around major settlements.

These zones are meticulously crafted with proximity counters to ensure optimal access to food sources for each community cluster.

Rural settlements are also incorporated into the plan, creating a comprehensive network of food production zones.Efforts extend beyond mapping; overlaps between adjacent zones are adjusted to optimize land usage and minimize waste. Transport hubs are strategically located to connect these zones with population centers, forming an efficient distribution network managed by a centralized food hub entity within the Market Garden Renaissance framework. While the zones provide a framework for agricultural activities, individual farm plots within each zone receive production guidelines from the food hub, ensuring alignment with community needs while empowering local farmers.

“The food growing zones are only indicative areas where individual farm plots would receive guidelines of production and goals for each zone (managed by the food hub) would have to sustain the people within each community ward area.”

This integrated approach, within the framework of the Market Garden Renaissance, aims to foster a resilient and sustainable local food system while mitigating administrative conflicts. By decentralizing decision-making and empowering local communities, the strategy promotes ownership and adaptability at the grassroots level. In summary, this strategic planning approach, embedded in the principles of the Market Garden Renaissance, provides a framework for creating a resilient food system capable of meeting the region’s needs, contributing to the academic discourse on sustainable food systems planning and management.

Step 01. Create

Step 02. Adjust

Step 03. Connect

Fig. 4.15 | ZONING STRATEGY SCHEMATIC strategies to develop pembrokeshire food zones

107

12.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

RENAISSANCE

Fig. 4.17 | AVAILABLE PRODUCTION AREA VS TOTAL POPULATION Data visualisation for Admin Boundaries of located towns

Fig. 4.19 | LAND AVAILABLE FOR SELECTED ADMIN BOUNDARIES Selecting area for located towns

Fig. 4.16 | SELECTED ADMIN BOUNDARIES Extension of admin boundaries to accomodate food requirement of town with ore population

Fig. 4.18 | SCHEMATIC FOOD BUFFERS TO UNDERSTAND REQUIREMENT Food zones proportional to food required for existing population of each town

13.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

108

RENAISSANCE

Food Zones for Pembrokeshire The method tested to create the food zones for Pembrokeshire, were further developed and designed by differentiating specific roles to the zone. Taking inspiration from the Market Garden Renaissance movement, the zone was segregated into three parts. These were the zone of Urban and Community Gardens, the peri-urban zone and finally the rural zone. As per the food requirements of the community, the food zones were given specific roles and responsibilities.

Urban and Community Gardens were to support 7.5% and the peri-urban zone is to support 17.5% of the food requirements and the last rural zone is to support 35% of the food requirements. These breakdowns would ideally subsidise 60% of the community’s total foo requirements and reduce the required imports to Wales from across the globe. The revenue thus saved could further be invested in other sectors of government like the local planning authority. This model of growing food would also contain the market to local businesses and improve community wealth.

Pembrokeshire

Newport + Nevern Fig. 4.21

109

|

SMALL MEDIUM & LARGE

14.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

Fig. 4.20

|

FOOD PRODUCTION ZONES

RENAISSANCE

Zone 01: Urban and Community gardens

15.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

Zone 03: Rural Hinderland

Zone 02: Peri Urban

110

RENAISSANCE

04.3.1

The algorithmic developments In developing spatial design outcomes, we employ a diverse set of tools to create and test algorithms for various functions.

Beginning with riparian buffers, we delineate a variable extent ranging from 150 to 200 meters relative to the topography, where the buffer width decreases with steeper slopes. Subsequently, we conduct proximity analyses and evaluate land parcels to identify areas between 5 to 30 acres, facilitating opportunities for small-scale farmers.

Concurrently, our calculation module generates a list of required parcels based on the food production needs of the Newport Nevern population.

01 : Riparian Buffer excluded​

Following the management of diverse land parcels, we classify them into upland and lowland categories based on their topographical attributes. This classification process leads to the formation of farm clusters, which are integrated to establish a cohesive infrastructure covering 100 acres of selected land parcels. These parcels are then interconnected using transportation road analyses, and connectivity mapping via the depth map X plug-in aids in identifying suitable locations for infrastructure development.

This approach allows for the tailored selection of sites that best suit the Newport Nevern scenario, while maintaining the algorithm’s adaptability for application in various contexts.

This approach allows for the tailored selection of sites that best suit the Newport Nevern scenario, while maintaining the algorithm’s adaptability for application in various contexts. Through the integration of multiple criteria and analyses, our algorithm facilitates the creation of spatial designs that are both functional and responsive to the needs of the target population. As a versatile tool, it can be effectively utilized in different geographical settings to address specific spatial design challenges.

05 : All suitable parcels of upland identified​

09: Transport network overlayed​

Fig. 4.22

111

|

NEWPORT NEVERN DESIGN ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT

RENAISSANCE

02 : Uplands and Lowlands demarcated​

03 : Four Food Zones identified based on Market Garden Renaissance ​

04 : Land Parcels overlayed​

06 : Parcels of upland selected to meet food production demands for the town​

07 : All suitable parcels of lowland identified​

08 : Parcels of lowland selected to meet food production demands for the town​

10 : Critical Transport Linkages strengthened with transport hubs​

11 : Land parcels clustered together to build common

12 : Designed Outcome of Policy with designated Food Zones

infrastructure​

producing food locally for the nearest town​

112

RENAISSANCE

04.3.2

Visualising Food Zones Riparian Buffer

The rainy Welsh climate naturally makes for a very wet landscape all year round. Designing the food zones in the terrain should follow landscape strategies that accommodate the local hydrology in its baseline study.

The riparian edge is marked out along a 200m distance along the flood plain to ensure proper protection to the farms.

Farm lands in this area is directed towards water conservation and percolation to mitigate floods. This is especially necessary along the edges surrounding more densely populated towns and settlement cluster.

The biodiversity along the river’s edge it to be rejuvenated to bring back dwindling species of plants and animals. During the summers these spaces can become more accessible spaces to the public with minimal intervention infrastructure like walkways and light pedestrian bridges.regular negotiations to enforce climate action policy. Since then we have seen numerous treaties signed, the more recent ones being the 2015 Paris Agreement, which sought to keep the planet from warming under the keep the planet from warming under the

Fig. 4.23

113

|

SKETCH OF WELSH RIPARIAN BUFFER

Fig. 4.24

|

RIPARIAN BUFFER: MAINTAINED ALONG FLOODPLAINS

RENAISSANCE

114

RENAISSANCE

04.3.3

Uplands vs Lowlands The lowlands and the uplands are demarcated based on local terrain conditions and rainfall patterns. Each zone was designated a specific role in the growing community. The lowlands with more scope for horticulture and prevalence of arable lands were designed to grow fruits and vegetables with a small amount of silviculture if feasible. The uplands were designed to prevent soil erosion and support for cereal cultivation and livestock breeding.

Fig. 4.27 | LOWLANDS Fruit and Veg Production Flood Mitigation

Fig. 4.26 | UPLANDS Livestock and Silviculture Preventing Soil Erosion

115

Fig. 4.25

|

THE UPLAND VS LOWLAND

RENAISSANCE

116

RENAISSANCE

04.3.4

Food Zones The Market Garden Renaissance action, which was inspired by sustainable agriculture and local food production principles, served as the foundation for Newport Nevern’s strategic food zone planning. Using insights from this movement, the planners conducted a comprehensive assessment of the town’s population and dietary requirements. This entailed estimating the necessary quantities of fruits, vegetables, and cereals to sustain the community.

The food zones, which were meticulously overlaid on the terrain, were intended not only to meet immediate food demands but also to promote ecological balance and resilience in the region. In keeping with the Market Garden Renaissance ethos, the planners included a sustainable forestry component in the zoning strategy. For each 20 acres of land designated for food production, An additional 2-4 acres were designated for woodland cultivation. The deliberate inclusion of woodlands in the plan serves several purposes, including biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and the promotion of agroforestry practices.

By incorporating these elements into the design of the food zones, the planners hope to not only meet Newport Nevern’s nutritional needs, but also to foster a holistic approach to land use that prioritizes environmental sustainability and resilience.

Fig. 4.29

117

|

LWA FOOD-ZONES SUPPLY CHAIN

Fig. 4.28

|

NEWPORT NEVER DERIVED FOOD-ZONES

RENAISSANCE

118

RENAISSANCE

an Urb

iPer

a

nd na

Urb

Fig. 4.30 | 10 ACRE MARKET GARDEN RENAISSANCE DEMONSTRATION ON A SAMPLE OF LOWLAND FARMS

119

nity

Co

u mm

ne Zo

RENAISSANCE

04.3.5

Lowlands The lowlands are areas with reduced rainfall and seasonal flooding. It is also the region with maximum arable landscapes according to government datasets. This region is to be used primarily for fruit and vegetable cultivation in agroforestry principles along with flood mitigation strategies for land management.

With majorly fruit and vegetable growing in agroforestry methods, this region will require a significant amount of labour, roughly to the tune of 3 to 4 people per 10 acres of farmlands. Shared manufacturing and processing units for the fruit and vegetables production can further improve the range of products grown and created locally. This can start to bring in local flavours and serve to build local brands through food labels.

ne l Zo a r u

R

2 3 1

Fig. 4.31

|

KEY MAP INDICATING FOOD ZONES

120

RENAISSANCE

Polytunnels

Urban and Community gardens

Carrots

Fruits

Asparagus

Fig. 4.32

Leeks

|

Eggplants

COMMONLY MANAGED GARDENS

Lowlands: Zone 1: Urban and Community The main settlement areas of the food zones can retain their position and character. The proposal does not look into the spatial nature of this zone however it is recommended that more areas are marked for small scale growing of food. a tiny fraction of their food needs to be met this way.

121

Biowaste

Labour

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

thick hedges for biodiversity and protecting the fields from wind erosion rows of tree to improve soil health and water percolation

multiple cropping cycles with various produce ponds and water management

Contour Farming

Fruits

Asparagus

Leeks

Fig. 4.33

|

Eggplants

Biowaste

Labour

HORTICULTURE FARMS

Lowlands: Zone 2: Peri-urban Roughly three fourths of the land in the periurban growing regions of the lowlands would be dedicated towards fruits and vegetable production. This would be necessary to intensify current fruit and vegetable production. The crop areas would have ponds for biodiversity and collecting water that can flood the lowlands during the storms.

RIGHT IMAGE

122

RENAISSANCE

thick hedges for biodiversity and protecting the fields from wind erosion rows of tree to improve soil health and water percolation

rotational cropping of different cereals

Wheat

Maize

Hazelnut

Fig. 4.34

04.3.2

|

Willow

CEREAL PRODUCTION IN AGROFORESTRY

Lowlands: Zone 3: Rural A quarter of the land in the peri urban belt will be used to for cereal production. These cereals are grown to support both people and as animal feed in small measure. Grains to be grown in line with agroforestry principles and not monoculture to protect soil health.

123

Labour

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

trees to be planted as clumps

diverse canopies

fruit growing trees and mushroom foraging allowed

Biofuels

Berries

Fig. 4.35

Mushroom

|

Pruning

Cultivation

SILVICULTURE PLOTS

Lowlands: Zone 3: Rural A quarter of the land in the rural zone to be allocated for silviculture. This can support the bio fuel needs and also provide natural shelter to the small number of livestock needed. Improving the tree cover in the lowlands can also improve soil health and mitigate flooding to some degree.

RIGHT IMAGE

124

RENAISSANCE

Amenities for producing processed goods from farm produce

Processing unit with transport and marketing facilities

Labour

Fig. 4.36

|

COMMON PROCESSING UNIT

Lowlands: Zone 2: Peri-urban Common processing units to be provided for every 10 farms in the lowlands. These centres can house equipment and space for creating secondary goods from the raw farm produce. Directly providing these facilities to the farmers improves their income and also makes the links to the market more efficient.

125

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

Manufacturing unit with transport and marketing facilities

Labour

Fig. 4.37

|

MANUFACTURING UNIT

Lowlands: Zone 2: Peri-urban

RIGHT IMAGE

These units can be used as aggregation and distribution centres for storage, packaging and marketing purposes. It acts as the interim stop between the farms and the customers in the market. At the manufacturing centre, the fresh produce can be handled and packaged for the market as per guidelines and quality checks. This centre will not process the food to create new items and will be provided at a fewer frequency than the processing units.

126

RENAISSANCE

U

n rba

iPer

nd

a ban

Ur

Fig. 4.38 | 10 ACRE MARKET GARDEN RENAISSANCE DEMOSTRATION ON A SAMPLE OF UPLAND FARMS

127

C

ty

uni

m om

ne Zo

RENAISSANCE

04.3.6

Uplands The uplands are regions that receive twice as much rainfall as the lowlands. The strategies for the farms that opt into the food growing zones would therefore pay close attention to absorbing water run off into the ground, preventing soil erosion and improving groundwater reserves. The nature of land does not permit the abundant growth of fruits and vegetables therefore these farms will be dedicated towards production of cereals and silviculture practices. Both these functions will be based on agroforestry principles and will engage in a small amount of livestock cultivation as permitted by the guidelines.

ne l Zo a r u

With the uplands functioning as points of cereal, livestock and forestry hubs, there will be permanent on site labour required for these that may be fewer in number than the lowlands. Local councils can be consulted in determining the numbers and accommodation amenities required to support them. Shared processing centres and manufacturing units to be introduced and can also be used as knowledge hubs where training programs can be envisioned over the later phases of the policy.

R

2 3 1

Fig. 4.39

|

KEY PLAN WITH THE FOOD ZONES

128

RENAISSANCE

Community housing units

Fig. 4.40

|

HOUSING FOR FARM LABOUR

Zone 1: Urban Areas Community Land Trusts to be set up for common housing provisions. The rents to be controlled and protected against inflation by market fluctuations. The housing to be provided to all farmers, and part- time labourers brought in for

129

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

Farm barns heated with biofuel made in the food zones Polytunnels with for poultry animals

Pasture lands and fruit trees to supplement livestock diets

Dairy

Fruits

Fig. 4.41

Cheese

|

Labour

LIVESTOCK REARING

Zone 2: Peri-Urban

RIGHT IMAGE

Livestock farming to be limited to areas available for feed production. Enclosures to heated with bio-fuel generated by the food hub community. Rotational cropping to be practiced over the pasture lands. Cereals to supplement the imports of animal feed to be produced on the farm and processed at community units. Fruit bearing trees to also be added to the animal feed. Common processing centres to be shared between farms, for dairy processing and poultry.

130

RENAISSANCE

thick hedges for biodiversity and protecting the fields from wind erosion rows of tree to improve soil health and water percolation

rotational cropping of different cereals

improve bacerial microbes in the soil

Bio-fuel

Wheat

Fig. 4.42

|

Maize

Labour

CEREAL PRODUCTION IN MIFAS SYSTEMS LEFT IMAGE

Zone 2: Uplands Cereals to be grown in circulation over the farm areas to allow for land regeneration and prevent mono culture cropping practices.

Local varieties of maize barley and wheat to be cultivated with rows of trees to break wind and protect soil from wind and water erosion.

The trees can be fast growing varieties like poplar, willow, elder or other hybrid varieties that will ensure the swiftest carbon capture.

131

RENAISSANCE

Pasture lands used when rotational areas cleared

improve bacerial microbes in the soil

Biofuel

Fig. 4.43

Willow

|

Hazelnut

CEREAL IN ROTATIONAL FARMING

Zone 2: Uplands Cereals to be grown in circulation over the farm areas to allow for land regeneration and prevent mono culture cropping practices.

When not used for growing, the fields can be used for livestock pastures and continue to support rows of trees and hedges.

RIGHT IMAGE

132

RENAISSANCE

complex canopy cover maintained in silviculture

various native species and fast growing species

soil helath improvement with improved fungal and nitrate contents

Conservation Areas

Fig. 4.44

|

SILVICULTURE AREA OF MINIMUM INTERVENTION

Zone 3: Silviculture Type 1 One third area of the silviculture zone to be area of minimum intervention. No systemic felling of trees except for safety reasons.

Frequent pruning and thinning to be done where ever and when ever required as per site conditions to encourage and improve growth.

133

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

complex canopy cover maintained in silviculture

diversity in age groups and specis of tree clusters

areas of controlled felling for sourcing timber and other forest resources soil helath improvement with improved fungal and nitrate contents

Bio-fuel

Fig. 4.45

|

SILVICULTURE AREA OF SMALL COUPE FELLING

Zone 3: Silviculture Type 2 One third area of the silviculture zone will be used for small coupe felling. Trees to be planted in clumps and diverse age groups to be maintained by controlled felling. Diverse canopy covers also to be preserved to allow forest regeneration. Products like timber, fibre, paper could be produced. Coppicing could also contribute to biofuel supplies.

RIGHT IMAGE

134

RENAISSANCE

continuous cover forestry maintaining complex canopies and biodiversity

soil health improvement with improved fungal and nitrate contents

Bio-fuel

Fig. 4.46

|

Labour

SILVICULTURE AREA OF CONTINUOUS COVER FORESTRY

Zone 3: Silviculture Type 3 Two thirds of the silviculture area in the uplands to be maintained as an area for conservation. Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) with simple and complex systems to be created. Livestock can take shelter in these spaces and feed on wild fruits and berries.

135

LEFT IMAGE

RENAISSANCE

Bio-fuel

Mushrooms

Fig. 4.47

|

Berries

SILVICULTURE AREA OF OPEN PUBLIC ACCESS

Zone 3: Silviculture Type 4 Silviculture parcel for a sixth of the uplands is to be designed as areas for public access.

Marked pathways for movement and foraging for non-commercial purposes to be allowed.

RIGHT IMAGE

136

RENAISSANCE

Visualising the Food Zones The Food Zones while conceptualised as proximity belts around the town, are spatially identified as individual farm plots as per their terrain conditions. The map indicates the minimum parcels required to feed the resident population of Newport and Nevern The road network highlighted indicates the existing networks of shortest routes to connect these food growing farms to each other.

Fig. 4.48

137

|

THE SELECTED LAND PARCELS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION

RENAISSANCE

138

RENAISSANCE

Visualising the Food Zones Once the parcels are selected in the food zones and production is streamlined, clusters are identified and infrastructure support is provided for each as per requirement. The proximity test was performed on identified road network to achieve the nearest parcels and form farm clusters. Transport hubs were placed between clusters by calculating the centrality in the transport network and choosing the location with the most central value. These hubs are to be managed centrally by the food hub to improve connectivity along the supply chain.

The lowlands are provided with one processing unit and one manufacturing unit per 100 acres or one for every 10 farms as per feasibility of site conditions. These units can help collect and assemble the fruit and vegetables produced on the farms.The food zones on the uplands are provided with manufacturing units to process dairy and cereals. Community housing parcels are also demarcated for each cluster to ensure farmers and their labour have affordable housing.

Fig. 4.49

139

|

VISUALIZING POLICY IN PHASE 03 WITH PROVIDED INFRASTRUCTURE

RENAISSANCE

140

RENAISSANCE

04.3.7

The Expansion Strategy The demonstration on the towns of Newport and Nevern while accounts for multiple terrain and landscape conditions, will not leave a considerable enough impact on the Welsh ecological footprint or economy. In order to achieve conceivable benefits to the local population, the proposal must be expanded further to the Pembrokeshire county and Welsh country.

In the Pembrokeshire county, certain challenges magnify. The variation in land type and conflict with ground conditions alter the amount of production and keeping a margin for supply across counties becomes crucial.

Connecting the farms to eachother also becomes vital to keep emissions low and support lapses in the produce cultivated by the food growing zones.

Imagining the transformation of the landscape over time, would require re imagining the way we grow out food

The areas out of the growing zones can be used for ecological conservation and other land management strategies for building resilience against effects of climate change.

The slow development of these growing farms that opt into the policy would forever change the way people eat and live with their lands.

Fig. 4.50

141

|

SPECULATIVE VIEW OF FOOD ZONES ON GROUND

RENAISSANCE

05 Minute Zone 10 Minute Zone 30 Minute Zone

Fig. 4.52

|

TRANSPORT NETWORK OPTIMIZATION

Food Production Zone Conservation Zone

Fig. 4.51

|

FOOD GROWING ZONE VS AREA OF CONSUMPTION

16.

Fig 2.33 Datasource: DataMapWales, Welsh Government. Predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Map 2, 2019 Edition Downloaded [March 2023]

142

RENAISSANCE

Fig. 4.53

143

|

GORSE FLOWERS ON THE COASTAL WALK IN PEMBROKESHIRE

RENAISSANCE

Fig. 4.54

|

VIEW FROM THE COASTAL WALK IN PEMBROKESHIRE

144

SURMIE

05

IN CLOSING

Changing the way we grow food Food is such a complex and controversial industry today that it generates ripple effects well beyond the plate. In the course of this project, we delved into understanding the OPD policy in Wales, leading us to looking at climate action through the lens of food sovereignty. As a result of the research collated, it was concluded that the use of mixed farming and agroforestry systems (MiFAS) is the most effective way of regenerating the landscape in Wales through carbon capture and sustainable production of food and energy. As a strategy this was more vital in building resilient landscapes that could survive against the onslaughts of the climate crisis. By localising the elaborate food supply chains, this proposal also ensures safeguarding Wales from the

Fig. 5.1

145

|

economic and social repercussions that will be set off as the climate continues to break down. While agroforestry models are being heavily promoted by grassroots activists and small farmers as the need of the hour in the UK, this proposal set out to imagine what implications that mission would have on the rural landscape and lifestyle.

The conservation and regeneration efforts of the OPD projects are a remarkable success story for the ecology. By expanding the policy, the proposal is able to ensure individual liberty in managing the land from one’s own farming experiences while also streamlining more collective efforts towards managing resources like energy and waste.

This reduces the country’s emissions and restores natural carbon cycles in the local environment. It creates a unified climate

SPECULATING FOOD ZONES FOR ALL OF WALES

SURMISE

cereal

hazelnut asparagus

bara brith

Fig. 5.2

|

squash

mushroom

honey

jam

cheese

milk

tomato

leeks

turnip

eggplant

carrot

apple

A RANGE OF PRODUCE FROM THE NEW FARMS

action plan that is built from the bottom-up expertise and considers the potentials and limitations from the top-down. The unified climate action plan is bolstered not by vague metrics ( like EF) that are incomprehensible to any common person but evaluated by putting climate action on food plates in the local community.

What does a unified climate action look like?

Developing the designed food growing zones would help Wales trap more carbon, improve its ecological fertility and reduce indiscriminate carbon emissions from the agricultural sector. It would also serve to limit the environmental damage that is currently being exported to other nations through the redundant trade global routes. The nexus of planetary urbanisation means that even a small country like Wales can have far

reaching positive implications, if it decides to pull out of reckless consumption habits and sustain its own population locally.

This is naturally, easier said than done. There are social and bureaucratic hurdles to cross.

Prevailing notions of intensive farming has been around for so many decades that it will require a lot of convincing to shift to a new method of growing food. It maybe considered radical at first, to support local growers over apparently cheaper international imports. But it is worth noting that as climate continues to rage at breakneck speed, the global markets will get less reliable with time and nations like Wales must be prepared to survive that. As farmers and scientists everywhere ring alarm bells, we must heed to their warnings and build towards a new reality.

146

SURMIE

A Food Renaissance The global pandemic exposed the susceptibility of all international markets to sudden freak incidents. The severity and intensity of the climate crisis continues to travel across the global similarly but remains underestimated even today. The farmers and all those who work the land will always be in the frontlines of those shocks. In the fight with climate catastrophe, it is inevitable that they would be our most reliable allies.

Fig. 5.3

147

|

Localising food chains is then the most effective and collaborative effort towards climate action.

There is a desperate need to change the way people eat. It also brings into question a larger realm of questions about equity and the labour that goes into producing our food. Our diets should not be devastating our planet or costing other people their homes.

The spatial demonstration in this project was designed for a suitable pilot site with relatively varying site conditions and a small

METRIC SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR THE FOOD ZONES CONSIDERING VARIOUS GOALS.

SURMISE

population of people. Future expansion of the policy should aim to look at measures needed to feed more challenging counties of Wales, and the definite challenges posed by dense urban areas like Cardiff. This exercise would require refining the policy framework for Un Cymru to accommodate more accessibility and variation in type. It would also need to reach out to many more stakeholders and begin to incorporate public institutions and protect local procurement channels.

At present the lush landscape of Wales serves to capitalise on international trade for economic gains alone. Seeking to conserve these landscapes for the benefit of future generations cannot yet be measured by existing metrics of climate action.

Implementation of such a groundbreaking shift in ideology would need alternative means of monitoring conditions. This was explored in very rudimentary forms in the early stages of this project. Effective expansion of the policy requires definite clarity on these aspects.

Where do we meet reality?

Building resilient landscapes in Wales through food was a unique and effective approach towards developing a climate action plan that could support and develop the local community. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown is a radical idea in the modern world. But it can change a lot about how we treat the earth and its potentials. Despite majority Welsh farmers engaging in livestock rearing, its local residents still do not get direct access to locally produced dairy products. These strange paradoxes must be relooked at if we are to develop a more ecologically sustainable reality.

A lot of the discourse during the project also navigated around challenging the notions of ‘productive landscapes’ and the result of

failing to do so. Treating land solely as an endless supplier for food has disregarded countless other ecological systems that underpin the landscape. The widely regarded consensus that Welsh land is only suitable for livestock grazing has been disproven by the small farm holdings and OPD farms that have produced year-round supply of many healthy food products. When the system is set up to allow a small country with a relatively low density of population to extract unnecessary amounts from the planet, it is imperative to question whether these are the systems we seek to retain.

Investing in the food supply network to diversify will not only enrich the local landscapes but also the people living and tending to the landscape. The work done by the Land Worker’s Alliance in the UK has repeatedly crunched numbers for the value of imports that could be grown locally by redirecting efforts to support local growers.

Boosting food production in Wales could not only enhance local food economies but also potentially save money that can then be spent on building community wealth and mitigating the dire and expensive price of climate change.

The answer to building resilient landscapes lies in making some drastic choices about how we grow our food. This simple subject underpins multiple actions needed to fight the climate change whether that maybe tied to our energy goals, our consumption habits or our agricultural advancements. By developing localised food chains in Wales, one not only paves the way for healthy dietary and land management practices for the local regions but envisions a future for other nations to follow suit. Through an alternative outlook at the relationship settlements share with their food growing areas, the proposal fosters the creation of a future where the growth of our sustenance is mirrored in the vitality of our landscapes and communities.

148

SURMIE

Fig. 5.4

149

|

TOWARDS: WALK IN WOODLANDS

SURMISE

Fig. 5.5

|

OUTWARDS: THE CATTLE WALK

150

LIST OF FIGURES CHAPTER 01. CLIMATE EMERGENCY Fig. 1.1 Fig. 1.2 Fig. 1.3 Fig. 1.4 Fig. 1.5 Fig. 1.6 Fig. 1.7 Fig. 1.8 Fig. 1.9 Fig. 1.10 Fig. 1.11 Fig. 1.12 Fig. 1.13 Fig. 1.14 Fig. 1.15 Fig. 1.16 Fig. 1.17 Fig. 1.18 Fig. 1.19 Fig. 1.20 Fig. 1.21 Fig. 1.22 Fig. 1.23 Fig. 1.24 Fig. 1.25 Fig. 1.26 Fig. 1.27 Fig. 1.28 Fig. 1.29 Fig. 1.30 Fig. 1.31 Fig. 1.32 Fig. 1.33 Fig. 1.34 Fig. 1.35 Fig. 1.37 Fig. 1.36 Fig. 1.38 Fig. 1.39 Fig. 1.40 Fig. 1.41

Climate action timeline key Factors of average temperature rise 60 years of bio-capacity depletion global diparity between ef in north and south Global Carbon emission Global bio CAPACITY Global Calendar of Earth Overshoot Days Cycle of regeneration and consumption Ecological footprint calculation uk ecological footprint uk import across globe uk trade shares in Million GBP Greenhouse gas emission per kilo-gram of food product Greenhouse gas emission from food supply chain Arable land needed to produce food Agricultural Land Area Public Coastline Walk on the west coast of Wales Subtle enclosures in public areas at newly reopened Batter-sea Power Station Native Land Digital indigenous mapping Welsh land ownership vs land value Privatised pockets in enclosed park at Bedford Square in London Environmental news clippings from Wales Coal mining areas in UK Merthyr Riots, Penry Williams, 1816.

Dowlais Ironworks, George Childs, 1840.

Welsh Climate Action Timeline Model of a typical single unit One Planet Development Site View of Ty Gwennol OPD Farm Vegetable beds at Dan y Berllan Poultry farm at Dan Y Bershan Eco house at the Lammas Eco village Site industrial Farming Practice Sustainable Agricultural Practices The joy of community engagement Spraying more fertilisers from farm to cup Is there any cleanup possible the far in the city Agroforestry contrasted with industrial 2009 satellite imagery of Glyncorrwg, Afan Valley 2020 satellite imagery of Glyncorrwg, the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm

1 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 12 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 18 20 22 23 23 24 24 26 27 28 29 29 29 29 30 31 32

CHAPTER 02. ANALYSING THE OPD POLICY Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2 Fig. 2.3 Fig. 2.4 Fig. 2.5 Fig. 2.6 Fig. 2.7

ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PROCESS OPD ECOLOGICAL TARGETS PHOTOGRAPHS OF TARGET ON SITE Caricature of MarC scale Caricature of David thorpe Caricature of JAMES HORTEN Model of a typical multi unit One Planet Development Site

33 34 34 36 37 38 40

Fig. 2.8 Fig. 2.9 Fig. 2.10 Fig. 2.11 Fig. 2.12 Fig. 2.13 Fig. 2.14 Fig. 2.15 Fig. 2.16 Fig. 2.17 Fig. 2.18 Fig. 2.19 Fig. 2.20 Fig. 2.21 Fig. 2.22 Fig. 2.23 Fig. 2.24 Fig. 2.25 Fig. 2.26 Fig. 2.27 Fig. 2.28 Fig. 2.29 Fig. 2.30 Fig. 2.31 Fig. 2.33 Fig. 2.32 Fig. 2.34 Fig. 2.35 Fig. 2.36 Fig. 2.37 Fig. 2.38 Fig. 2.39 Fig. 2.41 Fig. 2.40 Fig. 2.42 Fig. 2.43 Fig. 2.44 Fig. 2.45 Fig. 2.46

Case study of twelve OPD Sites Key Map of OPD Sites Satellite Imagery of OPD Sites Study of Cryn Fryn Study of Golweg Gwenyn Study of Allt Cefn Ffynnon​ Study of Perllan Herberdeg​ Caricature of wycliffe erica & chris Caricature of tao paul wimbush Caricature of cai and richard Scenes of starting an OPD Scenes of setting up an OPD Scenes from a successful OPD Sample Site LOCATION Site A: New Woodlands Site B: Old Woodlands Site C: Pasture lands Microscopic views of samples Sample Site LOCATION Microscopic views of samples View of Rhiw Las 15 cm slice of soil sample on site Satellite image of Hooke PArk View from Hooke Park Sketch of Hooke PArk soil horizons Microscopic views of the Hooke park samples Satellite image of wakelyns View from Wakelyns Farm Sketch of Wakelyns soil horizons On site - Soil sample collection Varied criteria for analysis Analysis overlaying Multiple criteria Land cover variations in High ALC Land cover variations in Medium ALC Land cover variations in Poor ALC Potentials of OPD as iconography Challenges of OPD as iconography Sitting inside looking out: an OPD eco-house Sitting outside looking up: home gardens of an OPD

41 43 43 45 45 46 46 48 50 51 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 56 57 57 58 58 59 59 60 60 61 61 62 62 63 64 65 65 66 67 68 69 70

CHAPTER 03. UNDERSTANDING FOOD LANDSCAPES Fig. 3.1 Fig. 3.2 Fig. 3.3 Fig. 3.4 Fig. 3.5 Fig. 3.6 Fig. 3.8 Fig. 3.7 Fig. 3.9 Fig. 3.10 Fig. 3.11

Concerns of Scales in policy expansion Readapting the OPD Policy Conceptual representation of climate crisis Book Cover: Regenesis Schematic representation of agricultural area in Wales Current Welsh Agricultural model Land use breakup in Wales Livestock numbers and land utilisation Export Vs Import Trade report for Wales Welsh Dietary Data Visualisation Typical Welsh Food

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 77 78 79 79

LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 3.13 Fig. 3.12 Fig. 3.14 Fig. 3.15 Fig. 3.16 Fig. 3.17 Fig. 3.18 Fig. 3.19 Fig. 3.20 Fig. 3.21 Fig. 3.22 Fig. 3.23 Fig. 3.24 Fig. 3.25 Fig. 3.26

Authors with Owen, Welsh Farmer Welsh Farer and Language Data Visualisation Caricature of owen Caricature of richard Second Homes in Wales & Tax Report Welsh Wildlife Tourism Map Illustration WELSH TOURISM intiative Caricature of Alex Caricature of sam Proposed Welsh Agricultural model Charting the roles of food hub organisation under un cymru policy Phase 01: making land more accessible to interested parties PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WELSH FOOD UpwarD view through tree foliage downward view towards tree debris

80 80 81 82 83 83 84 85 86 88 90 92 93 95 96

CHAPTER 04. A NEW FOOD POLICY Fig. 4.1 Fig. 4.2 Fig. 4.4 Fig. 4.3 Fig. 4.6 Fig. 4.5 Fig. 4.7 Fig. 4.8 Fig. 4.9 Fig. 4.10 Fig. 4.11 Fig. 4.12 Fig. 4.13 Fig. 4.14 Fig. 4.15 Fig. 4.17 Fig. 4.16 Fig. 4.19 Fig. 4.18 Fig. 4.21 Fig. 4.20 Fig. 4.22 Fig. 4.23 Fig. 4.24 Fig. 4.27 Fig. 4.26 Fig. 4.25 Fig. 4.29 Fig. 4.28 Fig. 4.30 Fig. 4.31 Fig. 4.32 Fig. 4.33 Fig. 4.34 Fig. 4.35

Over the welsh terrain Understanding pembrokeshire geography Highland Rainfall data & Flood plains Lowland Current LanDuse Representation of MiFAS systems Food and Energy flows under MiFAS Opportunities for collaboration Through Cases of Mushroom Reducing food miles through Food-hub Estimating food consumption figures Book Cover Growing Community Food Zones Zoning Strategy Schematic Available Production area Vs Total Population Selected admin Boundaries Land Available for Selected Admin Boundaries Schematic Food Buffers to understand requirement SMALL Medium & LARGE Food Production Zones Newport NEVERN Design Algorithm Development Sketch of Welsh riparian buffer Riparian Buffer: Maintained along floodplains Lowlands Uplands The UPLAND VS LOWLAND LWA Food-zones Supply chain NEWPORT NEVER DERIVED FOOD-ZONES 10 acre market garden renaissance demonstration on a sample of lowland farms key map indicating food zones commonly managed gardens horticulture farms cereal production in agroforestry silviculture plots

97 98 99 99 100 100 101 101 102 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 108 108 108 109 109 111 113 113 115 115 115 117 117 119 120 121 122 123 124

Fig. 4.36 Fig. 4.37 Fig. 4.38 Fig. 4.39 Fig. 4.40 Fig. 4.41 Fig. 4.42 Fig. 4.43 Fig. 4.44 Fig. 4.45 Fig. 4.46 Fig. 4.47 Fig. 4.48 Fig. 4.49 Fig. 4.50 Fig. 4.52 Fig. 4.51 Fig. 4.53 Fig. 4.54

Common Processing Unit Manufacturing unit 10 acre market garden renaissance demonstration on a sample of upland farms Key plan with the food zones Housing for farm labour livestock rearing cereal production in mifas systems cereal in rotational farming silviculture area of minimum intervention silviculture area of small coupe felling silviculture area of continuous cover forestry silviculture area of open public access The selected Land parcels for food production Visualizing policy in phase 03 with provided infrastructure Speculative view of food zones on ground Transport Network optimization food growing zone Vs Area of consumption Gorse Flowers on the coastal walk in Pembrokeshire View from the coastal walk in Pembrokeshire

125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 139 141 142 142 143 144

CHAPTER 05. IN CLOSING Fig. 5.1 Fig. 5.2 Fig. 5.3 Fig. 5.4 Fig. 5.5

speculating food zones for all of wales a range of produce from the new farms metric system developed for the food zones considering various goals.

Towards: walk in woodlands Outwards: the cattle walk

145 146 147 149 150

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1.

Ajl, M. (2021). A People’s Green New Deal. Pluto Press. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1p3xjwp.12

2.

Amaeth Cymru. (2017). The future of agriculture in Wales: The way forward. Welsh Government.

3.

Angus, I. (2016). Facing the anthropocene : fossil capitalism and the crisis of the earth system. New York: Monthly Review Press.

4.

Banks, J., & Clare, T. (2014). Parc y Dwr. One Planet Council.

5.

Bartlam, C. M. (2019). Carolyn Moody, and Paul Bartlam. One Planet Council.

6.

BBC. (2022, December 6). Welsh language: Fewer speakers in Wales in past decade. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63860772

7.

Brannoc, S., & Hawthorn, T. (2013). Bryn yr Blodau Management Plan. One Planet Council.

8.

Brothers, Z. (2021, September 21). Comic: The corporate capture of food systems. Retrieved from FIAN International: https://www.fian.org/en/publication/article/comic-the-corporate-capture-of-food-systems-2846

9.

Clo Carbon Cymru. (2022). The New Carbon Economy. Clo Carbon Cymru.

10.

Clo Carbon Cymru. (2023). Deep Green Hydrogen. Clo Carbon Cymru.

11.

Clo Carbon Cymru. (n.d.). Agricultural Transition in Wales: From Conventional to MiFAS . Clo Carbon Cymru.

12.

DEFRA. (2022). Agriculture in the UK Evidence Pack. Government Statistical Service.

13.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. (2020, July). The Plan. Retrieved from The National Food Strategy: https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/

14.

Eames, T. (2018). Coed Allt Goch. One Planet Council.

15.

Edwards, R. (2023, March 27). Climate Breakdown and Wales. (Authors, Interviewer)

16.

Empson, M., & Angus, I. (2019). System change not climate change : a revolutionary response to environmental crisis. Bookmarks Publications.

17.

Evans, C., & Necke, K. (2023, February 18). House prices in Wales rising highest says Rightmove. Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58203740

18.

Farming Connect. (2020). Iaith y Pridd. Business Wales, Welsh Government.

19.

Forest Research. (2023). Forestry Facts & Figures 2023. National Statistics.

20.

Harvard Health Publishing. (2017, June 5). Healthy Eating Plate. Retrieved from Harvard Medical School: https:// www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/healthy-eating-plate

21.

Harvey, F. (2023, June 28). UK missing climate targets on nearly every front, say government’s advisers.

Environment: Climate Crisis. The Guardian.

22.

Hayden, A. (2023, September 10). Ecological Footprint. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.

britannica.com/science/ecological-footprint 23.

Heffron, A. (2023, November 13). Agrofoerstry in Wales . (Authors, Interviewer)

24.

HM Revenue & Customs. (2023, November 15). International goods trade: interactive dashboard. Wales: Welsh Government. Retrieved December 15, 2023, from https://www.gov.wales/international-goods-trade-interactive- dashboard

25.

Hollick, S. (2023, November). Agroforestry in North Wales. (Authors, Interviewer)

26.

Horton, R. (2019). Lily Pond Farm Land Management Plan. One Planet Council.

27.

Kubiëna, W. L. (1954). Atlas of Soil Properties. T. Murby, Madrid, London: Institute of Soils Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

28.

Laimann, J. (2018). Research Briefing: Common Land. Cardiff: National Assembly for Wales.

29.

Land Use Consultants; Positive Development Trust. (October 2012, October). Practice Guidelines: One Planet Development. Cardiff: Welsh Government. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from One Planet Council: https://www. oneplanetcouncil.org.uk/planning-policy/

30.

Lant, L., & Reynolds, J. (2020). Lily Pond Farm Land Managemnet Plan. One Planet Council.

31.

Laughton, R. (2017). A Matter Of Scale: A study of theproductivity, financial viability and multifunctional benefits of small farms (20Ha and less). Coventry University: Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience.

32.

Laughton, R. (2023). A Market Garden Renaissance. Retrieved from Landworkers’ Alliance: chrome-extension:// efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Market- Garden-Renaissance-Pamphlet-Oct23.pdf

33.

Laughton, R. (2024). Horticulture Across Four Nations. Retrieved from Landworkers’ Alliance: https:// landworkersalliance.org.uk/publications/

34.

Lewis, B. (2013). ‘Gwalch Cywyddau Gwyr’: Essays on Guto ‘r Glyn and Fifteenth Century Wales . In B. L. DF Evans, ‘A poet in the landscape: Wales and its regions through the eyes of Guto’r Glyn’ (pp. 149-76).

35.

Monbiot, G. (2023). Regenesis : feeding the world without devouring the planet. New York: Penguin Books Ltd.

36.

Moody, C., & Bartlam, P. (2019). Management Plan. Carmarthenshire: One Planet Council.

37.

Murton, a. B. (2018). Land at Cryn-Fryn. One Planet Council.

38.

Natural Resources Wales. (2020). Enclosed Farmland. Natural Resources Wales.

39.

40.

Owen. (2023, November 13). Feasibility of proposal . (Authors, Interviewer) (2017). Pencoed Planning Application. One Planet Council.

41.

Poux, X., & Aubert, P.-M. (2018, September). An agroecological Europe in 2050: multifunctional agriculture for healthy eating. IDDRI.

42.

Scale, M. (2023, January). The One Planet Council. (Team, Interviewer)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

43.

Selena, W., & Richards, C. (2015). Parc y Rhodyn. One Planet Council.

44.

Shorten, J. (2023, June 9). Drafting the OPD Policy . (Team, Interviewer)

45.

Smith, L. M. (2017). Allt Cefn Ffynnon. One Planet Council.

46.

Smith, R., & Smith, R. (2014). Application for a Low Impact Development adjacent to Glandwr Pembrokeshire.

Cambridgeshire: One Planet Council.

47.

Solbakk, K., & Mikroliv. (2020). Do-it yourself Guide for Microscopy of Agricultural Soil. Økologisk Landsforening.

48.

Statistics for Wales . (2022). Statistical First Release. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

49.

Sylvie, & Wycliffe. (2023, March 26). Multi-unit OPD Possibilities. (Team, Interviewer)

50.

Thorpe, D. (2023, June 2). One Planet Life. (Team, Interviewer)

51.

Tyfu Cymru. (2021, September 1). Tyfu Cymru to lead Wales Horticulture Alliance Group. Retrieved from Tyfu Cymru Grow Wales: https://www.tyfucymru.co.uk/home/whats-new/news-blogs/2021/tyfu-cymru-to-lead-wales- horticulture-alliance-group/

52.

UNFCC. (n.d.). Process and Meetings. Retrieved from United Nations Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/kyoto_ protocol

53.

Vernon, C., & Thompson, E. (2023, March 26). Rural Area Developments in Wales. (Team, Interviewer)

54.

Wales, F. C. (2012). Guidance for the use of silvicultural systems to increase woodland diversity. Welsh Assembly Government.

55.

Watkinson, C. a. (2016). Golwg y Gwenyn: Land Management. One Planet Council.

56.

Welsh Government. (2015). Well-being of Future Generations. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

57.

Welsh Government. (2019). Agriculture in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

58.

Welsh Government. (2019). One Wales: One Planet. Cardiff: Welsh Assembly.

59.

Welsh Government. (2022). Statistical First Release. Cardiff: Statistics for Wales .

60.

Welsh Government. (2023). 2023 Single Application Rules Booklet. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

61.

Welsh Parliament. (2022). The Farming Sector in Wales: Research Briefing. Cardiff: Senedd Research.

62.

West Wales News Review. (2015, September 22). Neighbours’ Antagonism Holds Up Carmarthenshire’s First ‘One Planet’ Development. Wales.

63.

Wheeler, A. A. (2018). A New Food Diplomacy: Participatory Action Research Findings of a Food System Approach to Public Health Nutrition. University of South Wales.

64.

Wheeler, D. A. (2023). Courgette Pilot. Food Sense Wales.

65.

Williams, C., & Hague, M. (2015). Pwll Broga. Land Management Plan Application,. One Planet Council.

66.

Wimbush, T. (2023, March 27). Lammas Ecovillage. (Team, Interviewer)

67.

WWF-UK. (2006). UK: Counting consumption: CO2emissions, material flows and Ecological Footprint of the UK by region and devolved country. Surrey: Arrowhead Printing.

Landscape Urbanism 2022-2024