§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to establish its own network of demonstration farms when Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) already has such a network and is partially supported by the Government. [HL5389]
§ Lord WhittyThe Government said in March 2002 that they would set up a pilot network of demonstration farms in response to recommendations made by the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. The policy commission noted the existence of LEAF and other demonstration farms and said that these models needed to be built on and expanded.
The contract to administer, monitor and report on the pilot network was won by the ELITE consortium of land-based colleges. They have worked with LEAF and others to deliver the pilot, which is due to end on 31 March 2004. Its aim is to test the effectiveness of different types of demonstration farms; and associated activities in improving the economic and environmental performance of farms and their integration into the food chain and wider rural economy.
The project is currently being evaluated. The evaluation team has been asked to provide a blueprint for the development of future publicly funded demonstration farm activities.