Scotland Field Guide for the Future - Scotland inquiry report
The report gathers stories from people and organisations making real changes on the ground. They illuminate how agriculture, food production, research, policy, government agencies, community groups, and individuals in Scotland are all working together to help improve the environment and the public’s health and wellbeing.
Lay of the Land - Northern Ireland inquiry report
The report outlines the need for a transformation in the food and farming system to respond to the climate emergency; restore biodiversity; improve health and wellbeing; and develop Northern Ireland's distinctive pattern of farming to support and revitalise rural communities.
Public value: background review
The concept of public value provides a rich and radical account of what public policy should be aiming for. The public value framework offers the practical mechanism for delivery.
Paper: Back to the Land
The case for a more strategic approach to land use and management. This paper was written by the Green Alliance and commissioned by the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.
Voices from the field: Can farmers champion health?
This collection of 20 interviews was conducted by the the Food Research Collaboration at the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London, in collaboration with the RSA Food, Farming & Countryside Commission. It formed part of the 'farming and health' workstream, which aimed to further our understanding of the link between health and wellbeing, farming and the countryside. Visit the Food Research Collaboration website for more information on the interview series.
Paper: natural capital accounting for farms
This paper aims to provide practical descriptions of natural capital approach and accounting that can integrate into farm decision making. It was written by eftec and commissioned by the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.
Polling data: good work in food, farming and rural communities
This leaflet shows intial analysis of Populus polling data. We were keen to explore what a focus on ‘good work’ can contribute to the strategic discussion of how to build a workforce fit for the future in agriculture and horticulture.
Locally led inquiry report: Cumbria - Gap analysis for Cumbrian upland farming initiatives post-Brexit
This report presents the findings of the Cumbria group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
Locally led inquiry report: Lincolnshire - Sustainable soil practice and promotion
This report presents the findings of the Lincolnshire group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
Locally led inquiry report: Devon - Grasslands and livestock production
This report is one of a collection of four published by the Devon group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
Locally led inquiry report: Devon - Environment and biodiversity
This report is one of a collection of four published by the Devon group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
Locally led inquiry report: Devon - New entrants
This report is one of a collection of four published by the Devon group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
Locally led inquiry report: Devon - Health and thriving communities
This report is one of a collection of four published by the Devon group as part of the locally led inquiries across England.
RSA Journal Article: The future of work in the countryside
When debating how to tackle employment challenges and skills shortages, the focus tends to be on urban centres, but the experience of rural economies can teach us a lot. Published June 2019.
Roundtable paper: meeting our global obligations
This paper is the result of a roundtable discussion that took place in September 2018 at the RSA on the theme of ‘Our place in the world: global perspectives on UK food, farming and countryside.’ The discussion formed the basis of our thinking about the UK’s international role on issues such as climate change, human rights and trade.
Roundtable paper: good food for healthy and flourishing communities
This paper is the result of a roundtable discussion that took place in August 2018 at the RSA on the theme of ‘Food and farming: health and wellbeing’. The discussion formed the basis of our thinking about which policy levers could affect food, farming and trade to have the biggest effects on public health, as well as how to maximise the public health benefits of initiatives already in place.
Roundtable paper: good work for a thriving economy
This paper is the result of a roundtable discussion that took place in July 2018 at the RSA on the theme of ‘The future of work: sustainable livelihoods in rural communities’. The discussion formed the basis of our thinking about the changing nature of work, and of how to generate and sustain good and meaningful work in the food and farming sectors and in rural communities.
Roundtable paper: a framework for sustainable land use
This paper is the result of a roundtable discussion that took place in July 2018 at the RSA on the theme of ‘Planning for progress: the future of land use’. The discussion formed the basis of our thinking about what policy levers can positively influence land use and which changes would have the most public legitimacy.
Roundtable paper: more than money
This paper is the result of a roundtable discussion that took place in July 2018 at the RSA on the theme of ‘Coordinating the whole resource: achieving greater public value.’ The discussion formed the basis of our thinking about public goods, public value and financial flows through the rural economy.
Call for ideas
This was our public consultation. We wanted to hear what we'd missed or misunderstood in our proposal review as well as practical ideas to address the big challenges. We published a blog on the areas the respondants were passionate about.
Proposal review
We reviewed 1,000 proposals from 160 reports, speeches, consultation responses and other documents, all published since 2015. We wanted to know where successful projects are working already and who is involved, where there are the biggest gaps and risks in current debate, and who is being left out.
RSA Journal Article: Food, farming and countryside
A fragile balance exists between what we eat, the rural economy and the natural environment, but by choosing to look at them in isolation, we fail to see the vulnerabilities of the system. Published November 2017.