“The Future Farms initiative in Powys sets out to address the gap between business-as-usual and the hard evidence that the food system must change, if we are to feed all the people well.” Professor Tim Lang
“Through public policy we have to design a system that has far more resilience. What we need is lots of local food production.” James Rebanks
“We urgently need more – not less – home-grown fruit and veg, or we face further disaster for supermarket shelves, our health, and the environment.” Guy Singh-Watson
“We are developing the skills to practice agroecological farming, but we are blocked from practising it. The price of land is prohibitive and this kind of farming needs homes for people living and working on the land.” Students and graduates of Black Mountains College, Powys
Our mission: to build 100 new agroecological farming enterprises in Powys, serving local and regional markets
The farming enterprises will come in a variety of forms.
NEW FARMING ENTERPRISES ON EXISTING FARMS
Many existing farmers would diversify into agroecological horticulture if there were secure markets. We are building these. In summer 2026 we delivered our first order to Birmingham City Council. We are building a partnership with farmers’ unions to support diversification.
AFFORDABLE FARMS FOR NEW STARTERS
We need to open over-priced land to enable a new generation of growers to start growing agroecologically. They need homes where they work. That means leasing land from Powys County Council (which has 10,500 acres of farmland) or buying land into community ownership and building homes, which we are doing with ClwydAlyn Housing Association.
We have built three new farms at Sarn in Powys s a pilot
COMMUNITY FOOD GROWING PROJECTS
Every community needs a nearby source of food. We have written to every community council in Powys and we are chairing a working group of Bwyd Powys Food, our regional food partnership, to support community growing projects.
Six actions to deliver the 100-farm mission
100 new agroecological farm enterprises in Powys is a modest number in relation to the need, but it is a challenge requiring multiple innovations to solve the many barriers to change.
Acquire land and build new farms
Our farms are typically about 6 acres in small groups of 3 or more.
We are creating a charitable community benefit society, the Farmland Trust, as a vehicle for community ownership/leasing and management of land. The Trust can lease land from public bodies, such as Powys County Council, or buy land from private owners.
We are designing a system of social, community and other finance to invest in the land and farms.
We are working with ClwydAlyn Housing Association to build the farm homes within the Welsh social housing scheme, which means a 60% subsidy for the building cost.
Pilot: 3 affordable farms at Sarn
Build access to new markets and new supply chains
We are building three markets:
> A new trade link with Birmingham, where there is big demand for food grown in its rural hinterland. The Sarn farms are providing food to Birmingham’s school Holiday Activities and Food programme.
> Supplies to not-for-profit wholesalers such as Organic North, which can sell at market prices but allow the farmers to keep more of the revenue.
> A project in development to supply food for 100,000 ready meals every week distributed across housing associations in North Wales and NW England.
Develop skills and pathways into farming for a new generation of farmers
We are building a bridge from graduation from Black Mountains and other colleges to running farming businesses - work experience and apprenticeships. We are discussing options with Welsh Government and Powys County Council. We are proposing a stock of relocatable homes that can be moved to farms to accommodate trainees for up to two years.
Advocate for financial support for small agroecological farms serving local and regional markets
We are advocating for specific supports for local food growing for food security within the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Photo by Richard Szwejkowski
Designing for greater climate resilience
Following the gruelling summer of 2026, we are building- in resilience to flood and drought in all our farms, for example, designing- in winter water storage.
Making the case for food security
We are making the economic, social and environmental case for small farms growing food agroecologically for local and regional markets, so that Powys County Council can fully integrate this vital contribution to food security into its development plans. We are raising awareness in Powys about the importance of growing food for local and regional markets.
The Future Farms Partnership
Innovation Groups
The Future Farms Partnership operates through five innovation groups.
Land and Farms
Secure land into community ownership and make it available in perpetuity for agroecological food growing for local and regional markets. Build small farms and community growing projects on the land, with a target of 100.
Group terms of reference
Policy and Planning
Develop a policy advocacy strategy at the Powys level and at the Welsh Government level.
Group terms of reference
Access to Markets
Build access to secure markets in order to support the expansion of fresh food farming in Powys.
Group terms of reference
Skills & business support
Supply expanding fresh food farming enterprises in Powys with the skilled workforce they need. Build business support for new farming enterprises.
Group terms of reference
Community growing
Working with communities, develop food growing programmes that serve low-income families.
Group terms of referenceThe small print
Partnership Agreement, February 2026
Mission, tasks, operations.
Link
Environmental Action Plan
Actions to reduce environmental impact, increase nature-positive outcomes, and ensure responsible resource use.
Link
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility across all aspects of the Partnership's work.
Link
Welsh Language Policy
Commitment to ensuring that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than English in the design, delivery, and communication of all project activities.
LinkThink pieces
We write about new thoughts and ideas here, as part of the creative process.
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Growing more food in Powys for local and regional markets: policy briefing for Powys County Councillors, by Future Farms Partnership
Open letter from Black Mountain College students and alumni to public authorities – ‘let us farm!’
They key to food systems change is a regional approach, concludes an international food roundtable
Making food security action happen in Powys
Future Farms Partnership raises its game: 100 farms
Our three big challenges
