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10 September 2010
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Social Farming – An Opportunity for Northern Ireland?

25 June 2010

The concept of Social Farming has witnessed significant interest in recent years and now has a growing presence across Britain, Ireland and the wider European Union, as a therapeutic tool to provide health, social or educational care services.

Rural Policy Division of DARD has recently been exploring the need and appetite for social farming as another potential form of farm diversification in Northern Ireland. Social farming utilizes farming and agriculture as a therapeutic tool to provide health, social or educational care services for one or a range of vulnerable groups of people, which can include people suffering with mental health problems, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and drug/alcohol addiction as well as adults and young people on probation.

Social farming has demonstrated a number of health, economic, and societal benefits. A study by the University of Essex presents evidence that vulnerable clients utilizing care farm services in the UK experience statistically significant improvements in self-confidence and mood.

Economically speaking, research has demonstrated that care farms provide new employment opportunities to rural communities while generating millions for rural economies. In terms of society, social farming provides new links to agriculture and rural communities while providing the opportunity for a joined-up government approach to address an issue.

The study “Social Farming – An Opportunity for Northern Ireland” was conducted by Adam Harbison, an MSc Rural Development student at Queens. His report indicated that there was a need and support for social farming in Northern Ireland while pointing to a call for further recognition of the concept across the country. The report identified the following opportunities for social farming in Northern Ireland:

  • Excellent opportunity for farm diversification & sustainability

  • A joined-up solution that provides an innovative, needed service

  • Equipping vulnerable groups with new skills, knowledge and confidence

  • Improve individuals’ health

  • Rural communication & community cohesion

  • Employment opportunities

  • Educational opportunities

  • Synergy with the organic and local farming movements

  • Rural Development Programme (RDP)

Whilst there is interest and opportunities for social farming, several potential barriers were identified including:

  • Lack of awareness and understanding of the concept

  • Funding

  • Bureaucracy

  • Farmer buy-in

  • Lack of skills and support for farmers

  • NIMBY issues

  • Matching supply and demand

  • Research of cost benefit analysis for Northern Ireland

However, the study concluded that social farming is a potentially viable option for social service delivery, farm diversification, and rural development in Northern Ireland. Social farming has been tried in the past to success, and there is a real need for this type of approach in care service delivery and farm support again. However, steps will need to be taken to ensure the successful implementation of care farming.

Recommendations for the advancement of social farming across Northern Ireland include:

1. Champion organization to bring players together

2. Social Farming Network NI

3. Guidebook, training, and support for interested and active social farmers

4. Pilot/Demonstration projects

5. Develop and finance a business model

6. Integrated engagement and marketing strategy

Research findings were outlined at a seminar organized by Rural Policy Division on 11th June. This seminar had representation from a range of social service providers, farming unions, LAGs, rural development practitioners and interested social farmers. A copy of the findings and the accompanying presentation are available for download here.

Following this research, the Rural Network for Northern Ireland is planning an information and discussion seminar for those involved in the Rural Development Programme to provide further detail on the research findings and explore funding opportunities under the various measures of the Programme. It is intended that this seminar will take place before the end of the summer. Details will be posted on the website.

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