Breed Sovereignty: Breed & Trait Selection for Regenerative Farming Systems - Groundswell 2024

Speakers: Clare Hill, Dr Annie Rayner, Fraser Hugill, Matt Aidley & George Young

Current animal genetics are owned and operated globally by very few companies who have created a small number of food animal breeds. Such breeds are selected to achieve maximum outputs of products within a system that relies on damaging inputs. Supported by results from Planton Farm’s Regenerative Trait selection project, this session will look to unpick what traits are needed within a thriving regenerative ecosystem, how we can promote, select for, and share these traits amongst farms as well as the opportunities and challenges we must overcome. The expert panel will explore the idea of a breed-sovereignty movement, one that moves away from centralised genetics and towards resilient and diverse livestock, owned by farmers, that flourish within regenerative systems.

Recorded at the Groundswell Festival, Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire, England, June 2024

https://groundswellag.com