Cherishing the earth – challenges in food, farming and climate
Agricultural Christian Fellowship (ACF) Conference, November 17th 2008 at the Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Introducing the conference Christopher Jones said the aim of the day was to produce insights, pointers, signposts, indicators as part of an ongoing process for an ACF contribution to tackling climate change. A threatening reality has emerged, and the air seems to be filled with solutions advanced by special or vested interests, or riders of hobby horses, with myth and assertion and rumours of more treaties, pacts and regulations. In it all a hollow morality is becoming visible. Those who actually grow food can become ensnared by all the froth and unable to embrace the substance. Our purpose is to discern both scientific and Biblical truth and explore their application at farm, national and global level. We wanted this conference to release truth and Christian principle into all the ferment; to find signposts for thought and action at all levels; to free people to find their own response and initiative. We saw this meeting as the start of a process and the day’s events were planned to that end.
Keynote Speakers
The main speakers were Dr. Martin Hodson, an environmental biologist at Oxford Brookes University, and his wife The Reverend Margot Hodson, a theologian and Chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford. Both have done a lot of work on this subject with The John Ray Initiative and they have just published a book together – ‘Cherishing the Earth – How to Care for God’s Creation’ (Monarch, 2008). Martin recently toured England speaking on the science of Climate Change with the Hope for Planet Earth tour, speaking to some 5000 school pupils and 3000 others.
Martin Hodson spoke on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food
http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/projects/rusource_briefings/rus09/765.pdf
Margot Hodson spoke on Theology of the Land
http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/projects/rusource_briefings/rus09/766.pdf
Workshops
In the afternoon there were workshops on:
• Appropriate Crops and Technology for the Future
• The Future Role of Fertilizer and Manure
• Biofuels
• The Impact of Climate Change on Third World Farming
• Local Food
• The Role of Government – Partnership or Control?
Further briefing reports will follow on these topics.
Final Discussion
To end the conference we had a plenary session in which the following points were made:
Problems with Defra and food buyers’ disconnection from the land.
We cannot adapt to climate change unless all these pressures are pushed back. The realities of the land must drive the agenda.
Unpredictability of rainfall will be more important than lack of it.
We will run out of phosphate in 50 years.
IATC needs more publicity.
Biofuels ‘won’t do it’ – feeding the world is priority.
We need to think holistically about local food – the issues are complex and impact on other areas – e.g. livelihoods in some third world countries.
Could Christians with agricultural interests forge a long term relationship with similar minded people in government prioritising prayer, mission and relationships?
The predominant issue is feeding the world.
“We need to get out and share our faith”
“We are held back by our ancient buildings”
Cherishing the earth – challenges in food, farming and climate. Agricultural Christian Fellowship (ACF) Conference, November 17th 2008 at the Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
Introducing the conference Christopher Jones said the aim of the day was to produce insights, pointers, signposts, indicators as part of an ongoing process for an ACF contribution to tackling climate change. A threatening reality has emerged, and the air seems to be filled with solutions advanced by special or vested interests, or riders of hobby horses, with myth and assertion and rumours of more treaties, pacts and regulations. In it all a hollow morality is becoming visible. Those who actually grow food can become ensnared by all the froth and unable to embrace the substance. Our purpose is to discern both scientific and Biblical truth and explore their application at farm, national and global level. We wanted this conference to release truth and Christian principle into all the ferment; to find signposts for thought and action at all levels; to free people to find their own response and initiative. We saw this meeting as the start of a process and the day’s events were planned to that end.
Keynote Speakers
The main speakers were Dr. Martin Hodson, an environmental biologist at Oxford Brookes University, and his wife The Reverend Margot Hodson, a theologian and Chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford. Both have done a lot of work on this subject with The John Ray Initiative and they have just published a book together – ‘Cherishing the Earth – How to Care for God’s Creation’ (Monarch, 2008). Martin recently toured England speaking on the science of Climate Change with the Hope for Planet Earth tour, speaking to some 5000 school pupils and 3000 others.
Martin Hodson spoke on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food
http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/projects/rusource_briefings/rus09/765.pdf
Margot Hodson spoke on Theology of the Land
http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/projects/rusource_briefings/rus09/766.pdf
Workshops
In the afternoon there were workshops on:
• Appropriate Crops and Technology for the Future
• The Future Role of Fertilizer and Manure
• Biofuels
• The Impact of Climate Change on Third World Farming
• Local Food
• The Role of Government – Partnership or Control?
Further briefing reports will follow on these topics.
Final Discussion
To end the conference we had a plenary session in which the following points were made:
Problems with Defra and food buyers’ disconnection from the land.
We cannot adapt to climate change unless all these pressures are pushed back. The realities of the land must drive the agenda.
Unpredictability of rainfall will be more important than lack of it.
We will run out of phosphate in 50 years.
IATC needs more publicity.
Biofuels ‘won’t do it’ – feeding the world is priority.
We need to think holistically about local food – the issues are complex and impact on other areas – e.g. livelihoods in some third world countries.
Could Christians with agricultural interests forge a long term relationship with similar minded people in government prioritising prayer, mission and relationships?
The predominant issue is feeding the world.
“We need to get out and share our faith”
“We are held back by our ancient buildings”
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