More than a Mart
Following HM King Charles III’s visit to Louth market in March 2018, The Royal Countryside Fund has been keen to look at how the vital social role of markets can be supported. We know that there are a number of markets which have diversified to offer far more to the local farming and rural community than purely venues for the sale of livestock.
A research project jointly funded by the RCF and the John Oldacre Endowment at the University of Exeter is an opportunity to showcase the potential for markets to realise the full extent of the service that they provide to the farming community, and to ensure that they are in the best position possible to be able to offer the support that the industry requires during this period of transition. Working closely with the Livestock Auctioneers Association, the researchers looked at ways of helping to develop the role of livestock markets as hubs for the rural communities in which they operate.
The research team from the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter was comprised of Dr Caroline Nye, Professor Michael Winter and Professor Matt Lobley.
Read the highlights, recommendations, and case studies from the full report
More than a Mart
Read the full report from Dr Caroline Nye, Professor Matt Lobley, and Professor Michael Winter from the University of Exeter.