Propagate (Scotland) CIC has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) to launch Farm Cluster Connections, a national programme designed to strengthen Scotland’s farmer-led learning networks and accelerate the exchange of knowledge in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

Building on the success of Propagate’s Regenerative Farming Network, which now connects more than 330 members across the country, the new two-year project will coordinate a network of eight regional farmer clusters, each supported by skilled local facilitators and linked nationally through shared communications, learning, and collaboration.

“This funding recognises the power of farmer-led learning and collaboration,” said Abi Mordin, Farming Director of Propagate. “Farm Cluster Connections will help facilitators and farmers work together across regions — building trust, sharing knowledge, and supporting practical solutions to the challenges facing Scottish agriculture.”

The initiative will bring together partners including the Southern Uplands Partnership, Carse of Stirling Partnership, Argyll Countryside Trust, Forth Rivers Trust, Highland Good Food Partnership and the Clydesdale Soil Health Network. Each regional cluster will deliver farm walks, on-farm demonstrations, online discussions, and webinars tailored to local priorities such as regenerative grazing, soil health, biodiversity, and profitability.

A key focus of the project is building a national facilitator network — creating a coordinated, collaborative framework that ensures knowledge transfer is effective, efficient, and enduring. Facilitators will meet regularly as a national learning community, supported by Propagate’s communications infrastructure and digital platforms.

“We’re delighted to be co-recipients of Propagate’s KTIF funding,” said Debby Richardson Webb of the Clydesdale Soil Health Network. “As a new group, this support will strengthen our farmer-led learning community at a critical moment for agricultural change. We look forward to what we can achieve together.”

The project’s communication and dissemination strategy includes the expansion of Propagate’s Voices of Farmers podcast series, national webinars, newsletters, and open-access online materials. A national knowledge sharing event will bring together facilitators and farmers to celebrate and reflect on learning outcomes.

By embedding facilitation capacity within trusted local organisations, Farm Cluster Connections aims to leave a lasting legacy — building a resilient, connected ecosystem for farmer-led innovation across Scotland.



We also want to extend our congratulations to other successful recipients of this round of KTIF – including our friends in the Scottish Agroecology Partnership, led by Soil Association Scotland for Upscaling Agroecology – a programme of farm walks, webinars and events; and Pasture for Life with Land, Livestock, Livelihoods: Taking Charge of Change – a project focusing on practical strategies to safeguard rural livelihoods and animal welfare.