Paty Rojas Bonzi Shares her Thoughts (and Enthusiasm)!

We love to hear from the team about what they get up to, especially when they get a real buzz from getting out and about and meeting inspiring people.

SAOS Project Manager, Paty Rojas Bonzi shares with us her enthusiasm and some unexpected takeaways from her first Rare Breeds Survival Trust conference in the summer (and also the Scottish Apple Producers group meeting).

"I went expecting a good chat about rare breed opportunities - but what I got was a series of inspiring conversations about resilience.

First, from Jan McCourt, powerful reflections (including a story about his grandfather being the sole survivor of a ship sinking), to deeper questions that stuck with me long after the last panel:

• Lockdown reminded us that food can be escape, salvation, sustenance. The butcher, the baker - they became lifelines. Why did we move away from valuing that connection?
  
  
• Farmers today are treated as 'price takers' not 'price makers'. When did farming start feeling like a cult - celebrated from the inside, misunderstood from the outside?
  
  
• How did we let the market push livestock farmers into short-term fixes that undermine ecosystems in the long run?  The phrase that was mentioned and made me chuckle was “pissing your trousers to get warm” (that kind of rhetoric)!

Lynn Cassels shared the story of her croft and I was fascinated by her reframing of rewilding, not as reverting to wilderness, but as creating a "community of life".  I made a note to look for The Life and Death of St. Kilda by Tom Steel.

Jane Cooper spoke about native breeds with a 'community-first' lens. I have been following her since reading her book 'The Lost Flock' and hearing from her gave me even more appreciation. You have to know, she didn’t just write about sheep - she became their shepherd, detective, and advocate!

It was great to hear from Jim Fairlie, adding to the mix and clearly recognising the value of rare breeds.

Guardswell Farm was our venue for the day and it was well worth a special mention - and amazing venue and hospitality, (and of course I had to add apple photos)*.

In a world that feels ruled by homogenetics, it’s heartwarming to hear people speak about making a difference by going back to the beginning.

I’ll leave you with one line from the panel on native breeds, that really stuck with me:  “I don’t want them to be rare. I want them to be treasured!”

*Another of Paty's roles is as co-ordinator for Scottish Apple Producers (SAP) group

"We had a fantastic time at Megginch Castle for our 2025 SAP Annual Meeting, surrounded by heritage trees and people from Scotland’s food and drink sector.

The event brought together producers, cider pressers, academics, and industry professionals for a day of learning, storytelling, and collaboration.

Neil Clapperton shared insights from the People for Pollinators project Buglife and exciting updates on the heritage pears initiative.

Vivien Collie spoke passionately about the Tree to Glass project, highlighting how storytelling and collaboration elevate our Scottish products and connect us to place.

Our keynote speaker Maryna Kuzmenko, Ph.D  walked us through the orchard while demonstrating AI tools for top fruit producers—a powerful blend of tradition and innovation.

With support from the Regional Food Fund by Scotland Food & Drink the group has a vibrant calendar of events ahead. Stay tuned!

And as Robert Louis Stevenson so perfectly put it: “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts... that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” That’s exactly how a day spent in the orchard feels!"

Thank you Paty!

(Isn't it great to hear how much someone loves their job?)