SOLUTION

An ideal response…

One of the best responses to the challenges of climate change, food security, and farmer empowerment doesn’t lie in a technological quick fix but in a simple, time-tested approach: regenerative agriculture.

It’s about farming practices that actively restore and enhance the environment, creating a system where agriculture and nature thrive together.

How does regenerative agriculture work exactly?

1- Don’t disturb the soil

Soil is a delicate ecosystem made up of fungal networks, worm tunnels, and air pockets nestled among soil particles. Disturbances like ploughing, applying heavy fertilisers, or using chemical sprays can upset this balance, disrupting the natural structure and health of the soil. Minimising these disruptions helps maintain the soil’s integrity and the organisms living within it..

2- Keep the soil covered with plants or organic material

Exposed soil is vulnerable to erosion from rain, intense sunlight, and frost. A protective cover, such as crops or plant residues, serves as a shield against these elements, preventing damage. Keeping the soil covered not only preserves its structure but also reduces moisture loss, keeping the soil environment more stable throughout the seasons.

3- Keep living roots in the soil

Maintaining living roots is vital for sustaining the complex soil food web. These roots feed essential soil organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and arthropods, fostering a vibrant ecosystem. They also support mycorrhizal fungi, which play a key role in plant health by improving nutrient absorption and water retention within the soil.

4- Maximise crop diversity

Diverse crops promote healthier, more resilient soil ecosystems, much like a meadow filled with various plant species. Unlike monocultures, which limit soil health, diverse cropping systems encourage a rich mix of organisms to thrive. Practices like companion cropping, cover cropping or agroforestry ensure soil protection, enhance organic matter, and infuse energy into the soil, even during typically fallow periods.

5- Reintroduce grazing animals to the land

Incorporating grazing animals into crop rotations allows fields to rest and rejuvenate, enriching soil health over time. Managed grazing, such as rotating different animal species or using mob-grazing techniques, mimics natural patterns, promoting richer plant growth and soil fertility. This approach helps maintain soil structure and nutrient cycling, similar to the benefits of permanent pastures.

So it’s nothing new?

No, it clearly isn’t. But here is how we got where we are now...

Since the dawn of agriculture, farmers ploughed fertile soils and planted crops on exposed land, initially achieving strong yields thanks to fewer weeds and rich nutrients. Over time, this depleted soil health, lowering productivity and requiring rest periods and added nutrients.

By the mid-20th century, growing demand drove intensive practices - ploughing, monocultures, shorter fallow periods, and heavy use of fertilisers and pesticides. Though productivity rose briefly, these methods ultimately degraded soils, disrupted ecosystems, and created increasing reliance on external inputs.

Why transition to regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is more than a set of practices; it’s a holistic farming approach that prioritises the well-being of the entire ecosystem, resulting in a diverse range of benefits

Food security

  • Enhanced soil fertility: healthier soils produce more nutritious and abundant crops.
  • Diverse crops: a wider variety of plants improves soil health and human well-being, as consuming a broader range of crops has proven benefits for nutrition.
  • Resilience to climate change: farms using regenerative practices are better equipped to withstand extreme weather, ensuring more stable food supplies.

Climate Change Benefits

  • Preserved ecosystem & biodiversity: healthy soils and diverse ecosystems support essential functions like pollination, natural pest control, and flood mitigation.
  • Carbon Sequestration: healthier soils absorb and store carbon more effectively, reducing the impact of climate change.
  • Reduced Emissions: by using fewer synthetic chemicals and adopting practices like no-till farming, regenerative agriculture reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Social Benefits

  • Economic resilience: sustainable practices reduce dependency on costly inputs and mitigate damage from unexpected events (droughts, flooding, etc.), boosting farm profitability and long-term economic viability.
  • Stronger communities: regenerative farms collaborate with local communities, fostering local economies and building resilient food systems.

Why don’t we do it yet?

Unfortunately, despite its simplicity and benefits, regenerative agriculture is still far from widespread adoption. Why? The cost of transition.

Though regenerative agriculture offers clear long-term economic benefits, the initial investments can be high. Transitioning from conventional methods requires changes in techniques, infrastructure, and training, as well as, in some cases, more labour and management. Farmers may face short-term yield drops before it goes back up again.

So what can we do now?

This is where the Future Farms Foundation steps in. Explore how we work and discover how we’re paving the way towards a more sustainable future.

Why it matters

Climate change is no longer a future threat. It’s already destabilising our food systems and rising temperatures are on track to displace half of the world’s population within our children’s lifetime. At the same time, soil degradation and just‐in‐time supply chains make the UK alarmingly vulnerable to food shocks. For farmers, this means facing declining yields, rising costs, and increasing uncertainty.

Regenerative farming, by rebuilding soil health, actively captures atmospheric carbon, mitigating climate change, while also producing more diverse and nutrient-rich food.

By protecting farmland and enabling regenerative practices, we will help tackle the climate crisis, strengthen farmers’ livelihoods, enhance our food resilience, and ensure the produce on our plates nourishes both people and planet..

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