We take a deep dive into regenerative farming and what it’s all about. Can it really help heal the soil and increase biodiversity?
According to Government figures, 17.2 million hectares of land in the UK are farmed – about 71 per cent of all land. This has a massive impact on the fabric of the countryside, the environment and wildlife.
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In recent decades there has been growing concern about the negative impact of some conventional farming practices such as the use of chemicals, heavy machinery, intensive livestock systems and monocultures. Reacting to this, many farmers and growers have turned to organic or, more recently, regenerative farming systems.
What is regenerative farming?
Regen, as regenerative farming is often called, focuses on nature-based solutions instead of expensive inputs of chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.
The focus is on soil health, the building block upon which all farming depends. Across much of the UK, soil health is poor, with much precious topsoil – some 2.2 million tonnes annually – being lost due to rain and wind. Countless hectares are denuded of nutrients and organic matter through intensive overuse.
For many conventional farms, a single crop is grown on the same land every year – this is known as a monoculture. A key element of regenerative and organic farming is crop and livestock rotation on the same land from season-to-season and year-to-year. This has a multitude of benefits such as fertilising the land, reducing pests and diseases and providing extra income.
In simple terms, a rotation might begin with a ‘cash crop’ such as wheat, which is harvested and sold. Following this, the farmer sows a cover crop – to cover and bind the bare earth to prevent erosion. This might be a herbal ley (a rich grazing pasture) or legumes that fix precious fertilising nitrogen in the soil through microbes in their roots.
Or it might be animal feed such as turnips or beets. Livestock such as sheep, cattle, pigs or even goats are then introduced to graze and clear the cover crop, in turn fertilising the soil with their dung. Having fattened on this high quality fodder, the livestock might then go to market providing another income stream. The naturally fertilised field is ready for another cash crop – and the rotation begins again.
If livestock aren’t used, the cover crop might be ploughed in or left to rot – though regenerative farmers try to avoid disturbing the soil and its precious communities of worms, beetles and fungi.
Crop rotations are nothing new – ‘mixed’ farms of arable, horticulture (vegetables and fruit) and livestock were the norm until mid-20th century, after which farmers were incentivised to intensify production to feed a growing population, especially in the light of the privations of the Second World War.
However, rotations repair and enhance the soil and the ever-changing use means there is less chance for weeds and diseases to build up. As Andy Dyer’s book Chasing the Red Queen explains, in conventional farming there is a dangerous arms race between pests and poisons as weeds, diseases and unwanted bugs develop resistance to existing chemicals.
Regenerative farming champions the power of plants and animals to look after themselves and huge importance is placed on using the right crops and livestock for the particular terrain, soil type and climate. Heritage breeds are making a comeback on many farms as they have inbuilt area-specific qualities of hardiness and disease-resistance that mean few or no chemicals are needed.
Regen growers point to studies that appear to show their food is produced to higher welfare standards as well as being tastier and more nutrient-rich than that farmed through conventional methods.
Regenerative farming also looks to encourage nature where possible. Beetle banks, ponds and wildflower margins produce pollinators and predators of pests. In his book Hedgelands, Christopher Hart reveals how hedges protect and fertilise fields while offering food for livestock and nest sites for pest-eating birds.
What’s the difference between regenerative farming and organic farming?
So what’s the difference between regenerative farming and organic farming? Simply, organic farming in the UK is regulated and certified by the charity The Soil Association.
Regenerative farming does not have a similar body overseeing it so while we know that some 5500 growers have signed up to farm organically, there are no clear figures for regen.
However, it is becoming better known, featuring increasingly on food packaging and more and more farmers are returning their land to rotations and nature-based solutions. Groundswell, the annual festival for regenerative farming in Hertfordshire, attracted 8000 visitors in 2024.