News in brief:
– A UK parliamentary report urges immediate policy support for regenerative agriculture to improve soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.
– Despite rising interest and corporate backing, the government offers no dedicated funding, and researchers warn of greenwashing risks.
A new UK parliamentary report is calling for urgent policy action to support regenerative agriculture — a nature-based, farmer-led approach seen as key to reversing soil degradation, improving biodiversity, and boosting water quality.
Despite growing interest from farmers and the private sector, the UK government currently offers no dedicated public funding to help farmers adopt regenerative methods.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has cited a lack of UK-specific evidence on the public benefits of regenerative practices as a reason for withholding subsidies.
Regenerative agriculture emphasises long-term land health through techniques such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, livestock integration, and minimal chemical inputs. However, the report stresses that these practices are not universal and must be tailored to local conditions like soil type and weather patterns.
While benefits include improved soil organic carbon and lower input costs, challenges such as potential short-term yield losses and weed control continue to deter some growers. In England, approximately 440,000 hectares — about 60% of the 730,000 hectares under consideration — are already managed regeneratively.
Interest in the movement is surging. Attendance at the UK’s Groundswell Festival, a leading event for regenerative agriculture, jumped from 450 in 2016 to over 8,000 in 2024. Major companies, including Nestlé, Waitrose, and First Milk, are backing regenerative initiatives.
However, with no legal definition or agreed-upon standards for ‘regeneratively farmed’ products, researchers warn of rising greenwashing risks. They urge clearer guidelines to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the label.
With UK soil health in rapid decline and climate pressures intensifying, the report calls for better soil monitoring, defined regulatory standards, and targeted funding to accelerate the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.
