Herd - invest in the future of British farming

What is regenerative agriculture?

Regen farming is not tightly defined but simply means working with nature to leave the soil and broader ecosystem in a better place than we found it.

Imagine a farm where...

Different crops grow side-by-side, working together, as they do in nature - one draws water from deep below, another harvests nitrogen, another shades the soil...
Animals roam as they do in the wild, intensely grazing a patch and naturally fertilising the land, but not returning for several months to let the land recover.
No soil is left bare — living plants cover the ground year-round, holding in moisture, preventing erosion, and bringing in nutrients from the atmosphere.
The soil isn’t churned up and turned over each year — its structure stays intact, carbon stays locked in, and the underground life that builds fertility is left to do its work

Why do we need to change?

For decades farmers have focused on producing as much food as possible at any cost.

We now have more food than we need, but much of it is low in nutritional value - we throw away 40% of what we produce, while 64% of UK adults are obese or overweight.

It is not how much food we grow, but its quality and how we grow it - conventional farming uses chemicals, machines and monocultures to extract from the soil more food than the land can sustainably provide. The results are clear:

UK soils have seen a 40–60% decline in organic carbon and other nutrients, making us dependent on artificial fertilisers.
Heavy use of machinery to deliver these chemicals has compacted the soil, meaning less rain is absorbed, making it harder to weather flooding and droughts.
A deterioration in soil structure means 3 million tonnes of valuable topsoil now runs into our rivers each year.
Widespread use of chemicals and monocrops have contributed to significant habitat loss and left the UK one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

Why is the future regen?

Stronger ecosystems - regen practises work with nature, improving soil and plant health and increasing biodiversity.
Better quality food - regen foods have higher levels of vitamins, minerals and omega-3, supporting human health.
Lower input costs and capital needs – by reusing seeds and using less fertilisers and pesticides, regen farms reduce their dependence on volatile input markets and require less working capital, improving their resilience to shocks.
More profitable farms - whilst usually dropping at first, yields often return to conventional levels, as the soil recovers and the land begins to do more of the work itself. Over time, this reduces the need for expensive inputs and improves profit margins.
Resilient farms - regen farming improves soil structure so that it acts like a sponge, retaining more water during droughts and draining better during floods.

Why isn't everyone doing it?

For decades, farmers have been told to chase yields at all costs, it requires a huge mindset shift to see you can produce less but make more.
For many, conventional methods are how it’s always been done, often for generations. Regenerative practices can feel unfamiliar, especially when they go against long-standing advice from parents, neighbours and agrochemical companies.
Many farms carry significant debt and run on tight margins. They cannot afford to take a short-term yield hit, even for long-term gains. Soil can take several years to recover and farmers need patient capital to bridge that transition.
Not all regen practises work in each region, it can take a few years (and a few mistakes) to learn what works on your farm - farmers need ongoing advice and support to feel confident making the switch.