A new UK parliamentary report has highlighted regenerative agriculture as a promising, farmer-led approach to improving soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.
However, despite increasing interest in this area, the UK government currently offers no designated public funding to support farmers in transitioning to regenerative methods.
The report states that Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) “does not currently intend to subsidise regenerative agriculture”, with the department claiming insufficient UK-specific evidence that it delivers public goods.
Regenerative practices focus on soil health, biodiversity, water quality, and long-term resilience by using practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, integration of livestock, and lower chemical inputs.
The report highlights that regenerative agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all model. Its success depends heavily on farm-specific factors such as soil type, weather, and crop systems.
While evidence shows regenerative agriculture can improve soil organic carbon (SOC) and reduce input costs, short-term yield declines and weed management challenges remain key concerns.
UK regenerative agriculture
Currently, in England there is around 440,000ha or 60% of the 730,000ha of land in regenerative management.
Attendance at the Groundswell Festival – a major event for regenerative farmers — soared from 450 in 2016 to over 8,000 in 2024, signalling increasing farmer engagement in the subject.
Many farmers, academics and non-governmental organisations see regenerative practices as an opportunity to improve food nutritional quality, health, and animal welfare.
Corporate interest is growing, with companies like Nestlé, Waitrose and First Milk backing regenerative agriculture initiatives.
Regeneratively farmed produce is not yet a legally recognised term, with no agreed standards and low consumer awareness.
This has led researchers to warn of potential ‘greenwashing’, and stress the need for clear standards to prevent misuse of the ‘regenerative’ label.
With climate pressures mounting and UK soil health in decline, the report calls for urgent policy development, better soil monitoring, and support mechanisms.
