Harry Edwards (FCG WhiteAvon)

This was my third visit to Groundswell, and each year the conference reinforces the same message: regenerative agriculture is no longer a niche movement. The conversation has shifted from proving the concept to understanding how we scale regenerative farming into a commercially viable, mainstream production system.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this year’s event was that the cost of not adopting regenerative practices is rapidly becoming greater than the investment required to make the transition. As climate change brings more prolonged periods of drought alongside increasingly intense rainfall, our current food production system is proving highly efficient, but not particularly resilient. Improving soil health, increasing organic matter and enhancing water-holding capacity are no longer simply environmental ambitions—they are becoming essential components of future food security.

However, resilience cannot be built by farmers alone.

One of the most thought-provoking sessions I attended was Scaling Regenerative Agriculture: Connecting Global Practice, Scientific Evidence and Systems Change, featuring Philippe Birker, Will Harris, Lockie Schreefel, Julia Bolton and Manoj Kumar. A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that the financial risk of transitioning to regenerative agriculture still rests disproportionately with farmers.

While regenerative farming delivers long-term environmental and economic benefits, there remains a significant gap in finance, processing infrastructure and marketing opportunities. Traditional lending models continue to assess businesses based largely on historic financial performance and asset values, rather than recognising the future value created through healthier soils, greater resilience and reduced environmental risk. Until regenerative farming becomes consistently profitable at farm level, adoption will inevitably remain slower than many would like.

The panel also highlighted the importance of developing stronger markets for regenerative products. Farmers can only justify investment if consumers recognise and are prepared to support the additional value these farming systems provide. Without greater consumer awareness and demand, retailers and processors will have little incentive to create differentiated markets that reward regenerative production.

Education emerged as another central theme throughout the conference. Building a more resilient food system starts with improving understanding across society. Many young people leave school with very little appreciation of where food comes from, the importance of nutrition or how to prepare fresh ingredients. At the same time, there remains a lack of dedicated higher education focused specifically on regenerative agriculture. Developing university courses and professional qualifications that equip future farmers, advisers and industry leaders with the knowledge to implement regenerative systems should become a priority if the sector is to continue evolving.

An interesting international comparison came from India, where farmers do not receive direct subsidies. but fertilisers and agrochemicals receive substantial government support. This demonstrates how policy can reinforce conventional farming methods by encouraging continued reliance on artificial inputs. It serves as a reminder that government incentives play a significant role in shaping agricultural practices and influencing the pace of change.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see whether future UK governments place greater emphasis on recognising the wider public value delivered by farming as a whole. Will Andy Burnham begin to realise food security is national security? Healthy soils do far more than produce crops – they improve water infiltration, reduce flood risk, increase resilience during dry periods, support biodiversity and contribute to cleaner water. Equally important is the role that healthier, nutrient-dense food can play in improving public health and potentially reducing long-term pressures on the NHS.

Groundswell 2026 left me with a clear sense of optimism. The challenge is no longer demonstrating that regenerative farming works; it is creating the financial mechanisms, market incentives, education and government policies that enable farmers to adopt these systems with confidence. Ultimately, regenerative agriculture should not be viewed simply as an environmental initiative. It represents a practical investment in resilient businesses, secure food production and healthier landscapes. Offering discounted lending does not provide the level of support needed, but if the risks and rewards can be shared more fairly across the entire food chain – from government and finance through to retailers and consumers – the opportunity to transform British agriculture is substantial.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Harry Edwards at harryedwards@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office.