In April 2025, I (Martin Caunce) was invited to a UK Parliament roundtable on regenerative agriculture, hosted by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). The reflections below are my personal take on that conversation. POST has reviewed and approved this write-up for public sharing.

A Farmer’s Voice in Parliament: Shaping the Future of Regenerative Agriculture

On April 9th, I had the honour of joining a roundtable discussion hosted by Iona Cunningham-Eurich, a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) Fellow at the UK Parliament. I sat alongside John Cherry, co-founder of Groundswell, and Martin Lines, Director of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, to talk about the future of regenerative agriculture in the UK.

Redefining Agriculture: A Mindset, Not a Manual

What became immediately clear in our discussion is that regenerative agriculture still lacks a formal definition. Unlike organic certification, it’s not a checklist—it’s a mindset. At its heart, regenerative farming is about re-learning how to work with nature, not against it. It’s not nostalgia; it’s about adapting the wisdom of the past to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Key Themes from the Roundtable

We explored several interconnected themes critical to the future of farming:

• Farmer-Led Innovation: Across the UK, farmers are experimenting with new methods to restore biodiversity, improve soil structure, and enhance nutrient cycling—often ahead of scientific consensus or policy support. Farmers are not waiting to be told what to do; they’re already doing it.

• Connection to Land and Mental Wellbeing: Many of us find joy and clarity in farming that reconnects us to the land. Watching wildlife return, seeing soil come back to life, and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs is not just good for the farm—it’s good for the farmer too.

• Motivation and Movement: Regenerative practices are spreading organically, from farmer to farmer. WhatsApp groups, YouTube channels, podcasts, and farm walks have become vital tools for knowledge-sharing. But we also recognised the need to reach beyond our immediate circles.

• Policy and Measurement Challenges: One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in regenerative systems. What succeeds on one soil type or in one climate might fail elsewhere. Policymakers understandably want measurable outcomes—soil organic matter, water infiltration, biodiversity counts—but we also need flexibility and trust in farmers’ judgment and experience.

Broader Impacts of Regenerative Agriculture

We also looked at how regenerative farming can benefit society more widely:

• Climate & Supply Chains: It offers Scope 3 emissions reductions for food companies seeking to decarbonise.

• Water & Flooding: It reduces water contamination and flooding risks, which benefits water companies and local communities.

• Public Health: By improving food quality, it may reduce long-term NHS burdens.

Yet despite these wide-ranging benefits, much of the funding and influence still flows to the biggest players. Smaller, practical, farmer-led efforts often remain under-recognised and under-supported.

Regenerative Farming Is a Journey

One message stood out: regenerative agriculture is not a destination—it’s a process. Each farm’s path looks different, and that diversity is a strength, not a flaw. It builds resilience, encourages innovation, and reflects the local environment and the farmer’s values.

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I’m incredibly grateful to Iona Cunningham-Eurich and the POST team for making space for real-world voices in policymaking. It’s through conversations like these that we can move regenerative agriculture from the margins to the mainstream. The full report can be read here