The From Soya to Sustainability conference is returning to Peterborough on Wednesday 28th January 2026, and our CEO Liz Bowles will be there to run a session – entitled ‘The Price of Change‘, her talk will address the costs and benefits of increasing peas and beans in arable rotations.
Bringing together leaders from across the agri-food sector, the conference looks to accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable, secure and resilient UK food system. The event will take place at the KingsGate Conference Centre, and is organised by the British On-Farm Innovation Network and hosted by partners in the NCS Project (Nitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systems). Tickets for the conference are available for purchase via the Eventbrite page.
NCS have outlined a number of the topics that industry leaders will present on:
How faba beans and other UK-grown pulses can reduce the quantity of imported soya needed for livestock feed, while also bringing environmental benefits.
The role of sustainable feed in reducing Scope 3 emissions.
New data from on-farm trials and collaborative projects driving change in the UK and beyond.
The power of cross-sector collaboration in building more transparent and sustainable supply chains.
You can read more and keep up to date with all our latest Events here.
We were absolutely delighted to accept the ‘Low Carbon Leader — Voluntary Sector’ award at the 2025 Cornwall Sustainability Awards on behalf of all our partner organisations — in particular the Rural Business School at Duchy College, with whom we have worked closely for the past five years through the Farm Net Zero project.
Our Farm Advisor Hannah Jones was there on the night in Falmouth to pick up the winning award, recognising not only all of our partners’ work towards Farm Net Zero, but our commitment at FCT to reducing our business footprint.
Together, the Farm Net Zero project partners have supported farmers and growers to turn ambition into real, practical change on the ground. We are proud of our role in this project in helping agricultural and horticultural businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly get on the front foot as they transition to meet the climate and nature challenges ahead.
Bringing together dairy supply chains, researchers and farmer representatives, the conference looked toward the practical realities of reducing on-farm enteric methane (CH₄) emissions – with a lot of the talk around feed additives, good quality silage and the trend towards insetting within the dairy industry.
The science behind reducing enteric methane
With talks from leading researchers such as Dr. Andre Bannink (Senior Scientist on Ruminant Nutrition & Mathematical Modelling at Wageningen Livestock Research), a recurrent focus was the correlation between feed quality and methane reduction. The consensus is that by increasing the organic matter digestibility of the feed, you can tweak the rumen microbiome, which results in less enteric methane being produced.
Silage Quality: Good quality silage is key to reduction – an increased digestibility of silage and forage = reduced methane. Specifically, the “1st cut” of silage is noted for being the highest in omega-3s.
The Power of Fats: Fatty acids and omega-3s significantly affect the rumen microbiome. Research suggests that a 1% increase in fat in dietary dry matter (DM) can lead to a 4–5% reduction in methane.
Feed additives: beyond Bovaer
While there was some discussion regarding NOP-3 (Bovaer), the conversation was heavily dominated by other additives, particularly the role of using linseed/flax or other plant-based feed additives to reduce enteric methane. Danone, for example, is conducting trials to see if a 9% reduction in enteric CH4 can be achieved and integrated into their supply chains. Other research showed evidence of published studies that outlined ~9% reductions. Outlined below are two feed additives that were discussed on the day:
Product Name
Active ingredient
Application
Impact (CH4 reduction)
Notes
Agolin
‘Blend of essential oils’
1g/head/day mixed into mineral feed
Alters rumen microbial activity reducing CH4 by 8.8%
Used in Mooh’s offsetting carbon credit scheme for reducing enteric methane emissions. There may also be other health benefits.
Tradilin
Pressure cooked Linseed
~500g/head/day
Leads to a progressive release of omega-3 in the rumen of dairy cows, mimicking the behaviour of fresh grass. Reduces CH4 by 9%
Other health benefits beyond CH4 reductions include:
• increased milk production (1.5-3 litres more milk per cow per day • -10% ketosis and -3% metritis • -10 days of calving interval • 5 – 11 days earlier first calving for the heifers born from a cow fed Tradilin
Feed additive products that mitigate EM
Rewarding farmers – the financial benefits of insetting vs offsetting
One of the emerging trends at the conference was the dairy industry’s shift toward insetting emissions reductions within the dairy supply chain. However, there was also evidence of carbon credit offsetting schemes that had been set up by dairy supply chains to reward their farmers for undertaking measures to reduce methane. If you’re unsure about the distinction between these two financial avenues, check out our report on the Voluntary Carbon Market and the implications for farmers.
Outlined below are some key takeaways in the comparison between Arla’s insetting-based incentive model and Mooh Coop’s offsetting-based incentive model:
Arla insetting based incentive model
Arla’s sustainability roadmap is heavily based on SBTi targets – where 97% of their emissions are Scope 3
10% of their emissions reduction targets for on-farm mitigation strategies are around feed additives
They have their own Farm Ahead tool to measure carbon footprints and other sustainability measures on farms
They use a points based system across a range of farm metrics (not just carbon) to reward their farmers with payments, utilising 5 big KPIs to rate the farms
Mooh Coop offsetting based incentive model
Farmers who use the Agolin feed additive can monetise their emissions reductions by generating reductions carbon credits
Mooh use the Verra carbon standard methodology for enteric methane reductions, and liaise with South Pole to help help sell the credits
This can be a relatively long process process ~ e.g. 1 year
Mooh anticipates sales, so they pay farmers upfront and get paid back once the credits are sold
Farmers sign an agreement that states they can’t claim to have reduced their carbon emissions and milk that’s sold is not marketed as low carbon to avoid double counting
500 active farms – total of 20,000 cows in scheme
Mooh acknowledged that the dairy industry is going more towards insetting
Data quality and trust in carbon tools
Dr Eleanor Durrant from Cool Farm Tool also did a short talk on the LUNZ project (Land Use for Net Zero), a multi-partner collaboration we’re proud to be part of with Agrecalc and researchers at Cranfield University and the University of Gloucestershire. This project aims to develop and evaluate a scalable, auditable farm and food-level GHG accounting framework for UK land use.
You can read more about our latest improvements to the FCT Calculator and how we are keeping it up to date with the latest science here.
The final Farm Net Zero conference took place on 20th November 2025 at the Royal Cornwall Showground—under a blanket of unexpected snow!
Yet despite the weather, the room was full. Farmers, growers, advisors, researchers, community partners and supporters all gathered to reflect on five years of hard work, collaboration and learning. It felt less like the end of a project and more like the celebration of a community that has quietly reshaped what climate action looks like on real farms.
There was a striking range of delegates in the room. Young and older farmers and growers, a pretty even gender balance, and people representing every part of the agricultural community. But what really stood out was that every presenter brought a different perspective, a unique set of skills and lived experience, and together they created a strong thread of community that ran throughout the entire day. It was genuinely inspirational.
Farm Net Zero is a collaborative five-year project led by Duchy College Rural Business School, working in partnership with Farm Carbon Toolkit, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Soil Association, Innovative Farmers, Innovation for Agriculture, and Just Farmers. This ambitious initiative has been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. The final conference was organised by Duchy College with support from the FNZ project partners, to share some of the learnings, hear from participants, and to celebrate five years of the project.
A day rooted in practical progress
The day began with one of the FNZ Demonstration farmers, Mike Roberts of Blable Farm, who shared how he has changed farming practice to build greater business resilience. His reflections set the tone for the whole event: grounded, honest and focused on what works in the real world. Mike expressed heartfelt thanks to the project team at Duchy College, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Innovative Farmers, Innovation for Agriculture and Just Farmers — a partnership that has been the backbone of Farm Net Zero since day one.
We then heard from Anthony Ellis of Pensipple Farm, who spoke about the trials he has been undertaking to reduce insecticide and fungicide use. By improving soil health, he has been able to cut fuel use for fieldwork by 10–15%—a meaningful saving both economically and environmentally. During this session, an important point was raised about the “elephant in the room”: who owns the carbon and wider natural capital benefits in a tenanted farming context? It’s an issue that will matter more and more as low-carbon farming evolves.
Malcolm Barrett of Tregooden Farm also reflected on the changes they have made on the farm. Through FNZ, the Barretts have reduced costs significantly by lowering inputs and outwintering cattle, with the biggest gains seen on arable fields—soil organic matter is up by around 3%, thanks to cover crops and min-till. Better soil health has reduced fuel use and enabled them to cut pesticide use, too.
Amelia Lake from the Real Food Garden offered a shout-out to FCT for helping them understand their soils and how best to improve them. Their focus on no-dig systems and continuous compost additions has boosted soil health, and they’ve seen improvements in veg nutrient content, something they believe is closely linked to better soil function.
Nicola and Chris from Heligan Gardens shared how transformational their compost-focused Farm Net Zero field lab has been for their waste management system. By learning how to optimise composting, combining three separate waste streams while ensuring pathogen kill, they have been able to reduce waste, improve soil health and close nutrient loops more effectively.
We also heard from Emma Restorick at the Prideaux Walled Garden, who has been trialling ways to tackle bindweed and reduce carbon footprints through optimised home-grown compost and other nature-friendly techniques. Her work highlights just how adaptable and innovative small horticultural enterprises can be when given structured support and the space to experiment.
Robust data from real farms
The results of the project speak for themselves.
Over the course of the project, the project team carried out an extraordinary amount of monitoring and testing, including digging over 1,935 holes (over 10,000 auger dibs), and soil sampling 215 fields in both 2021 and 2025. This has created one of the richest long-term datasets of any UK farming climate project.
Initial findings show that fields in herbal leys in 2021 and still in herbal leys today sequestered an average of 3.35 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. Across the project area, herbal ley coverage has increased by nearly 500 hectares, contributing significantly to soil carbon gains.
Habitat-based sequestration also shows clear gains: project farms collectively sequestered an additional 2,640 tCO₂e into on-farm habitats, supported by increases in both hedgerows and woodland. Hedgerow length increased from 607 km in Year 1 to 664 km in Year 5, with associated carbon sequestration rising from –2,338 tCO₂e to –2,854 tCO₂e. Farmers also planted 1,104 additional trees over the project period, reinforcing long-term carbon storage and biodiversity benefits.
Looking at changes in overall farm carbon footprints, every farming system involved in the project saw reductions:
Horticulture: 4.3 tCO₂e → –7.54 tCO₂e
Arable: 572.22 tCO₂e → 402.49 tCO₂e
Beef & Sheep: 508.37 tCO₂e → 489.09 tCO₂e
Dairy: 1.25 kg CO₂e/kg FPCM → 0.99
These improvements were largely driven by reductions in input use, particularly feed, fertiliser and fuel, supported by more diverse rotations, improved grazing management, better composting systems and healthier soils.
These were not theoretical models or one-off trials; these were whole-farm shifts, supported by careful measurement and farmer-led experimentation.
Last words
Finally, dairy farmer Andrew Brewer of Ennis Barton highlighted how evidence from Farm Net Zero had given him the confidence to encourage Arla to support farmers in growing herbal leys. As a member of Arla’s Sustainability Working Group his takeaway was powerful:
“The integrity and nutrient quality of food starts with farmers and growers.”
What came across loud and clear at the conference was the importance of steadfast and consistent activity, and the power of farmer-to-farmer learning. The project has built a community of farmers and advisers who have been willing to share their successes and failures openly, and this spirit of collaboration has been central to the project’s achievements.
What really made Farm Net Zero work
Beyond the numbers, what came through again and again was the strength of the community that has grown around the project. Demonstration farmers, monitor farms, advisers, researchers, gardeners, and local organisations, all willing to share what worked and what didn’t.
It powerfully demonstrates that progress doesn’t come from one-off interventions. It comes from steadfast, consistent activity—and from supporting farmers to try new things with confidence.
Farmers spoke freely about reducing inputs, changing rotations, experimenting with cover crops, improving composting systems, tackling weeds, integrating livestock, and rethinking their relationship with soil. The willingness to compare notes, challenges, successes and missteps has made this one of the most practical and trusted climate-action projects in UK farming.
So, what next?
This is the question many people asked during and after the conference. Farm Net Zero has clearly delivered:
measurable reductions in emissions
better soil health
stronger business resilience
increased biodiversity and more protective infrastructure (hedges, trees)
greater collaboration across Cornwall’s food and farming community
a five-year dataset that is rare at national level
The challenge now is to build on this success, not let it fade as the formal project period ends. Here are some priorities:
1. Share the learning more widely
The results, stories and practical guidance from Farm Net Zero need to reach a far larger audience — in Cornwall and beyond. Farmers elsewhere in the UK face similar challenges, and the FNZ experience can offer a roadmap: low-cost changes, peer-to-peer learning, and practical ways to reduce emissions while improving profitability. There’s a responsibility to translate these findings into accessible guidance, workshops, case studies and tools that any farmer can use.
2. Keep the community alive
The strength of FNZ was the trust between participants. Maintaining that network through events, field labs, farm walks, online spaces and continued collaboration will be vital. Farmers expressed a clear desire to keep learning from one another.
The good news is that some field labs and events will continue over the next few months, and the appetite for ongoing collaboration is strong.
3. Use the data to inform policy and practice
With more than 10,000 soil samples, detailed farm footprints and hundreds of farmer-led trials, FNZ now represents one of the richest real-world datasets on low-carbon farming in the UK.
That evidence can help shape better support schemes, more targeted advice, and more practical pathways for farmers transitioning towards net zero.
A beginning, not the end
Through the Farm Net Zero partnership, we’re committed to ensuring these insights don’t sit on a shelf. The findings from this project can play an important role in influencing how the sector and policymakers think about resilience, emissions reduction, soil health and resource efficiency.
As the conference was wrapped up, there felt a feeling of pride — not only in what’s been achieved, but in how it was achieved. Farmer-led, data-driven and grounded in real practice. Farm Net Zero has shown what’s possible when farmers are trusted, support experimentation, and commit to long-term learning rather than short-term initiatives.
The project will look forward to sharing the full results in early 2026 and helping ensure that the legacy of Farm Net Zero continues to grow. Cornwall has shown what can be done. Now the task is to help others follow.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the National Lottery Community Fund for their support throughout this five-year journey, and to all the farmers and partners who have made this work possible
Last month, a community music festival at Deerpark Farm took place to celebrate the work of monitor and demonstration farms that are part of the Farm Net Zero project in Cornwall. Bringing the wider community together, this was an event to highlight the vital connection between community, the arts, and the future of sustainable agriculture in Cornwall.
Over the summer, Gareth Churcher, Director of the Cornwall Music Services Trust (CMST), met with three farming families who are part of Farm Net Zero, in the Stoke Climsland Parish, to discuss the challenges facing agriculture and farming families, and the innovations these businesses are making to increase sustainability.
‘Treveth Kes Zero’: A Musical Tribute
The event featured the commissioned musical composition, ‘Treveth Kes Zero’ (the Cornish translation of Farm Net Zero). The piece is described by composer Gareth Churcher as:
“A Celebration of Harvest and tribute to Cornish Farming. Composed for brass, percussion and voice, the music aims to be accessible for all participants and carefully fuses some traditional harvest songs with modern original material in a way that reflects some of the approaches that are taken by the farms involved with the Farm Net Zero project.”
The lyrics were created by children of Calstock and Stoke Climsland primary schools. The children explored sustainable farming through the lens of music and art during multiple workshops led by Kari Prince of CMST, who also further supported the event by reading poetry written by the children about farming.
This music was skilfully performed by Camborne Town Band with accompaniment by the children from the primary schools and other singers. It was a moving piece, performed by a talented group and supported by some wonderful singers. The music was further enhanced by the farmers who stood up and explained how they have been adapting their practices to reduce emissions, sequester more carbon, besides other work such as work to reduce flooding risk in the village.
The music starts by establishing its core material, balancing tension and relief with passages that are dissonant, bi-tonal, and others that are more pleasing. This gives way to an old Cornish harvest tune with lyrics developed by Hilary Coleman.
The music concludes with a setting of “We Plough The Fields and Scatter,” using new harmonisation and brass flourishes to emulate the fusion of old and new farming practices seen across the FNZ project.
Special thanks are extended to the Howlett family for hosting the event, and to Bonny, Tim and Jake Lightfoot, Martin Howlett, Pete and Sheila Cox, Gareth Churcher, Kari Prince, Gary Flower, the support vocalists, and the children of Calstock and Stoke Climsland.
Farm Net Zero
Farm Net Zero is a five-year initiative focused on helping Cornish farms work towards zero carbon emissions. The initiative involves practical work, research, and data collection to demonstrate how agriculture can contribute significantly to climate action.
The FNZ team is currently compiling results from the latest footprints and soil sampling in preparation for a Final Conference on Thursday, November 20th, where they will celebrate achievements and look forward to the future.
September was a busy month here at FCT, and in addition to our Annual Field Day, we also participated in the UK Dairy Day and the Agroforestry Show.
Our stand at the Dairy Day Show at the Telford International Centre allowed us to meet with farmers and dairy industry professionals from across the UK. A key topic of discussion for all stakeholders was the need to reduce carbon emissions throughout the dairy supply chain and the practices that can contribute to achieving the desired reductions. Also on the agenda was how the sustainable use of nutrients on farms can help farmers to build productivity whilst cutting input costs and lowering the potential losses to the wider environment.
The 2nd ever Agroforestry Show took place just inside the M25 this year, and FCT’s presence was highly relevant. Several visitors headed straight to our stand, either to say hello in real life, having used our website or carbon calculator, or to find out about the services we offer. Senior advisor Rob Purdew hosted a well-received session with David Oattes and Stuart Rogers, both farmers we already work with who have included trees in the functioning of their farm systems (beef and dairy, respectively). The discussion explored the impact of the inclusion of increased hedges and in-field trees on farm carbon sequestration and the surprisingly swift apparent increase in soil organic matter and, therefore, soil carbon in the vicinity of the new planting. Stuart Rogers and FCT project assistant Jemma Morgan also recorded an episode of Ffinlo Costain’s popular Farm Gate podcast on the wider impact of Agroforestry on Stuart’s dairy farm in Wiltshire. An encouraging increase in the number of UK tree nurseries was also present at the Show, proving that where there’s a desire to include resilience-building trees on any farm, there’s a sensibly local source to provide them. Many venues hosted a wide range of interesting and inspiring talks and discussions, with demonstrations and farm walks to engage visitors too. Overall, there is momentum building as the understanding of the importance of trees as a value-added element of a climate-resilient farm system becomes more widely understood. Look out for us when it comes to the third Agroforestry Show – we’ll definitely be there.
For people unable to make our Annual Field Day held in North Lincolnshire at the end of September, we have captured some of the take-home messages from the morning farm walk around the Pink Pig Farm, with our hosts, the Jackson family.
During the morning, we walked around the farm, pausing at four stations to hear from our farmers and FCT staff. Our four stations covered:
Plant Nutrition: Diagnostics and Low-Input Management
Integration of livestock into arable rotations
The importance of soil health
Regenerative farming ten years on
Integration of livestock into arable rotations
Anna Jackson, host farmer at The Pink Pig, and John McArthur, a beef farmer, discussed the challenges and opportunities of integrating livestock into arable systems. Both shared practical insights into how mixed farming can build resilience, improve soil health, and strengthen business performance. Key takeaways: Integration builds resilience — livestock can enhance soil health, manage weeds and diseases, and support system stability Low-input livestock systems reduce costs and simplify management Pulse crops offer dual benefits for arable and livestock systems, cutting carbon and improving nitrogen cycling Support mechanisms are still limited — longer-term policy and investment will be vital to accelerate change
Building a Low-Input Sheep System at The Pink Pig
Anna Jackson manages a flock of around 70 Romney–Lleyn sheep under the Pasture for Life scheme. Her approach is firmly low-input: no tailing, minimal interventions, and outdoor lambing. The flock is mob-grazed, moving every one to two days depending on conditions, and grazing wheat over winter. A recent fencing grant has enabled the integration of sheep into arable ground, supporting a whole-farm rotational system.
Anna’s sheep enterprise isn’t just about meat production — although quarter lamb boxes, sold through the on-site shop, sell out annually. “I know my customers and my margins,” Anna explains. “I can build those figures directly into the business plan each year.” The flock’s real value lies in what it contributes to the wider farm system: disease control, nutrient cycling, and soil health.
One striking example came when a wheat crop was hit by disease. “We grazed it hard — it didn’t look like a crop anymore,” says Anna. “But it came back clean and healthy. If I can manage the flock without buying inputs, it makes financial and agronomic sense.”
Rotation, Resilience, and the Role of Grass
The Pink Pig’s six-year rotation — two years of grass for seed, followed by oats, wheat, beans, and wheat — is designed for flexibility. “The grass adds organic matter and provides a rest period for the arable crops,” says Anna. “If a crop needs a break, the sheep can go back in. It’s a balancing act.”
Grass also helps manage blackgrass and other weeds. “If we see a problem field, it goes into grass for two years,” Anna notes. “Grazing sorts it. Soil health is our bigger challenge.”Although the arable enterprise remains the main profit driver, the sheep earn their place by improving crop performance and building resilience into the system. Anna is now exploring self-shedding breeds to further reduce labour demands. “The Romneys have been brilliant — easy lambing, low input. I love working with the flock, and I want to keep it that way: simple and stress-free.”
Integrating Cattle and Pulses: John McArthur’s Experience
Across in another part of the region, John McArthur runs a 500-acre mixed farm with a suckler herd of 40 cows and followers. He is keen to bring cattle into his arable rotation but acknowledges the practical challenges. “In the East of England, we need livestock in our arable systems to maintain soil health and nutrient cycling,” he says, “but making it work practically is difficult.”
John is also part of theNCS project developing low-emission protein feeds for livestock. The trials, now halfway through, have shown impressive results: soya use reduced by 70% in broiler rations, diet carbon footprints cut by 40%, and bird performance maintained. “We need to rebrand faba beans from a mid-level to a low-emission protein,” he suggests. “They have huge potential.”
Currently, only 2–3% of UK rotations include pulses, but John believes that must change. On his own farm, adding beans has improved nitrogen fixation, protein production, and soil structure — demonstrating the broader value of mixed farming.
Overcoming the Barriers to Integration
Both Anna and John acknowledged the financial and structural risks of integrating livestock into existing arable systems. Capital investments in fencing, water, and infrastructure can take years to pay off, and current Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options offer limited support for mixed-system transition.
Anna’s wheat is sold to Wildfarmed, grown as an 11-way soft blend that earns a premium for low-input management — though weather remains a major variable. “It’s always a risk,” she says, “but layering livestock into the system builds resilience year on year.”
Learning from the Land
Establishing herbal leys on the Pink Pig’s sandy soils has been a process of trial and error. “Our first mix didn’t take at all,” Anna admits. “We’ve learned that shallow disturbance and tailored mixes work better, but some patches still struggle.” Grass, however, thrives, making it an essential tool for soil improvement and grazing flexibility.
Despite the challenges of a Pasture for Life system and a volatile climate, Anna remains committed: “This is my happy place — being with the sheep. They make sense agronomically, environmentally, and personally.”
The Importance of Soil Health
Healthy soil is the foundation of resilient, profitable farming. The second stop on the recent farm walk focused on this essential theme, featuring a soil pit demonstration and insights from Jonathan Hodgson, one of FCT’s 2025 Soil Farmers of the Year. Stefan Marks from the Farm Carbon Toolkit highlighted the value of regular soil assessments — digging holes, examining structure, and counting worms — as key indicators of soil health and system performance. Key Takeaways: Get to know your soils through regular assessments – dig holes to understand soil structure and soil life Diversity of cropping helps to improve soil health, including keeping soils covered and bringing grass into the rotation, bringing livestock in where possible The results are tangible with crops handling drought stress better than before as soil health improves Applying nitrogen “little and often” in line with plant requirements really pays dividends with lower overall use and yields maintained
A Journey Toward Regenerative Practice
Jonathan farms 280 hectares north of the Humber, on heavy clay soils with minimal stone. In 2019, he transitioned from traditional tillage to a strip-till system, initially to reduce establishment costs. “We could see that BPS was ending, and machinery costs were hard to justify,” he explains. “Knowing this led me to really understand soil. It’s been challenging, stressful at times — but completely worthwhile.”
Today, the benefits are clear. “Improving soil isn’t a quick fix,” says Jonathan. “But after a few years, we’re finally seeing the rewards.”
Building Diversity and Soil Structure
The farm’s rotation now includes wheat, oilseed rape, barley, flax, hemp, winter beans, and herbal leys. Grass is being reintroduced for fertility, structure, and weed control. Cover crops play a key role, providing living roots that trap nutrients and feed the soil biology.
“Cover crops are vital to our soil type,” Jonathan notes. “They can be tricky to establish in dry summers, but once they get going, they make a huge difference.” The farm’s early trials with catch crops — supported by Yorkshire Water — demonstrated how living roots improve soil health ahead of the next wheat crop.
Regular applications of gypsum (2 t/ha) have also helped to aerate soils and balance calcium–magnesium ratios. “We’re now seeing natural crumb structure developing, rather than the old blocky profile,” Jonathan reports. “Perseverance has paid off.”
Signs of Progress
The difference is tangible. “In the early days, I’d find only two or three worms per pit. Now there are twenty or more,” says Jonathan. “I keep a spade in the truck and dig holes everywhere — it’s the best way to understand the soil.”
Even in challenging conditions, performance has improved. “Our crops handle drought better than they used to,” he explains. “We’re using far less fuel since we stopped turning soil over. I’m happy to leave it undisturbed until it’s time to drill.”
Integrating Livestock and Companion Crops
Historically, the farm had its own flock of sheep, but it now hosts 300–400 sheep over winter from a neighbouring farmer. Grazing helps recycle nutrients and keeps cover crops in check.
Jonathan is also experimenting with companion cropping, pairing flax and hemp with oats or barley, and oats with beans. “It’s about finding combinations that are cost-effective and easy to harvest,” he says. An understorey of clover under winter beans is another experiment aimed at maintaining living roots through the year.
Reducing Inputs, Increasing Efficiency
The shift in soil management has led to a significant drop in input costs. “We’ve cut fungicide use dramatically without affecting yield or quality,” Jonathan explains. “We’ve stopped using PGRs on wheat altogether.”
Nitrogen is now applied ‘little and often’, with molasses added to support microbial activity. “The crops grow more naturally and evenly,” he says. “It’s about working with biology, not against it.”
Resilient Soils, Resilient Farms
Jonathan’s experience shows that improving soil health takes patience, observation, and persistence — but the benefits are clear: better structure, stronger crops, and lower costs. “The farm performs better now than it ever has,” he reflects. “It’s been a journey, but one that’s absolutely worth it.”
Regenerative Farming: Ten Years On
John Cherry farms 350 hectares of combinable crops alongside a herd of 120 Shorthorn beef cattle, having fully transitioned his farm to a regenerative system. He is also the co-founder of Groundswell, an initiative that brings farmers together to share ideas and learn from each other. Key Takeaways: Risk reduction– Through following regenerative farming systems, John Cherry has reduced exposure to risk Trying to mimic nature – Observing how nature works and using this is key to successful regenerative farming success Introducing cattle into the arable rotation – Provides manures , which reduce the need for phosporous and potash purchases and improve soil health
Inspiration and Early Steps
John’s regenerative journey was sparked by Frédéric Thomas, a pioneering French farmer who described no-till farming as “a doorway to a magic kingdom.” “The possibilities are endless,” John reflects. “Agroforestry, companion cropping — there are so many ways to mimic what Mother Nature does. I became obsessed with how to imitate nature while making a living sustainably.”
After university, John initially tried transitioning to organic farming but found the market limited. Conventional methods were easier, but he quickly noticed his soils deteriorating. Discovering no-till farmers opened a new perspective. Early trials on a couple of fields (2009–2011) using a tine drill delivered low costs and consistent yields, encouraging him to adopt regenerative practices farm-wide.
However, John quickly realised that direct drilling alone isn’t enough. “You have to get the rotation, crop diversity, and ground cover right. Bare soil feeds nothing — the life beneath our feet is the real engine of the system.”
Groundswell: Sharing Knowledge
John co-founded Groundswell to foster conversation around regenerative methods. “There wasn’t much discussion about how to do it or share new ideas,” he explains. “Once you adopt the principles of mimicking nature, you can make progress. It doesn’t work perfectly every year, but observing and learning from mistakes is key.”
Highs, Lows, and Resilience
Regenerative farming comes with challenges. “Things can go wrong,” John admits, “but resilience is crucial. In dry years, conventional farmers can lose heavily invested, coated seeds. We simply sow a bit of seed — if it fails, the cost is minimal. Lower risk is better risk.”
Even in difficult seasons, John reports yields comparable to others, but with significantly lower input costs. This low-exposure approach has been fundamental to the farm’s success.
Transforming the Soil
The impact on soil health has been dramatic:
Increased organic matter: From 1–2% to 5–6%
Improved soil structure and water retention, providing resilience during dry periods
Rich soil biology: Soils are full of life, with strong fungal networks.
Herbal leys are grazed by cattle, which further contributes to soil fertility. The farm produces compost from cattle bedding and woodchip, reducing reliance on external phosphorus and potassium inputs. “The fungi make nutrients available,” John explains. “I let the plants tell me the health of the system.”
Looking Forward
John emphasises the importance of observation, experimentation, and mimicking natural systems. “Our soils give back what we put in. It’s satisfying, low-risk, and profitable — and it works for the long term.”
Plant Nutrition Station: Diagnostics and Low-Input Management
Tim Parton (a plant biology-focused farmer since 2012) and Anthony Ellis reinforced the regenerative theme, focusing on precise diagnostics and the minimisation of chemical inputs to control disease. Key Takeaways: Dangers of applying nitrogen in large “dollops” – This is the biggest cause of plant disease, often leading to the need for follow on fungicide treatments Benefits of grazing crops over winter – Sheep grazing can reduce the need for fungicides Enhanced and balanced soil biology pays off – for arable crops equal ratios of bacteria to fungi is ideal
The Role of Diagnostics and Nitrogen
Nitrogen (N) Risk: Both farmers noted that excessive Nitrogen application, particularly in large ‘dollops,’ is the biggest cause of disease, often forcing the subsequent use of fungicides. Applying amino acids is used to save the plant energy needed for N uptake.
Sap Testing: Tim performs sap testing every 10 days (costing £26 per sample in bulk) to monitor plant nutrient status by comparing old and new leaves. The results directly inform his application of foliar feeds, which are preferred over granules in dry conditions.
Disease Management: Anthony’s trial confirmed that sheep grazing was the best fungicide, and combining this with diverse genetics and targeted nutrition achieved a 30% reduction in disease compared to a conventional agronomy plan.
Soil Biology and Input Strategies
Fungi-to-Bacteria Ratio: While many soils are bacteria-dominant, the goal is a balanced 1:1 fungi to bacteria ratio, as fungal networks are key for cereal crops and thrive without tillage. Trichoderma is noted as a strong, pest-eating fungus.
Composting: Tim makes his own compost, preferring Victorian composting (monitored with a microscope) over the Johnson Su method.
Nutrient Support: Increasing silicon levels helps strengthen cell walls and wax layers on leaves, proving effective against yellow rust. Fish hydrolysate and molasses are applied via the drill tank, and the farmers noted that Phosphorus (P) does not leach unless allowed to.
Observation: The system relies on observing nature—for example, docks suggest a Calcium shortage, and fungal soils attract brambles.
Cover Crops and Profit
Cover Crop Management: Tim likes mixes like Kings Super 10 (ideally seeking a 20-species mix). He manages competition for spring barley by rolling cover crops in cold weather or using a crimper roller in warmer conditions before drilling.
System Goal: The overarching principle is to farm regeneratively, maximizing profit without taking into account externalities (i.e., achieving a premium return) and restoring the soil.
Experimentation: what will work on my farm?
Tim emphasized the need to experiment and try new things, stating that he “tried everything in the garden first, and if it worked, I’d do it on the farm”. Anthony added that he would “try things on one field first” to minimise risks.
FCT’s Hannah Jones highlighted that a lot of agricultural science takes lots of replication across many field sites but that farmers need to decide what evidence they need of something working. For many, with a well-designed field trial, seeing the difference visually between the crop on their own farm can be enough to try something on a bigger scale.
If you would like to speak to us about how you can adapt these practices for your farm business please contact FCT on info@farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk or phone us on 07541 453413
Farm Net Zero is a major project from the farming community in Cornwall to show the contribution that agriculture can make to achieving net zero. Here’s content from the latest newsletter, sent the farmers, growers and the wider community this project supports.
Groundswell
It was lovely to see some of the FNZ farmers and project staff enjoying Groundswell this year. Well done to those who spoke at various sessions throughout the conference. We were also pleased to provide tickets for a group of new agriculture graduates from Duchy College to attend.
Duchy College graduates at Groundswell
Maize Field Lab featured at Groundswell
The FNZ Maize Field Lab was featured at Groundswell in the “Beneath the Surface” session to an audience of roughly 80 people. FNZ farmer Malcolm Barrett talked about his farm trials, looking at different maize establishment practices (comparing light discing with direct drilling against strip tilling).
He explained that his overall aim to move away from ploughing is to produce a good crop with fewer inputs, and explained how they’d already reduced their fertiliser use by 65% as a result. His motivation for taking part in the field lab: “We wanted reassurance that what we’re doing is working for the farm and for the soil”.
Professor Will Blake of the University of Plymouth (the field lab researchers) explained how useful the trial has been for informing their research into soil: “It’s been fantastic for us to collaborate as it’s enhanced our understanding of how these sensors work”. The final report for the trial will be available soon on the Innovative Farmers and FNZ website.
Monitor Farm Update
We are getting stuck into the final set of FNZ soil sampling and carbon footprinting. It is very exciting to see the changes on farms since the start of the project back in 2021, both above and below ground. It has also been heartening to hear how many of the project farmers are keen to carry on with the project in some form.
Please make sure you have arranged a visit with your FNZ contact and can provide the carbon footprint data during August.
Events
It has been an action-packed time for events over the last couple of months, with some excellent, well-attended events on a range of topics:
Royal Cornwall Show 5-7th June 2025
We were pleased to be at the Royal Cornwall Show again this year, sharing a stand with the Agri Carbon Kernow project at the Cornwall Council’s Farming, Food & Nature Hub.
It was a great opportunity for us to meet with farmers, other organisations and the public, to share our knowledge and experiences gathered through the course of the project. A big thank you to everyone who supported on the stand. It was great to see so many monitor farmers drop in to the Hub and well done to those who spoke on the panel sessions.
Treway Herbal Ley Revisit 12th June 2025
We returned to Treway Farm, courtesy of FNZ monitor farmers Will and Kate Martin, to visit the Farming in Protected Landscapes “Herbal Ley Enhancement Network” trial plots as they become more established. It was interesting to see that the best establishment was in plots where either there was greater soil disturbance or the existing sward was sprayed out.
A fascinating meeting at Arbor Farm, St Columb on the benefits of trees on farms. The hot weather made it abundantly clear that trees will provide valuable shade and shelter for livestock, maintaining their health and welfare. Steve Evans of Arbor Farm led a practical discussion on how to integrate trees on the farm, with lots of useful tips on successful establishment, including the importance of hedge laying.
An opportunity to visit FNZ Demo Farmer, Anthony Ellis, at Pensipple Farm, and learn about his ongoing experiments with biological inputs on cereals. We had excellent discussions with microbiologists from the University of Exeter, who provided insight into the function of biological products which Anthony has been using instead of conventional sprays. The purpose of this trial is to reduce inputs and costs whilst maintaining a healthy plant, supported by healthy soil.
We also heard how Anthony is integrating sheep into the system by grazing the wheat crop in late winter to successfully remove diseased leaves and how willow is being used as a sheep feed supplement.
The Role of Habitats in Farm Carbon Footprinting at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland 18th July 2025
As part of our programme of events for professionals that support farmers, we held a well-attended day for ecologists on the positive contribution that farm habitats can play in improving a farm’s carbon balance.
Alex Bebbington provided an overview of carbon footprinting. Anthony Ellis gave a farmers’ perspective, with data from his farm. While Stefan Marks from FCT used the college farm to demonstrate the sequestration potential of natural capital. RBS director Robin Jackson demonstrated some of the important considerations when planning and implementing the natural capital developments at the college. After lunch, Gemma Eales (Duchy College) and Zoë Smith (WRT) gave an excellent guided tour of the college’s tree planting programme and network of leaky dams.
Joel Williams at Prideaux Walled Garden 22nd July 2025
We were extremely fortunate to host internationally renowned plant and soil health educator Joel Williams for an evening meeting and dinner at Prideaux Walled Gardens, courtesy of FNZ monitor farmers Martha Prideaux-Brune and Emma Restorick.
Joel gave a fascinating presentation about different soil organic matter fractions, their role in carbon storage and the mechanisms by which carbon is sequestered into the soil. Many thanks to FNZ demo farmer Mike Roberts for inviting and hosting Joel and for making the event happen. We will be producing a factsheet full of information garnered from Joel during the evening.
Citizen Workshop: An Introduction to Ecology and Nature Recovery in the Westcountry 2nd July 2025
As part of the community outreach programme, the Westcountry Rivers Trust hosted a workshop at Woodland Valley Farm near Truro, attended by 23 people keen to learn about ecological processes, nature recovery and farming’s role in restoring biodiversity.
Budding Nature explained the importance of food webs and how gardeners and consumers can help ‘re-nature’ green spaces. Chris Jones then led a tour showing how agro-forestry and mob grazing have boosted grassland diversity, with abundant butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife thriving alongside the beef herd.
The visit concluded with a walk through the beaver enclosure, where wetlands created by the animals support rich biodiversity and enhance the farm’s water resilience. A successful and inspiring event.
Our work has also reached wider audiences: Innovative Farmers has shared films of FNZ research driven by farmers’ questions, while Andrew Brewer of Ennis Barton is contributing to the Future of Food exhibit at the National Science Museum, with his role fully recognised in shaping the vision for food.
And coming soon, Emma Restorick and Martha Prideaux-Brune will appear on Gardeners’ World to share their work on regenerating a walled garden, composting and soil health. We don’t yet know when it will air, so keep an eye out!
Resources
New resources are always being added to our resources page, with some of the most recent here below:
Field Labs: to read more about the wide range of topics covered by farmer Field Labs, visit the Innovative Farmers Knowledge Hub.
What Next?
We have several events coming up, including:
12th September – Calf Rearing at Trendeal Vean near Truro
9th October – Scadghill Farm, North Cornwall, incl Tow and Fert
TBC October – Change Makers Event at Deer Park Farm
And of course, our events this year culminate in our Final Conference in November where we will celebrate the results of five years’ of Farm Net Zero. All welcome!
We’re pleased to announce the three outstanding finalists for this year’s Carbon Farmer of the Year competition, sponsored by HSBC UK Agriculture:
Catherine and Malcolm Barrett – Tregooden Farm, Cornwall. Mixed farmers and Duchy of Cornwall tenants, building a resilient system through agroforestry, rotations and community connection.
Stuart and Helen Rogers, Longmoor Farm, Dorset. Profitable, pasture-based dairy farming rooted in tree planting, soil health and biodiversity.
Richard and Lyn Anthony – R&L Anthony, Bridgend, South Wales. Progressive arable system combining cover crops, precision operations, and passion for soil health (image courtesy of GWCT Wales).
Catherine and Malcolm Barrett – Tregooden Farm, CornwallStuart and Helen Rogers, Longmoor Farm, Dorset.Richard and Lyn Anthony – R&L Anthony, Bridgend, South Wales (Image courtesy of GWCT Wales).
The final round of judging takes place in August, and we will announce the winner at the Farm Carbon Toolkit’s Annual Field Day on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, this year kindly hosted by The Pink Pig Farm, near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.
On 4th July 2025, our very own Becky Willson was interviewed by Charlotte Smith for BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today while attending Groundswell, the UK’s leading regenerative agriculture event. Becky gave a clear and compelling explanation of the evolving landscape of soil carbon markets, cutting through the jargon to help farmers understand what carbon insetting and offsetting really mean for them.
“A soil carbon credit is basically a piece of paper that is representative of one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent held in the soil through the farmer implementing a practice that is sequestering carbon.”
This might sound simple—but the reality is more complex. Some schemes involve detailed measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), often making them expensive and harder to access. Others rely on modelling—particularly in arable systems using no-till and cover cropping—to estimate the amount of carbon sequestered.
Insetting: Staying Within the Supply Chain
The key point with insetting is that the carbon benefit stays within the food supply chain.
“Rather than it going and being used for somebody else’s carbon accounting, the value of that operation that you’re doing is shared with companies further up your supply chain.”
This is especially important for Scope 3 emissions — those indirect emissions that retailers and processors are under pressure to reduce. Insetting gives them a way to demonstrate reductions while supporting farmers to transition to regenerative practices.
Becky highlighted that currently, insetting is more often framed around a regenerative outcome, rather than the direct purchase of soil carbon credits:
“What we’re seeing more, is the narrative around the fact that these goods are being produced in a regenerative framework.”
Offsetting: Selling Carbon Outside the Farm
Offsetting, on the other hand, is where the carbon credit leaves the farm’s “books”:
“The value in terms of what you’re delivering is then taken off your balance sheet and goes on to the balance sheet of the company or the organisation that is buying that from you.”
This is often attractive to companies like airlines looking to meet climate targets — but it comes with risks for farmers. If your carbon is sold externally, you can’t count it in your own net zero claims or supply chain reporting. This is why many experts, including the Climate Change Committee, have cautioned that:
“Agriculture will need all its own offsetting, because agriculture produces a lot of emissions.”
A Word of Caution and a Call to Prepare
The interview didn’t shy away from the current limitations in the market. Charlotte pointed out the lack of farmer engagement, and Becky responded candidly:
“We have seen only a few people go into it, and that’s because schemes that have been available are primarily available for arable farmers… The models often can’t cope with the complexity [of mixed farming systems]…”
But the key message Becky shared was one of preparation:
“Get a baseline. Take some soil samples so that you give yourself the best opportunity to take advantage of these schemes as they develop.”
Want to Learn More?
This isn’t the first time we’ve explored these issues. Check out our other resources on farm carbon markets:
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