This report presents insights from a year of engagement with UK food system stakeholders and experts to unpick the ambiguity of Regenerative Agriculture (Regen Ag). It considers if, how, and to what extent Regen Ag could support the pursuit of local, national and international goals for the UK food system. 

This study shows China’s food system has undergone complex transformations during the last decade. Consumer preferences are shifting toward diverse, high-quality, and nutritious foods, especially animal proteins, while direct grain consumption decreases. Whereas production faces declining self-sufficiency rates, heavy dependence on arable land, and spatial mismatches between production and consumption areas.

This study estimates that combining all food system measures may reduce yearly mortality by 182 million life years and almost halves nitrogen surplus while offsetting negative effects of environmental protection measures on absolute poverty. It did this by quantifying the impact of 23 food system measures on 15 outcome indicators related to public health, the environment, social inclusion and the economy, up to 2050.

This study analysed 849 actor websites and interviewed 131 regenerative farmers across five European countries and mapped actor types, locations, sizes, and promoted themes (e.g. biodiversity) and practices (e.g. no-tillage). It found regenerative agriculture originated as a grassroots approach to farming that was co-opted by non-farming actors around 2020. But since 2021, the number of new regenerative farmers declined, raising concerns that the focus shifted from farming to marketing driven by multinational companies.

Using natural capital data from 114 farms in Australia via satellite imagery and on-ground vegetation surveys, alongside production and financial data collected, this study found high-performing livestock businesses benefit from high levels of natural capital. High levels of specific types of natural capital were associated with increased production efficiency of up to 3%, improved livestock gross margin, higher farm earnings, and higher levels of climate resilience.

Working in partnership with TABLE as part of the Reckoning with Regeneration project, Food Foundation have developed a briefing paper exploring the possible implications of regenerative agriculture for diets and food security. 

Working in partnership with TABLE as part of the Reckoning with Regeneration project, Food Foundation have produced a briefing paper on the implications of regenerative agriculture for greenwash, corporate involvement and the power dynamics of the food system.

Working in partnership with TABLE as part of the Reckoning with Regeneration project, Green Alliance have produced a briefing to explore the possible role that regenerative agriculture could play as part of the UK Government's developing 25-year Farming Roadmap.