A newly released report by Nuffield Farming investigates how regenerative agriculture could help the UK in achieving its net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) goals.

Titled ‘Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet net zero?’ this report was prepared by Welsh agronomist Chris Taylor and is sponsored by McDonald’s.

The complete report is accessible on the Nuffield Farming website, and Taylor also shared the findings during the 2023 Nuffield Farming Conference in Exeter, with a recording now available on the Nuffield Farming YouTube channel.

Nuffield scholarships

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust is a charitable organisation that offers talented individuals the opportunity to broaden the research landscape in food, farming, horticulture, and rural sectors.

Currently, they are providing two annual funding opportunities: the Nuffield Farming Scholarship for individuals aged 25 to 45 and the newly introduced ‘Next-Gen Scholarship’, aimed at those aged 18 to 24.

Taylor conducted his research in Canada, the United States, Brazil, France, the UK, Denmark, and Norway, focusing on methods to reach net zero without reducing farm profitability and productivity.

His research also aimed to ensure agricultural resilience in a constantly evolving climate while enhancing soil organic matter (carbon) levels.

In his findings, Taylor remarked: “UK agriculture is at the forefront of one of the biggest global challenges in meeting net zero by 2050. Agriculture is, however, well placed as an industry to offset emissions through sequestering carbon in soils in the form of organic matter.

“With climate change impacts being felt in the form of extreme weather patterns, the other aspect to consider is ensuring UK farms are resilient, both financially and environmentally.”

The research pinpointed the primary sources of GHG emissions in UK agriculture while identifying potential strategies to reduce their impact.

Taylor evaluated the effects of regenerative practices in regions where they have been applied for extended periods and investigated areas with similar soil types, climates, and cropping conditions to the UK to assess the efficiency and viability of their methods.

“Meeting net zero won’t be achieved via a single solution or idea but through incremental gains and an industry-wide effort. For farmers, it’s important to understand the carbon balance in their individual businesses, to give clarity and direction for changes to be implemented.

“When fully integrated into a system-based approach, regenerative agriculture offers methods of mitigating these emissions on a path to net zero.

“When setting net zero as a target for a business, we should not lose sight of other considerations, including environmental, economic and social benefits.” Taylor stated.

The 2024 Nuffield Farming Conference will take place in Belfast from November 19 to 21, and all interested individuals are welcome to attend.