On 2nd October (14:00–15:30 BST) we’ll host the next session in our Regen Reflections webinar series, focusing on what a Just Transition looks like in the move towards regenerative agriculture.

Before we look ahead, it feels like the right time to pause and reflect on the lessons we’ve gathered so far.

To move towards a regenerative system, we need to act now. But knowing which steps to take can be challenging.  

Our Regen Reflections webinars are designed to support members in taking the next step, whether that means starting out on the journey or tackling the next big challenge. Each session explores the actions we need to create a regenerative food system. Together, they form part of a learning journey, where we generate and share knowledge to inspire action across our community.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Data drives change.

Jon Calland (Tilda Rice) showed how detailed data collection supported carbon reductions while also improving soil health, biodiversity and pest control. Their initiative in India cut pesticide use by 70 percent while boosting yields and farmer incomes.

Broad metrics unlock multiple benefits.

Joseph Gridley, Matt Ryan and Ben Makowieck shared how using a broad set of metrics helps unlock benefits for farmers, ecosystems and the wider value chain. This approach encourages farmer buy-in while also meeting corporate needs.

Benchmarking guides next steps.

Geert Van Aelst explained how data reporting and benchmarking helped Suedzucker identify clear pathways to regeneration while reducing their GHG footprint.

On-the-ground measurement matters.

Annie Leeson and Ashley Swan (First Milk) showed how measuring soil carbon at both field and landscape level supports farmers in adopting regenerative practices while building wider supply-chain insight.

Mindset is the key.

Jess de Boer reminded us that shifting mindset is often the most important step in unlocking the full value of regenerative agriculture at farm level.

Co-creation creates lasting change.

Jo Lawrence and Sophie Gregory emphasised how working directly with farmers to design and implement regenerative agriculture programmes ensures that data and insights bring value to all, while creating change that sticks.

Looking Ahead: Our October Webinar

While we’ve learned a lot from our recent focus on results, our journey doesn’t stop here. On 2nd October (15:00–16:30 CET) we’ll continue the conversation with our next Regen Reflections session, held in collaboration with SAI Platform.

This webinar will be hosted by Rebecca Hesketh and Siobhan Bradley, who will lead an open and honest discussion on what a Just Transition looks like in practice. Together, we’ll explore how a regenerative system can be built around the needs of farmers—supporting resilience on the ground while ensuring fair and sustainable incomes.

It’s an opportunity to hear directly from voices working in the field, to share challenges, and to gather insights that can guide the next steps on our collective journey.

It’s safe to say we’ve covered a lot in just three webinars. We’ve personally learned so much from listening to our speakers and we’re excited for what comes next.

The post Reflecting on Results: Insights from Our Regen Reflections Webinar Series appeared first on Cool Farm Tool | An online greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity calculator.

As a community interest company ourselves, listening to our community of farmers, growers, and hearing what concerns them and what drives them is so important. Conversations with this community during this year’s conference often highlighted the barriers placed in the way of farmers who are trying to do things differently, including reducing their carbon footprint and creating regenerative outcomes. One of the sessions that highlighted this was on Sustainable Meat. This session gave examples of where farmers had adapted their approaches and were using animals to graze for conservation purpose or rearing animals in a way that was more suited to supporting remote and wilder regions. These farmers often hit barriers to providing this more regeneratively reared meat to their local customers who wanted to support their methods of farming, particularly through the lack of availability of local abattoirs.

As a farmer myself, I am no stranger to these barriers.

However, the discussion that were had in Oxford, just served to highlight just how many barriers we still face as an industry to minimising our carbon footprint and embracing regenerative farming systems. The discussion I attended on achieving a fossil fuel free system highlighted this further, especially when discussing the investment required to achieve this.

Whilst barriers to action were widely discussed, so were ways of bringing together farmers and overcoming barriers, particularly those related to knowledge transfer and confidence building. Another session I attended focussed on the lessons that can be learned from Agroecological Accelerator Programmes. In this session, we took a deep dive into successful regenerative agriculture programs like the Cotswold’s Accelerator and Roots to Regeneration which helped attendees to understand what had helped to make these types of programmes successful.

Conversations at the conference did not shy away from topics that are often seen as uncomfortable or difficult for farmers and other members of the agroecological movement. One session I joined discussed the impact of Cultured Meat and its consumption from a farmer’s perspective. The discussion addressed topics including the climate impact of these types of products, but also the economic, social, and cultural impacts of the changes these types of products could bring for farmers and communities.

The ORFC is a great chance to put your head above your own parapet and engage in debate and discussion around what the future of food and farming could look like if it embraces agroecological and more regenerative approaches. The conversations are at the forefront of the regenerative movement and sometimes they may draw you out of your comfort zone, however this only serves to make these discussions richer. As I left Oxford last week, there was no doubt in mind that this conference had left me with more than just a little food for my thoughts.

The post Planting Seeds of Change at Oxford Real Farming Conference appeared first on Cool Farm Tool | An online greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity calculator.

Why this opportunity matters

We are looking to recruit 28 farmers from diverse systems across the UK. By joining the project, you’ll receive:

• Receive £200/farm/year + VAT for your time and participation over two years.
• Support for personalised GHG footprint measurement using our new and improved Cool Farm Platform (CFP).
• Benchmark your farm and identify areas where you can improve your results.
• Engage with experts and fellow farmers in workshops and regional events, sharing insights and learning from each other.
• Inform policy and practices.

Your participation will involve:

• Completing two carbon footprints (2023 & 2025).
• Taking part in a short survey and interview.
• Attending two online workshops.
• Hosting a farm visit (for selected participants).

Get involved!

If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to be part of, we would love to have you on board! You can click the button below

The post Calling All UK Farmers: Help Shape the Future of Farming and the Environment appeared first on Cool Farm Tool | An online greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity calculator.