Regenerative Agriculture to Improve the Health of Freshwater Systems

By Bay Mitchell

Last Month, experts at the British Ecological Society’s (BES’s) regenerative agriculture seminar reviewed and discussed the BES’s report on Regenerative Agriculture in the UK. The talk has inspired a topical and important discussion about the evidential impact of regenerative agriculture and how it can be used to improve biodiversity and habitats on farmland, including freshwater habitats- a precious and declining resource across the globe. 

If we take the definition of regeneration - the act of improving a place or system, especially by making it more active or successful - it is clear that this is a positive outcome for all. Regenerative agriculture is composed of 5 key principles: 

1 Minimise soil disturbance where appropriate	Fallow land, reduced tillage, rotational grazing of livestock
2 Minimise bare soil and keep living roots year round	Mulching, cover crops, undersowing, resting pasture, living roots
3 Increase diversity on the farm	Diverse cropping, alley cropping, diverse or wider, less managed hedgerows
4 Integrate livestock or approaches that deliver the same functions	Introducing mixed farming (depending on context), rotational grazing
5 Reduce synthetic inputs and favour ecological approaches	Animal manures, cover crops, better rotations, multi-species cover crops

Massey Ferguson Tractor at Bwlchwernen Fawr, the longest established organic dairy farm in Wales.

Principles 3 and 5 particularly align with the outcomes of UK Youth for Nature’s #NotSoFreshwater campaign. 

Increasing biodiversity on farms enhances natural processes that help to conserve water and soil structure. This improved structure reduces run-off of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, and so minimises pollution of waterways near farmland. 

Less chemical and physical pollution also means less eutrophication, ensuring our waterways stay healthy and oxygen-rich, providing suitable habitats for breeding fish and protected species such as water voles, otters and newts which are all threatened by loss of suitable habitats across the UK. According to Earthwatch Europe, 75% of freshwater in the UK had poor ecological health and artificial fertilisers from agricultural run-off is a major contributor to the amount of nitrate (50-60%) entering waterways. Can you imagine a future where you walk across ditches filled with thriving aquatic habitats, full of life and healthy, clear water?

Dairy Cattle at Pond Weed at Bwlchwernen Fawr.

Reducing synthetic inputs and favouring ecological approaches can help the UK reach targets of reducing pesticide use by 50% by 2050. Reducing synthetic inputs may not only benefit the farmer financially through cutting costs spent on chemicals, equipment and labor, but also improves profitability as by-products such as animal manure can be used as natural fertilisers which also add organic matter to the soil, improving soil health and structure. Organic matter in fertilisers can also improve the retention of nutrients in the soil - wasting less fertiliser and produces less run-off into surrounding areas. Currently ~70% of the UK is farmland but only ~3% is organically farmed. 

The State of Nature reported in 2023, that farming was a leading cause of habitat loss and species decline in the UK, on par with climate change. This highlights an urgent need to work with nature to rejuvenate habitats, improve threatened species populations and reap the benefits of a thriving ecological community within a farming landscape. Regenerative agriculture has proven, through many global case studies, to balance profitability with nature-enhancement and could be a major driver in recuperating the UK’s natural habitats, when given the right support (financial, educational and community support). 

The BES report states that despite possible trade-offs in the transition phase (3-6 years), in the long-term, biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by regenerative agriculture can lead to yields with less reliance on external inputs and improved soil health. In a climate that is constantly changing, and evidence of warmer temperatures, and rising sea levels globally, it is becoming more vital for land to be able to withstand and recover from climatic stress. 

Some of the UKY4N team at Pond Weed at Bwlchwernen Fawr.

The UK’s freshwater reserves cover about 5% of land in the UK (ONS), and over 1000 freshwater species (25% of all assessed species) are now listed as rare or threatened in the UK. This brutal statistic highlights the need to conserve and improve the quality of these habitats before more crucial species become extinct and their precious habitats are depleted, causing a negative ripple effect across multiple ecosystems. 

Finally, it is essential to recognise that farmers are at the center of innovation in agricultural policy and practice. Their voices must be heard and prioritised when talking about the agricultural sector’s role in meeting national environmental targets. Farmers require more support from a variety of different sectors in order to achieve our political goals, as our nation relies on them not only for food, goods and services but also for environmental management and for determining the status of many of the UK’s natural habitats. 

Introducing sustainable practices and moving towards more organic approaches should not degrade a farm's ability to maintain profitability and the overall well-being of farmers should not be compromised. Instead, they need to be uplifted and supported as integral players in our fight for a sustainable, green future.

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Our Not so Freshwater campaign is calling on the UK Government to:

1. Reduce pesticide use by 50% (volume and toxicity) by 2030

2. Create ambitious targets to restore field margins and riverside ecosystems to reduce field run-off and boost our waters for wildlife and people.

   
   

If you're a young Welsh person or have strong ties to Welsh communities, please sign our open letter to Huw Irranca-Davies, calling for stronger protections for nature and better support for farmers.

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