Supporting the transition to regenerative farming in the Cotswolds
Regenerate Outcomes is excited to be working with a group of 25 farmers and advisers to grow their understanding of regenerative farming practices in the Cotswolds.
The Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme (RAAP) is being hosted and administered by the Cotswold National Landscape team, with core funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes grant.
It involves a 12-month intensive programme of workshops, farm walks, agronomy clinics, facilitation training and other events to help build a regenerative farming community in the Cotswolds and allow participants to share knowledge with each other and a wider audience.
Participants will take part in an extensive array of activities, including attending the Understanding Ag Soil Academy, which is being hosted by Regenerate Outcomes at FarmED, Oxfordshire, on 13th and 14th May.
In addition they will also take part in online group sessions with farmer and author Gabe Brown and an in-person workshop with Dr Allen Williams, both co-founders of Understanding Ag.
Jonty Brunyee
The programme is being led and facilitated by agroecological mentor and adviser, Jonty Brunyee, who also farms on the National Trust’s 180-acre Conygree Farm in the Cotswolds, which is organic and Pasture for Life accredited.
Jonty began learning about regenerative farming 10 years ago during a Nuffield Farming Scholarship and is one of the UK’s regen champions.
As well as facilitating the accelerator programme he is also the co-founder of Emergent Generation, which brings together young farmers, growers and others involved in the food system to share knowledge around regenerative principles and agroecological practice.
He is also a founder member of the pioneering North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster.
‘’Regenerative farmers seek to enhance, improve, rebuild and re-connect. It starts with soil and biodiversity, then our water and nutrient cycles and ultimately our supply chains and local communities. It’s complex and deep system changes which are needed,’’ says Jonty.
“Regenerative farmers want to make a difference. Mindset, knowledge and context are crucial if we want lasting outcomes.”
He says it is important that knowledge programmes such as RAAP involve people from a range of backgrounds, diverse ages and genders and those running different types of farming operations in order to reflect the reality of the farming community and the food system.
The Emergent Generation
Jonty is also in the process of turning Emergent Generation, which he founded three years ago, into a Community Interest Company. The group now has 400 members between the ages of 18 and 35, with numbers growing every day.
“We aim to engage, empower, educate,” says Jonty.
“Yes, we’ve got farmer and grower members, but we also have young advisers and agronomists, buyers for supermarkets, vets, students, researchers, conservationists, policy makers and chefs in the network, representing the whole of the food system.
“We work to bring people together to network and exchange knowledge and opportunities and also to give people confidence to make changes themselves. We want to help give people agency and reassure them that they are not alone in these challenging times.’’
A number of Emergent Generation members are participants in the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme, with their first event in April. The programme will conclude with a regenerative agriculture conference in March 2025.
Jonty says he feels optimistic that more and more producers will begin to adopt meaningful regenerative practices across the UK and go beyond the flurry of greenwash.
‘’I meet lots of farmers and advisers who really get the deeper principles and want to go further with their practices. A high tide lifts all boats, so even those just taking one step, such as introducing minimal tillage, is heading in a positive direction,” he says.
“For deep change to happen we need to focus on outcomes and net gain across the whole farm and that is why the work Regenerate Outcomes are doing is so important.”
“For deep change to happen we need to focus on outcomes and net gain across the whole farm and that is why the work Regenerate Outcomes are doing is so important.”
Jonty will be at the Understanding Ag Soil Academy in Oxfordshire, helping to offer local context to the discussion, summarise the FarmED story and support farm-based activities.
He will also talk about the range of initiatives underway in the Cotswolds, including the Accelerator Programme, Pasture for Life, work being undertaken by the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster and the Emergent Generation network.
Join the Understanding Ag Soil Academy
Regenerate Outcomes is hosting the Understanding Ag Soil Academy at:
FarmED, Oxfordshire, on 13th and 14th May
Nafferton Farm, Northumberland, on 16th and 17th May
Book your place now.