Soil Health as the Bedrock:
The recent government consultation on England’s Land Use Framework[1]presents a pivotal opportunity to redefine our relationship with the land. Post WWII, land has been viewed primarily as a commodity, based on high food production needs, leading to competitive and often unsustainable practices. It’s imperative that we shift towards a collaborative land-sharing approach, recognising the multifunctional potential of our landscapes. Central to this vision is the integration of biodynamic and regenerative practices that use animals in the rotation, and stack enterprises such as agroforestry, silvopasture, and mixed cropping or market gardening. Biodynamic standards, (those outlined by Demeter,[2]) emphasise the importance of integrated enterprises to support biodiversity and increase resilience against economic and environmental shocks (see examples of our tenant farms[3] stacking multiple enterprises to build on economic and environmental health and resilience across their farms).
When reading the Government’s land use consultation, our main concern is that they still see producing food in competition with nature and farm economics. We know the opposite to be true. Restoring and maintaining healthy soils is at the heart of a land-sharing approach and aims to support nutrient cycling, water retention, and carbon sequestration, all of which are essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term food security. Food production should not be viewed as an economic trade-off but as the beneficial outcome of regenerative, low-input systems that rejuvenate the land.
The Ten Years for Agroecology (TYFA) report[4] by IDDRI demonstrates how prioritising soil health through agroecological practices can enhance farm income and food resilience. By reducing dependence on synthetic inputs and recycling biomass, farmers lower production costs and protect themselves from global price fluctuations; improving on-farm income. Additionally, agroecology –which we see biodynamic systems falling under, – delivers local resilience in diverse food production, shortening supply chains, building social community and educating the consumer. Central to this is maintaining healthy soils, which improve productivity and climate resilience while reducing input costs. As the UK shapes its Land Use Framework, TYFA’s findings highlight the economic and food security benefits of placing soil health at the heart of agricultural policy.
Guidance and Advice:
Changing practices on land is inherently complex and requires a shift in mindset that can be better supported by clear goals for specific landscapes and regions. If the government genuinely aims to put nature and food production at the heart of a green transition, the outcome of a land-use framework needs to include funding to support decision-making on the ground. Land-use will not be as effective without spatially targeted investments and advice tailored to specific soil types and local needs. Farming In Protected Landscapes (FIPL)[5] is a useful example to draw upon and needs to be extended beyond protected landscapes to scale up the transition – we also discussed this at our recent panel at ORFC[6]. FIPL funding has facilitated peer-to-peer learning, creating networks where farmers can share experiences and the successes of adopting regenerative practices and tips for local food sovereignty.
For the UK’s Land Use Framework to be effective, it must include robust advisory services that discuss not only how tailored regenerative practices work on the ground but also connect with the evidence from other farms and how certain approaches have led to improved economic and environmental resilience. In the end, farming for the future needs to bring economic vibrancy to rural Britain, and to create an attractive pathway for a generation of workers that see farming as part of their future and an exciting challenge to rural areas.
Author: Amber Lawes-Johnson, Development and Communications Officer at the Biodynamic Land Trust and Doctoral Researcher at the Royal Veterinary College.
[1] https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use-framework/land-use-consultation/supporting_documents/Land%20Use%20Consultation.pdf
[2] https://demeter.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2025_Int_Dem_bio_Standard_eng.pdf
[3] https://biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/securing-and-protecting-land/
[4] https://www.soilassociation.org/media/18074/iddri-study-tyfa.pdf
[5] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-farmers-in-protected-landscapes
[6] https://biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/resources/conferences/
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