The impacts of regenerative farming on soil carbon, structure and biodiversity across spatio-temporal scales

Regenerative agriculture (which describes a range of soil and crop management practices, including zero-tillage, cover-cropping and diversified rotations) offers multiple potential benefits to farmers. These can include increasing soil carbon sequestration and improving soil health, including soil biological activity, and soil physical structure. These changes to soil properties can maintain and support crop yields. However, many significant knowledge gaps remain. Many regenerative farming practices are studied in isolation, but in order to meet Net Zero emissions targets and decarbonise UK food production systems, farmers will need to adopt multiple practices at one. More information is needed to demonstrate impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and carbon stocks in order to inform farmer and policymaker decision-making, and support accelerated transitions to more sustainable practices. This project addresses this challenge.