Regenerative Food and Farming - Why Philanthropy is Needed

In June, the Rothschild Foundation and the Environmental Funders Network (EFN) hosted an event for funders at Waddesdon to explore how philanthropy can support regenerative food and farming systems in the UK.

The event followed a critical announcement at COP28, to set a new global goal to transition to resilient, viable food production in harmony with nature by 2040. In the UK, where 70% of the land is used for farming, an estimated 53% of the country’s biodiversity loss has been caused by agriculture.  This could be reversed by regenerative practices.

The day included a farm tour on the Waddesdon Estate, lunch, and an afternoon of talks and discussions with funders, farmers, business pioneers, and grantees leading the change.

The event was overwhelmingly positive. Funders said they want to collaborate, to share learning and establish a strategic funding network to accelerate regenerative food and farming at scale. Several organisations are now discussing the potential to work together.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?  The team at Groundswell explain the Five Principles.

Here’s a summary of the talks.

A Call to Action for Philanthropy

Chair of the Rothschild Foundation, Dame Hannah Rothschild, introduced the afternoon’s talks, confirming its commitment to build a deeper focus on regenerative food and farming. ‘Philanthropy has the power and responsibility to seek solutions and we are here to discuss what we can do together,’ she said. 

Biodiversity and Conservation at Waddesdon

Waddesdon is at the heart of the Rothschild Foundation’s work.  Over the last 25 years, 250,000 trees, shrubs and hedgerows have been planted to provide wildlife corridors and new habitats across the grounds of the Manor and surrounding estate, which is privately owned.

Conservation and farming work together:  field margins and headlands are planted with grasses and wildflowers and a new wetland has been created, now home to over 130 bird species. Regen practices include building livestock into the rotation, to build soil health and reduce fertiliser use.

A successful mob-grazing trial for the cattle last year is now being extended.  Restoring an area of permanent pasture has improved the soil and enabled the creation of a series of newt ponds.  In May, a new Conservation Hub was opened to share Waddesdon’s sustainability work with some of the 400,000 people who visit the estate each year.

Green Grants Gap for Farming

Florence Miller from the Environmental Funders Network gave an overview of the funding landscape for regenerative agriculture in the UK, revealing a significant gap. She shared exclusive data from the forthcoming Where the Green Grants Report 9 which shows that:

• Although environmental giving has grown substantially in recent years less than 10% of green grants support ‘agriculture and food’
• And only half of this is spent in the UK
• Grants are small, the median value is under £10,000
• And large-scale, long-term funding is lacking

Alasdair MacLeod: Personal Insights

Keynote speaker Alasdair MacLeod, founder of the Macdoch Foundation, shared his personal journey into regenerative farming and the establishment of his foundation in Australia.  He believes philanthropy is needed to provide the high-risk capital which will drive change, targeting impact without expecting returns.   Their comprehensive approach sets out to:

• Build the economic case for regenerative farming
• Demonstrate that farming with nature is a viable business for farmers
• Support peer-to-peer learning and farmer education
• Facilitate market access for regenerative products
• Integrate Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge
• Create supportive global policy frameworks
• Set up mechanisms to finance the transition

Farming Today – the Existential Challenges

Charlotte Smith set out the challenges for Britain’s farmers which she sees through her work a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today.  Top of the list are post-Brexit policy changes, uncertain farm payments and high input costs which, with the severe flooding experienced this winter, have impacted farmer confidence.  To advance regenerative practices, farmers will need a clear economic case, and support through advocacy and peer networks.

Global Perspective

Patrick Holden and Adele Jones from the Sustainable Food Trust emphasised the importance of engaging business leaders and developing a clear set of common metrics for sustainable farming practices, to align international efforts to measure impact and drive accountability.

Strategic Philanthropy – Funder Learnings

       “Funders must recognise the potential of regenerative farming to achieve environmental goals and support systemic change.”

       “Public and political mandates are key to addressing the polarisation between farming and the environment – we won’t win the case through a narrow climate lens.”

       “Funding needs to be long-term.”

Speakers from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, European Climate Foundation, Aurora and Mark Leonard Trusts, and Farming the Future set out their funding programmes, which support nature-friendly farming, land use and food systems change, political advocacy,  farmer-led research and pooled funding for agroecology.

The Rothschild Foundation set out its emerging strategy to support the scale-up of regenerative agriculture through farmer networks and knowledge exchange; connecting farmers to research and innovation; and building the evidence base and business models for good practice. Building on the Rothschild Foundation’s history of convening, they also want to help bring together a larger community of funders, and ‘see if we can collaborate to enable large-scale, longer-term change programmes.’

Grantee Change Makers - Advice for Funders

       “If you don’t go green, you’ll be in the red.”

Advocates and grantees shared their experiences and learnings on regenerative farming:

• Support farmers’ voices and advocacy
• Support initiatives that foster knowledge and collaboration among farmers
• Consider funding social investment to accelerate change
• Collaborative efforts can tackle systems change
• This can’t be done without flexible, long-term core funding

The  Nature Friendly Farming Network emphasised the importance of improving soil health and integrating nature into farming and made an urgent call for funding for policy advocacy with the new government. Curious farmers come to the Groundswell Festival, to learn and collaborate. LEAP (Loans for Enlightened Agriculture Programme) seeks innovative funding for their social investment programme into regen businesses. The Food Farming and Countryside Commission has been building the citizen voice for food systems change and called for funder collaboration and investment in policy advocacy.

Greenhouse Communications moderated the afternoon discussions and coordinated the feedback and reporting for the event.