17 hours ago
Prince of Wales: Regenerative farming should be ‘foundation stone' of British agriculture
The Prince of Wales has called for regenerative farming to become the 'foundation stone' of British agriculture.
Prince William, 43, made the impassioned plea at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival in Hertfordshire on Wednesday.
Billed as a 'very special surprise guest', he spoke to the audience about the group's 'commitment to a brighter, resilient and regenerative future'.
The Prince made the 'rallying call' at what marked his second appearance at the annual festival, explaining that regenerative farming is 'not a fringe alternative'.
'It must be a foundation stone of British agriculture to help us rebuild the health of our nation,' he said.
It comes after the Government announced that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – which rewards farmers for managing their land in a way that benefits the environment – will be revised.
After last month's spending review, a cap is to be placed on how much money farmers can receive, which countryside campaigners have warned will threaten wildlife and damage attempts to protect the rural environment.
The Prince's speech touched on his first-hand experience since he took charge of the Duchy of Cornwall, the sprawling estate spanning 128,494 acres of land across 20 counties.
He aims to visit part of the Duchy once every four to six weeks to meet families and staff that make up the estate, including its farms and offices.
Speaking at Groundswell on Wednesday, he said: 'As Duke of Cornwall, I've enjoyed becoming closer to farmers and farming, listening and learning from this remarkable community, who are the heart of the Duchy's rural estate, and working in partnership to enhance the land we share with nature.'
He added that farming was not simply about growing food, but 'stewardship of the land, the health of our soils, the purity of our water, and the resilience of our rural society in harmony with nature'.
The Prince noted that 'too much' land had been depleted and soils degraded, while nature remained 'in free-fall'.
Citing the necessity of a 'different approach' thanks to climate change and mounting economic pressure on farmers, he called for regenerative farming as 'a movement that understands the need for more than just stewardship'.
'Regenerative farming offers a hopeful path forward, a way of working with nature, not against it, of enhancing soil health rather than depleting it, of building resilient systems that are economically viable and ecologically sound,' he said.
In the Duchy, he added, farmers are 'already pioneering the future through mob grazing, cover cropping, companion planting, agroforestry and adapted management'.
These methods mark the ongoing work of the Duchy's tenant farmers to explore innovative approaches on the road to net zero.
During the Prince's visit to Groundswell, he is said to have enjoyed learning about agri-tech and the use of artificial intelligence in farming while listening to other key speakers.
He explained that regenerative farming is 'not a single method or dogma, but a mindset' that he has witnessed 'from Herefordshire to the Scilly Isles'.
'We recognise that the transition to regenerative farming is not easy and not without risk. Farmers cannot do it alone,' he added.
'We must work harder to ensure society supports those who are taking bold steps towards regenerative practices.'
However, the Government's SFI scheme has long been on the Treasury's hit list because they believe it does not deliver value for money.
It could mark the latest blow to British farmers following the Labour Government's decision to impose inheritance tax on farmers in last year's Budget.
The Prince urged consumers to 're-educate' themselves on what they eat and where it comes from, pointing out that people must understand 'the true cost of its production'.
He concluded: 'To the farmers here today, I offer my respect and encouragement.
'You are at the heart of this transformation, yours is a profession of huge consequence and uncomplaining graft.
'If we as a society are to meet the challenges ahead, it will be by learning from the land, and those who tend it, with wisdom and humility.'
