Soil Association Exchange

Exploring Profitability in Regenerative Dairy Farming Our Banking for Change report, authored by Tamara Giltsoff and Joseph Gridley, found that 66% of farmers are not transitioning to regenerative systems and business models due to financial risk and the need for business model advisory. We called for flexible financial solutions, backed by development finance and social investment, to support the transition of farm businesses and food/fibre systems. Oxbury Bank Plc responded to our findings with the launch of the Oxbury Transition Facility, and we’re collaborating on further innovative financing solutions to address transition risk for all types of farm businesses. Recent work from WWF-UK and NatWest Group on the ‘Case for Transition to Regenerative Dairy in the UK’ reached similar conclusions. Tamara Giltsoff was invited to contribute our Banking for Change insights to this study. WWF-UK's detailed analysis explored the financial model for industrial dairy systems and modeled the path to profitability over a 5-7 year transition to regenerative dairy. They found that all three types of dairy farms in their study achieved profitability and resilience by the end of the transition — with the ‘extensive grazing’ and ‘housed intensive’ systems emerging more profitable. Despite profitability and business resilience, their research also highlights a ‘Fallow Years’ period — a phase where transition results in negative profitability due to CAPEX/OPEX costs and lower yields. This risk currently falls heavily on farm businesses. With recent subsidy changes and market volatility, it’s more important than ever that financial, supply chain, development finance, and social investment actors mobilise financial solutions to invest in transition. You can read the Banking for Change report here: https://lnkd.in/e4aTM6MK 🔎 See WWF’s Regenerative Dairy work here:     Insights from Sector Engagement https://lnkd.in/ePZnagUi Modelling the Transition Costs and Benefits for Farmers in the UK https://lnkd.in/eykV_T3e Path to Profitability and Sustainability   https://lnkd.in/eyUq4chm Guidance for Farming Consultants and Finance Practitioners   https://lnkd.in/eduJuE2d 

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Mars on their regenerative agriculture programme. Through their Beloved Soil Initiative, we’re supporting farmers to adopt regenerative practices and verify their impact on soil health, biodiversity, and farm resilience. Collaboration is key, and it’s brilliant to see the commitment from Mars Pet Nutrition to drive positive change. Together, we’re working towards a future where soil health is at the heart of sustainable agriculture. #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #FarmResilience #SustainableFarming Agrii Liz Franks Zsoka Ardai Richard Beauvais

In order to transition to regenerative practices, farmers need clear, practical support. We're thrilled to contribute our data-driven approach to this pilot project. 'Routes to Regen' looks to reduce risk for the farmer, increase adoption rates, and make regenerative agriculture a more viable and attractive choice for farmers. This pilot is a prime example of the value cross-sector collaboration has, and a significant step towards letting farmers make informed, confident decisions that enhance both their profitability and the environment. #TheSMI #RoutestoRegen #RegenerativeFarming #Sustainability #SMITerraCarta Sustainable Markets Initiative The Royal Countryside Fund

We’re constantly listening to farmer feedback, and a new update to Soil Association Exchange now allows farmers the ability to re-name fields. 🌾 A small change. But for farmers using the platform, field names are more than just labels. Passed down over generations, field names hold memories, family ties, and a connection to the history and topography of their land. From Pond Field, to Sheep Paddock, to Long Acre. Exchange maps can now reflect the way farmers have always talked about their land. This makes navigating a farm map more intuitive, all whilst keeping a farm’s history alive.🚜 📢 A bonus update for Farmers in England—your RPA field numbers now appear automatically, making it easier to track fields linked to government funding! 👉 Exchange farmers, log in today and update your map: https://lnkd.in/e2gj2yFF #FieldNames #Farming #SustainableFarming #FarmTech

Are you passionate about sustainability? Do you know farming and sales like the back of your hand? We’re on the lookout for someone to join our fast-growing tech-centred farming startup as a Sales Manager, working in direct-to-farmer sales. In this farmer-facing role you’ll: 🌱 Build relationships with farmers, advisers, and farming organisations 🚜 Develop and execute sales strategies to strengthen our farmer offering 🤝 Collaborate across teams to ensure farmer voices shape our solutions You’ll be working directly with farmers and landowners, seeing the tangible impact of your work on the ground. Interested? Applications close soon, so apply now: https://lnkd.in/eH3rpCUw #SustainableFarming #FarmingJobs #AgricultureJobs Abhimanyu Bhargava

What innovation is required to de-risk the regen agriculture transition? Soil Association Exchange CEO Joseph Gridley will dive into some of the answers at #SUSTAINfestival later this month. He'll be joined by Toby Behrmann, Dom Probyn, Henri Douche, Paddy Tarbuck to discuss how the insurance industry can provide solutions to help finance and accelerate the transition to regenerative, sustainable, resilient farming and food system. The panel discussion and interactive workshop moderated by Louise Butcher is for agriculture underwriters, brokers and sustainable insurance solution innovators. Register your interest in attending online or in-person here: https://lnkd.in/er8sJt_5 Better Insurance Network #RegenAg #SustainableFarming

Last week Soil Association Exchange advisor Mark Palmer lead a soil masterclass for The Royal Countryside Fund at The King's Foundation, Dumfries House. With a microscopic look at biological activity within the soils on the estate, and an outdoor demonstration of three simple tests farmers can do to asses the health of their soils, this jam-packed day lifted the lid on the amazing things happening in farm soils. Big thanks to Anna W. and Clementine Addison-Atkinson for organising such a great event. #Soil #SoilScience #SustainableFarming

The government’s abrupt closure to new applications of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has left many farmers stranded. For months, we were told SFI would be the bedrock of England’s agri-environment schemes—a reliable pathway to support sustainable farming. We were also told there would be ample warning if schemes needed to be closed (due to spent budgets). This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a failure of policy delivery that leaves farming more exposed than ever. What’s clear is that we can’t rely on government funding alone to drive sustainable farming. In her latest blog, Emily Norton explores why the supply chain and broader food industry must step up to invest in farming. Farmers cannot—and should not—bear the burden and risk of environmental sustainability alone. 🏦 Government subsidies will always be a backbone of support, but that’s not enough. 🌱 We need clear government leadership to unlock proper private finance for farming. 🚜 The food system must be fair, resilient, and sustainable—for farmers, businesses, and society. 📢 It’s time for bold action. Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/e6r6SYjj #SFI #Farming #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSecurity #SupplyChain #ResilientFarming #SoilAssociationExchange

Bringing Exchange to Life in Scotland! 🌱📲 This morning, our CEO Joseph Gridley was out in the Scottish countryside with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, talking about how Soil Association Exchange can support both 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 in the transition to more sustainable, profitable farming. But the real highlight? Hearing first hand from David Robertson, who farms at Kilbucho Farm. Having been through Exchange himself, David loved the experience —our focus on 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 helping farmers with insight and data driven action plans that drive their transition to more sustainable practices. And the 𝗮𝗽𝗽? A real game-changer. A brilliant, positive conversation and one that builds on our work with the Scottish Government already. This year Exchange was endorsed as compliant for two of the Whole Farm Plan audits - meaning Exchange farmers automatically tick the boxes for Soil and Carbon. Excited to keep building momentum! 🚜 💡 #Scotland #Agriculture #Farming David McKay

Are you ready to transform UK farming? We’re on the lookout for someone who knows farming and sales inside-out to join our team as a Sales Manager working in Direct-to-Farmer sales. If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to be at the forefront of a fast-growing tech-centred farming startup, we'd love to hear from you! In this farmer-facing role you’ll: 🌱 Build relationships with farmers, advisers, and farming organisations 🚜 Develop and execute sales strategies to strengthen our farmer offering 🤝 Collaborate across teams to ensure farmer voices shape our solutions You’ll be working directly with farmers and landowners, seeing the tangible impact of your work on the ground. If you want to make a real difference to the future of agriculture in the UK, apply now: https://lnkd.in/eH3rpCUw #SustainableFarming #FarmingJobs #AgricultureJobs