The Groundswell festival, often dubbed the “Glastonbury of the farming world,” is rapidly becoming a pivotal event for those in the agriculture and food value chain. This year, the festival’s focus on regenerative agriculture attracted a diverse audience, including farmers, investors, and health professionals, all eager to explore sustainable farming practices. Alessia Lenders, Head of Impact at SLM Partners, shares insights from the event, emphasizing the growing importance of regenerative agriculture for investors and the broader agricultural community.
One of the standout discussions at Groundswell revolved around Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits. These credits offer farmers a potential new revenue stream by rewarding positive environmental outcomes. However, as highlighted in several sessions, the journey to integrating BNG into farm businesses is fraught with challenges. Experienced farmers, advisors, and legal and financial experts shed light on the complexities involved. Transitioning an arable system to a biodiversity habitat, for instance, has proven more costly than initially anticipated. For investors like SLM Partners, understanding these costs and the long-term maintenance required is crucial. While BNG credits share similarities with carbon credits, both aiming to reward environmental stewardship through market-based mechanisms, they necessitate careful consideration and strategic planning.
Another significant theme at Groundswell was the intersection of agriculture, health, and nutrition. Increasing evidence supports the notion that healthy soil leads to healthy plants, which in turn contribute to healthier people. This connection has brought doctors into the regenerative agriculture conversation, highlighting the potential health benefits of food grown in healthy soil. Research indicates that regenerative agriculture can produce food with fewer pesticide residues and greater nutrient density, ultimately resulting in higher quality and tastier products. This growing body of evidence could drive shifts in consumer behavior, creating a demand for higher-quality food and supporting the mainstream adoption of regenerative agriculture.
Resilience-building was another key topic at the festival, with a focus on the economic viability of sustainable farming practices. John Kempf, a keynote speaker and pioneer in regenerative agriculture, emphasized the importance of plant health in building resilience to pests and diseases while improving yields. Kempf advocates for an agronomic approach centered on biology and plant health, suggesting that healthier plants perform better. To achieve this, farmers need a deeper understanding of plant biology and access to tools like sap analysis and genomics. By adopting a data-driven approach to plant health optimization, farmers can make the transition to regenerative agriculture economically viable from the outset, presenting a compelling investment opportunity.
Martha Lindstad, a rancher involved with the SLM Livestock Australia Fund, attended Groundswell and shared her optimism about the future of soil health. She emphasized the need for a food system that prioritizes soil health to ensure the production of healthy food. Lindstad’s sentiments reflect the broader consensus at Groundswell that the future of farming lies in regenerative practices.
For investors like SLM Partners, events like Groundswell are invaluable. They provide a firsthand understanding of the realities of agricultural practices and facilitate relationships with pioneering regenerative farmers. As the festival continues to grow, it offers a unique platform for exploring the opportunities and challenges of sustainable farming, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and regenerative future for agriculture.