Did you know that almost 90% of the land in Wales is used for farming? A shift towards nature-friendly farming has huge potential to help nature recover.

Nature-friendly farming benefits both farm business outcomes and the natural ecosystem. It reduces the need for inputs (like pesticides and fertilisers) because it is regenerative and uses waste on the farm. These methods of low-input and low-waste systems improve soil and water quality. Habitats such as species-rich grasslands, on-farm forestry, and hedgerows are created and managed as land use is balanced between the needs of food production, nature, and climate change mitigation.

The Nature-Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a UK farmer-led network working to mainstream nature-friendly farming as the most sustainable way of producing food. It is a member organisation, but you don’t have to be a farmer to join; members of the public and organisations interested in sustainable food and farming in the UK are also welcome to add their voices to this growing movement, and membership is free.

The network supports farmers at every stage of their journey towards nature-friendly farming. One of the ways in which it does this is by showcasing the experiences of farmers who have adopted various nature-friendly approaches - Farmer Stories, as well as articles and reports.

In May 2023, NFFN Cymru published a report called Nature Means Business in Wales which showed how regenerative farming in Wales is making farms more financially resilient and improving the environment. The report presents evidence of an average increase in farm profitability of 42% when farms actively work with the natural environment to manage production sustainably, restore nature and cut input costs. It contains seven case studies of nature-friendly farming in practice.

Farming at the Sweet Spot, a report published by the NFFN and The Wildlife Trusts, examined how moving to nature-friendly farming can be productive and financially robust for farm businesses across the sector. The research, conducted by Nethergill Associates, looked at 165 farm business accounts and found that maximising production is both financially and environmentally unsustainable if reliant on large quantities of fossil fuels, artificial fertilisers, and animal feed. Instead, the report examined how to farm to the maximum sustainable output, which is keeping production to the natural capacity of the farm whilst maintaining profitability without the need for expensive and damaging fertilisers and pesticides.

Presently, the future of Welsh farming is very uncertain; there are a lot of changes in how public money is used to support farmers, trade agreements, and people’s changing diets. The other biggest challenge comes from climate change and the loss of nature. Our changing weather is already impacting farming, with fields flooded and summer droughts. Therefore, it is important that we change how our land is managed to help the people of Wales and farming to adapt to our changing weather. Regenerative farming does this by integrating trees on farms, restoring peatland, and managing soils that absorb carbon and slow down flood waters.

But nature-friendly farming must be recognised and rewarded with meaningful long-term payments. Unfortunately, the present Welsh Government Habitat Wales Scheme (HWS) has seen a reduction in payments. The NFFN, in partnership with the Soil Association and other farming organisations, surveyed twenty farms, which showed an average loss of 76% in support under the HWS compared to the previous farm subsidy payments known as Glastir. There is no certainty of payment for the new Sustainable Farming Scheme starting in 2025. Farmers need to have confidence in a future where their unique role in managing the land for food and addressing the nature and climate emergencies also provides for long-term livelihoods. The Wildlife Trusts are working with NFFN farms, and we are demonstrating regenerative farming on our farms and developing a network of farming champions. We know a sustainable future will depend on both farming and nature thriving together.