This project may have limited availability or special purchase requirements. Please contact us for more info:
Regenerative Farming Practices - United Kingdom
The project focuses on supporting farmers in the United Kingdom in transitioning to more sustainable cropland management methods that lower greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil health. Core measures include minimising soil disruption through reduced tillage, leaving crop residues in place to support nutrient recycling, introducing winter cover and catch crops to boost organic matter, and improving nutrient use by cutting back on synthetic nitrogen inputs and incorporating organic fertilisers.
)
)
)
)
)
Project information
Sustainable agricultural land management
This project takes place in the United Kingdom. It runs from 2021 to 2041, and aims to deliver greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals by helping farmers adopt regenerative land management practices that increase soil organic carbon and reduce nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions. Each project instance must implement at least one practice beyond the baseline, including reduced tillage, retaining crop residues on the soil surface, planting cover crops, and reducing synthetic fertiliser use.
Together, these interventions address key drivers of farmland degradation by reducing soil disturbance and periods of bare soil, improving soil structure, and lowering vulnerability to wind and rain erosion. By generating verified emission reductions, the project provides farmers with access to carbon finance, creating an additional revenue stream linked to improved land management practices. This supports farm-level financial resilience while incentivising long-term soil stewardship. The adoption of these sustainable agricultural practices also contributes to more resilient and sustainable food production systems.
)
Key information
Intervention
Improved Agricultural Land Management
Credit Type
Carbon Avoidance & Removal
Location
United Kingdom
Standard
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)
Assessment methodology
Keystone 3.0
Sustainable Goals
Project performance
The Earthly rating
The Earthly rating is the industry-first holistic project assessment. Earthly researchers analyse 160+ data points, aggregating information across the three vital pillars of carbon, biodiversity and people. Projects in Earthly's marketplace all exceed a minimum score of 5.5/10.
){kind=icon}
Carbon
76,060
tCO2e of reductions and removals achieved
Biodiversity
~54k
hectares managed under regenerative agricultural practices during the first monitoring period
Social
3,974
farmers supported across United Kingdom
Project impact
Local impact
Positive for people
The project also addresses a range of social considerations relevant to UK farming communities. Financial transition risks such as potential short-term yield reductions and the upfront costs associated with new machinery or practices, are partially mitigated through mechanisms such as estimated carbon revenue streams and ongoing support. Communication is delivered in a locally appropriate and accessible manner, supported by dedicated personnel and continuous engagement channels, helping to build trust and maintain farmer participation.
Social dynamics remain an important factor in the UK context, where farmers transitioning away from conventional practices may experience peer scepticism or resistance to change. The project helps mitigate these risks through community-building efforts, knowledge sharing, and ongoing engagement, contributing to the gradual normalisation of regenerative practices. Participation in the project is voluntary and informed, with farmers maintaining full control over land management decisions.
UK farmers operate within a strong regulatory framework governing labour conditions, environmental protection, and farm management practices, which the project reinforces through contractual requirements and ongoing communication.
)
Good for earth
The project currently operates in the United Kingdom across 3,974 farms covering approximately 54,178 hectares of agricultural cropland. The project supports UK farmers in adopting sustainable cropland management practices intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil health and long-term farm resilience. Key activities include reduced tillage to minimise soil disturbance, retention of crop residues to enhance nutrient cycling and protect the soil surface, planting winter cover crops and interim catch crops to maintain living ground cover and increase organic matter inputs, and optimising nutrient management by reducing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use and, where relevant, incorporating organic fertilisers.
These changes are expected to generate important local ecosystem benefits within the UK agricultural landscape. Improved soil structure and greater plant nutrient uptake can reduce runoff and leaching, supporting better water quality and complementing existing UK regulatory frameworks such as the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations. Biodiversity may also benefit through increased vegetation cover and improved soil functioning: cover crops can provide overwinter habitat and forage for farmland species, while reduced disturbance and increased organic inputs can support richer soil communities of bacteria, fungi, and other microfauna. In addition, healthier soils with higher organic matter are typically better able to retain and infiltrate water, which can help buffer farms against drought stress and reduce flood risk during heavy rainfall, an increasingly relevant consideration in the UK context.
How we assess for quality
The Earthly scoring process
)
Project gallery
Project pictures
)