Building Biodiversity in Agriculture
Regenerative farming focuses on rebuilding soil health and biodiversity through time-tested and, science-informed practices. The principles of regenerative farming include minimising soil disturbance, maintaining living roots, keeping the soil covered, diversifying crops, and integrating grazing animals. These principles don’t just sustain the land, they regenerate it.
Together, these principles work to restore the Soil Food Web. A living, breathing, network of microscopic organisms that form the foundation of every healthy ecosystem.
PRINCIPLES OF REGENERATIVE FARMING
Minimise Soil Disturbance
This involves reducing or eliminating practices like ploughing, which can damage the soil structure, kill beneficial microbes, and release stored carbon.
Maximise Crop Diversity
A diverse range of crops can enhance resilience to pests and diseases, improve soil health, and increase the availability of nutrients.
Keep the Soil Covered
A bare soil surface is vulnerable to erosion and nutrient loss. Cover crops and other methods can protect the soil, improve soil health, and increase water infiltration.
Integrate Livestock
Well-managed livestock grazing can improve soil structure, reduce weed pressure, and increase nutrient cycling.
Maintain Living Roots in the Soil
Living roots help stabilise the soil, promote nutrient cycling, and support a diverse soil ecosystem. Cover crops can ensure living roots are present year-round.
Context
This principle emphasises that regenerative practices need to be adapted to the specific conditions of each farm, including climate, soil type, and local ecosystem.
The Soil Food Web
The Living Engine Beneath Our Feet.
The Soil Food Web is the foundation of all life above ground. It’s a complex, living network of microscopic organisms. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, microarthropods, and more, that interact in a balanced ecosystem beneath the soil surface. These organisms play a critical role in nutrient cycling. The natural process by which nutrients are broken down, transformed, and made available to plants in the right form, at the right time.
How It Works
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Soil microbes break down organic matter, unlocking nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals.
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These nutrients are held in biological form (safe from leaching) and released to plants as they need them, through predator-prey interactions within the soil food web.
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This biological cycling reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and supports plants that are naturally resilient, nutrient-dense, and flavour-rich.
When the soil food web is active and in balance, soil becomes self-sustaining, feeding plants efficiently and building long-term fertility. No synthetics needed. Just biology doing what it’s evolved to do.
Soil Life Agri Services
Building on the principles of regenerative agriculture and the science of the Soil Food Web, our services take our own lessons learned, as we transition to regenerative farming, and are designed to restore soil biology, improve nutrient cycling, and increase long-term productivity.
Whether you're transitioning from conventional methods or looking to deepen your regenerative practices, our services are here to help you build healthy, living soils and regenerate land for sustainable production.
Ready to make biology your most powerful input?
Call Philip now, +44 7384 962957, or submit an email.
