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The latest partnership with Nestlé and The Allerton Project aims to link up theory and evidence with knowledge and practice, to assist Nestlé’s transition to more regenerative farming. By drawing on over thirty years of research into sustainable farming methods, The Allerton Project will provide a range of learning and development opportunities, focusing on providing practical land management advice to Nestlé farmers, suppliers and staff.

Research
Partnership

Research

From Risk to Reward: Building the Business Case for Regenerative Farming

British farming is at a crossroads. Farmers are navigating rising costs, climate uncertainty, changing government support schemes and increasing pressure to deliver environmental outcomes alongside food production. Regenerative agriculture has emerged as a promising route towards a more resilient future, but one critical question remains: can farmers afford to make the transition?

From Risk to Reward explores this challenge by examining the real economic implications of adopting regenerative farming practices. Produced by the Allerton Project, with support from Andersons and funding from Nestlé, the report investigates what happens when conventional arable farms begin the journey towards regenerative agriculture and, importantly, who should bear the costs and risks involved.

Using detailed modelling of three arable farms across different soil types in eastern England – loam, clay and sand – the report assesses the financial impact of a five-year regenerative transition. Alongside the farm modelling, insights were gathered by surveys and in-depth interviews with farmers as well as consultation with financial institutions.

Alongside its analysis, From Risk to Reward provides practical recommendations for government, supply chains and farmers, calling for stronger partnerships, better-targeted support, greater knowledge sharing and a more coordinated approach to accelerating the transition.

Ultimately, the report demonstrates that regenerative agriculture is not a cost-free transition, but it is an investment in the future resilience of farming, food security and the environment. The challenge now is ensuring that the risks and rewards are shared fairly across the entire food system.

Download the report’s Executive Summary here:

Download here

Partnership

The Allerton Project has been pleased to work alongside Nestlé on several projects over the years, such as part of the EU Horizon 2020 Climate Neutral Farms (ClieNFarms) project. Since the beginning of 2024, the Allerton Project has worked in partnership with Nestlé UK and Ireland to support the organisations ambitions to embed regenerative practices within their operations and supply chain. With the aim of linking up theory and evidence with knowledge and practice, the Allerton Project has provided a range of learning and development opportunities focusing on providing land management advice to Nestlé farmers, suppliers and staff. These opportunities for knowledge exchange have been delivered in a variety of formats such as:

 

  • Training – delivered to Nestlé staff, apprentices, suppliers and customers
  • Visits and tours – including from worldwide partners
  • Farmer led knowledge exchange – delivered through events and workshops
  • Funded CSLM training
  • Attendance and speaker support at Nestlé events
  • Partnership videos and blogs
  • Facility hire – including for internal Nestlé meetings and events
  • Research partner – in a number of ad hoc projects including ‘From Risk to Reward: investigating the economic transition to Regenerative Farming’
  • Development of Nestlé farms network to act as innovation and demonstration hubs – Fieldwise Farmers

“The discussion of topics throughout the day were so insightful and passionately delivered that my overall knowledge of regen ag has hugely increased alongside my understanding of the pressures withing the farming industry. This will all help me more articulately tell the Nestlé story and be able to engage with retailers on their plans and how we can work together”.

Nestlé staff

“I really enjoyed how interactive and engaging The Allerton Project training day was, it was very discussion-based and felt like no question was left unanswered. I learnt so much about what the term ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ means and the importance of soil health and biodiversity, I feel much more confident with having conversations internally and externally about regenerative agriculture now!”

Nestlé apprentice