Regenerative Farming in Ireland – A Farmer’s Perspective

What Is Regenerative Farming?

Regenerative farming has been gaining traction as a sustainable farming approach in recent years and, according to a Farrelly Mitchell report, the growth in the global market for regenerative agriculture is projected to reach an estimated value of $2.9 billion by 2030. That would represent a 15.7% increase from 2023 to 2030.. At Fernwood, we believe that this trend towards regenerative methods is a necessary response to ecological, climatic and economic challenges facing modern agriculture. At its core, regenerative agriculture aims to restore rather than deplete natural resources. Unlike conventional methods that often degrade soil, damage biodiversity and increase dependence on chemicals, regenerative farming builds resilience by working with nature not against it.

In Ireland, the need for a regenerative shift is increasingly evident. Our degraded soils, declining water quality and collapsing biodiversity indicate a food system under strain. Awareness of soil health, biodiversity loss and food waste is growing worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for a restorative approach to farming.

Principles of Regenerative Farming

The core regenerative agriculture principles are intuitive and practical. According to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, they include:

• Minimise soil disturbance: avoiding ploughing and aggressive chemical inputs.
• Keep soil covered: using cover crops or mulch to protect against erosion and retain moisture.
• Maintain living roots in the soil: preserving soil biology year-round.
• Maximise plant diversity: a varied sward supporting resilience and pollinators.
• Integrate livestock: cycling nutrients naturally and mimicking ecological processes.
• Context matters: adapting principles to local conditions.

What Are the Benefits of Regenerative Farming?

The benefits of regenerative farming aren’t theoretical - they’re visible, tangible, and practical. From the ground up, these methods help repair the damage done by years of extractive agriculture. Here’s how regenerative practices make a real difference on the land, for the environment, and for the future of farming in Ireland.

Supports Soil Health

Healthy soil is foundational. Regenerative techniques such as no-till farming, cover cropping and composting build organic matter, encourage beneficial microbes and restore soil structure. Irish soils, according to Teagasc, are often degraded due to compaction and carbon loss. Regenerative methods directly address these issues.

Supports Biodiversity

At Fernwood, biodiversity returns visibly through regenerative practices. Hedgerows thrive with bees and birds; wetlands become habitats for waders. Agroforestry and silvopasture significantly increase wildlife diversity. Such practices align closely with the goals of rewilding.

Improves Ecosystem Resilience

Diverse ecosystems withstand climate extremes better. Farms employing regenerative methods rebound faster from drought, pests or disease, making resilience a vital asset for future farming.

Supports Climate Action

Regenerative farms sequester carbon effectively, making them crucial to climate strategies. Climate-friendly farming initiatives are growing, supported by the EU’s Green Deal and increasing carbon farming incentives.

Regenerative Farming Methods

Regenerative farming isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It draws on a variety of methods that farmers can tailor to their land, climate, and goals. What all these methods have in common is that they are rooted in ecological principles, aiming to restore natural systems while maintaining productivity.

Here are some of the key methods typically associated with regenerative agriculture:

Agroecology

An approach that treats the farm as an ecosystem, integrating ecological science with practical farming. It encourages farmers to work with natural cycles rather than against them. Agroecology is particularly well-suited to Ireland’s mixed farming systems and small-scale farms, where biodiversity and long-term soil health are becoming central concerns. It’s gaining momentum through grassroots networks and training programs like NOTS.

Agroforestry

The integration of trees and shrubs into fields and pastureland. This method boosts biodiversity, reduces erosion, and offers shade and shelter for livestock. Agroforestry is well-matched to Ireland’s wet climate and naturally diverse hedgerows. It’s being promoted by environmental schemes (e.g. ACRES), and more Irish farmers are trialling native tree planting to increase carbon capture, shelter livestock, and enhance biodiversity.

Silvopasture

A form of agroforestry where livestock, trees, and pasture coexist. It supports animal welfare, improves soil carbon storage, and enhances habitat diversity. According to Agriland, “Silvopasture could be a game-changer for Irish dairy farmers, creating resilient farms that mitigate climate impact while improving animal welfare and farm economics.”

Regenerative Farming Practices

While the methods set the framework, day-to-day regenerative farming comes down to practical techniques. These are the hands-on actions that improve soil biology, enhance water retention, and build resilience into every corner of the farm. Key regenerative practices include:

Composting

Enriches soil with organic matter and beneficial microbes, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers. In Ireland, composting is increasingly used on mixed farms and market gardens to recycle nutrients locally, especially where slurry management is restricted near waterways.

No-Till Farming

Avoids ploughing to protect soil structure, retain moisture, and support microbial life below the surface. While full no-till adoption is limited in Ireland due to the wet climate and heavy soils, reduced tillage systems are becoming more common, supported by schemes like ACRES and interest in carbon sequestration.

Crop Rotation

Alternating crops in a planned sequence to break pest cycles, improve nutrient balance, and reduce reliance on inputs. This is a longstanding practice in many Irish tillage systems, and its role is being revitalised in regenerative contexts, particularly when paired with legumes or cover crops.

Cover Cropping

Planting crops specifically to cover the soil between harvests. These crops prevent erosion, fix nitrogen, and build soil fertility as well as encouraging biodiversity. In Ireland, interest in cover crops has grown as part of CAP and GLAS/ACRES requirements.

Rotational Grazing

Moving livestock between paddocks to allow pastures to recover, boost root depth, and regenerate grasslands. This is common practice amongst Irish beef and dairy farmers with some sheep farmers also realising the benefits too.

Mob Grazing

A high-density, short-duration grazing technique that mimics natural grazing patterns. It helps build soil organic matter, improves pasture health, and evenly distributes nutrients. While less common in Ireland, mob grazing is being explored by progressive livestock farmers seeking to rebuild pasture quality and improve carbon sequestration. It works especially well with hardy native breeds like Dexter cattle, which are already being used at Fernwood.

Regenerative vs Organic vs Biodynamic Farming

Organic farming restricts synthetic inputs but doesn't necessarily rebuild ecosystems. Biodynamic farming integrates spiritual elements. Regenerative farming is outcome-focused, measuring success through ecological improvements. For small Irish farms, regenerative methods offer practical flexibility and broader ecological benefits.

Regenerative Farming Challenges

Regenerative farming is challenging, involving slow returns and practical hurdles:

• Lack of expertise: much online information can be misleading or incomplete.
• Isolation: limited peer support networks in rural areas.
• Certification and market demand: absence of standards limits market premium potential.
• Initial costs: transition expenses like fencing or equipment adjustments.
• Practical management: weed control, equipment changes and management complexity.

The Business Case for Regenerative Farming

Obviously regenerative farming is good for the planet. But as farmers, we need it to make financial sense too. Luckily, despite its challenges a regenerative approach to farming can genuinely make strong business sense too. As we have already mentioned, the upfront transition may require time, training, and investment but the long-term returns are increasingly compelling.

Globally, as we mentioned earlier, the regenerative agriculture market is projected to reach an estimated $2.9 billion by 2030, representing a 15.7% growth rate between 2023 and 2030. This reflects growing consumer demand for sustainably produced food, as well as increased investment from retailers, food processors, and governments aiming to meet climate and biodiversity targets.

For Irish farmers, the business case rests on several key opportunities:

Rising Market Demand

More consumers are actively seeking environmentally responsible products. While there’s currently no formal regenerative certification in Ireland, transparency and storytelling can create brand value, particularly for direct-to-consumer or agritourism enterprises like Fernwood.

Cost Efficiencies Over Time

Practices such as reduced inputs, rotational grazing, and composting can lower fertilizer and feed costs over time. These changes may take a few seasons to pay off, but they contribute to long-term resilience and financial sustainability.

Access to Funding and Grants

Schemes like ACRES, organic conversion supports, and future carbon farming initiatives offer financial assistance for farmers transitioning to regenerative practices. As environmental policy tightens, regenerative farms may be better positioned to benefit.

Diversification Opportunities

Regenerative farming pairs well with other income streams such as eco-stays, on-farm events, educational tours, and conservation partnerships. These diversified models reduce dependency on commodity prices and create more resilient rural businesses.

Future-Proofing the Farm

As climate risks, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss increase, regenerative farms are often better equipped to adapt and recover. This makes them more attractive to insurers, lenders, and future buyers.

Regenerative Farming in Ireland

Ireland, though relatively new to regenerative agriculture, is well-positioned to benefit. Existing schemes like ACRES and REAP, alongside training from NOTS and community seed banks, are supportive structures.

At Fernwood, our native Dexter cattle are managed regeneratively, integrating virtual fencing and habitat protection. We actively restore blanket bogs, plant native trees and encourage biodiversity.

Regenerative Practices at Fernwood Farm

At Fernwood, regeneration is woven into how we work the land every day. Our goal is to restore the ecological balance of this unique Connemara landscape while producing food, supporting biodiversity, and offering guests a glimpse into a more sustainable way of life. Some of the regenerative principles that we put into practice include:

• Organic methods without synthetic inputs.
• Controlled Dexter cattle grazing for optimal soil health.
• Native tree planting initiatives.
• Blanket bog rewetting for carbon storage.
• Nofence GPS technology for conservation grazing.

Learn more by experiencing a Fernwood eco stay.

Case Studies: Successful Regenerative Farming Examples in the UK

Neil Fuller 

Neil Fuller has guided numerous UK farmers towards regenerative techniques, significantly reducing synthetic inputs while maintaining yields. Fuller’s approach underscores the value of farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer, demonstrating how practical changes can lead to ecological and financial success.

Tim Parton

Tim Parton’s farm in Staffordshire exemplifies regenerative agriculture’s potential. He dramatically cut nitrogen fertiliser use and eliminated fungicides through innovative practices, improving soil health and biodiversity. His successful Green Farm Collective initiative demonstrates regenerative agriculture’s community-driven potential.

(Source: Robbie Byrne, Nuffield Report)

How to Start Regenerative Farming: Key Recommendations

The aforementioned report by Robbie Byrne includes a number of recommendations for farmers who want to get into regenerative farming. If we were to summarise the most important (from our experience) tips, they would be:

• Regularly test soils: Monitor soil biology and nutrients frequently to adapt management effectively.
• Embrace biomimicry: Observe and mimic natural processes to manage your farm sustainably.
• Integrate diversity: Include varied crops, livestock and trees to enhance ecosystem function.
• Start small and scale gradually: Implement regenerative practices incrementally to manage risks.
• Prioritise continuous learning: Connect with local regenerative networks and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• Utilise financial support: Leverage available governmental and EU incentives to support the regenerative transition.

Funding for Regenerative Farming

The transition to regenerative farming requires investment, whether that’s fencing for rotational grazing, equipment for no-till seeding, or time spent learning and adapting new systems. Fortunately, there are several funding options and support schemes in Ireland that can help offset these costs.

Government Schemes

• ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme): ACRES rewards farmers for delivering environmental benefits such as habitat protection, low-input grassland management, and planting native trees.
• Organic Farming Scheme: For those transitioning to organic methods, this scheme provides multi-year payments to support the switch away from synthetic inputs. While not identical to regenerative farming, organic and regenerative systems share many core practices.
• EU Support for Carbon Farming? (Watch this space): The European Commission is working to establish a voluntary certification system for carbon farming. While still in development, this could eventually reward farmers for sequestering carbon through regenerative methods like cover cropping, agroforestry, and rewetting peatland.

Private Sector and NGO Support

• ABP Food Group Regenerative Trials: One of Ireland’s largest meat processors, ABP, is currently supporting regenerative pilot projects among their supplier farms. This type of private sector involvement is likely to increase as supply chains face more pressure to demonstrate environmental performance.
• Soil Health Initiatives and Seed Banks: NGOs and community-led projects such as Irish Seed Savers and community seed banks offer practical tools for regenerative transitions, including access to diverse seed varieties suited to cover cropping and crop rotation.

Training and Advisory Support

• NOTS (National Organic Training Skillnet): NOTS offers heavily subsidised training courses on regenerative agriculture, soil biology, agroforestry, and more. They also help farmers access EU-funded events, webinars, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

Conclusion

Regenerative farming represents a practical, ecological and economically sensible approach. For us at Fernwood and for many other Irish farms, regeneration offers us a way to contribute to climate action, support biodiversity and improve ecosystems while still making a living from the land.

To witness regenerative agriculture in action in the form of restored ecosystems, thriving soils and sustainable food production, why not book a visit to Fernwood? Our farm isn’t perfect, but it’s a living example of what regenerative farming can achieve.