Abstract
Agriculture faces the unprecedented challenge of increasing yields, whilst also conserving and improving environmental quality. Regenerative agriculture has been championed as a key way to achieve this challenge. However, adoption of regenerative agricultural practices is low in the UK with knowledge gaps and a lack of evidence on the relative efficacy of different combinations of agricultural management options often cited as the key barriers.
Therefore, there is a critical need for scientific evidence to underpin the shift to more regenerative farming practices. This thesis assessed the effects of agricultural management practices on natural capital, through soil health and biodiversity metrics, and identified interactions between natural capital metrics, as well as assessing the effects on yield to identify synergies and trade-offs with agricultural production.
The results of a long-term rotational experiment to answer this question showed that after six years, natural capital is improving under more regenerative systems however, yield is usually lower. Furthermore, regenerative practices such as reduced tillage needed to be implemented in the context of a system to mitigate its negative effects. The results also highlighted that any singular regenerative practice must be enhanced by complementary practices. Finally, for the full potential of more regenerative systems to be realised, the systems must be allowed to effectively substitute for synthetic inputs.
While trade-offs are inevitable between maximising crop yield and protecting the environment, considering multiple environmental outcomes helps us to better understand system behaviour, and ultimately identify the optimal balance of management approaches. By understanding cropping as a complex system, models can be created for predicting the system response to the multiple factors that will affect farming as our climate and food demands change. This will be of use to farmers and policymakers in guiding decisions on how to modify existing systems to reconcile multiple objectives.
| Date of Award | 9 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Sponsors | Rothamstead Research, Lawes Agricultural Trust & Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council |
| Supervisor | Jonathan Storkey (Supervisor), Taro Takahashi (Supervisor) & Daniel Enriquez Hidalgo (Supervisor) |
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