Beyond production: working with nature to strengthen food security
Longhorn cattle restoring soil and biodiversity at Sleight Farm Habitat Bank, delivering Biodiversity Net Gain through sustainable grazing.
Food security depends on more than farms, yields and supply chains. It depends on healthy land.
Soil, water and biodiversity form the foundation of food production, and when ecosystems decline, farming becomes more exposed to disruption. Recent government assessments have highlighted how biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are now recognised as risks to food and water security, with implications for long-term stability.
There is also reason for optimism. Across the UK, farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative approaches that rebuild soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce exposure to shocks. These approaches were a major focus at the 2026 Oxford Real Farming Conference, where practical, nature-led solutions were shown to be taking root on the ground. These practices are proving that productivity and nature recovery can go hand in hand.
BNG is becoming an increasingly important tool in this transition. By supporting the creation and long-term management of habitats alongside working farmland, BNG helps improve soil structure, water retention and ecosystem function across the wider landscape. Healthier soils and more diverse habitats support pollination, natural pest control and water regulation - all critical to stable food production.
For landowners, BNG can also provide a reliable income stream that helps offset the short-term costs of transitioning away from more intensive practices. By reducing financial risk, it gives farmers the confidence to invest in soil health and nature-positive management while maintaining long-term economic resilience.
The benefits extend beyond the farm gate. Restored habitats slow runoff, healthier soils absorb and hold more water, and well-managed landscapes reduce flood risk - protecting productive land, stabilising yields and reducing disruption to food supply chains as extreme weather becomes more frequent.
By working with nature, through regenerative farming supported by BNG, we can build landscapes that are both productive and resilient, strengthening food security while restoring the natural systems it depends on.
Where risk is recognised, action is growing. With nature at the centre, we are better placed to protect both our food and our environment.
