Coaching supply chains in transitioning to regenerative agriculture

The regenagri podcast is a platform for leading industry experts to explore the future of farming and the hot topics surrounding the global movement of regenerative agriculture. To explore the subject of coaching supply chains in transitioning to regenerative agriculture in the podcast’s 30th episode, Rose Riley welcomes Matthew Ryan, regeneration ] lead at Nestlé UK & Ireland, and Patrick Barker, partner at EJ Barker & Sons at Lodge Farm in Suffolk, East of England. Regenerative agriculture is a core pillar and fundamental part of global food and beverage company, Nestlé’s net zero commitments. Nestlé is striving to have 20% of its key ingredients sourced through regenerative methods by 2025, and 50% 2030.   Matthew explains how, to achieve these goals, Nestlé is championing collaborative initiatives, such as the Land Enterprise Network (LENs) and First Milk, to encourage regenerative principles at farm level and throughout the supply chain, to help build environmental and economic resilience. Working closely with Nestlé as part of LENs, Patrick manages Lodge Farm alongside his cousin Brian Barker, an arable farm enterprise of 545 hectares, with a diverse 12-year rotation of feed winter wheat, herbage grass seed and break crops of spring barley, beans, oilseed rape or linseed. Regenerative farming principles are at the heart of the farm’s ethos, building soil health and restoring nature, while running a successful business and knowledge sharing with other farmers. The Barkers have just finished a nine-year Monitor and Strategic farm journey with the AHDB (Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board) in the UK, running field-scale trials on cost-benefit analyses of lower fungicide inputs, water quality benefits from cover cropping and biodiversity improvements from flowering strips. To learn more about our guests and follow their regenerative journeys and perspectives, visit the links below. Nestlé UK & Ireland Website https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/sustainability/regeneration Twitter @NestleUKI LinkedIn Nestlé Facebook  Nestlé UK & Ireland Instagram @nestleuki Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) https://landscapeenterprisenetworks.com/ EJ Barker & Sons, Lodge Farm Website https://ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/strategic_cereal_farm_east Twitter @The_Barker_Boys BBC Wild Iles https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0fd45w7/wild-isles-saving-our-wild-isles