First Milk is setting out how regenerative farming can secure food production, support nature and build greater trust - and why credible outcome data is essential to show what is genuinely changing on farm.

 

The farmer-owned co-operative has today published a new white paper, From principles to proof: why measurable outcomes matter in regenerative dairy, setting out why regenerative farming must move beyond practice adoption and be understood as an operating model for resilient food production.

 

First Milk launched its regenerative farming programme in 2021, which has developed into one of the UK's largest farmer-led regenerative programmes, involving around 700 dairy farmer members across Great Britain.

 

Five years on, its programme now includes farm-level regenerative scoring, digital field mapping, intervention recording and a member payment structure that recognises regenerative performance. First Milk is also working with independent specialists to measure and evidence outcomes, including Agricarbon on direct soil carbon sampling, Farm Carbon Toolkit on farm carbon and nutrient footprinting, Kingshay on animal welfare and resilience data, Senus on water risk mapping, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology on biodiversity monitoring and ecological analysis.

 

Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive of First Milk, said:

 

"Regenerative farming has huge potential to build resilience, strengthen trust and create value across the food chain. To realise that potential, we need credible evidence of outcomes, not just lists of practices.

 

"At First Milk, we are already working with our members and independent specialists to measure and evidence what is changing on farm, from soil carbon and water risk to biodiversity and animal welfare. That evidence is helping us understand where progress is being made, where further investment is needed, and how partners can work with our farmers to drive change."

 

The white paper calls for longer-term partnerships between farmers and supply chain partners, using outcome data to guide investment, share risk and reward progress. It says this is how regenerative farming moves from ambition to proof, building supply chain resilience, allowing customers and consumers to make informed choices, and creating value across the food chain.