Soil Association announce partnership with the Evogea Foundation to regenerate farmland across the UK
A new strategic partnership between the Evogea Foundation and the Soil Association will seek to regenerate farmland and sites around the UK as small and medium-size farms and rural enterprises operating in harmony with nature and local communities.
The locations will be identified as potential new energy storage and infrastructure projects by NatPower which has the largest energy transition development programme in the UK. It’s committed to supporting and investing in the communities where it operates to become the most sustainable in the UK and does this through the Evogea Foundation. The community foundation funds local sustainability projects, environmental enhancement and supports job creation.
The Soil Association brings to the partnership its extensive experience of nature-friendly farming practices, farm and environmental consultancy services and measuring the impact of sustainable faming via Soil Association Exchange.
Innovative and impactful initiatives
The first collaborations will look to identify and develop potential farm locations and other sites around the UK where the partners will promote sustainability and environmental stewardship through innovative and impactful initiatives to manage their regeneration, engage local communities, and deliver environmental improvements.
Together the Soil Association and Evogea will design and deliver a comprehensive range of Net Positive Agriculture and Environmental Uplift and Biodiversity Net Gain programmes to improve local farming practices, enhance biodiversity, and foster economic uplift in the rural communities.
Soil Association Group CEO Helen Browing said: “We are excited to partner with the Evogea Foundation and to use our collective expertise on a range of innovative projects around the country focussed on delivering significant benefits for the environment, nature and local communities. These will act as a benchmark for responsible and sustainable energy infrastructure development.
“We also welcome the opportunity to manage the transition of a number of farms to regenerative and resilient practices and to create real opportunities for new entrants to nature-friendly farming.”
The team has already begun to assess the commercial viability of a number of project sites in Mowbray, Bellmoor, Teesside and Gwyddelwern belonging to NatPower UK which the Evogea Foundation is representing.
Restoring biodiversity and local ecosytems
Evogea Foundation Trustee, Gihan Hyde said: “Our partnership with the Soil Association marks a powerful step forward in restoring biodiversity and strengthening local ecosystems. By combining our expertise, we aim to scale agroecological practices that deliver both environmental and social impact. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to sustainability, placing community resilience and ecological health at the heart of our work to create the most sustainable communities in the country.”
Communities will see positive outcomes through job creation, local investments, environmental improvements like cleaner energy and reduced carbon emissions, as well as educational opportunities and improved public spaces.