First Milk In-Tents Talks

Carbon from the ground up

Can regenerative farming really put more carbon back into the soil?

Recorded live at Groundswell 2026, Mark Brooking, regenerative farming expert and former Chief Impact Officer at First Milk, is joined by Annie Leeson, CEO and co-founder of Agricarbon, to explore why measuring soil carbon matters and what the latest evidence is beginning to tell us.

Six years ago, First Milk and Agricarbon began working together to build a robust baseline for soil carbon across First Milk farms. Now, following the first remeasurement work, they’re starting to see how those soils have changed alongside the adoption of regenerative farming practices.

Mark and Annie discuss the initial results from three farms, where soil carbon increased over the measurement period, and why expanding that evidence base will be important in understanding the relationship between regenerative farming practices and carbon sequestration.

They also explore why soil carbon matters beyond carbon itself, from water-holding capacity and drought resilience to nutrients and nature, and how better measurement could ultimately help farmers demonstrate the impact of the changes they are making on farm.

Whether you're a farmer, adviser or simply interested in the evidence behind regenerative agriculture, this episode offers a fascinating look at what happens when we start measuring change beneath our feet.

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What does it look like when nature becomes part of the farming system, rather than something confined to the field edges?

Recorded live at Groundswell 2026, Lee Truelove, Director of Regenerative Farming at First Milk, is joined by Professor Richard Pywell from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to explore how biodiversity can be integrated into productive dairy farming.

Together, they discuss new work taking place across six First Milk farms to measure biodiversity and build a clearer picture of the wildlife supported by regenerative dairy systems. From birds, bats and pollinators to dung beetles and moths, the aim is to understand which species can tell us most about the health and functioning of the farm ecosystem.

The conversation also explores the technology being used to gather evidence, including acoustic monitoring and autonomous moth traps, and why repeatable, science-led monitoring is so important for understanding whether biodiversity is increasing over time.

With rare bee species already being recorded on First Milk farms, Lee and Richard discuss the opportunities for dairy farming to support nature within the productive landscape, and why robust evidence could help farmers, customers and consumers better understand its impact.

Whether you're a farmer, adviser or simply interested in the relationship between food production and nature, this episode offers a fascinating look at what we can learn when we start measuring the biodiversity already present on our farms.

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What will it take to improve water quality while building more resilient farming businesses?

Recorded live at Groundswell 2026, Lee Truelove, Director of Regenerative Farming at First Milk, is joined by Ric from the Cleddau Partnership to explore the challenges facing water quality and why farmers and local communities need to work together to address them.

Together, they discuss what water monitoring is telling us about the health of the Cleddau catchment in West Wales, and how First Milk’s approach to nutrient footprinting and water risk mapping is helping build a clearer picture of where action can make a difference.

From building trust between farmers and communities to tackling nutrient losses in ways that work for both the river and the farm business, the conversation explores why collaboration is essential if lasting improvements are to be made.

Ric also shares his vision for what success could look like: healthier rivers, more profitable and resilient farms, greater recognition for farmers making positive changes and, ultimately, an approach that could provide a model for other catchments.

Whether you're a farmer, adviser or simply interested in the future of our rivers and food system, this episode offers a practical look at how farming and communities can work together to improve water quality.

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What does resilience look like beyond the farm gate?

Recorded live at Groundswell 2026, Leona McDonald, Director of Regenerative Partnerships at First Milk, is joined by Emily West, Sustainability Manager for Nature and Animal Welfare at Ocado Retail, to explore the role retailers and consumers can play in building a more resilient food system.

Together, they discuss what resilience means from a retailer’s perspective, from maintaining quality and availability in the face of climate shocks to responding to the sustainability issues that matter most to consumers, including water, nature and animal welfare.

From connecting customers more closely with where their food comes from to sharing risk across the supply chain, the conversation explores why collaboration between farmers, suppliers and retailers is so important in creating meaningful, long-term change.

Emily also reflects on how her first year in retail has changed the way she thinks about food, and the complexity, care and passion behind getting it from farm to plate.

Whether you're a farmer, adviser, retailer or simply interested in the future of food, this episode offers a valuable perspective on how resilience can be strengthened right across the supply chain.

Like this episode? Subscribe to ensure you never miss out. Want to find out more about First Milk and its regenerative agriculture approach? Visit www.firstmilk.co.uk

What does it take to build a resilient dairy supply chain?

Recorded live at Groundswell 2026, Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive of First Milk, is joined by Dr Emma Keller from Nestlé and Fay Cooke from Yeo Valley to explore why long-term partnerships are becoming essential to the future of farming.

Together, they discuss how collaboration across the supply chain is helping farmers navigate climate change, market volatility and changing consumer expectations, while creating the confidence to invest in regenerative farming practices.

From sharing risk and reward to generating the evidence needed to prove the value of regenerative agriculture, this conversation explores why the future of dairy depends not just on innovation - but on working together.

Whether you're a farmer, adviser, retailer or simply interested in the future of food, this episode offers practical insights into what it takes to build resilient farming businesses and food systems.

Like this episode? Subscribe to ensure you never miss out. Want to find out more about First Milk and its regenerative agriculture approach? Visit www.firstmilk.co.uk