Earlier this week, Anthony held a Westminster Hall debate on Regenerative farming and tackling climate change, restoring nature and producing nutritious food. As Conservative Environment Network Regenerative Agriculture Champion, Anthony is passionate about encouraging sustainable farming methods.
Over the last two years since I've been elected, I've been fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time with the farmers of Totnes and South Devon. In doing so, I've noted the manner and method and the diverse ways in which many of them now farm. Some use the practices of the generations before them, a hyper-intensive farming regime...Others have changed and adopted an organic farming model...Then there are those who have long recognized and understood the need to return their land entirely to a more balanced and natural state of affairs.
During the debate, Anthony discussed the new ELM scheme, the need for British farming to address climate change, upskilling farmers and the practice of regenerative agriculture:
Simply put, regenerative agriculture is producing food while restoring the land, and it consists of the following five principles. First, that soil should not be disturbed. Second, that soil surface should be covered. Third, that keeping living roots in the soil. Fourth, growing a diversity of crops and ending monoculture crops. And finally, fifth, bringing grazing animals back onto the land through mob stocking processes.
Watch Anthony's speech above or watch the full debate here.