Groundswell proves regenerative agriculture has arrived at the top table of politics

As the CLA moves through the annual agricultural show season, meeting members and politicians at events across England and Wales, one gathering stood out this year for the political attention it attracted. Groundswell, the festival dedicated to regenerative agriculture and soil health, has grown from a niche gathering into a genuine fixture on the political calendar. This year, the CLA used that platform to secure a run of high-level engagements underlining both the rising political currency of regenerative farming and the CLA's standing as business organisation government turns to.

CLA President Gavin Lane and Chief Executive Bella Murfin met with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who set out her thinking on business taxation. Mrs Badenoch was clear that she wants rural businesses to benefit from the Conservatives' economic plan should they return to power, and spoke about removing planning barriers holding back growth in the countryside. The CLA continues to fight against the UK Government’s reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief and has been working to ensure the Conservatives commit to a full reversal on this policy

Shadow Defra ministers Victoria Atkins and Robbie Moore also joined a public session with the CLA – a substantive, constructive discussion focused on the issues rather than soundbites.

What marked this year out was the breadth of engagement. On the Government side, the CLA held a roundtable with Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds, with Gavin Lane representing members directly. A further roundtable brought together new Farming Minister Stephen Morgan and senior Defra officials, who asked to hear from "real farmers" – a request the CLA answered with case studies from across the membership. Pleasingly, ministers raised the same priorities the CLA had highlighted at the Royal Norfolk Show the previous week: the future of SFI and ELM schemes, the need for certainty, planning reform, and water management.

Climate Change Minister Katie White met with the CLA and rural business representatives, where the case was made that rural businesses are part of the solution to the climate challenge, not just affected by it.

The EFRA Select Committee was well represented too. Chair Alistair Carmichael hosted a breakfast, followed by a roundtable with committee members Sarah Bool, Terry Jermy and Ben Goldsborough – a valuable chance to put member concerns directly to those scrutinising Government policy.

Engagement extended beyond the two main parties: Susan Barton, the Green Party's rural policy adviser, met the CLA, building on recent conversations with Westminster leader Ellie Chowns and deputy leader Rachel Millward.

The CLA also continued building its relationship with Alan Laidlaw, the Tenant Farming Commissioner, discussing the importance of open communication between landlords and tenants.

A few years ago, it would have been unusual to see a Leader of the Opposition, a Secretary of State, a government minister, a select committee chair and a rival party's adviser all engaging seriously with a festival built around soil health. This year, Groundswell drew all of them – clear proof that regenerative farming is now a mainstream political priority, and a reminder of the value of the CLA being present and prepared at every level of political engagement.