RegenZ & Zylem at Groundswell 2026

Justin and Gill Platt travelled to Hertfordshire for Europe's biggest regenerative agriculture festival, and came home with plenty to share.

This year, we were fortunate enough to attend Groundswell again, and what a privilege it was. For those who do not know Groundswell, it is the biggest regenerative agriculture festival in Europe, held each July at Lannock Manor Farm in Hertfordshire and hosted by the Cherry family. Over two days, it brings together thousands of farmers, growers and industry experts from around the world for talks, panel discussions, in-field demonstrations, and a huge range of exhibitors. Attending events like this is genuinely inspiring. Witnessing the sheer variety of people working toward a more sustainable farming world is a powerful reminder of the scale of the movement we are part of. For us, as a small South African business trying to make a big impact on the way people farm in our country, it is an incredible reminder that we are part of something much bigger.

It is a beautiful site too. Hertfordshire is iconic English countryside, and this year's festival unfolded under a hot summer sun. With an overwhelming number of things to see and people to talk to, Gill and Justin carefully selected the panels that mattered most to them, and came away with some rich insights to share below.

Scaling Regenerative Agriculture: Connecting Global Practice, Scientific Evidence and Systems Change

The opening session in the Big Top was the highlight of Day One for Justin and Gill, attending as representatives of Zylem and RegenZ. The topic, scaling regenerative agriculture through global practice, scientific evidence and systems change, sits close to the heart of the Zylem and RegenZ philosophy and vision, particularly our commitment to projects that uplift smallholder farmer communities in Southern Africa.

The panel drew on deep experience across farming, finance, science and global regenerative initiatives to explore how practical experience, scientific evidence and enabling systems can work together to accelerate adoption. Regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum worldwide, but it clearly still needs more traction to move from pioneering examples to systemic transformation. The panel's observations covered farmer education, measurement, investment, supply chains and policy, with particular emphasis on the opportunities and challenges of scaling regenerative agriculture in ways that benefit farmers, landscapes and society.

Of particular interest to us was the contribution from Manoj Kumar, founding CEO of Naandi Foundation, one of the largest non-profits in India, working with tens of thousands of smallholder farmers. These farmers receive support from soil to marketing through Naandi's Regenerative Agriculture Science programme. Kumar explained that subsidies and support from the Indian government did not extend to biologicals and were limited to NPK fertilisers, and that one of his biggest challenges is addressing and overcoming that status quo. His comments struck a real chord, since the situation is very similar in South Africa, and Justin managed to discuss it briefly with him after the session.

The panel line up, alongside Kumar, was:

Julia Bolton, Climate Smart and Regenerative Agriculture Specialist, IFC (World Bank Group)

Dr Loekie Schreefel, Researcher, Wageningen University & Research

Philippe Birker, Co-founder and General Manager, Climate Farmers

Will Harris, Owner, White Oak Pastures

One Health Nutrition: From Soil to Gut

Another highlight was a session introducing the ideas behind 'Soil to Gut' and 'Intelligent Farming'. Dr Lucy Williamson gave a fascinating presentation. A qualified vet, she spent fifteen years in a practice caring for both farm and domestic animals. As she became more interested in the effects of diet on the animals she treated, she realised her new vocation would be helping humans treat their own ailments and illnesses through diet. She went on to complete a Master's degree and now practises as a public health nutritionist, holding advisory roles across people and planetary health.

This session struck a real chord with us too, since the Zylem vision is built on the same chain: healthy soils, for healthy food, for healthy people. Lucy's studies since leaving veterinary practice have focused heavily on how soil health affects the food we eat, and during her session she shared her new book, Soil to Gut. Her fellow panellist, Tim Parton, was equally impassioned in conveying the message behind his own book, Intelligent Farming. Tim farms with biology and soil nutrition as his approach to replacing synthetic inputs. Together, it made for a genuinely synergistic and fascinating session.

A Reminder of What We Are Part Of

Groundswell always leaves us with more than we arrive with: new connections, new ideas, and a renewed sense that the work being done in South Africa is part of a much bigger, global shift. As a business, we are committed to keeping a finger on the pulse with new trends and learnings, and being part of events such as Groundswell provides so much enlightenment about things we would otherwise never consider while grinding through our regular daily tasks. Whether it is Groundswell or a local farmers' open day, taking a step away from your desk and out into the open to learn from others could not be more important for growth. So here is your cue to get out there.