Groundswell 2025: Sowing seeds of change

These words, shared by Gabe Brown beneath the deep blue canvas of the Big Top on the final day of Groundswell 2025, resonated like a call to action. A reminder that our food choices are never far away from farming. In fact, every bite is part of a wider system. A vote. A story. One too often marked by disconnection: from depleted soil and fragile supply chains to nutrient-poor produce.

But here at Groundswell, surrounded by likeminded growers, thinkers, food-enthusiasts and changemakers, we reflected on how the narrative is shifting.

In its ninth year, Groundswell continues to grow. More than 10,000 people came together to explore regenerative agriculture, not as a fringe practice, but a future necessity. From soil health to food justice and strengthening the connection between food and farming, one message rang clear throughout the workshops and sessions: we are all part of the story.

As one of the leading voices in regenerative farming and the author of Dirt to Soil, Gabe had a wealth of insight to share. He spoke powerfully about the direct link between soil health and human health. “Food is medicine,” he said, advocating for a shift in how we value food: not just by price or appearance, but by its nutritional impact. Regenerative farming, he argued, has the power to reduce disease, restore ecosystems, and build resilient communities, all while putting real nourishment back on our plates.

“We’re overfed but undernourished,” said award-winning GP, Dr. David Urwin. “Industrialised food focussing on yield means we’re producing a lot of food, but it’s not as nutritionally dense.” His words speak to a wider crisis in the UK food system, one that Patrick Holden, founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, links to government spending. He highlighted the imbalance between healthcare and sustainable agriculture funding in the UK, stressing the need to rebalance priorities. “We need to turn this on its head,” he said.

Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show that total UK healthcare spending reached a record £317 billion in 2024. By comparison, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has committed to investing just over £2.7 billion per year in sustainable farming and nature recovery between 2026–27 and 2028–29.

Award-winning nutritionist and former Vet, Dr Lucy Williamson, echoed these same sentiments in the panel discussion, Farming for the Health of People and the Climate, earlier that same afternoon. She spoke of the importance of “thinking of ourselves as citizens, rather than consumers,” a mindset that empowers individuals to make more conscious, impactful choices.

This idea of active participation and hopeful agency was also championed by Rob Hopkins, founder of Transition Town in Totnes. “By immersing ourselves in stories of possibility, we’re more likely to create a better future. First, we have to imagine a better world to achieve it. If we surround ourselves with stories of doom and negativity, we won’t be inspired to make a change.”

As well as founders, farmers, food journalists, authors and environmentalists, there were a number of chefs speaking and attending this year’s festival. Over two sunny days in the Hertfordshire countryside, we also tucked into delicious food from friends at Hodmedods and Northern Pasta Co, as well as drinks from MOMO and Ripe Cider.

As we look back and reflect on another brilliant year, Groundswell 2025 left us feeling hopeful, revitalised and more determined than ever to, as Gabe Brown put it, “leave things better than we found them” and “sow seeds of common good”.