LENs (Landscape Enterprise Networks) has today reported on the success of its fifth year, releasing key figures from 2025.
The programme, which brings organisations together to fund regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions across landscapes, has grown from one region in 2021 to seven in 2025. New regions are coming on stream for 2026.
In 2025, 16 funders worked together, including global companies such as Nestlé and Diageo, regional utilities and local governments. They co-funded more than €6.6m for farmers to implement 67,700 hectares worth of regenerative agriculture practices. 295 farms were active in the year in seven regions: East of England, Yorkshire (England), Scotland, West Wales, Northern Italy, Western Hungary and Western Poland.
This vital progress means that since 2021, LENs has facilitated more than €30m in funding commitments to farmers.
Donald Lunan, LENs CEO, says: “It is a privilege to reflect on the momentum we are building in LENs. 2025 was an important year, as we upgraded our systems and processes, and we continue to engage with and listen to our partners and farmers. Importantly, we are seeing the conversations change as the impacts of climate change become more apparent in all our regions – with a growing recognition that collaboration is key to addressing the many challenges we face, and that holistic approaches are required to build landscape resilience.”
What was funded in 2025?
LENs supports farmers and land managers as they move towards more regenerative approaches. This can involve a range of different interventions, from in field measures, purchasing of new equipment, to training and individual support. Measures help to address key risks within the region, improving the resilience of crop production; increasing soil health and soil organic carbon; mitigating flood risks; meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; increasing biodiversity; and improving water quality.
In total, there are more than 50 land management practices that funders are investing in across our regions to meet those needs. Funding goes to farmers:
- By practice, for those beginning the regen journey
- By performance, for those leading the way
- For innovation, to reduce the risk of trying something new
The innovations funding supports a real diversity of activities, supporting non-chemical measures such as livestock integration alongside technology-led interventions. Collecting evidence means that success from trials can be shared with others throughout the LENs programme.
2025 innovations included:
Mapping nitrogen status to guide more precise timing and targeting of nitrogen on wheat: using hyperspectral satellite imagery and an AI crop-growth model, farmers were able to identify under- and over-fertilised areas, helping them improve nitrogen use efficiency. This helped reduce avoidable losses and maintain or lift yield and grain quality, while cutting reliance on synthetic inputs.
Grazing livestock on wheat to reduce pesticide and fertiliser use: sheep grazing in winter wheat to remove excess early growth and reduce disease and lodging risk. This lowers the need for chemical interventions later in the season. By reducing potentially infected leaf material and naturally moderating canopy growth, it can cut fungicide and growth regulator use while also encouraging tillering and adding nutritional value, supporting yield potential with fewer synthetic inputs.
Donald Lunan concludes: “2026 has already seen positive developments – expanding into new regions such as Australia, while continuing to expand our existing regions, incorporating new sectors, including dairy, livestock and potatoes, into LENs.”
