Since 2011, Soils for Life has been publishing case studies of farmers’ inspiring stories of transition from conventional farming practice to regenerating their soils and landscapes and to share learnings and insights of innovative, adaptive approaches to agricultural land management.

Each Soils for Life case study is an interwoven story supported by evidence about how the land has changed the land manager and how the land manager has changed the land. The case studies focus on ecological, social and economic factors and change, particularly looking at the importance of peer-to-peer support.

Through these case studies we have been demonstrating broad principles for building natural capital (as well as building profitability and resilience) but also demonstrating that adaptive approaches informed by the local context and conditions is crucial.

Robust assessment and analysis

To prepare the case studies, we draw on the farmers’ expert knowledge of their landscape, observations, published and unpublished research, and data collection, including our own interviews, soil testing and economic analysis. Our case studies are developed using a robust, professional methodology by a team of ecologists, soil scientists, social scientists and researchers. They provide evidence of how land management innovators are achieving productivity, environmental, economic and social outcomes through regenerating soils and landscapes.