Farming for Nature Podcast

Resource explained

Farming for Nature is a not-for-profit initiative founded in 2018 under the auspices of the Burrenbeo Trust by scientists and farmers to help restore the ecological health of Irish farmland. Their mission is to “Encourage all farmers to increase biodiversity on their land, manage their land in holistic manner, provide cleaner water, build fertile soils, help mitigate against climate change, and produce nutrient-dense food that will benefit their community, their economy and their environment.” Their podcast channel set out to have “conversations with Irish farmers about how and why they make space for nature while operating a profitable farm” and has published 43 episodes between October 2018 and May 2024.

Findings & recommendations

The series:

• Focuses on farmers’ experiences of integrating nature into productive farming systems – balancing ecology and profitability.
• Explores practical regenerative and nature-friendly methods, including soil health, composting, reduced inputs, agroforestry, and habitat creation (e.g. hedgerows, ponds, wetlands).
• Covers biodiversity on farms, with discussions on supporting species such as birds, bats, pollinators, and dung beetles.
• Examines innovative enterprises, such as direct-to-consumer food systems, micro-dairies, market gardening, and on-farm processing (e.g. brewing, organic produce).
• Highlights economic viability, showing how farms can remain profitable while restoring ecosystems.
• Includes transformation stories, where farmers shift from intensive to regenerative or conservation-based systems.
• Discusses specific techniques and niches, such as biochar production, fungi in farming, upland systems, and rewilding approaches.
• Emphasises local knowledge and farmer-led innovation, often shared in a conversational, experience-based format.
• Has a broader theme of farming as a tool for landscape restoration, climate resilience, and community connection.