Agroecological and Regenerative Land Based Systems are a complex set of farming and land-based principles and practices which have evolved over time and share common principles and practices. They provide a systemic approach to addressing the issues of food sovereignty, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and offsetting biodiversity loss. They also include the social and political context of food production. In this unit, learners will understand the breadth of these methods and how their impact can be assessed in a land based business. Learners will explore the commonalities and differences between the two methods, how they can be used in combination, and why they might not be chosen in different contexts.

Learners will understand that agroecological and regenerative cropping systems are based on ecology and the carbon cycle, and the reciprocal and circular model of food production. Learners will develop an understanding of soil ecology, plant ecology, plant nutrition, livestock and human nutrition and how they are related. Learners will understand how soils can be managed to produce food, mitigate and adapt to climate change and offset biodiversity loss.

Learners will understand how a wide range of livestock can be incorporated into agroecological and regenerative systems. This includes how livestock can improve soil ecology and biodiversity. Learners will understand how livestock can be managed to reduce their carbon footprint, and to fit into complex carbon and nutrient cycles, and how to maximise livestock health and welfare in a land based system. Learners will also explore detailed management systems such as holistic grazing, for a wide range of livestock. They will also understand apiculture and functional biodiversity of a system.

Learners will develop detailed knowledge of how trees are incorporated into the farmed landscape as silvo-arable, silvo-pastoral and silvo-horticulture systems, as well as food forests. They will identify suitable tree species, and tree crops and rootstocks for different soils and sites. They will understand the benefits and challenges of using trees in a farmed landscape and understand how to design an economically viable and effective agroforestry system for a farm.

Learners will gain detailed knowledge of how effective water management on a farm can provide resilience to climate change in the UK. This will include effective rainwater harvesting and irrigation systems, as well as crop and livestock management techniques to improve water retention. An overview of the concept of the small water cycle will orientate the learner towards how these systems can effectively be used together in agroecological and regenerative systems.

Learners will explore the principles and practices of cropping systems for arable, grain and vegetable crops, and how to incorporate these within agroecological and regenerative systems.

Learners will understand the requirements of the full design cycle for a regenerative and agroecological land based system. Learners will also complete one design report. The unit will develop the learners’ professional practice within farm scale designs including developing a range of presentation skills to a range of clients. Learners will develop an understanding of the Permaculture Design Process and how to further develop their Permaculture practice. Outcomes from this unit may also be used towards the Permaculture Diploma.

Learners will understand the financial and legal requirements required to set up a new farm business, or to transition an existing farm to a new agroecological and regenerative farming business system, including rural grant schemes. The unit allows learners to understand the operational financial, legal, human resources, and marketing requirements for a new farm business, or to transition an existing farm to a new agroecological and regenerative farming business system.

Learners will understand the principles and practices of natural engagement/nature connection activities, diversification within business, on agroecological and regenerative farms, and how this can be applied in many different formats, with the legal and financial implications that this entails. The impact assessment unit will expose learners to a range of tools that can be used to measure impact across the multiple yields of agroecological and regenerative farming systems as well as practical conservation methods that can be used on a farm to increase biodiversity.

There are many challenges that affect the building of long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability in agriculture. In this unit learners will understand some of the philosophical values, social movements and political campaigns around the world that contribute to agroecology as science, movement and practice.