One of JPIT’s Six Hopes is for ‘a planet where our environment is renewed‘.
As part of our preparation for the Climate Coalition’s Mass Lobby on the 9th of July we invited Sarah Hulme (Rural Mission and Ministry officer for the Methodist Church) and Matt Jeffrey (CEO of the Arthur Rank Centre) to reflect on the links between environmental renewal and regenerative agriculture. The Arthur Rank Centre will be hosting a stand at the climate lobby in Westminster, seeking to create a welcoming space for dialogue between farmers, agricultural communities, and those passionate about tackling the climate crisis.
Too often, conversations around farming and climate become polarised, but we believe there is more that unites us than divides us. By bringing people together, we hope to nurture understanding, share stories of regenerative practices already happening in our countryside, and inspire collective action for a healthier, more resilient future.
Creation care is mission
In the opening chapters of Genesis, we are given an image of humanity’s vocation: to be partners in God’s creation. Genesis 2:15 tells us, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” We are not owners, but partners sharing in the care of a world that reflects God’s glory, central to our identity as image-bearers of God.
Creation care is justice
Creation care is inseparable from justice. Climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect people around the world who are made vulnerable by their lived experiences of poverty. Regenerative agriculture, by promoting biodiversity, soil health, and local food systems, contributes to food security and economic resilience. It embodies the biblical vision of shalom—a holistic peace where relationships between God, humanity, and the earth are restored. The prophet Isaiah envisions a time when “the desert will bloom” (Isaiah 35:1), a poetic image of ecological renewal. In participating in this work, we become co-labourers with God in the healing of creation.
Creation care is hope
Regenerative agriculture is a defiant act of hope. In a world facing ecological crisis, it is a tangible expression of the resurrection promise — that death does not have the final word and depleted lands can be brought back to life. Every compost pile, every cover crop, every restored watershed becomes a signpost of the Kingdom of God breaking into the present. As Christians, we are called to live in anticipation of the new creation (Revelation 21:1–5).
For those of us in Britain who don’t have a daily direct connection with the soil and all the challenges around food production in this ever more unpredictable climate, we do still have personal responsibilities around our choices and spending. We also have a voice that can join with others and lobby for change. July 9th is one such opportunity. We’d love to encourage you to ask your local MP to commit to restoring nature for a safer, healthier future. Lobbying for adequate funding for regenerative agriculture is one way we can embody that future now—by taking seriously our vocation as co-stewards of creation and advocating for those in the fields cultivating life in the soil on our behalf and for a healthier future.
What is Regenerative Agriculture? Five Core Principles
- Minimise Soil Disturbance
Avoid ploughing; instead, techniques like no-till drilling place seeds directly into existing soil, helping capture carbon, improve water filtration, and maintain soil integrity.
- Keep Living Roots
Living roots create communication channels through which nutrients and vital agents can travel, keeping the soil community connected and alive.
- Promote Diversity
Crop rotations and companion cropping introduce a variety of root structures and plant relationships, improving soil health and increasing yields.
- Protect the Soil Surface
Bare soil is vulnerable to erosion by wind or rain; cover crops shield and anchor the soil, preventing its loss and preserving nutrients.
- Integrate Livestock
Well-managed grazing mimics natural systems, stimulating root growth and enriching the soil with organic matter, which feeds countless micro-organisms.
A prayer
Creator God, help us to be faithful partners in your world. Inspire us to work for justice, care for creation, and sow seeds of hope. May we live as people who anticipate the new creation, working together for a restored earth where your shalom reigns. Amen.
If you’re looking for practical ways to engage your church or community in this work, the Arthur Rank Centre offers resources and ideas to support farming communities and equip churches in caring for creation.