The Practicality and Profitability of Multispiecies Cropping

We're testing a new way of growing crops that could boost farm resilience, improve soil health, and cut reliance on inputs. While planting a mix of different species together is already used for forage and cover crops, it's rarely if ever practised in combinable crops.

Our trial will grow a mix of 9-10 species (including cereals, legumes, and companion crops) alongside single-species plots for comparison. We'll be asking: Can mixed cropping work with normal farm equipment? Can the harvested grains be separated for human food and livestock feed, or used whole to increase homegrown protein? Does it improve soil health, reduce inputs, and increase profitability?

The project will run across three farms, both organic and conventional. We will start with a spring crop, and then test further, taking on board any lessons we've learnt, with an autumn sown crop for harvest in 2027\. Along the way, we'll share practical advice and technical notes alongside more detailed, robust reports. We will also be hosting three on-farm events, so other farmers can see multi-cropping in action and share their views.

This is about finding real-world solutions that work for farmers, the environment, and the future of UK food production.