We know that healthy soil grows better crops. But new research reveals something more: your crops aren't just benefiting from good soil; they're actively managing it. 

The study, led by Rothamsted Research, published in ISME Communications (2026) in collaboration with CABI, the John Innes Centre, the James Hutton Institute, and Scotland's Rural College, confirms something that fundamentally shifts how we should think about crop nutrition: plants don't just passively receive what the soil offers, they actively recruit the microbial partners they need, selecting for beneficial functions from whatever native bacteria are locally available. 

After 35 years in agricultural research, I believe it’s time to rethink the idea that "farmers feed the world." In truth, a tiny fraction of edible plant species makes up most of our diet, with just 12 crops and 5 animal species dominating global food production. Much of what farmers grow feeds not people directly, but livestock, biofuels, and industry.

In industrialised nations, farmers are trapped between processors and supermarkets, who dictate prices and priorities, causing food to lose value and creating massive waste. True regenerative agriculture must move beyond marketing claims, embrace diversity, reconnect farming with ecosystems, and build a direct relationship between farmers and the public. Only then will respect for food—and for farmers—truly grow.