Soil Association Exchange Launches Spanish Pilot Guiding Growers Towards Climate Resilience
- gillmcshane
- Dec 10, 2025
- 2 min read
Supported by CrowdFarming, innocent drinks, and Riverford Organic Farmers, the UK regenerative farming platform is expanding into Spain as part of a wider European programme to accelerate climate resilience across the region’s key food growing areas.
Initially, Soil Association Exchange, in partnership with the three major UK food brands, will work with eight farms across Murcia, Valencia, Andalusia, Aragon, and Catalonia.
One of the first is Fruketa Farm in Lleida, Catalonia, an organic apricot, topfruit, and pomegranate producer which supplies the international market.
As farmers and growers across southern Europe face intense heat, water scarcity, and growing climate uncertainty, Soil Association Exchange said the pilot will offer practical, data-led improvements that can regenerate soils, protect water, and build long-term resilience.
The aim is to support Spanish growers in calculating their environmental performance, adapting to stricter regulations, and coping with growing climate risks.
To that end, the UK-developed digital sustainability platform has been adapted to Spanish farming conditions complete with a new suite of datasets and sources.
“We’ve spent years learning what works on UK farms – now we’re translating that into the European landscape, combining our technology with deep local expertise on the ground,” commented Soil Association Exchange’s CEO Joseph Gridley.
Extending the insight to European grower-exporters is vital, according to Riverford Organic Growers, which uses the Soil Association Exchange tool among its UK grower base.
It provides “the practical, data-driven support we need to back our growers and improve together”, pointed out Riverford’s Regenerative Farming Lead, Harriet Bell.
While farming systems and crops may differ, a representative for Soil Association Exchange said the need for trusted support for the transition into more regenerative farming practices is universal.
The pilot in Spain also opens opportunities for UK growers to benefit from shared learnings, closer market alignment, and future export growth for regenerative production.
Following the first phase, the model is planned for expansion into further European nations from 2026 onwards.
Practical Support For Business Prosperity
Soil Association Exchange offers practical sustainability support at a farm level in order to foster the transition to regenerative farming.
Its digital farm-measurement tool uses cutting-edge technology combined with agricultural expertise to help farms measure and improve their sustainability across six key areas: soil health, carbon, biodiversity, animal welfare, water, and society.
The objective is to help farmers and growers unlock the financial benefits of regenerative land use and sustainable farming practices so their businesses can prosper.
In the UK, Soil Association Exchange is already working with over 2,000 farmers who occupy 4% of farmland across the country.
Among the participants 80% of farmers claim they anticipate becoming more profitable, and 90% intend to shift their practices.
On the back of this progress, a wider European programme is in development, with the organisation calling for European farmers and growers to show their interest in participating.
Founded in 2022, Soil Association Exchange is backed by the Soil Association, and works with partners including Compass, Cibus, Marks & Spencer, Nando’s, and Waitrose.
Recently, Waitrose announced new partnerships with Soil Association Exchange and Regenified to accelerate its support for British farmers to produce food in ways that restore and protect the environment.
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