As Europe Bakes, Farmers Find a Greener Way to Beat the Heat

While much of Europe dried up under record heat this summer, one farm in southeast England stayed remarkably green. Sam Squier's nearly 200-acre beef farm looked like an oasis next to the brown, scorched fields of his neighbors. His secret was a farming method that builds healthier soil, holds more water, and keeps grass growing even through long dry spells. His story is part of a bigger movement gaining speed across Europe and beyond.

Squier raises Aberdeen Angus cattle, a breed known for producing quality beef. His herd grazes on a mix of grasses, deep-rooting herbs, and plants called legumes — a combination known as herbal leys. These plants were chosen carefully. The grasses give the cattle energy-rich food, the herbs help control parasites and cut the need for medicine, and the legumes put nitrogen back into the soil so Squier doesn't need to buy artificial fertilizers.

The cows themselves play an important role too. They are moved to a new patch of grass twice a day, and as they graze and walk, they press plants down and create a protective layer over the soil. Their manure also helps return seeds to the ground and keeps the soil healthy. Squier says he has not needed to buy winter feed for eight years, which saves him a lot of money.

The results are striking. Squier estimates his soil now holds about 400,000 liters more water per acre than before he switched methods. In the first six years after making the change, the number of earthworms on his farm grew from around 80 million to 680 million — a sign that the soil is much healthier and can absorb far more water.

This approach is called regenerative farming. It draws on ancient practices but is now being studied and supported by scientists, governments, and major companies around the world. Britain's summer this year was on track to be the hottest ever recorded, and almost three-quarters of England was officially in drought. Farmers across Europe reported poor grass growth, terrible harvests, and smaller fruit and vegetable crops.

The financial damage was enormous. Crops that failed during a June heatwave could cost farmers in the European Union and Britain up to €2.3 billion, which is about $2.7 billion. Food prices have also gone up because of higher costs for energy and fertilizer, partly linked to the war in the Middle East. These pressures have pushed governments and businesses to look hard for new solutions.

On one of the hottest days of the year, English farmer Andy Gray used a temperature gun to compare two patches of soil on his farm. Under a cover of clover plants, the soil measured 32 degrees Celsius, but on a bare patch nearby it hit 51 degrees — hot enough to kill the tiny organisms that crops need to grow. 'If I can maintain soil moisture for a fortnight going into the drought, then that gives me an extra fortnight's growing compared to everybody else,' said Gray, who farms 150 acres of maize in Devon. He added simply: 'If it's green for longer, it's producing for longer.'

Big companies are now putting money into helping farmers make this switch. McDonald's plans to spend at least $1 billion over the next ten years to make its food supply chain more resilient. McCain Foods says more than half of its farmers can get help to switch to better practices, including loans and longer contracts, and Nestlé has found that insurers offer lower fees when farmers use regenerative methods — something its chief sustainability officer called a brand-new and exciting tool.

Banks and insurance companies are also stepping up. In Britain, Lloyds Bank has teamed up with water companies and the insurer AXA XL to create a fund that gives money to farmers to improve their soil. Water companies benefit because healthier farm soil means fewer chemicals end up in rivers, saving money on water cleanup — about £4 to £6 saved for every pound invested in farms. Insurers benefit too, because better soil reduces the risk of flooding.

Experts say regenerative farms are doing better than traditional ones during droughts. A study by an agriculture group called Soil Capital found that farms using regenerative practices reduced drought-related crop losses by at least 10% in about 85% of cases. Government grants helped Squier make his own switch, and he admits his farm would struggle without that support. But with more companies, banks, and insurers getting involved, more farmers may soon have the help they need to grow food in a warming world.