UK Farmers: doing better for produce, people and the planet

Farmers care deeply about the countryside that is their workplace, recent research shows the importance of the soil’s health, just like our gut.

Earlier this month, the world marked International Compost Awareness Week—a timely celebration of one of the most powerful tools we have to nurture our planet. As someone who works in the communications team at City Harvest London, my role is to shine a light on the stories of those making a difference: from the farmers who care deeply for their land, to the communities we serve, and the dedicated teams working to ensure no good food goes to waste.

But I’ll admit: I’m no expert in farming. That’s why I’m fascinated by how farmers are using compost to restore soil health. Let’s break down what I’ve learnt:

What is soil? What is compost?

Soil is much more than what we walk on; it’s a living ecosystem, full of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and billions of tiny organisms. Healthy soil is the bedrock of food production and environmental health.

Compost, meanwhile, is the result of natural recycling. This is what we do at home when we put food scraps in a bin, but what happens to that waste? When food scraps, garden trimmings, and farm leftovers decompose, they transform into a nutrient-rich material that feeds the soil. Think of compost as nature’s way of giving back, restoring vitality and resilience to the land.

Let’s move to farmers and their roles. How does the process work?

Farmers spread compost onto their fields, often before planting. Over time, the compost breaks down, feeding the soil’s microbes and releasing nutrients plants need. The benefits build up year after year, making the soil healthier and more productive

How are UK farmers leading the way?

Many UK farmers have been using compost for generations to improve their soil. In recent years, with rising fertiliser costs and growing environmental awareness, composting has become even more vital. Unlike synthetic fertilisers that provide a quick fix, compost builds up the soil’s natural fertility, improves its structure, and helps crops withstand drought and disease.

Farmers are using compost to:

Farmers, Food Waste & Community Impact

At City Harvest, we’re privileged to work with growers who care deeply about where their produce ends up. Chris Guindi from Richard Hochfeld Ltd in Kent shared:

Sarah Calcutt, City Harvest CEO and former 6th generation fruit farmer added:

“Farmers care deeply about the countryside that is their workplace, recent research has shown the importance of the soil’s biome, just like our gut, in the health of fruit trees, their health translates directly into the quality of the fruit they produce and its nutritional value.  Working with great teams like Chris’s means that we know we are delivering the very best nutrition, fruit grown by real experts, to those in greatest need.  I love this aspect of our work, growers that I really respect, supporting City Harvest in our mission to ensure that no good food goes to waste and nobody goes hungry, I am so grateful to them”.