Hosted by the Sustainable Food Trust, The Podcast Tent is a hub for conversation, storytelling and knowledge exchange at Groundswell 2026 — bringing together farmers, researchers, food businesses, policymakers and campaigners to explore the future of food and farming. Over two days, the tent, which is sponsored by The Rothschild Foundation, hosts a diverse programme of live recordings and interviews designed to reflect the breadth of the regenerative movement, with a commitment to platforming younger and underrepresented voices alongside established leaders. In partnership with Emergent Generation, the tent is also offering hands-on podcast training for young people in the regen food and farming space.
Wednesday 1 July
09:00–10:00 – What’s the Future for Organic Farming?
Host: RuralPod Media / Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate podcast
In this live recording of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate, host farmers Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory discuss the future prospects and direction of organic farming in the UK with Suffolk organic farmer John Pawsey. Where does organic fit alongside the regenerative space, in the market and broader farming direction?
10:00–11:00 – Thirteen Generations in Suffolk: What Might the Future Bring For Tom McVeigh?
Host: RuralPod Media
For this live recording of Meet the Farmers podcast, host Ben Eagle speaks with thirteenth generation Suffolk farmer Tom McVeigh. What could the future bring for this already diversified farm business? What did Tom learn on his Nuffield scholarship travels about the potential for nut crops; and how does the McVeigh family successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of being a family business?
11:00–12:00 – Next Generation Regen Roadtrip
Host: Stuart Oates / Sustainable Food Trust
Three young (18–24) Nuffield scholars – Jessica Walker, Summer Wyatt-Buchan and Craig Alexander Byrne – have spent months travelling the UK, visiting regenerative farms and businesses and speaking to the people shaping the future of food and farming. With their tour ending at Groundswell, they share their insights, challenges and reasons for optimism from the perspectives of three younger people from a diversity of backgrounds.
12:00–13:00 – Press Session
Tent open to media for interviews and meetings.
13:00–14:00 – Why Should Young People Be Flocking to Farming?
Host: Ffinlo Costain / Farm Gate Podcast
The farming transition means there’s never been a better time to work in the countryside. We need a new generation of inspirational regen leaders, landscape transformers, communication stars and R&D wizards. Farming professions test every part of the human being and offer remarkable soul-enhancing rewards. So why are parents and schools still pushing young people toward AI-vulnerable careers in medicine and law, and into burning hot cities, suffocating wards and offices? In this session we’ll ask what needs to change, so that rural economies become the beating heart of Britain, and maybe, the next big trophy profession?
14:00–15:00 – Profit, Soil and Resilience: What are Farmers Learning?
Host: Peter Green / Farming Focus: The Podcast for South West Farmers
Recorded live at Groundswell, this episode of Farming Focus brings together farmer experience and practical soil expertise for a lively conversation about what regenerative agriculture looks like when it has to work commercially. Host Peter Green talks to Geoff Williams, Tom Tolputt and Jack Pierce as they explore profitability, resilience, lower-input systems and lessons learned. A thoughtful and honest discussion that speaks to younger farmers, new entrants and established businesses alike.
15:00–16:00 – Farmer-Led Innovation and the Research Behind Regenerative Farming
Host: ADOPT
Farm Gate’s Ffinlo Costain is joined by Thomas Slattery (ADOPT Support Hub), Matt Smee (Agricology) and Katherine Lewis (Ag-Impact) to talk about what it takes to put farmers at the heart of on-farm trials, the role that agricultural research and good knowledge sharing play, and how it all connects to regenerative farming and broader agroecology. They’ll also explore what they’ve been running together at Groundswell, across ADOPT’s Study and Snug spaces at this year’s festival, and why these three organisations are choosing to collaborate.
16:00–17:00 – Ozempic & Nature-Friendly Farming: An Unlikely Alliance?
Host: Sustainable Food Trust
What happens to farming when diets change? This conversation examines the rise of weight-loss drugs through the lens of whole-system health, from soil and livestock to food quality and human wellbeing.
Thursday 2 July
09:00–10:00 – Farming 4.0
Host: Andrew Sincock
Andrew Sincock brings his Cornwall-based farming podcast to Groundswell for a live recording that captures the energy of the festival’s final session. After the first day of conversation, innovation and community, Andrew and Ed reflect on the themes, debates and moments that have stood out so far – offering listeners in the UK’s more remote regions a chance to keep up with the latest developments in regen ag, delivered with the honesty and good humour that comes with day two of Groundswell.
10:00–11:00 – Land Use Discussion
Host: Sustainable Food Trust
Proposed guests: Tom Heap and Tom Bradshaw or Minette Batters
Land sharing or land sparing? As demands on land continue to grow, the SFT invites Tom Heap and guests to explore how we can balance food production, climate action and nature recovery in a crowded and changing landscape.
11:00–12:00 – Training and Recording Session
Host: Sustainable Food Trust
Practical skills training session for young people involved in the regen food and farming movement.
12:00–13:00 – Press Session
Tent open to media for interviews and meetings.
13:00–14:00 – Patrick Holden and Special Guests
Host: SFT
SFT founder Patrick Holden sits down with Groundswell co-founders John Cherry and Joanna Bowen for a conversation about the origins and evolution of the festival – how it began, what it has grown into, and what it means for the future of the regenerative farming movement in the UK and beyond.
14:00–15:00 — Can Technology Deliver Fossil-Free Farming?
Host: Ray King / BrashAg
Ray and Kit will be bringing the Brash Ag audience the latest tech developments, ideas and innovations from Groundswell 2026. For this episode, they’ll be joined by Stuart Oates, organic farmer, Nuffield Scholar and founder of the Fossil Free Farm project, to discuss the role technology will play in transitioning agriculture away from fossil fuels and into a renewable future. What technologies already exist, how are they working and what opportunities are there for engineers and innovators to help deliver Fossil Free Farming? As ever this promises to be brash, bold and engaging.
