Project Dates: 01.01.26 to 31.12.26

A beacon centre of regenerative excellence that is training the next generation of regenerative farmers, to increase regenerative farming practices in Devon and beyond!

The centre is home to a beautiful training room for seminars, and of course the farm itself offers the best training ground – demonstrating agroforestry, green manures, diverse cropping, conservation grazing, good soil fertility, carbon sequestration, rainwater harvesting, and small scale grain production.

Regenerative Agriculture brings many benefits to farmers, their communities, and their local environment. As the cost of fossil fuels and fertilisers skyrocket, and the challenges of droughts and flash-flooding become regular occurrences, regenerative practices provide farmers with effective tools to adapt and thrive.

The Apricot Centre’s year-long Regenerative (Organic) Land-Based Systems courses are designed to provide crucial education and upskilling for small-scale farmers, growers, and individuals pursuing careers in the agricultural sector. Over the past three years, the courses have attracted a growing number of applicants, with expressions of interest increasing tenfold. This surge in demand highlights the need for such training in regenerative agriculture.

The courses offer a hands-on, practical approach to learning regenerative farming techniques, combining work-based learning on real farms with skills development in agroecology, farm design, consultancy, and training – empowering students to transition from conventional farming to sustainable, agroecological practices.

By providing this valuable training free of charge and on a part-time basis, the Apricot Centre ensures accessibility for individuals with work, family, or financial commitments who might not otherwise be able to pursue such opportunities – addressing the urgent need for skilled regenerative agriculture practitioners to support a shift toward sustainable food production and land use.

The Apricot Centre aims to raise the profile of farming as a highly-skilled, respected profession, particularly by offering accredited training that builds expertise and professionalism within the sector.

DEF has supported this project from the start: funding the feasibility study, the certification of the qualification, the start-up costs, and contributing towards the first four years of training. This 2026 grant will allow for the continued running and development of the Apricot Centre’s renowned Regenerative School of Land Based Studies (levels 3 and 4).

This grant is generously funded by NoVo Foundation. We are grateful that the Apricot Centre chose DEF as their fiscal sponsor to receive the grant to build on success of our partnership to date and unlock future opportunities for regenerative agriculture in Devon.