Nature Friendly Farming Network

What Nature Friendly Farming Network does

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a UK-registered, farmer-led membership organization founded in 2017 that supports farmers seeking to restore the balance between farming and nature. It operates across all four UK nations through dedicated country managers (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), farmer steering groups, and a central staff team led by CEO Martin Lines and CFO Cheryl Nicholson. Its core offering is free membership, open to farmers, public supporters, and supporting organizations, which provides a monthly newsletter, policy updates, advocacy opportunities, member discounts, and a peer community. Programming is delivered through digital content (website, blogs, social channels), podcasts (monthly 'Martin's Farm' and 'Wheat from the Chaff' produced with 8point9.com, plus a Northern Ireland series with Danske Bank), regional workshops and farm walks, presence at agricultural shows, and an annual Nature-Friendly Farming Week.

The underlying technology is primarily a knowledge-sharing, advocacy, and content platform rather than a proprietary software product. The public-facing stack comprises the nffn.org.uk website and membership system, an email newsletter, social media channels, podcast distribution, and a Teemill-powered online shop. The most technically substantive program is NUTRIGROW, a three-year (2025-2028) Innovate UK-funded soil biology research project led by agri-tech start-up Elaniti with AgAnalyst and the University of Lincoln, in which NFFN is a delivery partner; NUTRIGROW uses advanced biological testing, machine-learning models, and a Knowledge Graph to help farmers reduce chemical-input reliance.

NFFN's business model is that of a UK nonprofit: free membership with revenue from donations (PayPal), grants (e.g. Innovate UK for NUTRIGROW), trust and foundation fundraising (the organization employs a Head of Fundraising), and merchandise sales via Teemill. Customer segments are farmers at all stages of nature-friendly transition, public supporters, and supporting organizations such as RSPB, Soil Association, Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, Woodland Trust, FWAG, and NFU. Distribution is community-led and digital-first, supplemented by in-person events across the four nations.

Name

Nature Friendly Farming Network

Legal name

Nature Friendly Farming Network

Website

https://nffn.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature Friendly Farming Network is a UK farmer-led nonprofit founded in 2017 that supports farmers transitioning to nature-friendly practices via free membership, regional steering groups, podcasts, events, policy advocacy, and the Innovate UK-funded NUTRIGROW soil biology research program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Advocacy & Sustainability Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrient Stewardship & Soil Fertility Management (4R Nutrients, Compost, Biofertilizers) (AFAGAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits) (AFAMACAO)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture advocacy
• Farmer-led membership network
• Regenerative farming resources
• Agricultural policy campaigning
• Soil biology research

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: The NFFN operates as a membership organization with free membership for farmers and public supporters. They accept donations through PayPal to support their work amplifying nature-friendly farming's benefits to farmers and policymakers across the UK. The organization also employs fundraising staff including a Head of Fundraising role.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a UK-wide, farmer-led membership organization that supports farmers transitioning to nature-friendly farming practices. It provides free membership with access to peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, policy advocacy, training resources, podcasts (Martin's Farm, Wheat from the Chaff), events and workshops, farmer stories, and research programs such as NUTRIGROW (a soil biology research project funded by Innovate UK).

Product overview

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a farmer-led membership organization offering a portfolio of programs, resources, and platforms supporting nature-friendly farming across the UK. The core offerings include NUTRIGROW (a soil biology research program), podcast series (Martin's Farm and Wheat from the Chaff), free membership with exclusive resources and advocacy opportunities, an online shop, and knowledge platforms including Farmer Stories, Resources, Events, and Voices from the Fields blogs. NFFN serves farmers, the public, and partner organizations through these interconnected services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NUTRIGROW: A three-year soil biology research project (2025-2028) funded by Innovate UK, led by Elaniti in partnership with NFFN, AgAnalyst, and University of Lincoln. Designed to help farmers understand soil biology to improve crop performance and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.

Products and services

• NUTRIGROW A three-year soil biology research program helping farmers understand soil biology, improve crop performance, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs through advanced biological testing, machine-learning models, and a Knowledge Graph.
• Martin's Farm Podcast A monthly podcast produced in collaboration with 8point9.com, featuring NFFN CEO Martin Lines exploring nature-friendly farming topics and NFFN's work across the UK.
• Wheat from the Chaff Podcast A podcast collaboration between 8point9.com and NFFN, discussing land use news with NFFN UK Policy Lead Phil Carson.
• NFFN Membership Free membership offering exclusive resources and training including a regular newsletter, policy updates and advocacy opportunities, member discounts and special offers, and a community of like-minded individuals.
• NFFN Online Shop Online retail platform operated through Teemill for purchasing nature-friendly farming related merchandise and products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of members create wildlife-friendly habitats; 81% practice agroforestry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElaniticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaniti is the lead agri-tech start-up partner for the NUTRIGROW research project. NUTRIGROW is a three-year Innovate UK-funded project helping farmers understand soil biology to improve crop performance and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
• AgAnalystcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural analytics partner in the NUTRIGROW project, working with NFFN and other partners to explore how soil organisms interact with nutrients, crops and management practices.
• University of LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in NUTRIGROW. The university analyses soil and grain samples from trial farms, measuring nutrient levels, biological activity, and wider soil properties.
• 8point9.com / Farm Gate PodcastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing podcast collaboration producing 'Martin's Farm' (monthly podcast with CEO Martin Lines and ffinlo Costain) and 'Wheat from the Chaff' series. Explores nature-friendly farming topics and NFFN work.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)coreOthersMajor environmental organization that supports NFFN's mission. NFFN staff have backgrounds at RSPB and work collaboratively on advocacy and policy.
• Soil AssociationcoreOthersLeading organic farming and food charity that supports NFFN's mission. Multiple NFFN staff have worked with Soil Association.
• The Wildlife TrustscoreOthersUK-wide network of wildlife trusts supporting nature-friendly farming. Collaborate on policy, events, and advocacy.
• National TrustminorOthersMajor conservation organization working with farmers and supporting nature-friendly approaches on their estates.
• Woodland TrustminorOthersLeading woodland conservation charity supporting NFFN's work on hedgerows, tree planting, and agroforestry.
• FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group)coreOthersAdvisory organization providing conservation advice to farmers. NFFN collaborates on farmer events and knowledge sharing.
• Pasture for LifeminorOthersOrganization promoting pasture-fed livestock and regenerative grazing. Several NFFN farmers are certified Pasture for Life.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: Major UK conservation charity operating farms and working with tenant farmers on nature-friendly approaches; an established partner-context comparator rather than direct competitor.
• The Wildlife Trusts: Federated UK conservation network with 46 local trusts doing farmland-policy and farmer-engagement work; named supporter of NFFN and operates at significantly larger scale.
• National Farmers' Union (NFU): Dominant UK farming membership union with substantially larger farmer membership and policy influence — a broader incumbent rather than a direct sustainability peer, but overlapping constituency.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds): Largest UK conservation NGO with active farmland-bird and agricultural-policy programs; many NFFN staff are RSPB alumni and both organisations collaborate on advocacy.

Direct peers

• Soil Association: UK charity leading organic/regenerative farming certification and advocacy — most direct peer, operating a similar farmer-support and policy-advocacy model with overlapping mission on soil health and nature-friendly farming.
• LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming): UK-wide organisation promoting Integrated Farm Management with farmer members, demonstration farms, and assurance — closely overlaps NFFN's peer-learning and nature-friendly farming remit.
• Sustainable Food Trust: UK charity advocating for sustainable farming and food systems via policy work, events and reports — directly comparable in mission, scale, and farmer-engagement approach to NFFN.
• FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group): UK advisory body delivering conservation advice to farmers, including joint events with NFFN — directly comparable farmer-advisory and biodiversity-farming remit.
• Pasture for Life: UK certification and advocacy body for pasture-fed livestock, with overlapping farmer membership, regenerative-grazing focus, and NFFN-listed partner relationships.

Others

• Woodland Trust: UK woodland conservation charity working on hedgerows and tree planting that overlap with NFFN's agroforestry and tree/hedgerow advocacy — adjacent rather than competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/nffn.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/NFFNUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/nffnuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-friendly-farming-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Friendly Farming Network