A core tenet of our ReFarm model is learning by doing – and listening closely to the farmers making it happen.
As part of our ReFarm Ireland pilot, involving 34 farmers across the country, we conducted a survey to better understand their experience: what’s working, what can be improved, and what comes next.
While we shared some early insights in our Impact Report, the survey offers a deeper and more valuable perspective – not just for ReFarm, but for policymakers and others working to support nature-friendly farming. The results were both encouraging and constructive, reaffirming the strength of the ReFarm model while highlighting clear priorities for the future.
Here’s what farmers told us.
- Strong engagement and farmer advocacy: Survey participation was high at 88%, alongside a Net Promoter Score 9.63 out of 10 – a strong signal of trust in the model and a willingness among farmers to recommend ReFarm to others. This level of advocacy is rare in pilot programmes and reflects genuine farmer buy-in.
- A model that works – because it works for farmers: Minimal paperwork emerged as the single most important feature, ranking ahead of both funding and advisory support. Farmers also highlighted the value of a farmer-centric approach, the importance of farmer autonomy and the benefits of being part of a network of like-minded farmers. Together these elements are driving strong engagement and, over time, are expected to support better outcomes for nature. Importantly, this reinforces a consistent message from farmers: simplicity is not a bonus, it’s essential.
- Farmers are open to measurement – if it’s simple: The vast majority of respondents (97%) are confident or open to self-scoring habitats, provided tools are simple and support is available. This highlights a clear opportunity to scale farmer-led monitoring without adding administrative burden, aligning environmental outcomes with practical, on-the-ground realities.
- Funding: the biggest constraint – and the biggest opportunity: Most farmers indicated that an annual budget of €3k – €6k would better reflect the work involved, compared to the current maximum annual payment of €3k per farmer. Notably, 74% of farmers part-funded actions themselves where ReFarm payments did not fully cover costs, demonstrating both strong commitment and a multiplier effect on investment. In other words, farmers are already investing beyond the scheme but this approach is not sustainable without greater financial support. There is a clear appetite to do more, reflected in growing inbound interest from farmers looking to get involved with ReFarm.
At the same time, a concern emerged regarding long-term funding certainty. Farmers need confidence that support will continue on a multi-annual basis if they are to plan and invest effectively.
Building on momentum.
Looking ahead, farmers highlighted a number of clear priorities to build on momentum of the pilot:
- Expanding participation to include more farmers
- Exploring a wider range of actions for nature
- Supporting peer learning and knowledge sharing
- Maintaining strong engagement
Together, these point to a model ready not just to continue – but to scale.
The message from farmers is clear: they are ready to deliver for nature. The opportunity now is to match that commitment with the scale, simplicity, and long-term funding needed to unlock its full potential.