The Foley family discovered that their six year old son’s autism appeared to be linked to his gut health. The light bulb moment came when Will and Abbey made dramatic changes to their farming practices and their diet.

“We needed to consider making some real changes to our farm, so we trialled a regenerative approach” says Will. Since transitioning, they haven’t had to use any herbicide, insecticide or fungicide on the farm. Their farming practice has shifted away from synthetic fertiliser, leaving longer grass covers and finding more optimal grazing rotation systems.

Will has leadership roles in Federated Farmers and Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillor, and believes he has a role to play in proving to conventional farmers that regenerative farming can work commercially.