James Brown, CEO of Lapwing Estate and founder of Reverse Coal, visited 10 Downing Street this week to join a high-level discussion on improving water management and reducing herbicide use across UK agriculture.

Invited for his leadership in sustainable farming and innovation, James shared insights from Lapwing’s pioneering work in regenerative practices, including integrated water systems and alternatives to chemical-based weed control. He highlighted the importance of rewetting peatland to restore natural hydrology and improve long-term water resilience, as well as the need to reduce reliance on herbicides through precision agriculture and AI-driven tools — such as Earth Rover’s light-based robotic weeding system, developed on the estate.

The roundtable brought together farmers, policy experts and government officials to explore practical steps toward more climate-resilient farming systems. James emphasised that innovation must be scalable, commercially viable, and rooted in the realities of modern food production.

The visit underscores Lapwing’s growing role in shaping national conversations around sustainable agriculture.