In the Scottish Highlands, where rolling moors and sheep-dotted hills have long defined the landscape, a quiet revolution is taking place. At the heart of this change is Stockfree Farming, a pioneering charity helping farmers transition away from rearing animals and toward sustainable, plant-based land management.
Their work is gaining momentum across the UK as farmers, policymakers, and communities address the pressing challenges of our time – climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and ethical concerns surrounding animal agriculture.
Stockfree Farming offers hope, support, and practical solutions. Their team of advisors brings together expertise in soil science, conservation agriculture, regenerative ecosystems, business development, agroforestry, and more. They provide free, hands-on support to farmers and crofters, including transition planning, soil analysis, funding access, and advice on alternative crops and markets.
This support is not only aimed at helping farmers move away from animal farming but also at creating a more ethical, sustainable approach to land management that benefits both humans and animals.
Environmental breakdown is no longer a distant possibility, and growing numbers of people – including farmers – are questioning how our food systems affect the natural world, our own well-being, and the animals in our care.
In the UK, around 85% of farmland is used for livestock or to grow their feed – yet this produces only 32% of the calories we consume. In contrast, just 15% of land used to grow crops for people yields 68% of our calories. These figures reveal not only a pressing need for efficiency and resilience in farming but also a powerful opportunity to change course – toward plant-based systems that nourish both people and planet.
Stockfree Farming’s vision is not just about sustainable food production – it is about creating a world where animals are no longer commodities, and their rights to life and freedom are respected.
Livestock farming is a leading driver of biodiversity loss, climate emissions, and land degradation. Wild mammals now make up just 4% of mammalian biomass globally; the remaining 96% is shared between humans and the animals we farm. It’s no wonder the UK is ranked among the most nature-depleted countries in the world. By embracing animal-free farming, we can help reverse this trend and support healthier ecosystems that benefit all life on earth.
Stockfree Farming provides guidance to farmers who are ready to explore more ethical and environmentally sound ways of working with the land. This might include growing protein-rich crops like peas, beans, and lentils; developing fruit and vegetable enterprises; or creating food forests and agroforestry systems that support biodiversity and produce nourishing, marketable foods. One advisor, Dr Vincent Walsh, is working on innovative food forests that mimic the seven layers of native woodland – each producing edible, marketable crops without harming the land or its creatures.
For many farmers, this shift is not only practical but deeply personal. During a recent focus group, one participant shared:
“Ever more farmers are morally concerned about what they do, caring for animals that are then killed... everybody knows it but you cannot say it as a farmer, it is high treason.”
Stockfree Farming helps give voice to these often-silent reflections. Their first transition case, Laurence Candy, left livestock farming after acknowledging the emotional weight it carried for him. He’s not alone. With more than one farmer a week taking their own life in the UK, mental health in farming is a critical issue. While the causes are many and complex, some farmers speak of an unspoken inner conflict that comes with caring for animals who are ultimately sent to slaughter – a burden that Stockfree Farming is now gently and respectfully researching.
Dr. Molly Vasanthakumar is Programs Manager at Stockfree Farming. Molly’s dad, Kumar, grew up on a dairy farm in Sri Lanka, and, inspired by his family’s home-style cooking, started selling dosa at markets across the South West in 2015 – creating Kumar’s Dosa Bar.
Over time, however, Kumar found himself facing a growing inner conflict. While he loved farming and caring for his animals, he began to deeply struggle with the reality of sending his lambs to slaughter. In 2019, he made a life-changing decision: he ended his involvement in livestock farming and transformed Kumar’s Dosa Bar into a fully vegan business, aligning his livelihood with his compassion.
His beloved flock of sheep were brought to Goodheart Animal Sanctuary, where they are part of our rescued family – free to live out their lives in safety, comfort, and care.
Stockfree Farming shows us that it is possible to farm without harm – to steward the land with care and grow food that sustains life. Crucially, they invite us to imagine a world where animals are no longer used, but simply allowed to be – free, safe, and part of the tapestry of life.
To learn more about Stockfree Farming, visit https://stockfreefarming.org
