"Interest is growing in intercropping [again] because farmers increasingly understand it improves their soil health," said Jerry Allford, an organic farmer and advisor from the Soil Association, a UK charity promoting sustainable agriculture. Jerry thinks this renewed focus can "open up a whole new way of farming" because it can bridge profitability with regenerative agriculture practices. "In the case of growing a legume and cereal together, we know there is nutrient transfer between the two crops," he said, adding that this reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers and its associated costs. Other potential benefits include reduced weeds, pests and diseases as well as higher resistance to extreme weather from climate change ?" all of which can improve farmers' bottom line.