The Papley Grove farm in Cambridgeshire, England has a rich past. Martin Lines, the third generation of his family to run the farm, sees regenerative agriculture as the key to ensuring it has a viable future.

Mr. Lines, whose grandparents moved to the farm in 1936, is among a growing number of farmers adopting regenerative agricultural practices to boost the resilience of their businesses and to mitigate the effects of climate change. But they need support in introducing these methods to improve soil health, advance biodiversity and curb carbon emissions.

“Farmers nowadays are asked to produce the nation’s food, but also to halt biodiversity decline, and focus on climate change mitigation,” Mr. Lines says. “Regenerative farming can help deliver those goals. But we cannot do it on our own.”

That’s where ADM plays an important role. The company’s regenerative agriculture program, which expanded from North America to Europe last year, aims to help drive the widespread adoption of climate-smart techniques, such as planting cover crops and reducing tillage to keep more carbon in the soil, improving soil health and reducing carbon footprints.

Mr. Lines has worked to improve the sustainability of his farm over the past decade and believes the changes he’s made are helping to deliver a positive impact on health of his soil. And while reduced use of pesticides can help the environment, it has also lowered his costs. Mr. Lines, whose farm dates at least to the 11th century, says joining ADM’s program allows him to expand the use of these practices.

Two benefits of the program will give more farmers the confidence they need to participate, Mr. Lines says. Financial incentives provide additional income to make the transition to regenerative practices and strong data allow farmers to track the results.

“It’s about helping farmers feel supported and enabled,” he says. “Moving to regenerative practices is rejuvenating our food system, our soil system, and my farm system.”

Online data collection and benchmarking across the group, which will allow farmers to evaluate what is working for their peers, and what isn’t, will be critical in accelerating the shift to regenerative methods and responding to climate change, he says. England just experienced the second-wettest winter on record, affecting farmers and illustrating the importance of building up resilience. While healthy soils are better able to absorb heavy rainfall, they also can hold much more water during droughts.

“Within five to 10 years, all farmers will need to do this,” he says. “The clock is ticking.”

In some cases, Mr. Lines is resurrecting methods his grandparents used. The difference today is that modern technology can optimize their impact. While he’s embracing the past, he’s also preparing to hand the reins to his children. Mr. Lines’ son now oversees the farm day to day.

“When I walk around the farm I often think about my parents and my grandparents, as well as all the generations before them,” he says. “I also think about my children. I want to empower them to see their future within this farm and within this landscape.”