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What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming, which aims to regenerate and restore the health, resilience and long-term productivity of the soil and the wider socio-ecological system, and to support farmer livelihoods.
There is no broadly agreed-upon definition of regenerative agriculture. But common to all definitions is the idea that regenerative agriculture is not a one-size fits-all approach.
It uses techniques and practices that reduce synthetic chemical inputs and minimize physical disturbances, build soil health, increase biodiversity and enhance natural carbon sinks. In turn, this increases the resilience of farms and food value chains to extreme weather and climate events.
Regenerative agriculture practices could include using organic fertilizers and minimizing tillage (ploughing), planting trees to provide shade for crops (agroforestry), or using digital technology to understand when the land requires water. Much depends on the type and condition of the soil, the local ecosystem and microclimate, the crops to be grown, and on local social, economic and cultural factors.
Regenerative agriculture is therefore a context-specific journey – it is not just an endpoint but a process that requires continuous learning, data collection and on-farm innovation. This less prescriptive, outcomes-based approach is why many consider regenerative agriculture to be a much more attractive proposition for farmers.
It offers a pathway to transform our agri-food system: strengthening supply chain resilience, supporting farmer livelihoods and regenerating the landscapes on which all food production depends.
