Scaling the circular bioeconomy: Unlocking Regenerative Agri-Food Systems
A new CBA white paper sets out the five key actions we can take to transition to regenerative agri-food systems.
The global agri-food system’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss is immense, and its industries are some of the most adversely affected by these ecological crises. Regenerative agriculture 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.
This transition is no longer a matter of corporate sustainability strategy — it is an economic and food security imperative.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach that aims to regenerate and restore the health, resilience and long-term productivity of soil and wider socio-ecological system, and support farmer livelihoods. It employs techniques and practices that promote the reduction of synthetic chemical inputs and physical disturbance, focusing on building soil health, increasing biodiversity, enhancing natural carbon sinks, and in turn increasing the resilience of farms and value chains to extreme weather and climate events.
However, scaling regenerative agri-food systems faces structural barriers:
- The knowledge, advisory and capacity gap
- Lack of understanding of the real transition risks
- The lack of long-term offtake and investment security
- The framing challenge: risk, language and narrative
- Complex and fragmented value chains
Five promising steps we can take to accelerate progress include:
- Invest in knowledge, education and peer learning
- Align financial support with the transition
- Commit to long-term offtake and procurement models
- Reframe the narrative
- Strengthen shared methods and frameworks for a science-based transition.
The CBA is moving swiftly on three fronts:
- Building coordinated market commitment. In collaboration with key participants, the CBA is developing a proposal to bring together committed buyers and retailers to create long-term demand for regenerative agriculture.
- Living Labs for challenging value chains. The CBA is exploring the co-development of dedicated Living Labs focused on value chains where the transition is most needed and most complex in Europe and the UK. These would support to the growing evidence base and support capacity building on the ground.
- Further convenings. The CBA will continue to convene leading actors from across the value chain to catalyse action.
The economic case is clear. The evidence is building. The CBA is ready to play its role as a convening, enabling platform.
More information
The white paper is informed by the Roundtable on Regenerative Agri-Food Systems, convened by the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) and hosted at Windsor Castle on 15 May 2026, followed by a reception with His Majesty King Charles III. The roundtable brought together those involved in supporting, building, investing in and operating the agri-food system, to discuss how to take the critical next steps to scale regenerative and nature-based production.
Photo: Adobe Stock / lightpoet
