Soils are degrading. Desertification is advancing. And all this is happening silently, almost without witnesses. It happens especially in areas with water scarcity, high temperatures and little biodiversity. The problem is caused partly by climate change, but also by unsustainable agricultural practices. Is there a solution? Yes. It lies in the hands of our farmers and it has a name: regenerative agriculture.

A commitment signed at COP28

The transformative potential of this way of understanding agriculture is such that it found a prominent place on the agenda of COP28, where 130 countries signed a commitment to boost a way of cultivating that benefits the soils, sequester carbon and enable efficient resource management, marking a milestone in the global struggle for a sustainable future.

The term regenerative agriculture has gained popularity in recent years, but it includes proposals that, for several decades, have been pointing to the need for a paradigm shift. Because the intensive practices that fed us in recent decades also result in soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and water pollution. In the face of these, this proposal aims to make agriculture a reality that, on top of being sustainable, actively contributes to regenerating ecosystems and improving the health of the planet.

By adopting regenerative practices, farmers are expected to improve the resilience of their crops to extreme weather events, reduce dependence on external inputs and contribute to climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon in the soil. In addition, regenerative agriculture has the potential to benefit local communities by promoting healthier and more sustainable food systems.

A holistic view of the plot

The practices proposed by regenerative agriculture are based on a holistic approach to the farmed plots, so that they can constantly regenerate themselves and maintain their natural resources. These are some of the practices promoted, which pay particular attention to soil health:

• The best-known practice is to stop ploughing the land because, in contact with oxygen, the organic matter in the soil (carbon) generates carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. The proposal is to let the land remain covered with vegetation, keeping the carbon in the soil. This could mitigate (and even reverse) climate change because it also means stopping the use of fossil fuel vehicles.
• Earthworms and insects are used to mobilise the soils, providing them with the necessary looseness for the roots to grow.
• Another practice is sustainable irrigation management to conserve water. This is coupled with techniques to reduce soil erosion and ways to capture rainwater. Unlike depleted soils, healthy soil with organic matter retains water (and also absorbs nutrients and stores carbon).
• Promoting biodiversity is also essential. For this reason, the combination of plants and animals on the farms is encouraged, integrating crops and also planting trees and shrubs.
• Regenerative agriculture does away with chemical fertilisers. In general, the aim is to minimise the use of external resources and to seek closed nutrient cycles, i.e. the farm itself improves soil fertility by recycling its waste.
• And when pests have to be fought, predators are sought to prevent them from thriving. That is why biodiversity is promoted on the plots.

More independence for farmers

Another major advantage of regenerative agriculture is that it allows family farmers with small plots of land to regain control of their cultivation while combating drought and pests and obtaining better harvests. Such techniques have a direct impact on their livelihoods.

According to the Foundation for Regenerative Agriculture, this type of agriculture includes a vision of a future where food production rich in quality and quantity, well-functioning water and carbon cycles, thriving communities and a fair, equitable and prosperous food economy coexist.

The institution has been acting as a financial intermediary for several years now, working with foundations, investors, non-profit organisations, community leaders and land managers to advance regenerative agriculture and develop solutions to climate change and other global challenges. Click here to learn more about its work!