It’s not just agriculture, it’s regenerative agriculture!
This refrain, or something similar, is used by almost every farmland investment fund, food processor, retailer and agribusiness. Regenerative methods seem to be taking off – according to research by Roland Berger, regenerative cropping methods are applied on around 80 million hectares (around 1.5% of global arable land). However, estimates vary widely, often depending on the subjective definitions of what truly constitutes ‘regenerative farming’
The growing interest in regenerative agriculture is driven by alarming forecasts; for instance, Regeneration International estimates that in 50 years there may not be enough healthy soil left to feed the world. This nearing reality highlights the need for farming practices that can both restore farmland and mitigate the escalating risks of climate volatility.
While the term lacks a hard technical definition it generally refers to farms that have adopted zero or minimal tillage systems in combination with various cover crops to ensure soils are not left bare and are able to build soil organic matter through the incorporation of crop residues. Other practices labelled regenerative include agroforestry (the combination of trees with crops or pasture) and certain rotational grazing practices using more diverse pastures to enhance nutrient recycling and soil fauna.
Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture
The benefits of regenerative methods have been extolled, including soil protection and improvement, moisture retention and nutrient recycling, decreasing the impacts of erosion and soil degradation.
These are generally regarded as helpful adaptive measures that will make farms more resilient to climate change related hazards such as extreme rainfall, extended dry spells and high temperatures. For example, regenerative practices promote improved infiltration, protecting valuable topsoil against intense rainfall events and flooding, while water conserved in the soil acts as a buffer, allowing crops to more effectively withstand conditions during prolonged drought.
The increased resilience inherent in regenerative systems not only reduces climate risk but, over the long term, actively moves the farm toward a model of durable profitability.
Vulnerabilities and Transition Risk
Less discussed is the frequent dependency on key agrochemicals used to terminate the cover crops in preparation for the seeding of main crops and the potential costs and vulnerability of farms during the transition period from conventional to regenerative methods.
While mechanical methods exist, they are often less reliable, meaning farmers tend to be heavily reliant on chemical termination as the quick and effective option for preparing their land for cash crop planting. Given the market oligopoly, with large agri-chemical companies dominating the production of these necessary chemicals, farmers may be exposed to price fluctuations or supply chain disruptions.
Beyond chemical dependency, the process for farms migrating from conventional to regenerative methods introduces distinct financial costs and vulnerabilities.
Implementing regenerative agriculture practices requires upfront investments in equipment like no-till planters and seeders, often as many farms will experience an initial decrease in yields as the soil adjusts. This transitional period of investment paired with potential losses causes additional vulnerabilities to financial shock from climate events or market downturns
Consequently, while the use of cover crops and low till or no-till methods are promising tools for climate adaptation, they only partially address climate resilience of farm businesses.
Why Regenerative Agriculture Alone isn’t Enough for Full Resilience
It is important not to view regenerative agriculture as a silver bullet. A truly resilient farm must address threats across its entire operation.
For example, regenerative practices do not safeguard critical physical assets from climate related hazards. Farm infrastructure such as storage facilities, irrigation systems, processing units and transport networks may remain vulnerable to extreme weather events like floods, high winds, or heatwaves.
Other aspects include pest and disease management, farm infrastructure, financial support and succession planning. Protecting these assets requires separate, targeted investments and planning.
However, regenerative agriculture is undoubtedly a robust and systemic strategy for increasing a farm’s foundational resilience. Yet, it cannot stand alone. Its successful adoption means recognising its inherent limitations and actively complementing it with a comprehensive climate resilience strategy, grounded in resilience assessment and strategic financial investment, to ensure a secure future of the farm business in the face of climate change.
Resilience Constellation