INFOGRAPHIC: DEFINING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

What does regen Ag look like in prac­tice? In the absence of any regu­la­tory or scien­tific defi­n­i­tion, it can be diffi­cult to pin down. Overview of the main goals and tech­nical indi­ca­tors.

April 2024

Text:
Illustration: Gernot Walter

A WIDE RANGE OF APPROACHES

Wageningen Univer­sity in the Nether­lands provides an analysis of how the term is used in existing docu­men­ta­tion. Starting from a rather tech­nical, soil-focused common core, it is incor­po­rating a growing number of aims to meet more and more ambi­tious defi­n­i­tions.

Soil Health and Soil Biodi­ver­sity

Climate, Biodi­ver­sity in General, Water Quality and Avail­ability

Opti­mised Use of Resources, Nutrient Recy­cling

Farm Income and Attrac­tive Working Condi­tions

Source: Regen­er­a­tive Agri­cul­ture in Europe, Mark Manshanden, Univer­sität Wageningen, April 2023

+ 78 %

A study by the Univer­sity of Minnesota compared the results of 20 Amer­ican farms using conven­tional or regen­er­a­tive systems. In the latter, yield was, on average, 29% lower, and prof­itability was 78% higher. The factors contributing to the better margin included input reduc­tions and better market oppor­tu­ni­ties.

Source: Regen­er­a­tive agri­cul­ture: Merging farming and natural resource conser­va­tion prof­itably, Claire LaCanne, Univer­sity of Minnesota Twin Cities, Februar 2018

5-7 Jahre

The tran­si­tion to regen­er­a­tive agri­cul­ture takes between 5 and 7 years, including two or three years in the learning stage.

Source: Michel Duru, Inrae

40 x

Bayer has set itself the goal of supporting the devel­op­ment of regen Ag on 160 million hectares by 2035 (an area 40 times the size of Switzer­land).

Source: www.bayer.com

EXAMPLE OF WORKING STEPS FOR WHEAT ACROSS ONE GROWING SEASON

Conven­tional system VS regen­er­a­tive system (Ireland; advanced stage of adop­tion: > 6 years).

Source: „Der Weg zu regen­er­a­tiver Land­wirtschaft in Deutsch­land“, BGC, Nabu, März 2023

IN PRACTICE, FIVE PRINCIPLES ARE OFTEN PRIORITISED…

Minimise Soil Distur­bance

Avoid phys­ical and chem­ical disrup­tion

Maximise Crop Diver­sity

In time and space, with the aim of increasing the resilience of the system

Main­tain Living Roots

Provide the soil with nutri­ents all year round

Inte­grate Live­stock

Imitate natural systems that func­tion in symbiosis with animals

Keep the Soil Covered

Fight erosion, evap­o­ra­tion and weeds

Source: Univer­sität Wageningen; Gabe Brown

… AND A WHOLE RANGE OF TOOLS AND RULES

Source: Raphaël Dachelet, « Agri­cul­ture régénéra­trice, émer­gence d’un concept », Univer­sité catholique de Louvain, 2020