Why the world needs regenerative agriculture

India is one of the major players in the global agricultural market. With the unstable food security landscape and the burden of feeding the growing population, the stress on the agricultural systems is increasing. This is leading to the emergence of issues like soil degradation and loss of crops and biodiversity. International scientists and industry reports suggest that at the current pace, only 50 years of harvest remain to feed the world population. In such a scenario, regenerative agriculture that prioritises ecological functions will be effective in building the resilience of agroecosystems.

- DR DEEPAK BIREWAR

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming system that focuses on improving soil health, enhancing food quality, and biodiversity improvement, through practices that increase soil organic matter, biota and biodiversity. The technique builds soil health, supports biodiversity and even returns carbon and nutrients to the soil. Regenerative agriculture also enables soil aggregation, water infiltration, retention and nutrient cycling. The practice further reduces soil erosion and provides habitat and food for diverse species.

The technique works on four main principles: minimising soil disturbance through conservation or zero tillage, diversifying crops to replenish nutrients and disrupt pest and disease lifecycles, retaining soil cover using cover crops, and integrating livestock (which adds manure to the soil and serves as a source of carbon sinks). Regenerative agriculture preserves soil organic matter and moisture, which helps suppress weeds, protects soil from the impact of extreme weather patterns, and avoids soil compaction. The farming method promotes nutrient cycling, improved plant nutrition, and helps prevent pests and diseases.

Also known as conservation agriculture, it is a farming system that supports sustainable land management, environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It is relatively 20-50 per cent less labour-intensive and contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through lower energy inputs and improved nutrient use efficiency. Additionally, it minimises soil disturbance by reducing ploughing and retaining carbon in the soil, promotes crop rotation to enhance biodiversity and moves grazing animals to different pastures, thus improving soil quality and animal welfare.

Benefits