Many agricultural practices are unsustainable. So unsustainable, in fact, that they do serious damage to local ecosystems and may even deplete all the world’s topsoil within the next 60 years. The loss of fertile soil and biodiversity caused by some modern agricultural practices pose a dire threat to both the environment and ourselves. There are alternatives to the current way of doing things. Scientists, farmers and individuals are part of a new movement to apply old and new methods of growing food that helps heal the environment, rather than exploit it. The approach, called ‘regenerative agriculture’ or ‘conservation agriculture’, is gaining momentum amid increased demand for organic and more responsible food production. This is how regenerative agriculture can restore the environment and help protect our ecosystems.
The Foundation of Regenerative Agriculture
Modern agricultural practices have a major impact on their local ecosystems and the environment at large. In the U.K., farmland bird populations declined by 45% between 1970 and 2018, according to government data. Insect numbers look similarly bad — a 2019 meta study on bug population research found that over 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction. The total mass of insects on Earth was falling by 2.5% every year. The principle behind regenerative agriculture is simple — grow food in a way that improves the land, rebuilding topsoil and regenerating local ecosystems. The approach offers an alternative to conventional, intensive agriculture, one that doesn’t do nearly as much damage to the environment. It even helps to reverse some of the ecological harm that’s been done. How each farmer implements this idea in practice will naturally vary depending on the area they are in. Every farmer practising regenerative agriculture will need to consider the environmental history of where they are farming — including the damage already done and what local ecosystems looked like in the past.
How Regenerative Agriculture Works in Practice
Most regenerative agriculture projects will incorporate a few different approaches to rebuild the soil. Farmers may minimise or cut out tilling altogether, plant cover crops that benefit the land, rotate crops and reintroduce native plants. Some may also take advantage of sustainable grazing practices and use fertiliser to restore nutrients to the soil. Over time, these different approaches can have a range of benefits for the soil and the local ecosystem. Reducing tillage gives topsoil a chance to build up. Cover crops can reduce the water that drains from a field, preventing erosion. These crops also provide a food source for local insects and birds, encouraging biodiversity. Crop rotation can swap around plants that extract nutrients from the soil, allowing the land to recover.
Sustainable grazing practices offer a wide range of benefits. In the U.K., where much of the land is best suited to pastoral agriculture, regenerative grazing can be extremely effective in reducing erosion, improving soil quality and increasing biodiversity. One farm currently applying this kind of regenerative pastoral agriculture is Romshed Organic Farm, which is based just south of Sevenoaks in Kent. The farm is one of several in the U.K. applying regenerative agricultural principles to the production of livestock. It’s also owned and operated by the vice-chair of Pasture for Life, an organisation that promotes grass-based farming and meat production. These examples mostly describe growing food on a farm, but regenerative agriculture can cover every aspect of food production. Some recent regenerative agriculture projects, for example, have ocean farmers overhauling their approach to aquaculture to restore fish stocks and re-balance coastal ecosystems.
In the short term, regenerative agriculture is likely to be less efficient than modern agricultural practices — but, for many, that’s another plus. Regenerative agriculture may help farmers avoid overworking the land and pushing out local flora and fauna unnecessarily. For farmers who want to experiment with regenerative agriculture while keeping their operations efficient, advanced tech may help. New agricultural tech applications of AI may help farmers maximise the use of resources while avoiding practices that harm the environment long-term.
How Individuals can get involved
If you want to get hands-on experience with regenerative agriculture, the best place to start is with a farmer, who puts the philosophy into practice. There are several farm-based educational programmes in regenerative agriculture that are active in the U.K. right now. FarmED, for example, is a farm and food education centre based in the Cotswolds. The centre offers lectures, workshops and regenerative farming advice for anyone interested in regenerative agriculture. Some farmers also offer short-term courses in regenerative agriculture practice. Some international programmes offer more intensive and formal education. For example, in the United States, the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, offers a 10-month course in regenerative agriculture. California State Chico also offers Regenerative Agriculture as an emphasis within the college’s Interdisciplinary Masters Degree programme.
Applying Regenerative Agriculture to save our Ecosystems
Many modern agricultural practices are unsustainable and take a serious toll on both the soil and the local environment. With regenerative agriculture, it’s possible to reverse this damage. Practices like crop rotation, minimal tilling, regenerative grazing and the planting of cover crops can restore soil health and improve biodiversity. While the practices may be challenging to implement and could reduce productivity, they may be necessary in the long run, if we want to keep our soil healthy. For individuals who want to learn more about regenerative agriculture, there are places to get hands-on experience. Several farms and education programmes across the U.K. can provide you with an in-person look at regenerative agriculture in practice
Article written by Jenna Tsui