Regenerative agriculture, what is it?
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to cultivating land that goes beyond simple food production. It uses nature-based practices and transforms agricultural soils into carbon sinks.
Unlike conventional agriculture, which instead focuses on the search for yield, regenerative agriculture draws on the power of nature instead of depleting it. It aims to revitalize the soil, preserve water resources and biodiversity, while capturing the carbon present in the atmosphere, responsible for the additional greenhouse effect causing global warming.
Regenerative agriculture and organic agriculture: different, but complementary!
Regenerative agriculture should not be confused with organic agriculture, although they share common sustainability goals. The first incorporates techniques that help restore ecosystems, while the second focuses primarily on the elimination of harmful chemicals. So, what are the benefits of regenerative agriculture for the environment, and by extension, for our health and that of the ecosystems on which we depend?
1. Preserve and improve soil quality
Healthy soil is the foundation of regenerative agriculture. Soils are composed of mineral matter (rock debris, such as silt, sand, clay, etc.) and organic matter, defined as “anything
that is living or has been living”
(plants, micro- organizations, etc.). This organic matter is itself composed of 50% carbon.
Practices like using compost instead of chemical inputs to enrich soils, crop rotation, and using cover crops help increase soil fertility and prevent soil erosion. These methods enrich the soil with organic matter, essential for its health and productivity. Although organic farming shares the goal of reducing chemical inputs, regenerative agriculture goes further by actively seeking to improve overall soil health. Today, 25% of the planet's soils are highly degraded (source: IFP Energies Nouvelles, 2018), a percentage which rises to 41% for cultivated soils, and continues to increase each year.
2. Store carbon
Healthy soil, that is to say rich in nutrients and micro-organisms, is a natural and powerful carbon sink. In regenerative agricultural systems, practices like no-till, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation help maintain and increase organic matter in the soil. This organic material captures and stores CO2 present in the atmosphere, a process essential to combating climate change. Recent studies estimate the carbon contained in the first meter of soil thickness to be 1,500 billion tonnes (source: IFP Energies Nouvelles, 2018). This makes soils the second largest carbon reservoir on the planet, just after the hydrosphere (oceans, seas, lakes and rivers). Well-managed soils can therefore store considerable quantities of carbon, thus helping to reduce the additional greenhouse effect responsible for global warming.
3. Restore biodiversity
Biodiversity is crucial for the health of agricultural ecosystems. Regenerative agriculture promotes this diversity by introducing a variety of plants and animals into agricultural systems. Techniques such as hedgerows, flower strips and agroforestry in general (that is to say the association, on the same plot, of trees in all their forms with an agricultural crop and/or livestock) create habitats for pollinating insects, birds and other wildlife. These practices do not just restore biodiversity. They also help fight insect pests and diseases, thereby reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.
4. Manage the water cycle more sustainably
Regenerative agriculture plays a key role in the more sustainable management of water resources. By improving the structure and health of soils, it increases their capacity to retain water, thereby reducing the need for irrigation and vulnerability to droughts. Practices such as cover cropping and agroforestry help maintain soil moisture and reduce erosion. Additionally, these methods help filter and purify water, improving its quality for the ecosystem in general, and its ability to be consumed by humans.
5. Contribute to the health of plants… and consumers!
Regenerative agriculture contributes to healthy plants. And less use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers means production of healthier raw foods, often with better nutritional value thanks to the richness of the soils in which they grew. In addition, by supporting diverse ecosystems, it contributes to the resistance of crops, less likely to be affected by diseases and insect pests, and thus helps to preserve food security for humans.
6. Improve climate resilience
Regenerative agriculture is essential to building resilience to climate change. By improving soil health and biodiversity, it helps agricultural systems better withstand climate extremes, such as more frequent floods and droughts. This approach also helps mitigate climate change by storing more carbon in soils.
The main thing to remember
Regenerative agriculture offers a promising path for the future of agriculture and the preservation of ecosystems. By adopting practices that restore soil, preserve water and biodiversity, and contribute to the fight against climate change, it represents a concrete and, above all, more sustainable solution to current challenges. Although it differs from organic farming, it shares its principles of sustainability and complements them effectively. Together, these two approaches can significantly transform our food system, making it more resilient, healthy and environmentally friendly.
A short glossary to understand regenerative agriculture
Organic matter: decomposing plant and animal debris in the soil, essential for its fertility and its ability to retain water and nutrients.
Carbon sink: a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby reducing greenhouse gases and their warming effect on the climate. We speak of a “carbon sink” when soils trap more CO2 than they emit.
Agroforestry: more sustainable agricultural practice which consists of integrating crops, trees and/or livestock on the same plot of land, contributing in particular to restoring and regenerating the environment of the plot, while strengthening the resilience of crops in the face of change climatic.