Here is why the world needs regenerative agriculture

Source: The post is based on the article “Here is why the world needs regenerative agriculture” published in Down To Earth on 4th December 2022.

What is the News?

The importance of Regenerative Agriculture was emphasized in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on “Climate Change and Land.”

The report listed Regenerative Agriculture as a ‘sustainable land management practice’ focused on ecological functions that “can be effective in building resilience of agroecosystems.”

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming system that focuses on soil health, food quality, biodiversity improvement, water quality and air quality. This is done through methods like reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, reducing tillage, integrating livestock and using cover crops. 

Principles: Regenerative agriculture adheres to the following principles: 1) Minimize soil distribution through conservation tillage, 2) Diversify crops to replenish nutrients and disrupt pest and disease life cycles, 3) Retain soil cover using cover crops and 4) Integrate livestock, which adds manure to the soil and serves as a source of carbon sinks. 

What is the need of Regenerative agriculture?

The current intensive agriculture system has led to soil degradation and constant losses. There may not be enough soil to feed the world in the next 50 years. Soil fertility and biodiversity are also decreasing across the globe.

What are the benefits of Regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative farming can improve crop yields – the volume of crops produced – by improving the health of soil and its ability to retain water, as well as reducing soil erosion. Improved yields will help feed the world as the global population grows.

Regenerative farming can also reduce emissions from agriculture and turn the croplands and pastures, which cover up to 40% of Earth’s ice-free land area, into carbon sinks.

Other benefits of regenerative agriculture include more efficient water use and fewer pests, because greater biodiversity makes the land more resilient.