What is regenerative farming? It's a seemingly simple question, yet the answer can be tricky to pin down. Does it aim to improve soil health, strengthen communities, or tackle climate change? Is it a set of farming methods or a socio-ecological philosophy? A quick google search reveals multiple definitions.
In truth, regenerative farming is all of the above. It’s a shift in farming practices which aims to reinvigorate the land and reverse the damage caused by conventional farming methods. Land restoration is the underlying thread which links this complex web of social, ecological, and agricultural issues together. Many principles and practices fall under the umbrella of regenerative farming. They are based on research from multiple fields; including organic farming, agroecology, holistic management, agroforestry, and soil ecology.
The key aims of regenerative agriculture are:
Increase biodiversity
Enrich soil health
Improve watersheds
Enhance ecosystem services
Sequester carbon in aboveground biomass and within the soil
Reverse the accumulation of atmospheric concentrations
Improve yields
Develop resiliency to climate change
Support the health of farming and ranching communities
Six principles form the basis of regenerative agriculture:
Understand the context of your farming operation
Maintain living roots year-round
Integrate livestock into farming operations
Maximise crop diversity
Keep the soil covered year-round
Minimise soil disturbance
So, what does this look like on a practical level? There are hundreds of different practices inclusive of regenerative farming. However, three practices are commonplace on regenerative farms.
No-till farming
Tilling is a common farming practice which cultivates the land by churning weeds and crop residue back into the earth. It modifies the soil structure, which can help farmers to sow seeds and aerate the soil. However, there are serious drawbacks to tilling. It usually degrades the soil and wipes out its microbiome. A teaspoon of soil contains more microorganisms than there are people on earth! They are foundational to good soil health.
No-till farming uses alternative methods for cultivating the soil. Planting cover crops break up and aerate the soil. Earthworms are also relied on for soil aeration. Covering the soil with organic mulch keeps weeds at bay, retains water, and fertilises soil naturally. These practices maintain soil health and eliminate the need for tilling.
Chemical-free farming
The use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides skyrocketed after the second world war when intensive farming systems became commonplace. Unfortunately, this had disastrous consequences for our wildlife. Since the 1970s, 41% of Britain's wildlife has declined, and 1 in 10 species faces extinction. Intensive farming practices and pesticide use drive current trends of wildlife decline. Chemical-free farms, however, are far more environmentally friendly. They are 50% more abundant with plants, insects, and farmland birds than conventional farms. Using chemical-free farming methods across European farms could reduce agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions by 40-50%!
Synthetic fertilisers and pesticides are prohibited in natural farming systems. Biopesticides can only be used under restricted circumstances. Natural methods improve soil fertility, such as nitrogen-fixing crops, organic mulch, and implementing crop rotations.
Regenerative grazing
Cattle have a reputation for being environmentally destructive. But when done right, integrating livestock can help to fight climate change. Regenerative grazing systems can restore soil and ground cover within three years. It can also sequester lots of carbon - 29,360 kg of CO2 per hectare per year, to be exact. Keeping herds in restricted areas inhibits overgrazing. This allows the ground cover to sequester carbon and grow fully. It's trampled into the ground by livestock and defecated on, which creates healthy layers of topsoil within a matter of years.
At Project Abundance, we use the principles of regenerative farming to grow organic produce. If you want to learn more about regenerative farming methods, why not join us for a 1-2-1 educational tour? We offer bespoke interactive demos for schools and groups. To request a tour, head over to our booking page or email us for enquiries.
Written by Elizabeth Polky (2022)