What Is Regenerative Agriculture's Purpose?

Published on : 03-21-2023

Regenerative agriculture aims to improve the health of agricultural soil and agroecosystems by creating resilient systems that are better able to survive the effects of climate change, such as drought and flooding. Ecological restoration and sustainable land management are also given top priority, helping to protect natural carbon sinks and wildlife habitat.

Khory Hancock thinks that regenerative agriculture enhances soil health through the buildup of organic matter, greater biodiversity, and improved water retention. There are additional environmental advantages as well. More nutrients are present in healthy soils, improving crop quality and output. Moreover, they aid in keeping water sources clean and preventing erosion.

Regenerative farmers utilize mulching or cover crops rather than tillage to enhance soil health and lessen erosion. Also, they might keep perennial plants on their property, such herb leys or regenerative forests (a traditional grassland-based farming method).

To keep the soil covered and promote more natural plant growth cycles, regenerative farms frequently change their crop rotations. Also, they might raise a variety of forage plants or cover crop species. These techniques can create healthy soils that better hold onto water and minerals, generate more prospects for profit, and assist pollinators and wildlife.

In order to improve the soil's quality and eliminate the demand for artificial fertilizers, regenerative farmers use animals. In addition to lowering emissions and air pollution, this makes the agroecosystem stronger and more resistant to stressors like pests and droughts.

To improve nutrient retention and soil health, regeneration farms frequently employ low-growing and high-fish grazing techniques. These grazing practices also promote the development of beneficial soil bacteria, which reduce runoff. Regenerative agriculture's main objective is to reduce the usage of synthetic agricultural substances like neonicotinoids and glyphosate, which are known to be detrimental to insect species and disrupt ecosystems.

A emerging trend in regenerative farming is known as "enterprise stacking," in which farms produce a variety of goods on the same piece of land, including fruit, vegetables, fodder, and cattle. This decreases the need for external inputs like water, pesticides, and fuel and increases the variety of products that can be produced.