Regenerative agriculture: what it is and why it matters

Together with the organization Diez Mil Años, we held a webinar covering everything about regenerative agriculture. Do you know why this method is so important? Find out all about it in this article.

Let's look step by step at why this type of agriculture is key for the environment, improves soil health, and helps producers return to the land using fewer resources and inputs.

What is regenerative agriculture?

It's called the agriculture of the future because it produces food with more nutrients. In the case of conventional agriculture, more volume is produced with low nutrient density, and costs are extremely high, which causes many producers to fall by the wayside.

And here's something key for the environment: regenerative agriculture allows us to capture carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in the soil. Today there are degraded soils that can be restored, and erosion can be prevented by regenerating while producing. It's an evolving form of agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture seeks to produce increasingly nutritious food. It's a method largely based on processes, and it isn't costly for anyone who wants to get started. It combats the degradation of soil, which is a living organism vital to all living beings. It's an agriculture that regenerates and produces.

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Principles of regenerative systems

Mimicking the way nature works is essential to tackling our problems. Regeneration is our generation's task. The time is now.

• Limited disturbance: Limit chemical, mechanical, and physical disturbance of the soil. The idea is not to till the soil and not to use chemicals on crops.
• Soil cover: Nature tends to cover the soil. The soil must be fed like any living being.
• Diversity: Complementary species are very important. Each species plays a key role in maintaining soil health. Monocultures don't help capture carbon.
• Living roots: They should be kept alive all year round.
• Integrating animals: There are regenerative livestock systems that capture carbon. Meat from these animals is high in omega-3. Using compost is also good if there are no animals on the farm.

If all agriculture shifted to a regenerative system, we could capture all the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and send it into the soil. It would be a way to cool the planet. Sergio Toletti, agronomist at Diez Mil Años.

Advantages of regenerative agriculture over conventional agriculture

• It evolves, regenerates, and produces.
• It restores degraded soils.
• It brings major benefits to the environment.
• It requires fewer inputs and is more profitable for our producers.
• Producers can work their own soil without depending on technicians.
• It reduces carbon emissions and prevents erosion. It fights climate change.
• Fungi aren't eliminated, and the soil isn't tilled.
• The soil works in our favor.
• It integrates animals.

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Conclusion

Without a doubt, regenerative agriculture is a solution for food, for producers with fewer resources, and for environmental needs. We want producers to return to the land and work for themselves!

Yields tend to improve every year thanks to this method, and soil health reflects it. Something key we shouldn't overlook is that this type of agriculture helps us tackle climate change, since it increases soil carbon stocks.