Regenerative Agriculture’s Role in Sustaining Food Systems Amid Climate Change
(External Article) Regenerative agriculture is emerging as a key solution to the challenges faced by agriculture due to climate change. As agriculture suffers from extreme weather and contributes to about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, regenerative practices offer a way to both adapt to and mitigate these impacts.
Kristin Rosenow of Catholic Relief Services highlights regenerative agriculture as crucial for addressing land degradation, which is vital for sustainability, climate adaptation, water resource protection, and socioeconomic development. This approach focuses on maintaining soil health through minimal tillage, crop diversification, and natural fertilization, and it also involves effective animal grazing management.
The degradation of agricultural land threatens food and water supplies globally, particularly affecting the livelihoods of family farmers in poorer countries. Regenerative agriculture enhances biodiversity, reduces carbon emissions, and can significantly draw down atmospheric carbon, making it a powerful tool against climate change.
In Kenya, Farm Africa trains farmers in regenerative techniques, emphasizing soil health and water conservation to cope with changing rainfall patterns. Central America, too, faces challenges from extreme weather, where over 75% of agricultural soils are degraded. Initiatives there focus on creating watersheds and planting trees to reduce erosion and improve water management.
Despite its benefits, scaling up regenerative agriculture faces obstacles such as financial risks, lack of knowledge, and insufficient market drivers. The World Economic Forum suggests government incentives for farmers to adopt these practices, including compensation for carbon removal and clear metrics for environmental outcomes.
Overall, the shift to regenerative agriculture is seen as a crucial step in ensuring sustainable food production, improving farmers’ livelihoods, and enhancing resilience to climate change.