The following is a guest piece by Leo Bastos, who leads Bayer’s global ecosystem services business with the goal of decarbonizing the agriculture supply chain. Opinions are the author’s own.
Images of the Dust Bowl may seem like ancient history, but soil degradation remains a real concern today, especially when coupled with the effects of a rapidly changing climate.
Anyone who has planted a garden understands the importance of good soil. When you raise crops for a living, soil health is foundational to maintain a successful and sustainable business.
The impact of climate change has prompted a reevaluation of what it means to farm sustainably and productively. While advances in agriculture have enabled us to grow more food on less land than ever before, farming and farm products are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, emerging technologies and practices are helping agriculture be part of the solution – and that’s where regenerative agriculture plays a crucial role.
In addition to mitigating the impact of a changing climate, there are also many other significant outcomes of regenerative farming that are sometimes left out of the ESG conversation. Companies that support regenerative agriculture today should be taking note as part of their broader sustainability goals and reporting requirements.
What really is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture can mean many things to different people, but most definitions include a common theme of environmental conservation.
Regenerative farming is not quite as simple as a pure back-to-nature approach, especially given the many challenges of feeding a growing world population. However, it includes many time-tested practices such as plant breeding, crop rotation, cover crops and reduced soil tillage. Those practices, combined with technological innovations, can help farmers increase productivity, sustainability and profitability. Recent studies from Bayer in Europe have shown CO2 reductions from 12% to 65% percent across multiple crops and countries, when regenerative practices are employed.
Many agrifood companies today are considering ways to reduce their Scope 3 emissions by supporting the adoption of regenerative farming practices. And rightfully so. By incentivizing practices such as no-till and cover crops, farmers’ fields can be transformed into a carbon sink,which not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also conserves the soil, making it more productive and resilient.
Simply put, regenerative agriculture is about producing more and restoring more, at a scale sufficient to meet the nutritional needs and environmental concerns of our world.
Much of the conversation around regenerative agriculture focuses on the soil’s ability to sequester carbon. But the practice has other important benefits, both in terms of addressing climate change and some of the economic challenges facing farmers.
Soil Health is foundational to productive farming and anything that improves soil quality also has a positive effect on virtually all aspects of sustainable agriculture. Because only 11% of the earth’s soil is considered to be suitable for farming, it is imperative that agricultural practices work to maintain soil health and prevent its degradation.
Regenerative practices, such as reduced tillage, cover cropping and rotation, not only help absorb more carbon, but they also reduce soil erosion, increase water retention, improve nutrient content, and create habitats for other plants and animals. Increasing soil’s organic carbon and bulk density can also increase yields and reduce agriculture’s footprint.
Water Quality and Conservation are key considerations when managing farmland. Unlike practices that disrupt soil structure and expose topsoil, regenerative management minimizes erosion and runoff potential, while also maintaining soil moisture. This is especially important during extreme weather conditions, where healthy soils act as filters to trap pollutants and prevent them from leaching into groundwater.
Biodiversity may be one of the most overlooked aspects of regenerative farming. Healthy soils contain millions of species, including beneficial microbes that transfer vital nutrients to crops, and other organisms that protect crops by warding off soil pests. Biodiversity is strongly associated with soils that are healthier and more nutrient-rich, which helps increase yields and supports more efficient and sustainable farming operations.
Farm Productivity and Profitability are just as important as environmental preservation. In addition to preserving the quality of farmland, regenerative agricultural practices can help strengthen a farm operation’s resiliency and economic viability. Improving soil organic matter, nutrients and moisture can help farmers save on irrigation, fertilization, and fuel consumption.
Taken together, regenerative agriculture has the potential to meaningfully tackle climate challenges while also providing key benefits to farmers that can help them increase yields and reduce input costs. It’s no surprise that improving a farmer’s livelihood is directly correlated with improvements to the health and well-being of the farm itself.
Achieving the full potential of regenerative agriculture works best when farmers, food companies, retailers and suppliers all pull together. By working across the value chain, these partnerships can quantify its many co-benefits – alongside the Scope 3 reductions – and help sustainability leaders fully account for the positive impact of regenerative farming practices.