For farmers
Regenerative agriculture practices, when customized to individual farms’ needs, have potential to increase the income of farmers and the profitability of farms.
As one example, research from intensive corn and soybean farms in the US shows that adopting soil health management systems increased net farm income by an average of $52/acre for corn and $45/acre for soybeans. Management practices included conservation tillage, cover crops, and precision fertilizer management. 97% of surveyed growers reported increased resilience to extreme weather such as drought and heavy rain.
For the environment
Limiting deforestation and grassland conversion
Regenerative agriculture practices help restore degraded farmland through improving soil health. This can lead to increased yields from existing arable land, preventing the need for farms to expand and cause deforestation as they do so.
In Brazil’s Cerrado, regenerative agriculture practices such as minimum tillage and planting cover crops have been shown to increase soil organic matter. Along with proper management of soil health, this is enabling the profitable restoration of unproductive, degraded pastures. The result: with 1 head of cattle per ha to cropland producing 3-4.5 t of soybeans, 3-6t of corn, and beef cattle grazing on cover crops all in one year.
Enhancing biodiversity
One of the goals of regenerative agriculture is to restore threatened biodiversity and enhance natural habitats. Regenerative agriculture practices such as planting field strips provide habitats for many types of biodiversity from pollinators to birds and small mammals, allowing them to thrive. Practices such as no-till improve soil health, nourishing underground microorganisms and increasing the diversity of creatures living below the surface.
Optimizing inputs
One of the principles of regenerative agriculture is reducing chemical inputs. Digital tools allow farmers to better understand their fields and crops and target applications of products, so reducing the amounts used.
For consumers
One of the aims of regenerative agriculture is to ensure enough nutritious food for everyone, giving consumers greater food security and improved health. Regenerative practices lead to a more resilient food system, which decreases the risk of empty shelves arising from climate impacts on food production. As soil health improves, the microorganisms that live in soil help plants access micronutrients and produce phytochemicals that are linked to disease prevention and longer lifespans.