Regenerative agriculture – who shall drive the change

Environmental concerns are now a priority at key global gatherings spanning political, social, and economic domains. Influenced by environmental activists like Al Gore and Greta Thunberg, world leaders are exploring effective strategies to tackle environmental issues, which often clash with various economic sectors’ interests. Agriculture is a central topic in these debates due to its significant role in greenhouse gas emissions, water shortages, pollution and deforestation. There’s a widely accepted view that it’s not viable to pursue environmental goals at the cost of the economic well-being of specific industries and countries – latest farmers’ protests in Europe strongly support this view. Consequently, the focus has shifted to seeking alternative approaches that maintain economic productivity while mitigating environmental harm and potentially reversing the adverse effects of industrial activities on the planet. A set of agricultural practices aimed to support soil health jointly referred to as regenerative is an example of such an approach. Although there is a consensus on the advantages of regenerative agriculture, issues related to funding, implementation risk and required expertise are still hotly contested. Finding a balance between public benefits and the risks and incentives for farmers remains a critical, yet unresolved issue that propels the conversation well beyond the realm of agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture – who shall drive the change

Vitaly Sheremet, Regenerative agriculture – who shall drive the change